Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

National

New Mix: JR JR, Thunderbitch, Chris Walla, More

Clockwise from upper left: JR JR, Chris Walla, Ballake Sissoko & Vincent Segal, Thunderbitch.
Courtesy of the artists
Clockwise from upper left: JR JR, Chris Walla, Ballake Sissoko & Vincent Segal, Thunderbitch.

This week's show is split much like some of our favorite records: The A-side is loud and fast. The B-side is slow and quiet.

Co-host Robin Hilton kicks things off with Thunderbitch, a raucous side project from Alabama Shakes frontwoman Brittany Howard. We quickly follow with bursts of infectious ear candy from the Louisiana-based art pop group Givers and a re-tooled JR JR (until recently known as Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.), before slowing things down slightly with the transfixing singer Jill Andrews.

Then it's time to take a deep breath and breathe in the light of our B-side, mixed by host Bob Boilen. We start with two projects from the Icelandic electronic artist Ólafur Arnalds, one a collaboration with experimental pianist Nils Frahm, the other a stunning new interpretation of music by Chopin. We close with a surprising ambient solo album from former Death Cab For Cutie member Chris Walla and an enchanting new album from Malian kora player Ballaké Sissoko and French cellist Vincent Ségal.

Advertisement

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.