NPR Music
NPR
Welcome to your all-in-one destination for every NPR Music podcast. We break down the best new albums to hit streaming each week on New Music Friday; we share the latest songs worthy of your playlists on All Songs Considered; there’s off-the-rails conversations (and chisme!) about Latin music on Alt.Latino. The NPR Music channel is your hub for new records, iconic artists and cult heroes, free of algorithms and full of surprises.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 8, 2026 • 32min
Alt.Latino: Sonic Bloom: Fresh, funky new tracks from Rio, Granada and more
A springtime musical tour featuring cinematic orchestral guitar from Brazil and Spanish funk fused with flamenco. Tropical pop with hip-hop playfulness and a quirky Chilean side project bring humor and melancholy. Indigenous Náhuatl chants get an electronic club makeover, and tender indie from northern Mexico closes the set.
Apr 7, 2026 • 45min
All Songs Considered: José González's hope, Jungle's sunshine
Bright, sunlit grooves meet meditative throat singing and orchestral reflection. They spin Jungle’s breezy survivor anthem and a study of practiced optimism by José González. A cinematic song cycle, synth-pop discovery, and a late-life orchestral meditation round out the set. Short takes on resilience, ambiguity, and bold production choices keep the conversation lively.
21 snips
Apr 3, 2026 • 39min
New Music Friday: The best albums out April 3
Erin Wolf, Radio Milwaukee music programmer and broadcaster, guides listeners through new April 3 releases. She spotlights Arlo Parks' dance-leaning pop evolution, Dermot Kennedy's folk-tinged emotive songs, Thundercat's playful, collaborative record, and standout picks from artists like Joe Pernice and Sunn O))). Short, lively takes on the week’s most talked-about albums.
Apr 1, 2026 • 32min
Alt.Latino: Dominican indie, Peruvian cumbia and experimental Argentine pop
A tour of Dominican indie sounds and percussion-forward songwriting. A dive into Peruvian cumbia and its psychedelic chicha roots. Explorations of experimental Argentine pop that blends traditional rhythms with modern production. Conversations about boundary-crossing collaborations and artists reshaping Latin musical geography.
18 snips
Mar 31, 2026 • 34min
All Songs Considered: Our favorite Tiny Desk Contest entries
Bobby Carter, Tiny Desk series producer and contest judge, walks through standout Tiny Desk Contest entries. He spotlights riff-driven rock, playful video tactics, soulful living-room performances, inventive looping builds, intimate a cappella moments, gospel sing-alongs, and punchy songwriter showcases. Short, vivid takes on why these clips grabbed attention.
38 snips
Mar 27, 2026 • 43min
New Music Friday: The best albums out March 27
Alisa Ali, WFUV radio host and music programmer in New York, shares her picks for March 27 releases. She and Stephen highlight Robyn's Blade Runner electro-pop return and RAYE's sprawling 73-minute mashup. They discuss Flea's jazzy trumpet turn and The New Pornographers' reflective new record. Short lightning picks from critics cap the conversation.
Mar 25, 2026 • 28min
Alt.Latino: Songs she loves: Sofia Rei and the magic of the human voice
Sofia Rei, an Argentine vocalist and composer known for layered, voice-as-instrument work, shares songs that shaped her sound. She discusses her album Antónima, collaborations with Pan-Latin women artists, and blending folk, electronics, and experimental vocal textures. Short moments explore influences like Juana Molina, Tune-Yards, and Rita Indiana.
Mar 24, 2026 • 42min
All Songs Considered: Bon Iver talks to God, plus Tori Amos
A surprise live Bon Iver rarity and its synth-driven, euphoric live treatment. New songs from Tori Amos with atmospheric piano and communal themes. Luxembourg indie rocker Francis of Delirium brings upbeat yet melancholic riffs. A hypnotic trio delivers woozy, looped guitar trance. Influential metal band Neurosis returns with a cathartic, challenging new record.
5 snips
Mar 21, 2026 • 42min
Interview: Mitski
Mitski, singer-songwriter known for introspective indie rock, performs live and reflects on her new album. She talks about transforming songs from raw band ideas into orchestral soundscapes. Themes include disassociation, anonymity in small towns, gendered symbolism with cats, codependency and anxiety, and anger at how women’s stories are consumed.
29 snips
Mar 20, 2026 • 40min
New Music Friday: The best albums out March 20
Francesca Harding, KCRW broadcaster and LA music curator, guides listeners through the week's standout releases. Conversations cover BTS's return and collaborators. They spotlight Alex Isley’s late-night R&B, underscores' dubstep-infused hyperpop, Zéna’s Ethiopian-jazz fusion, Grace Ives’ cinematic growth, Suitor’s raw post-punk, plus rapid-fire picks from critics.
