The Buddy Movie That Is Lake Street Dive
To celebrate two decades of joyful jazz-pop perfection, the members of Lake Street Dive had to find new ways to write and record for new album Good Together.
Marty Lipp
Marty Lipp has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Newsday, Details and The Star-Ledger. He focuses mostly on soulful world and regional music, both traditional and contemporary.
Gustavo Santaolalla on the Album That Launched His Career
Award-winning musician and producer Gustavo Santaolalla is re-releasing a personal instrumental album that was a turning point for his lauded career.
Carminho Brings the Soul of Portugal to the World
Carminho’s second album Portuguesa sees the Portuguese singer nominated for a Latin Grammy, making her film debut, and performing for the Pope.
Eliades Ochoa Brings Worldly Sophistication to Cuban Country Music
Eliades Ochoa may have grown up in a rustic milieu, but he’s traveled many miles since and picked up some sophisticated sounds on the way.
Fatoumata Diawara Creates African Pop-Soul From the Diaspora
On her strongest album yet, London Ko, Fatoumata Diawara demonstrates how music from today’s African diaspora can be “Everything Everywhere All at Once”.
Kimi Djabaté’s African Pop Moves Hearts and Hips on ‘Dindin’
Kimi Djabaté’s Dindin is an invitation to fellowship for Africans and beyond and a call to take care of unfinished business with kindness and compassion.
Puerto Rico’s iLe Transforms From Rappers’ Kid Sister to Bolero Warrior
Formerly the sole female vocalist in rap group Calle 13, iLe has turned into a Latin alternative firebrand, pushing her art and her politics in exciting ways.
Natalia Lafourcade Finds the Heart in Darkness
Mexican pop-rock and folk singer-songwriter Natalia Lafourcade releases her first album of original songs in seven years and tells PopMatters all about it.
Putumayo Revisits Afro-Cuban Rhythms
Putumayo’s Afro-Cubano continues the breezy, tropical tour of the world, pouring new ingredients into their familiar aural elixir.
‘Talking Heads: 77’ Pointed to the Future 45 Years Ago
Talking Heads: 77‘s power-pop short song format sounded familiar, but those herky-jerky rhythms, eccentric melodies, and strained yelping vocals led to New Wave.
Paris Combo Have Happy Ending with ‘Quesaco?’
Slipping on a Paris Combo album is like sliding into the ease of a Sunday afternoon. The rhythms’ soft sway and Belle du Berry’s charming vocals don’t urge; they invite.
Jorge Drexler on Love in The Time of Coronavirus
An otolaryngologist by training, Oscar-winning, Madrid-based Jorge Drexler uses his new album to examine love through a variety of lenses.