Stephen Thompson

On his band's new album, Will Sheff views crises and crucibles as opportunities to appreciate life's gifts.

Right now, the Earth often can bring to mind an exploding toilet. So go ahead, knock yourself out.

In the second single from this summer's Hell-On, the powerhouse singer belts out an ode to misfortune and, ultimately, survival.

For Olaniran, art is about big ambitions, bigger ideas and the relentless pursuit of joy and comfort within his own skin.

London singer-songwriter Lookman Adekunle Salami doesn't sing so much as ramble adventurously through treatises on the thorniest corners of human nature.

With uncommon delicacy and grace, the singer-songwriter spends her 10th album assessing her place in an increasingly unsteady world.

Watch the R&B singer perform her smart and stylish standout single onstage in her hometown of Austin, Texas, during SXSW.

Rodney Carmichael, Katie Presley and Stephen Thompson join host Linda Holmes to effuse over some of the festival's highlights.

The singer's 2015 solo single was a heart-swelling pop jam. Now, Genevieve has reunited her old band and released "Treasure," which picks up where "Colors" left off.

Our bleary-eyed, ear-ringing week of non-stop live music at the 2018 South by Southwest music festival has ended and we're back one last time to play some of our favorite discoveries.

This five-song primer bridges electro-pop, R&B, rock, and rhythmic rap from up-and-coming artists performing at SXSW this year.

Hear songs from forthcoming albums by Rhye, Lucy Dacus, Dessa and the globetrotting Texas trio Khruangbin.

A playlist featuring Kendrick Lamar, SZA and more, to close out 2017. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson shares a list of notable songs from the past year.

Tom Petty wrote a lot of hits during his more than 40 years making music. Petty is one of the many notable people who died in 2017. As much as he was known for big classic rock anthems, he was also capable of just tremendous grace and beauty in his songwriting, as seen in the song "Wildflowers."

On Wednesday, founder Kevin Lyman announced the tour is ending after 23 years. After helping launch bands like No Doubt, Sublime and countless others, next summer will be the last cross-country tour.

The congresswoman's recent testimony, including a phrase ("I'm reclaiming my time") that went viral, is now a song by Mykal Kilgore, who loops his voice to form a virtual gospel choir.

An effervescent song for every Stars fan, "Fluorescent Light" sports a melancholy message about stasis, loneliness and the power of risk-taking.

The gently rendered ballad's video finds frontman Sam Beam decorating a church and giving a eulogy for his own (unattended) funeral.

Watch a gorgeous animated video about the single, simple act of grace chronicled in Frampton's new single, "I Saved A Bird Today."

One of the year's best new artists is set to release her first full-length album, Stranger In The Alps, on Sept. 22.