Judges for the Tiny Desk Contest watched thousands of videos, and Weekend Edition is highlighting some of the standouts — this week: rapper Zhalarina's "Lala."

Judges for NPR Music's Tiny Desk Contest watched thousands of videos, and here on Weekend Edition we're highlighting some of the standouts — this week: C.J. Johnson from Oh He Dead.

Each year, the Tiny Desk Contest attracts thousands of impressive unsigned artists from across the country — including Z The Author, who sent in a song inspired by 2020's Black Lives Matter protests.

As the 10-year anniversary of the war approaches, a new book from the photojournalist Bassam Khabieh shares moments of normalcy and resilience against a backdrop of violence, displacement and fear.

In his new book, the globetrotting journalist and longtime NPR contributor collects some of his favorite reports from musicians and music communities around the world.

Smith entered the 2020 Tiny Desk Contest with his band Britton & The Sting. He says "Blackstronauts" is about finding joy: "I want us all to put on our freedom suits and fly together," he says.

Ahead of a Hispanic Heritage Awards ceremony where she's set to receive her latest honor in a career full of them, Ronstadt shares a few thoughts on identity with Lulu Garcia-Navarro.

This year's Tiny Desk Contest attracted plenty of talent, including standout entrant Mama Haze, aka California songwriter Meaghan Maples. Her song "On Your Side" was written during a time of healing.

Every year, the Tiny Desk Contest attracts thousands of unsigned musicians. Lauren Eylise impressed the judges with "Peaks and Valleys," her song about toughing it out through hard times.

Twenty-six-year old Grammy-winning multi-instrumental composer and prodigy Jacob Collier talks about his new album, Djesse Vol. 3., which features collaborations with Ty Dolla $ign and T-Pain.

Almost a decade ago, Canadian singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards gave up music and opened a cafe called Quitters Coffee. She returns now with Total Freedom, her first album in eight years.

NPR's Scott Simon talks to Jeremy Earl about his band Woods and its new album, Strange to Explain, which he wrote in the months following the birth of his daughter.

We learn all kinds of interesting things when we're at loose ends during a pandemic lockdown. Did you know that Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Music Director Marin Alsop co-founded a swing band?

50 years after Harry Nilsson's concept album about a round-headed boy from a land of pointy heads, his son Kiefo and actor Mike Lookinland talk about a new release of the animated film from 1971.

James Taylor's had a long and rich career, with hits including "Fire and Rain" and "You've Got a Friend." Now he's releasing an audio-only memoir and has a new album of standards coming Feb. 28.

For two decades, some of Afropop's hottest sounds have come out of Brooklyn. Duke Amayo and Martin Perna of the band Antibalas talk about their latest release, Fu Chronicles.

NPR's Renee Montagne speaks to songwriter Patterson Hood about his band's new album, which threads dark tales of our perilous times and tries to end on a note of optimism.

A new album commemorates the Centenary Service of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College, Cambridge.

The classical flutist came back from the hospital after receiving an Alzheimer's diagnosis and felt compelled to write. The result is a stunning memoir that mixes poetry and prose.

Amidst the enormous protests against inequality, Chileans turn to song. Music once used to protest the brutal dictator Augusto Pinochet in the '70s has been revamped for the demonstrations.