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Take one part Billie Holiday, two parts Doris Day, toss in a little island indie-pop and you get Zee Avi, a 23-year-old singer-songwriter from Malaysia who's just released her eponymous debut album. Avi talks to Guy Raz about her musical influences.

The weather service classifies a heat index of 90 degrees to 103 degrees as "extreme caution" and 103 degrees to 124 degrees as "danger."

In July, thousands of NPR's All Songs Considered listeners cast votes for their favorite songs of 2009's first half. Bob Boilen, the show's host, discusses the results and plays some of listeners' favorite songs with NPR's Melissa Block.

Ann Patchett first read The Ambassadors — that notoriously opaque Henry James novel — at the suggestion of a good friend. Little did she know she was about to discover "the literary equivalent of a religious text."

Global health meetings are often held in the West — and that's an obstacle for scientists, doctors and advocates from lower resource countries. Which means their voices aren't being heard.

The Canadian pianist's latest release is a collection of "easy" sonatas by Joseph Haydn. With lyrical proclamations and high-minded fun, Hamelin reveals Haydn's mastery of melody, harmony and form.

The members of The Bronx have always felt a deep love for the music of their Los Angeles home, from the vibrant punk scene to the ever-present Latin rhythms that make up the background of Southern California life. So this hardcore punk outfit decided to record a mariachi record.

In the cases against the hundreds of Capitol riot defendants, attorneys repeatedly reference how Trump's tweet motivated rioters to come to Washington, D.C. — sometimes with weapons and armor in tow.

The songs on Revolution come in an impressive variety of arrangements and voices, from quiet, acoustic confessions to rock 'n' roll hollering. They're all convincing, and they make up not just Lambert's best record, but also critic Will Hermes' standing pick for country record of the year.

John Sebastian is probably best known for founding The Lovin' Spoonful. And who better to talk about summertime music than the voice behind "Summer In The City"? He dishes on his favorite tune for the season: The Beach Boys' "I Get Around."

All summer long, NPR's Melissa Block has been asking musicians, listeners and a novelist about their favorite summer songs and what kind of memories they evoke. During those conversations, Block has been flooded with memories of her own. She and Madeleine Brand pick their own summer songs.

Sam Brooker and Ruby Amanfu are not the likeliest of musical pairings. He's from Wisconsin, and is into guitar. She hails from Ghana, was raised in Nashville and has roots planted firmly in the church. But together, they have discovered the power of collaboration. Host Michel Martin sits down with music duo Sam & Ruby, who recently visited NPR for a live performance chat pegged to the release of their new album.

Bramwell Tovey, who took over last August as the sixth music director in the orchestra's 72-year history, died of cancer.

The members of The Posies were barely out of their teens when they got a record deal with a major label. Their power pop stormed commercial radio 15 years ago, but it's been a while since one of their songs hit the charts. The band keeps playing, though, and its members still make money from music.

The White House says Biden is trying to limit physical contact during his trip to the Middle East because of COVID risks. But it's a decision that comes conveniently ahead of an awkward meeting.

For Bennett, the French song "It Was Me" is the essence of what happens when people fall in love.

At a time when soul music is heavily tricked-out, singer Maxwell likes to pare things down, inviting listeners in with his smooth, fluttery singing and raw emotion. In 2001, Maxwell scored a top-selling album, then disappeared. He's back with a new album, BLACKsummers' Night.

The legendary pop singer makes a highly anticipated comeback this week with the release of her new album, I Look To You. The Grammy-winning artist returns from a lengthy hiatus, marked by rumors of drug abuse and a troubled marriage.

Phish fans have much to celebrate right now. Five years ago, the jam-rock band band broke up after more than two decades. Now, it's back together and on the road, playing sold-out shows across the country. Member Trey Anastasio says the reunion feels like a second chance.

The Norwegian singer-songwriter's new album, Heartbeat Radio, draws from diverse musical and lyrical sources. Indie-rock and jazz both infiltrate his sound, while unlikely topics inspire his words.

He has been making music for 50 years now. He played with bluegrass great Ralph Stanley when he was still in his teens, went on to have a streak of country hits and then went back to bluegrass. Now he's returned to the songs he learned from his father when he was a young boy in eastern Kentucky.

Backspacer is Pearl Jam's first studio album since the musicians became free agents, finally fulfilling a seven-album contract with Sony. That process took 15 years. The band is now on its own, striking distribution deals with major corporations, a turnaround for the once very anti-corporate band.

NPR Music's Song of the Day features a new track every weekday, with analysis of the music, links to each artist's Web sites and, of course, a chance to hear the song itself. Here, Song of the Day editor Stephen Thompson talks about recent selections by Malcolm Middleton, Japandroids and My Morning Jacket's Jim James.

The United States has often been hostile toward Black gun ownership, but African Americans are the fastest growing demographic of armed weapons buyers in the country.

The British singer-songwriter first heard "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars" 10 years ago, and he says he's had it on repeat ever since. He explains why he loves this 1967 collaboration between Frank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim — and why other listeners might love it, too.