Bob Boilen

Full disclosure: Sad songs make up most of this week's All Songs Considered. But fans of Julien Baker or Japanese Breakfast will love the five new artists we share on this episode.

Miya Folick was raised a Buddhist in Santa Ana, Calif., and is of Ukrainian and Japanese descent. She sings of conviction, not fiction.

The group from Ireland makes music that mixes the organic with the electronic, starting with a large, 34-string lever harp.

On this special episode of All Songs Considered we share highlights from NPR's American Anthem series, celebrating the songs that unite and inspire us.

The track, which sees the U.S. as "evil" but "not that bad," is being released ahed of the Fourth of July as part of the singer's ongoing series of songs for the holidays.

On this week's All Songs Considered we explore the city that gave us the noise of Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana and the introspection of Fleet Foxes and Death Cab For Cutie.

Imogen Heap takes us through her many musical talents, from her Frou Frou musical partner, Guy Sigsworth — and their first new song in 17 years — to an extraordinary performance with musical gloves.

On this week's All Songs Considered we share NPR Music listeners' picks for the top new artists from the first half of the year.

The British madmen brought fury, cathartic rage and deep thoughts to the Tiny Desk for one of the loudest, most raucous performances in memory.

A weekly playlist of songs heard on the popular NPR music discovery podcast.

What the creator of NPR Music's All Songs Considered and Tiny Desk Concerts is listening to right now.

This week's essential mix from All Songs Considered includes the honey-sludge pop of Haybaby, cathartic rock from the Shreveport band Seratones, dancer-turned singer-songwriter Jordan Moser and more.

Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Elmo, Grover, Rosita, Count von Count, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster and other surprise guests gather at NPR's headquarters to celebrate 50 years of love, learning and joy.

Tomberlin is the daughter of a Baptist pastor, grew up singing in the church and, since her teens, has questioned her own beliefs in God and faith. Her songs are delicate and vulnerable.

This week's All Songs Considered features Bon Iver's "Hey, Ma," released just this week, French Vanilla's sax-driven throwback "Suddenly," and more. It'll leave you asking, "What's a porn crumpet?"

Quinn and his musical partner, guitarist and singer Nick Carpenter, arrived from the cool of Anchorage to the swelter of D.C. and performed with remarkable confidence and grace.

This week's All Songs Considered features a gorgeous, solo piano instrumental from Rhye, Tiny Desk contest winner Quinn Christopherson's unique look at male privilege, psych-pop via Ari Roar and more.

The film by Erik Nelson honors World War II fighter pilots and is called The Cold Blue. It's being released this Friday, along with Thompson's score, in time for the Memorial Day Weekend.

There is no one making music like this 27-year-old, classically trained opera tenor and pianist. Watch and see why.

Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood talks about his classical music featured on NPR Music's Tiny Desk, his love for the recorder and his composer heroes such as Steve Reich and Krzysztof Penderecki.