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Alt.Latino: Sonic Bloom: Fresh, funky new tracks from Rio, Granada and more Apr 08, 2026

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Listen to this episode out in the springtime air. It starts with a bucolic jaunt through Brazilian guitarist Fabiano do Nascimento's latest orchestral project, then finds La Plazuela's fresh Spanish funk and Macha's irreverent side project. Other sounds along the way: Caribbean pop from Venezuela, feel-your-feels indie from northern Mexico and an electronic spin on the indigenous Náhuatl language.
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All Songs Considered: José González's hope, Jungle's sunshine Apr 07, 2026

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The British act Jungle had a big hit with “Back on 74” — and its unforgettable dance video — in 2023. Now, the group is back with “Carry On,” a breezy, sun-dappled song about surviving a broken heart. We give it a spin to open the show, along with a study on optimism from one of José González’s best albums, a celestial ambient cut from throat singer Tanya Tagaq and more.
NPR classical critic Tom Huizenga joins host Robin Hilton as they update their running list of the year’s best songs.
(00:00) Intro
(01:03) Jungle: “Carry On” from ‘SUNSHINE’
(07:42) Gabriel Kahane & Roomful of Teeth: “Not Even the Dead” from ‘Elevator Songs’
(14:23) Quiet Light: “Self Tape” from ‘Blue Angel Sparkling Silver 2’
(23:34) Tanya Tagaq: “Imiq” from ‘Saputjiji’
(31:13) José González: “Etyd” from ‘Against the Dying of the Light’
(37:49) Giya Kancheli: “Middelheim” from ‘Kancheli: Ex contrario, Middelheim & Tsutisopeli’
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Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org
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New Music Friday: The best albums out April 3 Apr 03, 2026

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Thundercat. Arlo Parks. Devotional belters from Dermot Kennedy. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson chats with Erin Wolf from Radio Milwaukee about their favorite albums out Friday, April 3. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in our lightning round.
The Starting 5
(00:00) Introduction & Bon Iver, 'VOLUMES: ONE"
(01:57) Arlo Parks, 'Ambiguous Desire'
(07:29) Dermot Kennedy, 'The Weight of the Woods'
(14:15) Thundercat, 'Distracted'
(19:53) Joe Pernice, 'Sunny, I Was Wrong'
(26:44) Earl Sweatshirt, MIKE & Surf Gang, 'POMPEII // UTILITY'
(31:30) The Lightning Round
- Maria Taylor, 'Story's End'
- Wendy Eisenberg, 'Wendy Eisenberg'
- Sunn O))), 'Sunn O)))'
- Roomful of Teeth & Gabriel Kahane, 'Elevator Songs'
- Sofia Rei, 'Antónima'
Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org
Credits:
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Erin Wolf, Radio Milwaukee
Audio Producers: Noah Caldwell, Alina Edwards
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Felix Contreras, Lars Gotrich and Tom Huizenga
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Alt.Latino: Dominican indie, Peruvian cumbia and experimental Argentine pop Apr 01, 2026

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Two phrases spoken during this week’s episode stand out because they represent how Ana and I approach our searches for new music. The first: “The only limit is the imagination.” In my constant hunt for the sound I have never heard, this thought is my mantra. The new music we’re bringing this week really steps up to that challenge, from young upstarts like Broke Carrey to beloved veterans like Draco Rosa.
The second phrase? “Latin music is a geography not a genre.” Ana put into words something she and I talk about often, the idea that the term “Latin music” is no longer adequate to reflect that amazingly eclectic forms of musical expression in the Spanish-speaking world. This episode features musicians from Argentina, Peru, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere -- but what they share is a distinct artistic expression that consistently blows our minds.
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All Songs Considered: Our favorite Tiny Desk Contest entries Mar 31, 2026

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More than 6,000 artists entered this year’s Tiny Desk Contest, hoping to win their very own performance behind the actual Desk. We’ll announce the winner soon, but in the meantime, we’re sharing some of our favorite entries, from the riff-rock group Pump Action, to soul singer Les Greene, loop artist Jackie Marchal, singer-songwriter Yuri Shin and more.
Tiny Desk series producer Bobby Carter joins All Songs Considered host Robin Hilton. (They’re also the two lead judges for the Contest.)
Featured entries:
(00:00) Intro
(00:51) Pump Action: “Supernova”
(03:34) Lily Talmers: “The Big Idea”
(07:18) Walker Burroughs: “Open Skies”
(10:53) Les Greene & the Swayzees: "Long Story Short"
(14:08) Nicolosi: “Are You Coming To The Ivy?”
(17:20) Jackie Marchal: “Excavate The Girl”
(21:43) the King will come: “welcome”
(24:33) Yuri Shin: “Falling Rabbit”
(27:54) Lauren Frihauf: “One Thing Always Leads To Another”
(31:41) Meira: “Make Me Go”
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Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org
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New Music Friday: The best albums out March 27 Mar 27, 2026

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Robyn. RAYE. A jazzy left turn from Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson chats with Alisa Ali from WFUV in the Bronx about their favorite albums out Friday, March 27. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in our lightning round.
The Starting 5
(01:42) Robyn, 'Sexistential'
(07:15) RAYE, 'This Music May Contain Hope'
(14:21) Courtney Barnett, 'Creature of Habit'
(20:20) The New Pornographers, 'The Former Site Of'
(25:32) Flea, 'Honora'
(32:08) The Lightning Round
- Connie Converse, 'How Sad, How Lovely' (Reissue)
- Snail Mail, 'Ricochet'
- The Philharmonik, 'Transcendentalism I' EP
- Irreversible Entanglements, 'Future Present Past'
- Sluice, 'Companion'
- Charlotte Cornfield, 'Hurts Like Hell'
Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org.
Credits:
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Alisa Ali, WFUV
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Bobby Carter, Sheldon Pearce and Ann Powers
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Alt.Latino: Songs she loves: Sofia Rei and the magic of the human voice Mar 25, 2026

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From the very beginning of Alt.Latino, female vocalists have captivated us the most -- and New York-based Argentine vocalist Sofia Rei has been high on our list of favorites for a while. She uses the human voice like paint on a canvas, layering voices to create choirs that take flight at the mere suggestion of a melody. On her new album Antónima, she not only creates magic with her own voice but also collaborates with some Alt.Latino favorites: Gaby Moreno, Daymé Arocena and Xenia Rubinos, among others. As we revive our Guest DJ series, we asked her to bring on some of the songs she loves, for an insider's perspective of the art behind the human voice.
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All Songs Considered: Bon Iver talks to God, plus Tori Amos Mar 24, 2026

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Our latest mix of the best new songs out now includes a stunning live version of Bon Iver’s “Heavenly Father,” a track the band originally wrote for the 2014 film Wish I Was Here, but never made available to stream before now. We’ve also got a stirring new ballad from Tori Amos, Luxembourg indie rocker Francis of Delirium (who assures us this is, in fact, a beautiful life), the long-awaited (if complicated) return of influential metal band Neurosis and more.
NPR Music’s Lars Gotrich joins host Robin Hilton.
(00:00) Intro
(01:41) Bon Iver: “Heavenly Father” from VOLUMES: ONE (SELECTIONS FROM MUSIC CONCERTS 2019-2023)
(08:25) Souled American: “Freeing Wheels” from Sanctions
(13:58) Francis of Delirium: “It’s a Beautiful Life” from Run, Run Pure Beauty
(20:28) Tara Clerkin Trio: “Somewhere Good” from Somewhere Good
(28:58) Tori Amos: “Stronger Together” from In Times of Dragons
(35:36) Neurosis: “Untethered” from An Undying Love for a Burning World
Support the show with a review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend!
Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org
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Interview: Mitski Mar 21, 2026

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In this special episode, the beloved singer-songwriter performs four songs live and speaks with Raina Douris of NPR's World Cafe about her acclaimed new album, 'Nothing's About To Happen To Me.'
Follow the World Cafe podcast for more live performances and interviews every week.
Featured performers:
• Mitski: vocals
• Patrick Hyland: electric, acoustic guitars
• Bruno Esrubilsky: drums
• Jeni Magaña: bass, backing vocals
• Emily Moore: guitarist, keys, backing vocals
• Ty Bailie: keys
Thanks to the production team at Power Station: Neal Shaw, Omisha Chaitanya, Grace Leckey and Ben Miller.
This episode of World Cafe was produced and edited by Kimberly Junod. Our digital producer is Miguel Perez. World Cafe's engineer is Chris Williams. Our programming and booking coordinator is Chelsea Johnson and our line producer is Will Loftus.
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New Music Friday: The best albums out March 20 Mar 20, 2026

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BTS. Alex Isley. Dubstep-infused hyperpop from underscores. NPR Music's Hazel Cills chats with Francesca Harding of member station KCRW in Los Angeles about their favorite albums out Friday, March 20. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in our lightning round.
The Starting 5
(00:00) Introduction & BTS, 'ARIRANG'
(02:28) Alex Isley, 'When The City Sleeps'
(07:52) underscores, 'U'
(15:38) ZENA, 'TEMESGEN'
(20:39) Grace Ives, 'Girlfriend'
(26:16) Suitor, 'Saw You Out With The Weeds'
(32:23) The Lightning Round
- Ali & Charif Megarbane, 'Tirakat'
- Naomi Scott, 'F.I.G.'
- Samara Cyn, 'Detour' EP
- Immanuel Wilkins Quartet, 'Live at the Village Vanguard, Vol.1'
- Luke Combs, 'The Way I Am'
Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org
Credits:
Host: Hazel Cills
Guest: Francesca Harding, KCRW
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Rodney Carmichael, Ann Powers and Stephen Thompson
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