Music is there when you need it

Plus, John Williams and Yo-Yo Ma discuss their new collaborative album.

View this email online May 28, 2022 by Marissa Lorusso This week, whether you’re looking for soothing sounds or a pure diversion, we’re sharing some new music recommendations. Lawrence Sumulong/Courtesy of Sony Music This was an especially hard week for my colleagues and me to pay attention to new music. In times like this, we’re grateful for the in-depth news coverage from our colleagues across NPR and our member stations.  But when we’re ready to turn our attention back to it, music can help us process pain, or can serve as an escape from everything else going on in our heads. If you’re looking for suggestions, here’s some music that did those things for us this week. Songwriter Ada Lea put out an album I adored last year, called one hand on the steering wheel the other sewing a garden; she and her band performed a set of dreamy, contemplative songs from it for a recent Tiny Desk (home) concert. My colleague Kara Frame beautifully described the (home) concert from duo Svaneborg Kardyb, performed in the Danish countryside, as “the soundtrack for lying beneath a tree canopy and watching the sun illuminate each leaf.” You might want to turn to the new collaborative album by composer John Williams and cellist Yo-Yo Ma, A Gathering of Friends. The pair spoke to All Things Considered this week about the album and the enormous respect they have for each other (see the photo above). On the NowPlaying blog, we’ve been spotlighting some songs that have held our attention lately. I wrote about the new song from Alex G, a songwriter committed to delightful sonic weirdness. Resident Viking Lars Gotrich highlighted a bleary and intimate ambient track from Mary Lattimore & Paul Sukeen. And for a true diversion: As my colleague Reanna Cruz says, sometimes we “simply need someone to be goofy and rap about scams” — if that describes you, BabyTron has what you need. Newsletter continues after sponsor message We’re looking forward to a few bright spots next week: We’ll be sharing the Tiny Desk concert from 2022 Tiny Desk Contest winner Alisa Amador. This was the first Tiny Desk concert filmed in front of an audience in over 800 days, and it was a beautiful celebration of not just Amador’s win but of the joy of live music and the community that the Tiny Desk fosters. You can watch the premiere of the performance on NPR Music’s YouTube on Tuesday, May 31 at 12 p.m. ET. We’ll also be sharing our monthly All Songs Considered episode celebrating the best music of the month; in May, that includes the brooding songs of Ethel Cain and the microtonal guitar music of Julia Reidy. Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from Vermont Public Radio (edit station). Need a new playlist? Follow NPR Music on Spotify and Apple Music What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprmusic@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Books, Pop Culture, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to NPR Music emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy