Culture | Music
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Patty Griffin celebrates new album ‘Crown of Roses’ and its healing bouquetGrammy-winning musician Patty Griffin almost called it quits. But the pandemic brought a reconciliation with her mother – and a perspective on joy and unconditional love that found an outlet in her music. -
Where does happiness come from? Afrobeat heir Mádé Kútì enters the conversation.With his new album, Mádé Kútì, grandson of Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kútì, asks listeners to go deep: How can you be a better version of yourself?
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Valerie June’s new music embraces joy and the healing power of soulful musicWith the arrival of Valerie June’s latest album comes a chance for the singer to reflect on her artistic journey – and how music fuels her, and the world. -
Move over, Vikings. Sweden’s new seafaring heroes are knitting grannies.What better way to tell a true holiday story than with singing – and knitting? In Sweden, an island choir comes together to celebrate community.
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Want to hear the latest country music? Try Broadway.“Music City,” which opened off-Broadway this month, is the latest show to embrace the country genre. Can Nashville music make it in New York? -
Musician Fantastic Negrito wants to spread the light. He first had to face his past.With “Son of a Broken Man,” Grammy winner Fantastic Negrito tackles his relationship with his father, and considers how to overcome the darkness in our lives. -
People turn to ‘CircleSinging’ to raise their voices – and joyBelting out a tune in front of strangers is a big ask for most people. CircleSinging participants regularly take that risk, and among their rewards are friendship and acceptance. -
He hears America singing. Jake Xerxes Fussell brings new life to folk music.Jake Xerxes Fussell has been seeking forgotten American folk songs his entire life. His fifth album, “When I’m Called,” releases July 12. -
With hit ‘Girl, So Confusing,’ pop stars offer a model of conflict resolutionMusic history is full of feuds between musicians. But pop singers Charli XCX and Lorde just released a hit that opts for reconciliation over vitriol. -
Wynton Marsalis and Bryan Stevenson fuse jazz, protest, and justice on Juneteenth albumCivil rights lawyer and jazz pianist Bryan Stevenson and Pulitzer-winning jazz artist Wynton Marsalis collaborated on a new live performance album of historic jazz records to honor Juneteenth and Black history. -
Ann Powers was writing Joni Mitchell’s life story. She found her own.With her new biography about Joni Mitchell, NPR music critic Ann Powers says she wanted to challenge the idea that there’s only one definitive story of a life. -
DOJ sues Live Nation for muscling out competition in ticket salesThe U.S. Department of Justice announced an antitrust lawsuit against the entertainment company Live Nation. Ticketmaster, which merged with Live Nation in 2010, has been blamed for inflated ticket prices by both consumers and artists. -
Once a ‘bedroom pop’ crooner, Billie Eilish is wide awake on her latest albumA once-in-a-generation performer, Billie Eilish rewrites the rules yet again on “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” her ambitious third release. It’s a project meant to be enjoyed in full, rich with sonic depth and emotional maturity. -
Nemo, Eurovision’s first nonbinary winner, gets a hero’s welcome in SwitzerlandEurovision has long been embraced as a haven for the LGBTQ+ community. This year’s competition struck a particular victory for acceptance, crowning the contest’s first nonbinary winner with an eclectic anthem about being true to oneself.
Monitor's Best: Top 5
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Moscow sees broader Alaska summit goals than peace in Ukraine -
As Trump’s approval ratings fall, Democrats are doing even worse. Why? -
With DC crackdown, Trump reorients balance of power between city, feds -
US-Pakistan relations are the best they’ve been in decades. Pakistanis aren’t thrilled. -
After years of sluggish enlistments, the US military gets a surge of recruits
