Cyrena Touros

"Subspace Rhapsody" is a special musical episode of <em>Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. </em>It's episode 9 of Season 2, and most shows wait a bit longer to pull out a stunt like this — but turns out it actually works.

What's Making Us Happy: A guide to your weekend reading, watching and listening

Cyrena Touros

Each week, guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy: This week, Burn It Down, Seed&Spark, Brandy Clark, and the musical episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Abigail Barlow (left) and Emily Bear have made magic together and say they found kindred creative spirits.

Barlow & Bear bring musical theater into the TikTok era

Ailsa Chang

It started with a TikTok post riffing on the the lush drama series. Now, Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear have received a Grammy nomination for their project, The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical.

"Ain't no bumpers in life," Jimmie Allen says, as he explains his philosophy on bowling and his career.

Jimmie Allen put his own spin on country music — and is now reaping the rewards

Ailsa Chang

For Jimmie Allen, what makes a country artist isn't how many fiddles and mandolins they have in a song. It's something more natural than that.

Saweetie has been nominated for Best New Artist and Best Rap Song at this year's Grammy Awards.

For Saweetie, a Grammy nomination is just the beginning

Ailsa Chang

The 28-year-old rapper opens up about her two Grammy nominations, and how meditation helps her stay centered amid an increasingly busy career.

It's not just Olivia Rodrigo – the angry teenage girl is fueling popular music

Cyrena Touros

Olivia Rodrigo topped the Billboard charts in 2021. Her success is part of a larger trend of young women and people of color leading a resurgence of angry pop-punk.

You thought it wasn't possible: these songs make cleaning the bathroom even more fun

Cyrena Touros

As we enter the fall season, it doesn't hurt to spruce up and start afresh with a new playlist. Here are recommendations for three songs to play while dance-cleaning the bathroom.

Rodrigo Amarante finished writing and recording his latest album, <em>Drama</em>, at his home studio in LA during the pandemic. He says his writing table is separated from the rest of his studio, a sacred space where no machines are allowed, just pen and paper. When he's ready to commit to the words, he records them using a typewriter.

Rodrigo Amarante And His Great Musical Tantrum

Ailsa Chang

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks to musician Rodrigo Amarante about his second solo album, Drama, which he says was inspired by a personal reckoning with his own understanding of manhood.

"I feel like music is just a facet of my life, like it doesn't take hierarchical dominance over the people that I love and it never will," Lucy Dacus says. Her third album, <em>Home Video</em>, depicts memories and relationships from her years growing up in Richmond, Va.

Lucy Dacus Is Her Own Unreliable Narrator

Ailsa Chang

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Richmond, Va., songwriter Lucy Dacus about the childhood memories — real and imagined — that populate her latest album, Home Video.

Pete Townshend originally wrote the songs on The Who's new album for Roger Daltrey as a solo artist. "I wrote them for Roger because I knew that Roger would sing them best," he says.

Pete Townshend On Creativity, 'The Age Of Anxiety' And The Who's New Record

Raina Douris

Townshend talks about his debut novel, how it relates to The Who's rock opera, Tommy, and what he'd say now to his younger self – the one who wrote the lyric "I hope I die before I get old."