Mano Sundaresan

Spoken word poet and musician Kae Tempest thinks that the act of paying extreme attention allows one to be more empathetic to others and to create art that resonates beyond the present moment.

Play It Forward: Kae Tempest Watches The World Vibrate

Ari Shapiro

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with British rapper, poet and spoken word artist Kae Tempest about their ability to empathize and find hope amid darkness and an artist they are grateful for: Lianne La Havas.

Amy Ray and Emily Saliers contemplate their place as queer artists in country on their latest album, <em>Look Long</em>, released in May.

Play It Forward: Indigo Girls' Amy Ray And Emily Saliers On Their 45-Year Kinship

Ari Shapiro

A new season Ari Shapiro's musical chain of gratitude, Play It Forward, begins with Indigo Girls' Amy Ray and Emily Saliers talking about their lifelong bond and the poetic flair of Kae Tempest.

Responding to the noise he experienced daily in London, Mala pared down U.K. dance music to a skeletal form. He's the final rung in this chain, but hypothetically, he'd "play it forward" to the late dub pioneer Augustus Pablo.

Play It Forward: Mala Sees The Space Between The Notes

Ari Shapiro

In the finale of the first season of Play It Forward, Ari Shapiro speaks to dubstep pioneer Mala about minimalism, freedom and an artist he was inspired by, the late Augustus Pablo.

Now more than a decade into his career, James Blake returns to his early years in the U.K. dance music scene in this installment of Play It Forward.

Play It Forward: James Blake On Playing His Biggest Shows Ever, From His Living Room

Ari Shapiro

Ari Shapiro speaks with Blake about playing virtual concerts for thousands of fans, and finding his voice early on by studying the music of British producer Mala.

Aided by an ensemble cast of jazz musicians new and old, Lakecia Benjamin recorded the entirety of her new album 'Pursuance: The Coltranes' in two days.

Play It Forward: Lakecia Benjamin Sings Through Her Saxophone

Ari Shapiro

Ari Shapiro talks to jazz saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin about her new album Pursuance: The Coltranes and an artist she is grateful for: James Blake.

Bernice was Glenn Copeland's choice of an artist he's thankful for in <em>All Things Considered</em>'s series Play it Forward. In this edition, Bernice's lead singer Robin Dann chooses Georgia Anne Muldrow.

Play It Forward: Bernice's Robin Dann On Writing Music With A Sense Of Surprise

Ari Shapiro

In the third episode of Play It Forward, Ari Shapiro interviews Robin Dann of the Canadian band, Bernice. She talks about redefining success and how the freedom of jazz informs her music.

New Kids on the Block's "House Party," featuring Boyz II Men, Big Freedia, Jordin Sparks and Naughty by Nature, is just one of the coronavirus quarantine-inspired songs released over the past months.

From The Urgent To The Absurd, Musicians Take On The Coronavirus Through Song

Mano Sundaresan

Many musicians canceled tours and delayed album releases due to the pandemic. But some are now using home recording setups and streaming services to write and publish songs about the coronavirus.

Glenn Copeland, whose long-overlooked recordings were rediscovered in 2015, was Caribou's choice for Play It Forward. Copeland in turn says he's thankful for the music of the band Bernice.

Play It Forward: Glenn Copeland On Patience, Positivity And The Band Bernice

Ari Shapiro

Glenn Copeland, whose ambient and electronic recordings were largely unknown for decades, talks about his late career reemergence, the power of positive thinking and the Canadian band Bernice.

In the first installment of Play It Forward producer and composer Dan Snaith, who records as Caribou, speaks about how he was inspired by the long-overlooked electronic innovator Glenn Copeland.

Caribou On 'Suddenly' And The Inspirational Beauty Of Glenn Copeland

Ari Shapiro

In the inaugural segment of Play It Forward, Ari Shapiro speaks with Dan Snaith, who records under the name Caribou, about his new album Suddenly and the inspiration he found in Glenn Copeland.

Pop Smoke, a young rapper who rapidly gained a following after releasing the track "Welcome to the Party," last year, has died.

Pop Smoke, Rising New York Rapper, Dead At 20

Mano Sundaresan

The young rapper behind the 2019 hit "Welcome to the Party" was killed early Wednesday morning in a home invasion.