David Dye

Fitz & The Tantrums On World Cafe

David Dye — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:37:00 +0000

The L.A. band Fitz & The Tantrums broke through in 2011 with its debut album, Picking Up the Pieces. Undeniable songs and exciting concerts led the group to festival dates and other high-profile live appearances around the world.

The band formed when L.A. studio engineer and musician Michael "Fitz" Fitzpatrick gathered friends such as fellow vocalist Noelle Scaggs to perform songs he'd written following a breakup.

Boy On World Cafe

David Dye — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:20:00 +0000

The Swiss-German duo Boy has enjoyed worldwide success with its charming debut album, Mutual Friends. Members Sonya Glass and Valeska Steiner met in 2005 at a six-week song workshop and quickly developed a rapport.

In this installment of World Cafe, the two discuss the nuances of writing in English, and describe how their friendship grew along with their musical success.

Mount Moriah On World Cafe

David Dye — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:25:00 +0000

Mount Moriah is a rock band formed around the duo of guitarist Jenks Miller and singer Heather McEntire. Its second full-length album, the recent Miracle Temple, combines the strum and twang of Southern rock with vocals that hit hard emotionally.

On this installment of World Cafe, host David Dye discusses with McEntire the complexity of Mount Moriah's sound, as well as her push to explore the nuances in her vocals.

The National On World Cafe

David Dye — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:02:00 +0000

The National's rise has been slow and steady, to match the growth and evolution of its dour but beautiful rock sound.

Next: Hanni El Khatib

David Dye — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:12:00 +0000

Hanni El Khatib is a first-generation American who grew up with a Palestinian father and a Filipino mother in San Francisco.

Frightened Rabbit On World Cafe

David Dye — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:07:00 +0000

Frightened Rabbit's Scott Hutchinson has been creating compelling, sometimes even uplifting, songs about abject failure since the Scottish band's first album, Sing the Greys, came out in 2006.

On this installment of World Cafe, Hutchinson tells host David Dye how the entire band was involved in writing lyrics for its new album, Pedestrian Verse. The singer also discusses Frightened Rabbit's unique experience during a recent tour of northern Scotland.

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside On World Cafe

David Dye — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:29:00 +0000

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside's music was raw and forthright from the beginning, when its album Dirty Radio came out in 2011. The Portland band captures the energy of early-'50s music, with blues and country influences that earned it a rockabilly designation early in its career.

The band's second album, Untamed Beast, doesn't step back from the edge in any way.

RNDM On World Cafe

David Dye — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:02:00 +0000

RNDM is a new band featuring Joseph Arthur, Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament and drummer Richard Stuverud. Ament and Arthur met when the latter opened for Pearl Jam on tour.

Ament tells World Cafe host David Dye that he was mesmerized by Arthur's ability to create band sounds by looping his guitar and vocals. He also describes how RNDM formed and explains the process behind creating its debut album, Acts.

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & Dawn McCarthy On World Cafe

David Dye — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:48:00 +0000

In this installment of World Cafe, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (the stage name of Will Oldham) and Dawn McCarthy perform their own versions of classic Everly Brothers songs — as heard on their latest album together, What the Brothers Sang.

The two Kentuckians find new ways to harmonize on an array of famous and obscure Everly Brothers songs.

Next: Laura Stevenson

David Dye — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:58:00 +0000

Laura Stevenson describes herself as an "unfunny Woody Allen," which is another way of saying that her work channels her obsessions with death and doubt. On her third album, Wheel, she finds a way to make it all sound downright jaunty.

Stevenson came to her more folk leanings from roots in punk, as well as a musical family; her grandfather, choral director Harry Simeone, was responsible for "Little Drummer Boy." Listen to two songs from Wheel on this page.