Music Features In-depth storytelling from the NPR Music team.
Music Features
Saturday
Friday
"Some of the work is deliberately remaining outside of the structure," says musician and advocate Lilli Lewis of the efforts of Black musicians to make it in country and roots music industries. "We want to center different values and it's really difficult to do that from inside." Lewis just released a new album called Americana. David Villalta/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
New roots: Black musicians and advocates are forging coalitions outside the system
Thursday
Tom Tom Club, circa 1985 Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption
The Culture Corner: Tom Tom Club
"I'm always trying to talk to myself in all these songs," Starflyer 59's Jason Martin says. "I get a tad of the blues sometimes." Jeff Cloud/Courtesy of Velvet Blue Music hide caption
Wednesday
Bernard Haitink leading the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 2003. The beloved conductor died Oct. 21 at age 92. Hiroyuki Ito/Getty Images hide caption
Monday
Bruce Springsteen, Michelle Obama and Barack Obama in the Blue Room before the Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony on Nov. 22, 2016. It's one of many photos featured in the Renegades book. Pete Souza courtesy of the Barack Obama Presidential Library hide caption
In a new book, Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen envision a more unified America
Sunday
Shakira onstage during her MTV Unplugged performance, recorded in New York in 1999 and released as a live album in early 2000. Ignacio Gurruchaga/Courtesy of Sony Music hide caption
Presenting 'It's Been a Minute with Sam Sanders': Pop music's 'Latin Explosion'
Saturday
In his first two albums, Maxo Kream mined his family history for material. His latest, Weight of the World, continues on that theme, marking his transition to family breadwinner. Justin Heron/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Friday
Del Sol Quartet Lenny Gonzalez hide caption
Composer Huang Ruo gives voice to the dark history of Angel Island
"The way I talk about and think about sound and music is to think about things being shapes and colors and textures," Helado Negro tells NPR. "That's, as much as it is musical, kind of like a language." Nathan Bajar hide caption
Thursday
Mel Brown, 2019 Montavilla Jazz Festival Kathryn Elsesser/Kathryn Elsesser Photography hide caption
Drummer and local legend Mel Brown endures as the humble godfather of Portland jazz
WBGO and Jazz at Lincoln Center
Drummer and local legend Mel Brown endures as the humble godfather of Portland jazz
Wednesday
Tuesday
Gil Rose and Boston Modern Orchestra Project recording in Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Mass. Chuck Furlong/Boston Modern Orchestra Project hide caption