NPR: World Cafe Words & Music from WXPN
WXPN's live performance and interview program featuring music and conversation from a variety of important artists.
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Brazzaville
Host David Dye welcomes Brazzaville on this edition of World Cafe Words & Music from WXPN. David Brown got the idea to form Brazzaville while on tour as a saxophonist for Beck. Eight albums and ten years later, their latest effort is entitled "21st Century Girl." The band's globally-minded indie pop …
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Bon Iver
Coming up on World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN, Bon Iver performs indie-folk songs from the stunning debut, "For Emma, Forever Ago." Host David Dye talks with singer-songwriter Justin Vernon, who escaped to a secluded Wisconsin cabin and, over several months, experienced an outpouring of creativi …
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Jason Pierce & Spiritualized
Space-rock outfit Spiritualized join host David Dye on this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. Disrupted by a serious bout of pneumonia, frontman Jason Pierce had to wait almost two years to put to disc a collection of songs he wrote in just two weeks. He tackles themes of survival and …
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Calexico
Coming up on World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN, David Dye gets a visit from Calexico. Drawing musical inspiration from the border region between California and Mexico, the aptly-named band has carved out a distinctive niche in the indie rock scene. In talking with David, they explain their travel …
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Conor Oberst
On this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN, we hope you enjoy Michaela Majoun's conversation with Conor Oberst. He took leave of his distinguished band, Bright Eyes, and traveled to the Mexican mountainside to record his eponymous new album. The sound is a lean, acoustic version of the …
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Ra Ra Riot
Ra Ra Riot showcases their mix of indie-rock and chamber pop on this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from XPN. Within months of their formation, the Syracuse University collective attracted attention due to their energetic live shows and classically-trained string section. In a tragic turn, or …
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Old Crow Medicine Show
On this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN we hope you enjoy a concert with Old Crow Medicine Show. The band celebrates old-timey music with a decidedly modern twist. Host David Dye also speaks with the band about their new album "Tennessee Pusher."
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Matthew Sweet
Matthew Sweet joins David Dye on this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. Sweet rose to prominence in the early 1990's when he released the album "Girlfriend." It combined big, jangly guitar sounds with confessional lyrics about the death of one romantic relationship and the birth of a …
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Will Sheff
On this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN we meet Will Sheff. He's the frontman and chief writer for the Austin-based band Okkervil River. Sheff works from the dictum "write what you know." For Will Sheff that means two albums that skewer the world of indie-rock. Okkervil River's lates …
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Juliana Hatfield
David Dye speaks with Juliana Hatfield on this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. Hatfield is a twenty-year veteran of the music business, and she's been busy lately. She has a new album out called "How to Walk Away" as well as a memoir of her life on the road.
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Rodney Crowell
On this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN, host David Dye speaks to one of our program's most popular guests Rodney Crowell. At 58, Rodney Crowell has been on a long winning streak. Since 2001 he's turned out four fine albums. He'll perform music and talk about his latest releasxe, "Se …
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Alabama 3 (A3)
The British band Alabama 3 — known in the United States as A3 — is best known for the song "Woke Up This Morning" featured in the opening montage of HBO's landmark show "The Sopranos." On this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN, host David Dye introduces us to a couple of th …
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Yael Naim
On this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN we meet Yael Naim. She's the Israeli-French musician who caught on when her song "New Soul" was used by Apple computers in a television campaign. Yael's collaborator David Donatien also joins host David Dye. The duo will perform songs from Yael …
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Joan Osborne
We've been following Joan Osborne's expressive voice and transcendent music since her 1995 debut album "Relish." On this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN, David Dye speaks with Osborne about her new album "Little Wild One." The new work — an homage to her adopted home of New Yor …
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Paul Weller
On this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN, we hear from British music icon Paul Weller. Weller has been through several musical phases. In the late 1970's he led England's most commercially successful punk band, The Jam. In the 80's it was the technologically-savvy, politically charged …
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Jessie Baylin
On this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN host David Dye speaks with Jessie Baylin. As a child she was drawn to pop and jazz divas from Nina Simone to Joni Mitchell. It's no surprise that she combines confessional singer-songwriter lyrics with jazz-tinged vocals. Her new album is calle …
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Dan Tyminski
David Dye speaks with Dan Tyminski on this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. He was the singing voice of George Clooney in the Coen Brother's hit film "O Brother Where Art Thou." In fact, Tyminski's gorgeous rendition of "Man of Constant Sorrow" introduced legions of people to the bea …
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Catherine Russell
On this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN we meet Catherine Russell. She's been a backing vocalist for heavy hitter musicians including David Bowie, Madonna, and Paul Simon, but in the last few years, Russell has forged her own solo singing career. Her new CD is called "Sentimental Str …
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Martha Wainwright
Singer-songwriter Martha Wainwright is David Dye's guest on World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. Wainwright is the daughter of Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle, and younger sister to Rufus Wainwright. If her pedigree doesn't capture your attention, then her new album will. Its provocative …
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Ben Sollee
On this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN, David Dye chats with Ben Sollee. Sollee has taken the cello outside the classical concert hall and brought it to pop audiences. His new album is fittingly called "Learning To Bend." Check out his version of the Sam Cooke classic "A Change is G …
NPR: World Cafe Words & Music from WXPN
