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New Sounds

Recent New Sounds Episodes

#4929, From the Soundcheck Podcast: Orquesta Akokán, Ivan Llanes

Hear music by Cuban dance band Orquesta Akokán and Cuban singer, percussionist, and bandleader Ivan Llanes, from the Soundcheck Podcast series.
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#4928, From the Soundcheck Podcast: STEFA*, LA LOM

Hear Queens-based Colombian-influenced artist STEFA*, and the Latin twang of instrumental trio LA LOM, recorded for the Soundcheck podcast.
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#5184, Americana Roots, New Routes

Hear tunes that take American roots music in unusual directions, whether rearranged and/or connected with other sounds – especially minimalism- and in Jake Blount’s case – Afrofuturism.
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#5030, Neo-Classical

Hear keyboard-based, lyrical music by Icelandic pianist and composer Ólafur Arnalds & Talos, Polish composer and pianist Hania Rani, German composer and pianist Nils Frahm, and others.
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#5183, A World Tour of Bagpipes

Listen to music featuring bagpipes from France, the Balkans, Central Asia, and from Oman and Iran in music by Francois Robin & Mathias Delplanque, the Oman Bagpipe Singers, and from the Afro-Iranian musician Saeid Shanbehzadeh.
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Recent Gig Alerts

Jake Blount at Jalopy

Jake Blount is a singer, banjo player, fiddler, and musicologist. He's just released an album of string band music called Single-Footing Horse. Blount plays on Sept. 19 at Jalopy in Brooklyn. 
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Dominique Fils-Aimé at Le Poisson Rouge

Montreal-based JUNO Award winning singer-songwriter Dominique Fils-Aimé reflects on the social realities that influenced the genres of blues, jazz and soul and channels that spirit into her own work. She plays at LPR on Sept. 17.
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Tyondai Braxton at Public Records

Electro-acoustic composer Tyondai Braxton's latest album, Splayed Werks, grows out of his live shows which are based on modular synthesis. He plays at Public Records on Sept. 16.
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Upper Wilds at Union Pool

Upper Wilds is a Brooklyn-based melodic fuzz rock band led by singer and guitarist Dan Friel, whose latest album is called "Mercury". They play at Union Pool in Brooklyn on Sept. 15. 
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Shearwater at Rough Trade Below

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Recent Soundcheck Episodes

Norwegian Chord Progression Artist Sondre Lerche Sings Acrobatic Melodies, In-Studio

Norwegian singer-songwriter Sondre Lerche, who defines himself as a “chord progression artist”, visits Soundcheck studios to play a few songs from his latest record, Acrobats.
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Indie Rock Band Shearwater Performs Cerebral Songs with Laurie Anderson, In-Studio

American indie rock band led by singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and ornithologist Jonathan Meiburg returns to Soundcheck studios for a live performance and interview, joined by the legendary avant-garde artist Laurie Anderson.
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Best of Soundcheck: Sofia Rei, Mike Doughty

On this episode of Soundcheck: two artists who are inspired by folk music, but write songs that fall under a different genre altogether. Hear Mike Doughty and Sofia Rei's performances and interviews recorded at WNYC studios earlier this year.
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Recording Artist and Actor Saul Williams Speaks Contemplative Words, In-Studio

Recording artist and actor Saul Williams, who recently starred in the Oscar-winning film Sinners, performs a few songs from his new album, titled Leap Year.
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Quiet Reflection in Acoustic Songs by Daughter of Swords (Archives)

North Carolina singer and guitarist Alex Sauser-Monnig records under the name Daughter of Swords. They play vulnerable, homespun tunes from their solo debut, 'Dawnbreaker' in-studio.
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Best of Soundcheck: Paris Paloma, Cautious Clay

From our Soundcheck archives, hear adventurous recording artists Paris Paloma and Cautious Clay's performances, and interviews with host John Schaefer.
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Fearless Creative Expression and Lived Experience From Arturo Sandoval Who "Sounds Good", In-Studio

Trumpeter and bandleader Arturo Sandoval is a Latin music legend. He's just released a fearless album, Sangú, full of Afro-Cuban percussion, Yoruba spiritual memory, Cuban phrasing, bebop fire, funk, folklore, and the electrifying spirit of risk. Sandoval leads a nonet in some of the new tunes, in-studio.
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Ghost Hounds Conjures Bluesy Roots-Rock In-Studio

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Best of Soundcheck: Dessa, Omar Offendum

For this episode of Soundcheck, the rapper, singer, and author Dessa gets political, and Syrian-American rapper Omar Offendum gets historical.
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From the 2026 New York Guitar Festival: Gyan Riley; Ziggy & Miles

Listen to a sampling of some of the 2026 New York Guitar Festival, with pieces by Gyan Riley and an arrangement of Debussy by Ziggy & Miles, recorded live in August at Bryant Park.
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From the 2026 New York Guitar Festival: Goran Ivanovic & Fareed Haque, and Pierre Bensusan

Listen to a sampling of some of the 2026 New York Guitar Festival, with pieces by Goran Ivanovic and Fareed Haque and Pierre Bensusan, recorded live in August at Bryant Park.
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Best of Soundcheck: Public Service Broadcasting; Em Spel

Hear a musical tribute to Amelia Earhart from London’s Public Service Broadcasting, and surreal folk from Chicago singer Em Spel, both recorded live for Soundcheck.
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Flamenco Guitar Pyrotechnicians Rodrigo y Gabriela Spark It Up, In-Studio (Archives)

Mexican guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela perform technical feats of wonder, somehow combining flamenco, classical, and thrash metal together in jaw-dropping originals, in-studio. (Archives, 2019.)
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Dan Deacon's Joyous Electro-Acoustic Orchestra Ascends a Mountain, In-Studio

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Dominican-Italian Singer-Songwriter YENDRY Weaves Delicate Melodies, In-Studio

Dominican-Italian singer-songwriter YEИDRY presents the first batch of songs from her upcoming debut album, Como Agua, with an acoustic live performance and interview.
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Jazz / R&B Ensemble Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science Amplify Progressive Issues, In-Studio

Grammy-nominated jazz/R&B ensemble, Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science, joins us for this edition of Soundcheck to play some new songs from their new album, Trip the Night Fantastic.
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Best of Soundcheck: We Are Scientists, Art Brut

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Yasser Tejeda y Palotré Celebrate Ancestral Dominican Traditions

Listen to our 2019 Soundcheck session with Brooklyn-based guitarist and composer Yasser Tejada & the group Palotré.
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The Calm Spark of South African Jazz Master Abdullah Ibrahim Persists

On this episode of Soundcheck, revisit the solo piano performance and interview of the late South African pianist and composer, Abdullah Ibrahim.
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Best of Soundcheck: Meklit, The Bad Plus

On this episode of Soundcheck, revisit the live performances and interviews featuring American avant-garde group The Bad Plus and the Ethiopian pop artist Meklit.
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Alt-Country Artist Tift Merritt Shares Her New Confessional Songs, In-Studio

After almost a decade-long wait, the Grammy-nominated alt-country artist Tift Merritt returns with her new record Sugar, and performs some of her new songs solo for this edition of Soundcheck.
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Chamber Pop Duo Gracie and Rachel Sing New Introspective Songs, In-Studio

Chamber pop duo Gracie and Rachel bring their confessional lyrics, ethereal vocals, dreamy soundscapes drenched in strings, guitars, and synths, back to our studio: this time with Asher Kurtz on guitar and Connor Parks on drums, for this edition of Soundcheck.
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Best of Soundcheck: Marilina Bertoldi, Julieta Venegas

On this episode, revisit our Soundcheck sessions with Mexican multi-instrumentalist Julieta Venegas and Argentine rock 'n' roll icon Marilina Bertoldi.
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Experimental Jazz Artist Zoh Amba Presents Their Brand of Gritty Folk-Rock Music, In-Studio

Multi-instrumentalist Zoh Amba, who is known in the avant-garde jazz world as a standout saxophonist, turns their attention to seemingly new territory that is really a homecoming: gritty, Appalachian folk-rock music.
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Helado Tropical Feels Like 'Summer's Warmth on a Sunday', In-Studio

Helado Tropical is a warm and friendly collaboration between Helado Negro, the experimental pop project of Ecuadorian-American singer/songwriter Roberto Carlos Lange, and Reyna Tropical, which is the work of the Mexican-American musician Fabi Reyna (also of the cumbia band Savila). They play in-studio.
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Funky Afrobeat Brass Band EMEFE Rekindles Old Songs, In-Studio

Jazz-funk/afrobeat collective EMEFE returns after their hiatus with a new album and a special performance for the Soundcheck podcast.
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Tunisian-American Artist and Activist Emel, In-Studio

The Tunisian-born, American-based singer and activist Emel Mathlouthi plays North African-inflected electronic songs, enhanced with tamboras (drums) in-studio.
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Best of Soundcheck: The New Pornographers; Carminho

This week on Soundcheck, live performances from the popular indie rock band The New Pornographers, and the Portuguese fado singer Carminho.
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Folktronica Songwriter Ásgeir Channels His Vocal Heroes, In-Studio

Icelandic folktronica singer-songwriter Ásgeir has some new songs to share from his fifth studio album, Julia.
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Multi-instrumentalist Isaiah Collier Discovers New Creative Avenues, In-Studio

On this episode of Soundcheck, Isaiah Collier leaves his saxophone behind to play our piano and sing his soulful new songs with this band, in-studio.
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Best of Soundcheck: Horsegirl; Sullivan Fortner

Discover two wildly different musical acts with a playful streak on Soundcheck: beloved indie rock band Horsegirl and Grammy-winning pianist Sullivan Fortner. Both perform in-studio.
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Guitarist Marisa Anderson Studies UnAmerican Folk Music, In-Studio

Masterful guitarist Marisa Anderson celebrates the release of her latest album, The Anthology of UnAmerican Folk Music, with a special solo performance that bridges the gap between the Western tonal system and microtonality, for this edition of Soundcheck.
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Pianist and Story Collector Lara Downes Celebrates America @250, In-Studio

Pianist Lara Downes' latest is a multimedia piece called The Declaration Project and an album of music Hold These Truths- collected stories and music, celebrating America at 250. She plays some of these works, in-studio.
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Best of Soundcheck: Tank and the Bangas, Rodney Crowell

In this special episode of Soundcheck, we highlight some of our favorite live performances and interviews from Tank and the Bangas and Rodney Crowell.
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Dallas-born Folk Singer-Songwriter Anjimile Finds a New Level of Comfort, In-Studio

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Elizabeth and the Catapult Slows Down Enough and Stays Present (In-Studio)

Elizabeth Ziman, who performs as Elizabeth and the Catapult, is a singer-songwriter from Brooklyn. She plays new songs from her latest, "Responsible Friend", in-Studio.
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Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi Discover Common Roots Through Music, In-Studio

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Art Rock Trio Mary in the Junkyard Embraces the Light with the Dark, In-Studio

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Composer and Bassoonist Joy Guidry Transforms via Music, In-Studio

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Latin Dance Duo Ruido Tovar Combines Old Traditions with Modern Sounds, In-Studio

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Paris Paloma Offers Darkly Sharp Pop Songcraft, In-Studio

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Tank and the Bangas Stay Lifted With Playful Tunes, In-Studio

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English Post-Punk Duo Sleaford Mods Spares No Fury, In-Studio

Nottingham post-punk duo Sleaford Mods create minimalist danceable and ferocious rants against elite sleaze and fraud, in-studio.
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Avant-folk Composer Em Spel Sings Beguiling Songs, In-Studio

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The Klezmatics Were Made For These Times (In-Studio)

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Texas Aficionado Ryan Bingham Plays New Songs, In-Studio

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Hiss Golden Messenger's Warm and Earthy Folk-Rock, In-Studio

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Multi-instrumentalist Julieta Venegas Lets Go of the Past, In-Studio

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Gamelan Yowana Sari Brings the Brilliant Bursts of Metal

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Sofía Rei Connects Traditional and Future Sounds, In-Studio

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Indie Rock Songwriter Morgan Nagler Sings Her Unfiltered Songs, In-Studio

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Cellist Alisa Weilerstein Wonders 'Bout Sound and Meaning, In-Studio

Alisa Weilerstein is more than just a virtuoso cellist; she is also a winner of the MacArthur Fellowship, the so-called “genius” award and is a master of connecting music of our time with core classical repertoire. She plays some of her series, "Fragments", in-studio.
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Folk-Rock Trio The Lone Bellow Plays Some Hard-Won Songs, In-Studio

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Texas-Born Folk Artist Jana Horn Weaves a Gentle Atmosphere, In-Studio

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English Post-Punk Outfit Art Brut Doesn’t Seem Like It’s Planned! (In-Studio)

The band Art Brut has been making excitable, eccentric indie rock since their debut LP Bang Bang Rock N Roll was released in the UK back in 2005. They play a gleefully feral set of songs, in-studio.
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Alternative Rock Artist Mike Doughty Reinterprets Musical Memories, In-Studio

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Omar Offendum Fuses Hip-Hop, Poetry, and Arab Heritage, In-Studio

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Soulful Folk Music Composer Annahstasia Embraces Dynamism, In-Studio

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Storyteller Dessa Calls Attention to Current Events, In-Studio

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Julia Úlehla and Dálava Forge Ancestral Connections Via Moravian Folk Songs, In-Studio

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Argentine Singer and Guitarist Marilina Bertoldi Rebrands Rock 'n' Roll, In-Studio

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Weekly Roundup

Weekly Music Roundup: Beck, Lankum's Radie Peat, and Rhiannon Giddens

This week, a Coltrane tribute, reinvented folk songs from Rhiannon Giddens and Radie Peat, and the return of Beck.
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Weekly Music Roundup: Shygirl, The Tubs, and Ezra Collective

This week, London Calling: new releases of Celtic rock, indie pop from The Tubs, Afro-Latin jazz from Ezra Collective, and more from across the pond.
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Weekly Music Roundup: Erykah Badu, Interpol, and The Animeros

This week, returns for Erykah Badu, Interpol, and Thao; plus new songs from Dawn Richard and The Animeros. 
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Weekly Music Roundup: Lampchop, Keb’Mo’, and Agnes Obel

This week, new releases by singer-songwriter Lambchop, bluesman Keb’Mo’; art-pop purveyor Julia Holter, Danish singer and pianist Agnes Obel, and singer Matt B.
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Weekly Music Roundup: Jon Batiste, Troye Sivan, and The Womack Sisters

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Weekly Music Roundup: Wolf Alice, Firas Zreik, and Shearwater

This week, Shaboozey’s country concept album, Seun Kuti’s reggae journey, and Shearwater’s mix of art and nature. Also, music by Wolf Alice and Firas Zreik.
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Weekly Music Roundup: Charlie XCX, Dos Santos, and Ghost Hounds

This week, new music from Charli XCX, Dos Santos, and Ghost Hounds.  Also, poet and producer Saul Williams and Ancient Infinity Orchestra.
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Weekly Music Roundup: Nia Archives, Orville Peck, and Orquesta Akokán

This week, new takes on old sounds from Nia Archives, Orville Peck, Orquesta Akokán , and Cinder Well. And Lido Pimienta’s surprise inspiration.
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Weekly Music Roundup: DJ Shadow, Guachinangos, and Radie Peat of Lankum

This week, a new release of an old song by DJ Shadow, and new music from Lankum’s Radie Peat, Jesus Is The Path To Heaven, HUG, and Guachinangos.
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Weekly Music Roundup: Ela Minus, Margo Price, and mary in the junkyard

This week, a well-timed protest LP by Margo Price; mary in the junkyard’s buzzed-about debut; Ela Minus & Nick Leon’s collaboration; plus new releases from Akusmi and Kalia Vandever.
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Weekly Music Roundup: PJ Harvey, Willow, and Phoebe Bridgers

This week, previews from PJ Harvey, Phoebe Bridgers, and Wyclef Jean. Plus Willow goes to Brazil and Son Rompe Pera go to AA.
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Weekly Music Roundup: Dawn Richard, Saul Williams, and New Julius Eastman

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Weekly Music Roundup: Olivia Rodrigo, Leenalchi, and Brazzmatazz

This week, Olivia Rodrigo channels The Cure. Plus, there are global sounds from Leenalchi and Brazzmatazz, as well as a new single from Interpol.
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Weekly Music Roundup: Vince Staples, Zoh Amba, and Beth Orton

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Weekly Music Roundup: Ezra Collective, Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science, and The Durutti Column

This week, the return of Afrobeat-jazz-funk band Ezra Collective and The Durutti Column; plus drummer Terri Lyne Carrington Trips the Night Fantastic with her band Social Science.
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Weekly Music Roundup: Ruido Tovar, Tyondai Braxton, and Moses Sumney and Kara Jackson

This week, a Eurovision surprise, a Latin supergroup’s debut, and a musical tour of a famous Brooklyn cemetery.
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Weekly Music Roundup: The Strokes, Tank and the Bangas, and Shearwater

This week, indie rock vets The Mountain Goats, The Strokes, and Shearwater offer new tracks, Tank And The Bangas conclude a trilogy, and Laurie Anderson teams up with Sexmob.
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Weekly Music Roundup: The Rolling Stones, Aldous Harding, and Carín León

This week, The Rolling Stones return, so does Broken Social Scene; also, new releases from Aldous Harding, Carin Leon, and Tank & The Bangas.
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Weekly Music Roundup: Gabrielle Cavassa, Cinder Well, and The Klezmatics

This week, Gabrielle Cavassa’s time-traveling sound, Cinder Well’s dark and contemporary folk, and Yiddish Gospel music from The Klezmatics. Plus Latin sounds from David Byrne and Arturo Sandoval.
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Weekly Music Roundup: Modest Mouse, Cocanha, and Punch Brothers

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Weekly Music Roundup: M.I.A. Has a Gospel Album, Reyna Tropical Releases New Single, and Massive Attack Collaborates with Tom Waits

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Weekly Roundup: New Singles from Kelela and Julieta Venegas, and Gracie and Rachel's Third LP

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Weekly Roundup: Anne Hathaway Sings FKA Twigs, Kronos Quartet's Glorious Mahalia, and Adrian Quesada

This week, Anne Hathaway is a pop star; Bruce Hornsby shows his range; and the Kronos Quartet salutes the great Mahalia Jackson.  Also, returns for Adrian Quesada and Elizabeth & The Catapult.
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Weekly Music Roundup: mary in the junkyard, Ruido Tovar, and The New Pornographers

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Weekly Music Roundup: Miles Caton, Nubiyan Twist, and Marisa Anderson

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Weekly Music Roundup: Bruce Springsteen, Anjimile, and Umut Adan

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Weekly Music Roundup: The Charity Compilation "Help(2)", Aldous Harding, and Raye

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Weekly Music Roundup: Gnarls Barkley, Mitski, and Bruno Mars

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Weekly Music Roundup: U2, Genesis Owusu, and Justin Hicks

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New Sounds

New Sounds is New York Public Radio’s home for the musically curious, since 1982. It’s a hub for discovering weird and wonderful music from artists, composers and traditional musicians. Email us at hello@newsounds.org.

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