World Cafe

For nearly 20 years, Scott Hansen, who is better known by Tycho, has crafted electronic music that balances exhilarating tracks like “Awake” with an indie-rock sensibility, featuring vintage analog synths and downtempo guitar. His latest, Infinite Health, aims to be a dose of emotional healing. On the next World Cafe, Tycho joins us to talk about how advancements in technology have streamlined his production process, and shares live performances recorded in Ogden, Utah.

During the pandemic, Trapper Schoepp discovered the world of Irish folk music, and he fully embraced it. His latest record, Siren Songs, is grounded in the traditions and themes of Irish folk, but without being beholden to them. Coming up, Schoepp performs some of the songs live. Plus, he’ll share about having a co-write with Bob Dylan, and what it was like to record Siren Songs at Johnny Cash’s Tennessee cabin.

In some ways, the strange, beautiful music of Cosmo Sheldrake sounds like nothing else. But it also sounds like everything. The English musician and composer is deeply inspired by nature, blending field recordings and samples of wildlife noises with his own musical improvisation to create music that feels profoundly connected to the world around him. Cosmo performs songs from his latest album, Eye To The Ear, on the next World Cafe.

To mark the beginning of Daylight Saving Time, on the next World Cafe, we’re zoning out! Featuring music from psychedelic heavyweights like Pink Floyd and ELO, to the hypnotic melodies of Giorgio Moroder and Radiohead, hear a set of songs to get lost in or lose your mind to. This far out experience will also include The Beatles, Animal Collective, Kamasi Washington, and more.

Ringo Starr may be best known for being a Beatle, but on his new T Bone Burnett produced album, Look Up, he’s returning to his country music roots. On the next World Cafe, Ringo talks about falling in love with country as a kid in Liverpool, as well as what makes a great country song. He also talks about drumming, and of course, The Beatles.

Nigerian singer, songwriter, and guitarist Mdou Moctar is known for his electrified Tuareg guitar playing, but his latest album sees his band unplug. On the next World Cafe, Moctar and bassist/producer Mikey Coltun talk about why Moctar wanted to make an acoustic album and how being stranded in the U.S. during a military coup in his home country played a part in making it happen.