Music & Culture

"This is a guy who's up for the challenge," says film composer Harry Gregson-Williams, describing Matt Damon's stranded astronaut character in The Martian.

Music & Culture

The Music Of 'The Martian,' Deconstructed

8:58pm October 30, 2015

by NPR Staff

In an conversation from the Song Exploder podcast, score composer Harry Gregson-Williams explains how he matched moments to melodies in the new film, which stars Matt Damon as a stranded astronaut.

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#NPRreads: White Privilege, FBI Director's Remarks On Policing, And Oyster Farming

4:00pm October 30, 2015

Also this week: a story from an NPR Music reporter about the "lost art of listening."

Dave Gahan & Soulsavers perform live at MSR Studios for WFUV.

Music & Culture

WFUV Presents: Dave Gahan & Soulsavers

1:35pm October 30, 2015

by Russ Borris

The Depeche Mode singer and the production duo fill Manhattan's MSR Studios with a 10-piece band.

Music & Culture

A Teasing Trumpeter: Jeffrey Curnow's Cartoons

1:30pm October 30, 2015

by Tom Huizenga

In the Philadelphia Orchestra trumpeter's slightly twisted world, bears play bass trombones, Liszt has a brother named Bukhett and snowblowers can be filed as musical instrument deductions.

George Wallington on the cover of Variations.

Music & Culture

George Wallington On Piano Jazz

1:26pm October 30, 2015

The bop pianist joined Marian McPartland in 1985, not long after a hiatus of nearly 25 years.

Music & Culture

All Songs +1: A Musician's Nightmare

10:59am October 30, 2015

by Bob Boilen

This Halloween, there's nothing more terrifying than Martin Atkins' tale of music industry horror.

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Music & Culture

Songs We Love: dae zhen., 'Friday'

10:49am October 30, 2015

by Kris Ex

A young Los Angeles rapper joins the storied tradition of great end-of-the-week, just-got-paid songs, with a quaint, warm jam full of small victories.

Ryley Walker performs live at the Woods Stage at the 2015 Pickathon festival.

Music & Culture

opbmusic Presents: Ryley Walker

9:03am October 30, 2015

by Jerad Walker

Watch the psychedelic-folk guitarist play an extended version of "Summer Dress," recorded live at the 2015 Pickathon festival.

Bob Dylan's new compilation, The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12, comes out Nov. 5.

Music & Culture

First Listen: Bob Dylan, 'The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12'

8:40am October 30, 2015

by Tom Moon

The fevered 14 months captured here represent the moment when Dylan became comfortable in his shoes — and, if not yet confident about every decision, at least trusting the authority of his writing.

A Robot Orchestra Grows In Brooklyn

5:21am October 30, 2015

by David Plotz

Brooklyn-based artist Chico MacMurtrie has built a robot orchestra in a former Norwegian Seamen's Church. These robots don't look like the modern robots that might come to mind. They're steam punk.