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John Schaefer

Host

John Schaefer

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John Schaefer (Marco Antonio)

John Schaefer has hosted Soundcheck since the show’s inception in 2002. He has also hosted and produced WNYC’s radio series New Sounds since 1982 (“The No. 1 radio show for the Global Village” – Billboard) and the New Sounds Live concert series since 1986.

John has written extensively about music, including the book New Sounds: A Listener’s Guide to New Music (Harper & Row, NY, 1987; Virgin Books, London, 1990); The Cambridge Companion to Singing: World Music (Cambridge University Press, U.K., 2000); and the TV program Bravo Profile: Bobby McFerrin (Bravo Television, 2003). He was contributing editor for Spin and Ear magazines, and his liner notes appear on more than 100 recordings, ranging from “The Music of Cambodia” to recordings by Yo-Yo Ma and Terry Riley.

In 2003, Schaefer was honored with the American Music Center's prestigious Letter of Distinction for his "substantial contributions to advancing the field of contemporary American music in the United States and abroad." In May 2006, New York magazine cited Schaefer as one of "the people whose ideas, power, and sheer will are changing New York" in its Influentials issue. He began blogging for WNYC when accompanying the New York Philharmonic on its historic (and apparently very weird) trip to North Korea in 2008 and continues to blog at soundcheck.org.

He is a regular contributor to the World Science Festival and the White Light Festival at Lincoln Center; he has also written about horse racing (Bloodlines: A Horse Racing Anthology, Vintage NY 2006) and was a regular panelist on the BBC’s soccer-based program Sports World.

Shows:

John Schaefer appears in the following:

Mei Semones

Weekly Music Roundup: Mei Semones, McKinley Dixon, and Pachyman

Friday, May 02, 2025

New Sounds

This week, Brooklyn-based singer and guitarist Mei Semones’s debut; rapper and singer McKinley Dixon’s darker sound, and Pachyman warms things up with dub-drenched pop.

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Weekly Music Roundup: Bruce Springsteen, Ana Tijoux, and Cheikh Ibra Fam

Friday, April 18, 2025

New Sounds

This week, a new old song from The Boss; an EP from Chilean musician Ana Tijoux; and a collaboration by Julien Baker and Torres. Plus, Senegalese singer Cheikh Ibra Fam's global pop.

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Tune-Yards

Weekly Music Roundup: Pulp, Tune-Yards, and Rauw Alejandro

Friday, April 11, 2025

New Sounds

This week, Pulp and Tune-Yards return; and Larum riffs on the 12th Century German abbess and composer Hildegard of Bingen. Plus, Puerto Rican superstar Rauw Alejandro goes back to bomba.

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Campaign to Keep New Sounds

Tuesday, April 08, 2025

John Schaefer, host of WNYC's New Sounds, explains how his team is working on the campaign to save New Sounds.

Allison Russell and Annie Lennox

Weekly Music Roundup: Allison Russell and Annie Lennox, Sam Akpro, and CMAT

Friday, March 28, 2025

New Sounds

This week, Allison Russell’s duet with Annie Lennox, CocoRosie’s return, and Sam Akpro’s good first impression. Plus, Irish singer/songwriter CMAT announces her new album.

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Alison Krauss & Union Station

Weekly Music Roundup: Alison Krauss & Union Station; Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco; Tamino with Mitski

Friday, March 21, 2025

New Sounds

Hear collaborations from American fiddler Alison Krauss & Union Station; Selena Gomez with producer Benny Blanco; Belgian-Egyptian musician Tamino with singer and songwriter Mitski.

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Weekly Music Roundup: Suzanne Vega, Elton John and Brandi Carlile, Black Country, New Road

Friday, March 07, 2025

New Sounds

New songs from Suzanne Vega, Elton John & Brandi Carlile, and Black Country New Road. Plus, supergroup The Hard Quartet, and a roots music by Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson.

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Digawolf

Weekly Music Roundup: Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, and Digawolf

Friday, February 07, 2025

New Sounds

This week, another hit for Lady Gaga, the end of The Weeknd, a final work by Carla Bley dedicated to Arturo O'Farrill, and Brian Eno’s collaboration with a music app. Plus, Digawolf.

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Astropical

Weekly Music Roundup: Will Smith, Astropical, and Damon Locks

Friday, January 31, 2025

New Sounds

Will Smith announces a new LP, a Latin supergroup's first single, and a memorable moment in the late Marianne Faithfull's career. Plus, Tunde Adebimpe, Damon Locks, and Moses Sumney.

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Still from FKA Twigs, 'Eusexua'

Weekly Music Roundup: FKA Twigs, Central Cee, and Lonnie Holley

Friday, January 24, 2025

New Sounds

This week, FKA Twigs returns, Central Cee’s official debut, and Sam Amidon reinvents a Lou Reed song. Also, Lonnie Holley’s protest advice and music by Cross Record.

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Moonchild Sanelly

Weekly Music Roundup: Bad Bunny, Moonchild Sanelly, and Xixa

Friday, January 10, 2025

New Sounds

This week, Bad Bunny celebrates Puerto Rican music, Xixa brings the cosmic cumbia, and Moonchild Sanelly’s body positivity gets really specific. Plus, Japanese Breakfast gets gothic.

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Zar Electrik

Weekly Music Roundup: Winter JazzFest, globalFest, Prototype Festival

Friday, January 03, 2025

New Sounds

This week, a look at three upcoming music festivals in New York: Winter JazzFest, globalFest, and Prototype Festival.

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Zakir Hussain (9 March 1951 – 15 December 2024)

Celebrating the Life and Music of Zakir Hussain

Monday, December 16, 2024

New Sounds

The legendary Zakir Hussain, the Indian-born tabla player and composer, teacher, and advocate, was also a master of making personal connections. He passed away at the age of 73.

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Angélique Kidjo Angelique

Weekly Music Roundup: Snoop Dogg, Sky Ferreira, and Angelique Kidjo

Friday, December 13, 2024

New Sounds

This week, Snoop Dogg reunites with Dr. Dre; Sky Ferreira returns; and Angelique Kidjo brings a bit of Notre Dame to the world. Also, music by Horsegirl and The National.

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Lauren Mayberry (of Chvrches)

Weekly Music Roundup: Natalia Lafourcade, James Blake, and Lauren Mayberry (of Chvrches)

Friday, December 06, 2024

New Sounds

Natalia Lafourcade at Carnegie Hall, James Blake’s beautiful dystopia, and a solo album from Chvrches’ Lauren Mayberry. Plus The Devil Makes Three and Olivier Messaien’s symphonic epic.

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Ali Sethi

Weekly Music Roundup: Ali Sethi, Kate Soper, and Yola

Friday, November 15, 2024

New Sounds

This week, Ringo Starr with Alison Kraus, a globetrotting song from Pakistani-American singer Ali Sethi, and a time-traveling opera by Kate Soper. Also, Wussy and Yola.

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Daymé Arocena with iLe

Weekly Music Roundup: Daymé Arocena with iLe, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Mulatu Astatke

Friday, November 08, 2024

New Sounds

This week, an indie rock take on bluegrass, a Cuban/Puerto Rican duet from Daymé Arocena with iLe, and Ethiopian legend Mulatu Astatke. Plus Turkish singer Melike Şahin, and more.

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Tyler the Creator, in concert, 2022

Weekly Music Roundup: Tyler The Creator, Tunde Adebimpe, and Ethel Cain

Friday, November 01, 2024

New Sounds

This week, musical surprises from Tyler The Creator and Chopin, and solo songs from Tunde Adebimpe of TV On The Radio and Alex Sopp of yMusic. Plus mxmtoon and Ethel Cain.

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Pharrell Williams

Weekly Music Roundup: Pharrell Williams, Sam Amidon, and Anna Butterss

Friday, October 25, 2024

New Sounds

This week, a dispatch from Legoland by Pharrell Williams, old-timey New England from Sam Amidon, and cosmic jazzer Sun Ra gets the blues. Also, Sharon Van Etten and Anna Butterss.

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Joy Oladokun

Weekly Music Roundup: Joy Oladokun, Tamino, and Samora Pinderhughes

Friday, October 18, 2024

New Sounds

An LP from American singer-songwriter Joy Oladokun; a single by Belgian-Egyptian singer and songwriter Tamino. Also, new music from multi-disciplinary artist Samora Pinderhughes.

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