Janis Ian, 'Brown Girls' Novel, W. Kamau Bell's New Series on Bill Cosby, Celebrating Kim's Video, Silvana Estrada's 'Marchita'
Singer-songwriter Janis Ian released her self-titled debut album in 1967. Its single, "Society's Child," written by Ian when she was fourteen, would be one of her most lasting. In the next decade, she released the hit song, "At Seventeen." Now, she has said that her new album, The Light at the End of the Line, will be her last. Ian joins us for a Listening Party, and we open the lines up for listeners to share their experiences with her music.
Brown Girls, the debut novel from author Daphne Palasi Andreades, tells the story of a friend-group of brown girls in Queens, and their experiences of growing up together through the various stages of their lives. As part of our '2022 Debut' series, Andreades, who was born and raised in Queens, is with us to discuss the novel which The New York Times calls a "daring debut."
In 2018, the famous comedian and television star Bill Cosby was convicted of sexual assault, and has been accused by up to sixty women. However, in 2021, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned the conviction on a legal technicality, and Cosby was released. But what should we take away from the cultural legacy of Bill Cosby? Comedian and activist W. Kamau Bell takes on this question in a new four-part series called, "We Need to Talk About Cosby," which will air on Showtime on January 30. Bell comes on the show to chat the new series.
A new film series at The Metrograph celebrates the former East Village staple Kim’s Video & Music, which influenced and inspired generations of creators with its eclectic and rare selections. The series was curated by former Kim’s Video employees and Mr. Kim himself. Metrograph’s programmer-at-large Nellie Killian joins us to discuss the new series.
Silvana Estrada is a rising singer-songwriter from Veracruz, Mexico, whom NPR's Alt.Latino has named one to watch for 2022. Her debut solo album, Marchita, whose title translates to "withered," explores heartbreak through minimalist, intimately recorded songs based in part in the folk tradition son jarocho. Estrada joins us for a Listening Party.
