World Cafe

For Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield, songwriting is an art form, but it can also be like solving a math problem. On the next World Cafe, Crutchfield talks about finding the perfect lines of poetry to craft her new album, Tiger’s Blood, and why she doesn’t believe in the “tortured artist” trope. Plus, Waxahatchee performs live in our studio. Join us.

Some albums see themselves as short stories. Others as movies. Nashville singer-songwriter Lizzie No sees her new record, Halfsies, as a video game, following the adventures of Miss Freedomland, a character who goes on an epic quest to find freedom, and themselves. Lizzie No joins us to talk about the album, as well as how Beyonce’s Lemonade inspired her to ignore genres and follow her own path. We’ll also hear a live performance featuring songs from Halfsies. It’s Lizzie No on the next World Cafe.

St. Vincent says that the early 70’s in New York City, after the hippies and before disco, inspired the sound of her album, Daddy’s Home. The lyrics on the record make references to Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos, Candy Darling, and St. Vincent’s visits to see her father when he was in prison. St. Vincent is our guest on the next World Cafe. Join us.

Maggie Rogers’ new album, Don’t Forget Me, is a perfect summer road trip album, and the feeling of fun and freedom came from her putting the pedal to the metal in the studio. Rogers and producer Ian Fitchuk wrote two songs a day and recorded the new album over the span of five days. It’s Maggie Rogers on the next World Cafe.

To find inspiration, Lo Moon frontman Matt Lowell returned to the place in Connecticut he first performed as a musician, Clark Memorial Chapel. It was the spark that set the band’s new album, I Wish You Way More Than Luck, into motion. Lo Moon joins us to perform a set of songs from the album recorded live in London, on the next World Cafe.

There have been a lot of big changes in Laura Jane Grace’s life over the last few years – but just because she’s in constant motion doesn’t mean she’s trying to outrun her past. On the next World Cafe, Laura Jane Grace talks about her new album, Hole in my Head, and how past pain makes you who you are.

A psychedelic trip opened the creative door for Lindsay Lou to craft her latest album. Inspired by visions of what she calls “the divine feminine,” Lou’s Queen of Time features appearances from Jerry Douglas and Billy Strings. On the next World Cafe, she talks more about embodying that feminine power and how her late grandmother left her mark on the record. Join us.

When Wes Leavins was a teenager, he started writing letters to Brigitte Bardot. The French actress not only wrote back, but she and Leavins became pen pals. That story inspired the name for the band Leavins now fronts called Brigitte Calls Me Baby. Wes joins us on the next World Cafe to talk about forming the rock and roll band and how Elvis helped him refine his performance style.

On their appropriately titled forthcoming album, Sonido Cósmico, Hermanos Gutiérrez announced that they have left the desert and are headed straight for outer space. The album, produced by Dan Auerbach, is a sonic departure for Alejandro and Estevan Gutiérrez, but still showcases the brothers’ blissed out, mesmerizing, instrumental guitar playing. On the next World Cafe, the duo performs a set of songs live from AmericanaFest 2023.

A total solar eclipse is crossing over North America, and we’re here to celebrate. We’ve put together a musical playlist for your solar eclipse watching (and listening) pleasure, including Pink Floyd, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Bonnie Tyler, Death Cab for Cutie and TV On The Radio. Join us!