NPR Music Viking's Choice 2025: The Guitar
Dec 30, 2025
Explore the vibrant world of guitar music in 2025, featuring a mix of styles and artists. Delve into Gwenifer Raymond's haunting fingerstyle, and uncover the storytelling magic of Hayden Pedigo. Discover the power trio revival with TAKAAT's energetic sound, and experience Rafael Toral's innovative jazz renditions. Enjoy Laura Snowden's classical intimacy, the Zulu traditions of Madala Kunene & Sibusile Xaba, and William Tyler's ambient hymns. Finally, get swept away by Vernon Reid's ecstatic guitar shredding.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Human Reaction Against AI Boosts Fingerstyle
- Fingerstyle guitar seems to be in a renaissance driven partly by a desire for human, organic music in an AI era.
- Robin calls this an "AI backlash," where listeners crave unmistakably human performances.
Jack Rose's Lingering Influence
- Jack Rose's influence persists over a decade after his death and helped revitalize fingerstyle traditions.
- Gwenifer Raymond contributed to a Jack Rose tribute and repurposed that material for her record.
Hayden Pedigo's Narrative Guitar
- Lars highlights Hayden Pedigo's I'll Be Waving As You Drive Away and plays "Houndstooth."
- He praises Pedigo as a lyrical, wordless storyteller whose pieces feel like chapters.