Music Features : NPR

Anime character Hatsune Miku stars in a new series of Toyota Corolla ads aimed at the Asian-American market. Toyota USA, Inc. hide caption

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Toyota USA, Inc.

The New Wave Of Cartoon Bands

June 30, 2011 • Anime character Hatsune Miku is part of the new generation of virtual bands achieving real success.

The New Wave Of Cartoon Bands

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Metal Chocolates: OC Notes on the left, Rik Rude on the right. Kyle Johnson for NPR hide caption

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Kyle Johnson for NPR

Grind And Shine: Metal Chocolates

June 30, 2011 • The adventurous duo's sound moves from hip-hop to radio theater to house.

Hear "Afro Egypt" from 'Metal Chocolates'

3:26

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Courtesy of EMI Publishing

EMI Publishing Dumps ASCAP

June 29, 2011 • The publishing arm of the major record label EMI has decided that it will negotiate its own fees for digital performances of songs instead of relying on ASCAP, a company that has long tracked performances of songs and that collects fees for labels and songwriters.

EMI Publishing Dumps ASCAP

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Grind And Shine: Shabazz Palaces And THEESatisfaction

Shabazz Palaces and THEESatisfaction (from left to right, Ishmael Butler, Catherine Harris-White and Stasia Irons) outside Caffe Vita in Capitol Hill. Kyle Johnson for NPR hide caption

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Kyle Johnson for NPR

Grind And Shine: Shabazz Palaces And THEESatisfaction

June 29, 2011 • We sat down with the city's most enigmatic groups in Capitol Hill, the hub of Seattle nightlife.

Hear "Swerve... the reeping of all that is worthwhile (Noir not withstanding) (feat. THEESatisfaction)" from Shabazz Palaces' 'Black Up'

3:52

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Why We Like Singing Talent Shows So Much

The judges of The Voice (from left to right) Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. Michael Desmond/NBC hide caption

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Michael Desmond/NBC

Why We Like Singing Talent Shows So Much

June 29, 2011 • New variations on Idol remind us we actually like our pop stars a little weird.

Why We Like Singing Talent Shows So Much

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Grind And Shine: Jake One And Thig Natural

Jake One (left) and Thig Natural of The Physics at Espresso Vivace Alley 24. Kyle Johnson for NPR hide caption

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Kyle Johnson for NPR

Grind And Shine: Jake One And Thig Natural

June 28, 2011 • The first in our series of conversations with Seattle hip-hop musicians includes an established producer and an up-and-coming rapper.

Seattle's skyline, as seen outside the Bauhaus Coffee Shop on Capitol Hill. Kyle Johnson hide caption

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Kyle Johnson

Grind And Shine: Talking Rap In Seattle

June 26, 2011 • An investigation of Seattle's hip-hop scene as it begins to attract national attention.

The Mason Jar team conducts a recording session with a chamber orchestra and The Wood Brothers (sitting on the desk, Chris on the left and Olive on the right) in a classroom at St. Cecilia's Church in Brooklyn. Sasha Arutyunova/Courtesy of Mason Jar Music hide caption

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Sasha Arutyunova/Courtesy of Mason Jar Music

The Record

Empty Spaces, Full Of Music

June 26, 2011 • For a hundred years, there was singing in the classrooms of St. Cecilia's School in Brooklyn. But since the parish closed it down a couple of years ago, the space has been pretty quiet. Then, an idea was hatched: a recording series that matched new music to forgotten spaces.

Empty Spaces, Full Of Music

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Following Claire Chase: A Week In The Life Of A Working Musician

Melanie Burford

The Record

Following Claire Chase: A Week In The Life Of A Working Musician

June 22, 2011 • In an era when some classical musicians are struggling, New York-based flutist Claire Chase, the founder of the International Contemporary Ensemble, is keeping very busy.

Following Claire Chase: A Week In The Life Of A Working Musician

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Clarence Clemons, The Big Man In The E Street Band, Has Died

Nils Lofgren, Clarence Clemons and Bruce Springsteen onstage. Chris Walter/WireImage hide caption

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Chris Walter/WireImage

The Record

Clarence Clemons, The Big Man In The E Street Band, Has Died

June 19, 2011 • He played the final minute of "Thunder Road," one the most transcendent moments in all rock n' roll.

In Modern Rap, Echoes Of Marvin Gaye's Deep, Damaged Soul

Marvin Gaye (at left), pictured here circa 1964, at the age of 25. At right, the 24-year-old rapper Drake. Gaye died in 1984, two years before Drake was born. Charlie Gillett Collection (left) / Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images hide caption

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Charlie Gillett Collection (left) / Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

The Record

In Modern Rap, Echoes Of Marvin Gaye's Deep, Damaged Soul

June 17, 2011 • The new song "Marvin's Room" by rapper Drake glances back at Gaye's sultry, vulnerable persona.

Afropop Worldwide On House Music In Chicago, Detroit And South Africa

Juan Atkins at Submerge's techno museum. Wills Glasspiegel for NPR hide caption

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Wills Glasspiegel for NPR

The Record

Afropop Worldwide On House Music In Chicago, Detroit And South Africa

June 16, 2011 • "Midwest Electric" is an hour-long audio documentary of the history of house music.

Jon Natchez, in a KEXP studio with his band Yellow Ostrich, in March. Brittany Bollay for KEXP hide caption

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Brittany Bollay for KEXP

The Record

Meet Indie Rock's Most Valuable Sideman

June 16, 2011 • Jon Natchez has played brass and woodwinds for Beirut, The Antlers, Okkervil River and dozens of other bands. He explains how he became one of indie-rock's go-to horn players, and why he prefers long-term gigs.

Bad Vibrations: Investigating Sound As Terror

Steve Goodman, also known as Kode9, at left, with frequent collaborator The Spaceape. Courtesy of Hyperdub hide caption

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Courtesy of Hyperdub

The Record

Bad Vibrations: Investigating Sound As Terror

June 14, 2011 • Steve Goodman, better known as the DJ Kode9 and the founder of the record label Hyperdub, is also a scholar and author. His book, Sonic Warfare, explores the use of sound as a weapon through history.

Bad Vibrations: Investigating Sound As Terror

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