World Cafe

Rostam’s new album is full of sounds you’d hear on an Americana album, like twangy guitars. But he’s also folded in Middle Eastern instruments, like the “saz”. On the next World Cafe, Rostam talks about fusing those cultures on American Stories, plus he performs live.

Sotomayor’s new album takes it’s name from the ancient Japanese philosophy of finding beauty in imperfection. It’s called Wabi Sabi. Coming up, the Mexico City duo of brother and sister Raúl and Paulina Sotomayor plays songs from Wabi Sabi, fusing, electronic music, Latin rhythms and Afrobeat in a mini concert, on the next World Cafe.

Courtney Barnett’s search for meaning amidst a sea of change in Southern California sets the backdrop for Creature of Habit, her first new album with lyrics in five years. Coming up, Courtney talks about recording in Joshua Tree, she digs into her songwriting process, and we’ll learn about how a praying mantis led to an epiphany. Plus, live performances of songs from Creature of Habit. It’s Courtney Barnett on the next World Cafe.

While Death Cab For Cutie was on tour celebrating 20 years of the band’s albums Transatlanticism and Plans, frontman Ben Gibbard was also dealing with a divorce. On the next World Cafe, Gibbard talks about how that experience shaped the band’s latest record, I Built You A Tower. Plus, Death Cab for Cutie performs live.

Come for the harmonies of Say She She and stick around for songs of joy, protest and empowerment. The Brooklyn and London based trio of Sabrina Cunningham, Piya Malik and Nya Brown stop by the Cafe to talk about their latest album, Cut and Rewind, and why they believe in the power of “honest music”. Plus, we’ll hear live performances taped in studio. It’s Say She She, on the next World Cafe.

Olivia Rodrigo is returning with a new album, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, on June 12th. We talk about her rise to superstardom, how her seemingly overnight success was actually the result of years of practice, and about her previous album, Guts, as we revisit her 2023 session, next time on an encore World Cafe.