NPR Music

NPR icon Lessons From SXSW 2013: Take The Middle Road

by Ann Powers
Big names and Next Big Things dominate coverage of Austin's festival, but there's quality music between the two poles. Ann Powers says the skill and subtlety those acts bring to the party interest her more than the sure bet of a legend or the sugar high of watching a baby band with buzz.

NPR icon First Listen: Julian Lynch, 'Lines'

by Logan K. Young
The Ridgewood, N.J., native grew up playing with members of indie-rock favorites Real Estate and Titus Andronicus. On Lynch's new album, Lines, he employs clarinets, saxophones and iPhones for an unusual take on American folk music.

NPR icon First Listen: DJ Koze, 'Amygdala'

by Brandon Bussolini
In the so-serious world of underground dance music, Hamburg producer and trickster DJ Koze isn't afraid to bring the quirk. His largely collaborative new album may seem willfully off-kilter but feels just right.

NPR icon Haim: NPR Front Row

by Amy Schriefer
The sister act from Los Angeles took home the BBC's Sound of 2013 award earlier this year. While you wait for their debut album to arrive later this year, watch them perform "Falling" at Filter Magazine's SXSW Showdown in Austin, Texas.

NPR icon SXSW 2013: Day Five In Photos

by NPR Staff
It's the last day of SXSW and now it's time to go on that smoothie detox. With what energy we had left, we caught rapper Earl Sweatshirt's impressive festival debut and celebrated Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan's 46th birthday.

NPR icon Haim: NPR Front Row

by Amy Schriefer
The sister act from Los Angeles took home the BBC's Sound of 2013 award earlier this year. While you wait for their debut album to arrive later this year, watch them perform "Falling" at Filter Magazine's SXSW Showdown in Austin, Texas.