NPR Music At SXSW 2014: Tuesday
We loved Charli XCX, watched Neil Young talk about Pono and Ubered a pedicab. These are highlights from the Austin music festival, including a running playlist of our favorite acts.
Category: Music News
Kickstarter Campaign Begins For Neil Young’s Music Player
Young announced his long-planned, high-fidelity audio player, Pono, on Tuesday at SXSW. But at a time when music streaming is overtaking downloads, will anybody want it?
The Guide To Making SXSW Fun (For Everybody)
SXSW can be so overwhelming, so here are six recommendations for keeping keep cool at the Austin music festival — for first-timers, veterans and those following along at home.
Coming Up: Detroit Symphony Returns From The Brink
Just a few years ago, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra was weathering a financial crisis and a bitter labor dispute. Tune in to Weekend Edition on Sunday to hear about its impressive recovery.
A Kid Named Carl Stirs Up The Bach Musical Dynasty
On the 300th anniversary of his birth, hear how music by Johann Sebastian’s son Carl Philipp Emanuel bridged the gap between the old-fashioned Baroque and newfangled music by Haydn and Mozart.
D.C. DIY Space Dougout Goes (Somewhat) Professional
For two years, shows at D.C. house venue Dougout have been as straightforward as they can be for a DIY…
Gazelle Amber Valentine: ‘Gender Is Not A Genre’
The righteously outspoken guitarist from doom metal duo Jucifer speaks about women in hard rock, her almost-acoustic side project and her never-ending life on the road.
Strange But True: Music Doesn’t Make Some People Happy
Researchers say a small number of people appear to lack the brain circuitry to get pleasure from music.
Possessed By Joy: A North American Drummer In Cuba
In January, Harris Eisenstadt spent two weeks studying percussion in Matanzas and Havana. Here’s what he gained from the experience.
In Rio, A Universe Of Samba
In Brazil, samba isn’t just the music of Carnival. With throngs headed to the country for this summer’s World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, samba de rota has become an act of cultural resistance.
Robert Ashley, Opera’s Misunderstood Innovator, Dies At 83
The composer’s operas for TV completely rethought the structures of the old European model for a new generation.
Where Did All The Female Rappers Go?
This, we’re told, is the year female rappers will break their way back into the mainstream, ending the long period of silence for women in the industry.
ABBA’s 1970s Costumes Decidedly Worth The Tax Break
ABBA singer Bjorn Ulvaeus has revealed a secret behind the band’s costumes. It was not only fashion that determined their sartorial choices.
Listening In Reel Life: The Pop Music Inside The Oscar Nominees
Original songs and scores aren’t the only music worth paying attention to on Oscar night. Pop music is woven deeply into the performances and plots of many of the year’s best movies.
From Recife, Brazil, 3 Rhythms Get The Carnival Party Started
The descendants of the coastal Brazilian city have a long, mixed history, making for quite the vibrant display and musical celebration. One style of music is even said to make the blood boil.
And The Oscar Goes To … Mr. ‘Star Wars’ Or Arcade Fire?
If there’s ever a stereotypical bunch of contenders for the Best Original Score Oscar, the class of 2014 definitely isn’t it. Meet them — and see the haunting short that’s a companion to Gravity.
A Rational Conversation: What’s With All The Drummers Leading Late-Night Bands?
Robin DiMaggio, who leads The Arsenio Hall Show band, says drummers, who have to be ambidextrous to play their instrument, can drive the music and multitask like champions.
Paco De Lucia, Modern Superstar Of Flamenco, Dies
Traditional flamenco is a singer’s art, born in the cradle of Roma culture in Spain. De Lucia was neither a singer nor Roma, which makes his accomplishments all the more extraordinary.
Last Of The ‘Sound Of Music’ Von Trapps Dies At 99
Maria Von Trapp, the last of the seven-member Trapp Family Singers that inspired the play and film, died on Tuesday at her home in Vermont.
Rail, Radio And Booze: A Look At Montreal Jazz History
Thanks to prohibition and trains, the Canadian city became known as a nightlife capital. A web documentary traces how Oscar Peterson and others emerged from the black neighborhood of Little Burgundy.