NPR Music
Episodes
Alt.Latino: Bad Bunny's Tiny Desk
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bad Bunny's Tiny Desk concert was the most watched premiere in the series' history. In this episode, Alt.Latino's Anamaria Sayre speaks with the super...
Even more songs to calm the nerves
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our third installment of calming songs includes Max Richter's tribute to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ambient sounds from Ryuichi Sakamo...
New Music Friday: The best albums out April 4
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Hold Steady's Craig Finn. Momma. Newcomers Lily Seabird and duendita. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson teamed up with Zach McCormick of Minnesota Publ...
Alt.Latino: New music and a psicodélico explainer
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alt.Latino hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre play the new music that caught their ears this week, plus Felix delivers a deep dive into the root...
New Wet Leg, Sufjan Stevens, more: The Contenders, Vol. 7
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wet Leg is back with another burst of wildly infectious, frenetic rock. We've got that, the original version of an Oscar-worthy Sufjan Stevens song, a...
Special announcement
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A quick note about today's episode from All Songs Considered.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
New Music Friday: The best records out March 28
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lucy Dacus. Perfume Genius. Destroyer. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes Colorado Public Radio's Alisha Sweeney of Indie 102.3 to guide you throug...
Alt.Latino: Songs To Move By
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hosts Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras discuss the best music Felix unearthed while moving out of his apartment.Learn more about sponsor message cho...
Saying 'goodbye' to SXSW Music
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We look at how and why SXSW, once the world's largest music festival, is being scaled back to a shell of itself, what was so special about it, and wha...
New Music Friday: The best albums out March 21
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Japanese Breakfast. My Morning Jacket. Greentea Peng. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes Izzi Bavis from Baltimore public radio station WTMD to run...
The most anticipated spring albums
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We look ahead to the most anticipated albums due out this spring, including Rico Nasty's LETHAL, the return of Car Seat Headrest and Lucius, the exist...
New Music Friday: The best albums out March 14
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Charley Crockett. Twin Shadow. Throwing Muses. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson is joined by Matt Reilly of Austin public radio station KUTX to discuss th...
Alt.Latino: A Latin Jazz survey, plus Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alt.Latino hosts share six songs that they've had on repeat over the past month.Featured artists and songs:• Edison Machado & Boa Nova, "Naquela Bas...
The Contenders, Vol. 6: The songs we can't stop playing this week
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We've got just what you need for that stubborn case of existential dread in a looming dystopia as we update our running list of the year's best songs,...
New Music Friday: The best albums out March 7
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lady Gaga. Jason Isbell. Newcomer Annie DiRusso. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes Celia Gregory from Nashville public radio station WNXP to discu...
Alt.Latino: New Music + Violeta Parra
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Alt.Latino hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre balance their passion for new discoveries with reissued music from an iconic Latin Ameri...
All Songs Considered At 25
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As we celebrate a quarter century of music nerdom and buffoonery, we remember the songs that shaped the show and our lives, with 25 No. 1 tracks from ...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Feb. 28
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Animal Collective's Panda Bear. Nicolás Jaar's DARKSIDE. Newcomer Hope Tala. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson discusses these albums and more with KCRW's...
Alt.Latino celebrates Black History Month
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alt.Latino host Felix Contreras speaks with Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican saxophonist Miguel Zenón about the Afro-Latino legacy on the island.Lea...
The Contenders, Vol. 5: The songs we can't stop playing this week
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We update our running list of the year's best songs with the cinematic pop of Oklou, Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir, the experimental hip-hop...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Feb. 21
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sam Fender. The Drive-By Truckers' Patterson Hood. Jesse Welles. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson discussed these new albums and more with country star Ka...
And the Oscar for Original Song goes to...
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With Oscar season here, we review the nominees for Original Song and Original Score, prognosticate who will win the statues on March 2, and look at th...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Feb. 14
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bartees Strange. Denison Witmer. The Sun Ra Arkestra's Marshall Allen. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes Nate Chinen of Philadelphia's WRTI to dis...
Alt.Latino: New Music Roundup
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
'Alt.Latino' hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre are back with six new songs that span the spectrum of Latinidad.Featured artists and songs:• C...
The Contenders, Vol. 4: The songs we can't stop playing this week
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The latest update to our running list of the year's best songs includes the shredded guitars of girlpuppy, solo material from from TV On The Radio's T...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Feb. 7
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sharon Van Etten headlines this week's new releases, but she's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. On this episode, NPR Music's Stephen Thompson w...
Alt.Latino's best new music round-up: Jessie Reyez, Arturo O'Farrill and Astropical
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we hear from a Colombian-Venezuelan super group, a new Afro-Brazilian band, and Ana gets another jazz lesson from a Latin jazz orchestra.So...
Lesser-known love songs
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Making a playlist or mixtape for that special someone? We've got you covered this Valentine's Day with these off-the-radar love songs.Featured artists...
2025 Grammys Recap
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We break down the winners, surprise shutouts and more from what's billed as "music's biggest night," courtesy of our friends at Pop Culture Happy Hour...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Jan. 31
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Weeknd may be the biggest release of the week, but is it the best? We run down five other albums you should hear, with NPR Music's Stephen Thompso...
Alt.Latino: Why we love Joaquina. Plus, Felix is chismeless
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do not come on Alt.Latino if you don't have good chisme! Ana and Felix talk about their favorite songs of the week, including some psychedelic cumbia,...
The Contenders, Vol. 3: The songs we can't stop playing this week
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We update our list of the year's best songs with a Tamino-Mitski collaboration, Son Lux's first new music since scoring Everything Everywhere All At O...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Jan. 24
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
FKA twigs. Central Cee. It's a big week for new releases, and we've got you covered. Host Stephen Thompson welcomes Desiré Moses of Virginia public r...
Alt.Latino: New songs for New Year's resolutions
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras share their goals for 2025 and the new songs that reflect them.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastcho...
2025's most-anticipated albums
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We highlight some of the most anticipated albums of the year, including upcoming ones from Perfume Genius, Lucy Dacus, serpentwithfeet and more.Featur...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Jan. 17
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes aboard Kara Manning of New York City public radio station WFUV to discuss the best new albums hitting streaming ...
A moment for Los Angeles
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Los Angeles is home for me and always in my heart. Watching the fires from afar in my current city, New York, has me thinking a lot about what makes m...
The Contenders, Vol. 2: The songs we can't stop playing this week
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Japanese Breakfast (Michelle Zauner) is back with her first new album since her memoir, Crying in H Mart, blew up. We've got the first single from it,...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Jan. 10
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music's Stephen Thompson is joined by KCRW's Travis Holcombe to run down their four favorite albums out today, as well as the revamped version of ...
Bad Bunny's 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos,' Explained
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alt.Latino hosts Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras, and NPR reporter Isabella Gomez Sarmiento break down what exactly makes the record so Puerto Rica...
The Contenders, Vol. 1: The songs we can't stop playing this week
07 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new year means a new running list of our favorite songs, from the transfixing voice of Anna B Savage and FKA Twigs' moody club beats to the '80s-inf...
New Music Friday: The best albums you missed from December
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There's been some great music released since the last New Music Friday episode in late November. So, on this slow January release day, NPR Music's Ste...
Viking's Choice: The year in catharsis and calm
31 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich turns us on to lesser known corners of music from 2024: blooming drone-folk, richly textured jazz, Somali garage-rock,...
Songs that hit hard in 2024
24 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We asked listeners to tell us about the one song they couldn't stop listening to in 2024 because of how it made them feel. On this episode we share so...
Secret Santa Song Exchange
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to music, December is overflowing with gifts, but we aren't quite done with the presents. This time, the NPR Music team is giving ... to...
Alt.Latino's 'Music We Missed In 2024'
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
'Alt.Latino' hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre do their best to keep up with new releases, but sometimes great music evades their radar. On thi...
A very tolerable Christmas, with All Songs Considered 2024
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our annual attempt to throw a holiday party for the ages continues with a tolerable mix of songs for the season and, as always, some very special gues...
Hip-hop in 2024 was on a wild ride
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Record-breaking mainstream hits. A new generation of artists rising to seize their moment. Rappers in and out of courts. A pair of the biggest names i...
Alt.Latino's favorite songs of 2024
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Felix Contreras, Anamaria Sayre and Isabella Gomez Sarmiento run through their favorites in a crowded year for excellent songs, from innovative Spanis...
The Best Songs of 2024
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our special coverage of the year in music continues with a look at the best songs of 2024, featuring Clairo, Tinashe, Chief Keef, Laura Marling and mo...
The Best Albums of 2024, Part 2
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our look back at the best albums of 2024 continues, with Tyler, The Creator, Cassandra Jenkins, The Cure and more.See NPR Music's complete list of the...
Alt.Latino's favorite albums of 2024
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's that time of the year — figuring out the best Latin music of 2024. And every year, it gets harder and harder (seriously, it's difficult!) for A...
The Best Albums of 2024, Part 1
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our annual look back at the year in music begins with the first of a two-part episode highlighting the year's best albums, with Sabrina Carpenter, Doe...
As the Latin Grammys turns 25, how much has Latin music changed? (Part 2)
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre continue their discussion on the 25th anniversary of the Latin Grammys and the industry's changes, featuring insigh...
A Thanksgiving mix: Songs of joy and gratitude
26 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hosts Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson share stories and songs of gratitude from NPR listeners.Featured songs and artists:1. Yo-Yo Ma and Alison Krau...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Nov. 22
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Ann Powers are your guides to the last big Friday of 2024. Plus a deep dive into an epic new Red Hot compilation tit...
As the Latin Grammys turns 25, how much has Latin music changed? (Part 1)
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Latin Grammys recently marked its 25th anniversary. Alt.Latino's Anamaria Sayre was in Miami to talk to some of Latin music's most influential art...
The Contenders, Vol. 21: The songs we can't stop playing this week
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the final update to our running list of the year's best songs, we've got the cathartic rock of Kassie Krut, a nerve-settling collaboration between ...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Nov. 15
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music's Ann Powers and Daoud Tyler-Ameen are your guides to the most compelling releases out on November 15. Featured Albums:• FLO, Access All A...
Alt.Latino's New Music Roundup
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Alt.Latino hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre recorded their latest new music guide on the streets of Spain.Learn more about sponsor message cho...
The Contenders, Vol. 20: The songs we can't stop playing this week
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We update our running list of the year's best songs with more calming sounds from Sigur Rós frontman Jónsi, the electronic artist Jon Hopkins, Muno ...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Nov. 8
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music's Ann Powers and Daoud Tyler-Ameen are your guides to the most compelling albums released this Friday.Featured albums:• Ab-Soul, Soul Burg...
Alt.Latino's Spain Soundtrack
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Alt.Latino hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre are in Spain for a music conference. On this episode, they share their favorite discoveries from B...
More songs to calm the nerves
03 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In our second installment of blood-slowing songs we take a deep breath and let it out with the music of Max Richter, Hania Rani, Fleet Foxes, Yasmin W...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Nov. 1
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music's Ann Powers and Daoud Tyler-Ameen are your guides to the most compelling new releases of the week, including the first album in 16 years by...
How hip-hop reached global domination
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Over half a century, hip-hop has grown into a globally dominant musical and cultural force while remaining stubbornly, vitally local.When DJ Kool Herc...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Oct. 25
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music's Ann Powers and Hazel Cills are your guides to the week's most compelling new releases. Featured albums:• Amythyst Kiah, Still + Bright•...
Alt.Latino's new music round-up: Elsa y Elmar, Alih Jey and Little Jesus
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Anamaria Sayre brings some exciting new sounds coming out Mexico City (while recording from Mexico City) including sweet new music from Colombian arti...
The Contenders, Vol. 19: The songs we can't stop playing this week
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We debate the pros and cons of small-town living through the music of Christian Lee Hutson, Youth Lagoon, Bartees Strange and more in our biweekly upd...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Oct. 18
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music's Ann Powers and Sheldon Pearce are your guides to this week's most compelling new musical offerings. For October 18, their selections inclu...
Celebrating the legacy of Celia Cruz
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
To celebrate the release of a new book from NPR Music, How Women Made Music, as well as the 50th anniversary this year of the album Celia & Johnny, Fe...
The most terrifying film scores of all time
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We celebrate spooky season with an unnerving mix of songs from our favorite horror movie scores, including The Shining, Under The Skin, Hereditary and...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Oct. 11
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The rapper-turned-country star Jelly Roll, who has had a major breakthrough in Nashville in the last couple of years, leads the pack of the most excit...
Alt.Latino's best new music round-up: Rosalía, Twanguero and Wyatt Flores
09 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre are back with a new music show, featuring Rosalía, Helado Negro, Wyatt Flores and more.Songs featured in this epis...
The Contenders, Vol. 18: The songs we can't stop playing this week
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Reflections on regret from beabadoobee and Bon Iver, deep sonic meditations from Nala Sinephro and Jill Fraser, and more updates to our running list o...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Oct. 4
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music's Lars Gotrich and Sheldon Pearce round up the most exciting albums out this Friday, and reflect on the history of instrumental music as pro...
The songs we can't stop playing on repeat
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Alt.Latino is usually all about sharing new music across Latin America, but what about the older cuts Ana and Felix are obsessed with?On this episode,...
'How Women Made Music'
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How Women Made Music, a new book out now from NPR, considers what the canon of popular music would look like without men.On this episode, we dig into ...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Sept. 27
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Ann Powers discuss on this week's episode, there's a thread of loss running through some of the most notable, thr...
Alt.Latino talks all the surprise nominations for the 2024 Latin Grammys
25 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Wait a minute — does Alt.Latino actually agree with a lot of the Latin Recording Academy's nominations this year?Felix Contreras, Anamaria Sayre and...
The Contenders, Vol. 17: The songs we can't stop playing this week
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We update our running list of the year's best songs with a slice of pop perfection from Oso Oso, harrowing sounds from Colin Stetson, a blissful journ...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Sept. 20
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Lars Gotrich provide a guide the most exciting new releases out today. This week, the selections include some record...
Alt.Latino's best new music round-up: Manu Chao, Linda Diaz and Solo Fernández
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Alt.Latino, Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras talk about an exciting new album from Manu Chao on the way — his first in 17 years — a...
Arcade Fire's 'Funeral' at 20
17 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We look back at Arcade Fire's monumental debut album, why it was so special, the ways it changed the musical landscape, and how it sounds two decades ...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Sept. 13
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music's Ann Powers and Hazel Cills are your guides to the best music out this Friday, Sept. 13, including the 10th studio album by Miranda Lambert...
Alt.Latino's 'El Tiny' takeover is back — and this year it's all about love
11 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
'El Tiny' season at the Tiny Desk launches next week and this year it's all about love — familial and romantic, with drama fit for a telenovela. Ana...
The Contenders, Vol. 16: The songs we can't stop playing this week
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We update our running list of the year's best songs with the shapeshifting rock of Caleb Landry Jones, Angélica Garcia's dystopian grooves, a searing...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Sept. 6
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Ann Powers take you on a tour of the most exciting albums out Friday, Sept. 6Featured albums:• LL Cool J, 'The FOR...
New music from Alt.Latino
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras play some of their favorite new songs from the last few months, featuring globe-spanning electronica from Colombian...
Fall preview 2024
03 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We look ahead to the final big push of releases for 2024, with fall albums from Mount Eerie, SOPHIE, Soccer Mommy, a newly discovered Nusrat Fateh Ali...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Aug. 30
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The best albums out this week include Wild God from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Doechii's Alligator Bites Never Heal, Jon Hopkins' Ritual and more.Feat...
The Contenders, Vol. 15: The songs we can't stop playing this week
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The latest update to our running list of the year's best songs includes tips for staying engaged, being happy and letting go from Arooj Aftab, Great G...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Aug. 23
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music's Stephen Thompson and Sheldon Pearce are your guides to seven anticipated albums out Aug. 23. During the second half of the episode, the tw...
The sound of Venezuelan protest music over the last 30 years
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past month thousands of Venezuelans have taken to the streets to protest the disputed election of president Nicolás Maduro, while Venezuelan...
Nick Cave on the encounters that brought him to 'Wild God'
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On August 30, the Australian-born rock titan Nick Cave will release Wild God, a new album with his band The Bad Seeds. It's a high point in Cave's car...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Aug. 16
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Hazel Cills give you a quick rundown of the most notable albums out Friday, Aug. 16, including Post Malone's country...
The funniest songs of all time
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Weird Al" Yankovic helps curate a mix of some of the funniest songs of all time, from classics like Tom Lehrer's "The Elements," to more fringe disco...
New Music Friday: The best albums out August 9
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Ann Powers survey the new albums out August 9, ranging from Ravyn Lenae's focused R&B to King Gizzard and the Lizard...
Alt.Latino's best new music round-up: Danny Ocean, Girl Ultra and Superfónicos
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre run through their favorite new music, including new work from Venezuelan artist Danny Ocean in the midst of the cou...
The golden age of slacker rock
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Thirty years after the release of Beck's "Loser," we look back at its impact on the rise of slacker rock and how we still hear its influence today.Not...