NPR Music celebrates 15 years

Plus, the best new albums out this week.

View this email online Oct. 1, 2022 by Marissa Lorusso This week, we're sharing details about two nights of live music to celebrate NPR Music’s 15th anniversary; plus, our Latinx Heritage Month celebration continues at the Tiny Desk. NPR In November, NPR Music will turn 15 — and in honor of that milestone, we’re throwing a celebration: two-nights of concerts in Washington, D.C. I asked my colleague Elle Mannion, from NPR’s Events team, to tell me about the festivities, and here’s what she said: If you’ve followed NPR Music for a while, you know we take birthdays pretty seriously around here. In 2016, to celebrate 16 years of All Songs Considered, we threw ourselves a party (with a little help from friends including Sharon Van Etten and Dan Deacon). And when NPR Music turned 10 in 2017, we celebrated at the historic 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. (alongside artists like Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and Tank and the Bangas). And just for fun, we celebrated Tiny Desk back in 2019 with Tiny Desk Fest (which included surprise concerts from Sheryl Crow, Megan Thee Stallion and more).  On November 28 and 29, to celebrate 15 years of NPR Music, we’re returning to the 9:30 Club for two nights of performances featuring eight beloved acts, plus on-stage interviews with some artists and NPR Music staff. The shows will honor what we’ve built over the past 15 years — and also nod to the future of NPR Music and where we’re headed. Performers that’ll appear over those two nights include: Cimafunk, an artist we’ve championed over the years, who will kick off the party (if the Afro-Cuban rockstar’s Tiny Desk concert is any indication of the type of performance he’ll put on at the anniversary event, we’re in for an exciting night); YEИDRY, an artist on the rise who’s been featured on Alt. Latino multiple times and made one of our favorite songs of 2021; indie rock favorite Hurray for the Riff Raff; Leikeli47, who was part of our Austin 100 and one of Bob Boilen’s favorite Tiny Desk concerts in 2019, and most recently was interviewed by Louder Than A Riot host Sidney Madden; Amber Mark, who was part of our We Insist project in 2020, will play songs from her impressive new album; Cory Henry, who will also bring his dynamic, neo-soul- and funk-infused music to the stage. And because we love a good birthday surprise, there will be a couple unannounced artists at the shows, too. [If you’re in Washington, D.C., we hope you’ll buy tickets to join us in November. But wherever you are in the world, you’ll be able to stream the performances live on NPR Music’s YouTube channel.] OR [The shows sold out in minutes yesterday, but if you didn’t get tickets, don’t worry — we’ll be livestreaming the performances to NPR Music’s YouTube channel so you can tune in and celebrate with us wherever you are in the world.] Thank you to everyone who has helped shape NPR Music into what it is today. Cheers to the next 15. Newsletter continues after sponsor message New Music Lambchop, the long-running Nashville collective led by singer and songwriter Kurt Wagner, has always been an expression of absolute possibility. The Bible, Lambchop’s new album and its best in a decade, “wrestles plainly with the complications of getting older,” says writer Grayson Haver Currin, “while presenting whatever lessons Wagner may have about the process.” The new album The Urban Hymnal is groundbreaking on more than one front: It manages to translate the sound of an HBCU marching band — in this case, Tennessee State University’s celebrated The Aristocrat of Bands — into a studio recording. It also captures the band fully in gospel mode for the first time. "It's a journey of the gospel story, coming from 1619 all the way to 2022," says Sir the Baptist, a gospel artist and producer who helped bring the project to life. Cool It Down is the first new album from Yeah Yeah Yeahs in nine years, and critic Stacey Anderson calls it “an intuitive and exhilarating step forward.” The album surveys environmental ruin and pandemic-era isolation over patient noir soundscapes, Anderson writes, but ultimately lands “at a vantage of hope.” Featuring Interpol was one of the biggest bands to come out of the downtown New York rock scene of the early 2000s. But two decades later and a couple thousand miles to the south, the band continues to have massive success — and a devoted fan base — all across Mexico, writes Vita Dadoo.  Joe Bussard, the record collector and American roots music historian, died Monday at age 86. Bussard sought out and preserved obscure 78-rpm records that otherwise would have disappeared and shared the music with giddy excitement.  Earlier this year, Tyshawn Sorey debuted his work Monochromatic Light (Afterlife) at the Rothko Chapel in Houston. This week, the composer relaunched the deep, deliberative piece on a monumental new scale in a limited run at New York's Park Avenue Armory. The rapper Coolio, who was among the biggest names in 1990s hip-hop, died this week at age 59. He was known for hits including "Fantastic Voyage” and "Gangsta's Paradise," for which he won a Grammy. This week, our friends at KUTX in Austin shared a video of The Tiarras performing “Soy Chingona” live in the studio. Tiny Desk NPR This week, our Latinx Heritage Month celebration continued at the Tiny Desk. Argentinian rapper Trueno performed a set that feels like a meditation on the music and communities — especially his home neighborhood of La Boca in Buenos Aires — that have shaped him. And Colombian-Canadian musician Jessie Reyez gave an El Tiny performance with the assuredness and deftness of a true reina owning her stage. Also this week: Tiny Desk series producer Bobby Carter was a guest on NPR’s It’s Been A Minute to talk about the series’ recent nomination for a BET Award and share some behind-the-scenes stories. One More Thing "History is freaking cool, you guys!” Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WBEZ (edit station). Need a new playlist? Follow NPR Music on Spotify and Apple Music What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprmusic@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Books, Pop Culture, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to NPR Music emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy