Mumford & Sons On World Cafe

Courtesy of the artist Mumford and Sons.

Courtesy of the artist "Whispers In The Dark""Lover's Eyes""Ghosts That We Knew""If I Needed You"

It took a while, but the London folk-rock band Mumford & Sons broke big with its 2009 debut album, Sigh No More. The album combines the raspy vocals of singer Marcus Mumford with lush harmonies and rootsy instrumentation on tracks that range from soothing to rocking.

Mumford & Sons finally burst into the mainstream in early 2011 after receiving nominations for two Grammy Awards and performing at the ceremony that same year. Since then, the band's career has skyrocketed, with headlining spots at large concerts and music festivals all over the world.

In this session of World Cafe, David Dye talks to Mumford & Sons' members about how they achieved success. And, of course, they perform songs from their highly anticipated second album, Babel.

This segment originally aired on September 28, 2012.

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Alabama Shakes On World Cafe

"Going To The Party""I Found You""Hold On""Boys And Girls"

Alabama Shakes, a soulful rock 'n' roll quartet, is riding a well-deserved wave to fame. Since the release of its self-titled debut in 2011, the band has entranced listeners with its diverse and energetic songs. Alabama Shakes' style is marked by lead singer Brittany Howard's powerful voice and the group's irresistible energy. Together, they enthusiastically blend rock with soul, country, blues and roots.

The band's deft, gritty and joyous soul revival has attracted widespread praise — especially for Howard, whose vocals have been compared to those of Janis Joplin and Otis Redding. On this episode of World Cafe, Alabama Shakes' members talk with David Dye about the Muscle Shoals scene. Hear Alabama Shakes perform live, including the title track of the band's latest album, Boys and Girls.

This segment originally aired on January 26, 2012.

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Latin Roots: The Christmas Music Of Latin America

Eric Jamison/Getty Images Ranchera star Lila Downs.

Eric Jamison/Getty Images Héctor Lavoe, "En La Navidad"Lila Downs, "Amarga Navidad"Cuco Valoy, "A Comer Lechon"Daddy Mack Blues Band, "Feliz Navidad"

In this edition of World Cafe, Beat Latino host Catalina Maria Johnson sits down with host David Dye to discuss the Christmas music traditions of Latin America. One thing that sets Central America's music apart from that of North America, she says, is the fact that a lot of it is made for dancing.

The first song Johnson plays, "En La Navidad," proves just that. It's a classic salsa tune, performed here by Héctor Lavoe; he's one of Puerto Rico's most famous salsa singers, or salseros. Joining Lavoe in the song is fellow Puerto Rican Yomo Toro, who was among the most revered players of the country's national instrument, the cuatro.

From there, Johnson plays a song from Lila Downs, one of Mexico's most talented ranchera singers. She performs "Amarga Navidad," or "Bitter Christmas." The song strays far from the upbeat tone of much holiday music, and Johnson describes its words as a parting message at the end of a relationship: "December is, like, a really good time for you to leave, because I'd like to start the new year without you."

A lot of Latin Christmas music describes other popular traditions practiced during the holidays. Dominican salsa and merengue singer Cuco Valoy's "A Comer Lechon" is an ode to lechon, a suckling-pig-based dish popular in a number of countries; it's often eaten on Noche Buena, or Christmas Eve.

Finally, Johnson brings a North American interpretation of Latin Christmas music. "Feliz Navidad," originally written in 1970 by Puerto Rican singer-songwriter José Feliciano, has become part of the popular holiday-music canon, even outside of Latin America. Daddy Mack Blues Band's version adds Memphis twang to the popular tune.

Listen to Catalina Maria Johnson's holiday playlist on Spotify.

Latin Roots from World Cafe is made possible by a grant from the Wyncote Foundation.

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The Polyphonic Spree On World Cafe

Steve Wrubel/Courtesy of the artist The Polyphonic Spree.

Steve Wrubel/Courtesy of the artist

Every Christmas season is accompanied by an abundance of holiday album releases, but few of the artists who make them bother to take the Christmas show on the road. The Polyphonic Spree, however, is not your average band. Formed in Texas by bandleader Tim DeLaughter in 2000, this massive group — the number of members often nudges toward 20 or more — is well-suited to re-imagine popular Christmas music, combining the instrumentation of a rock band with the layered harmonies of a choir.

This Christmas season, the band has hit the road with its "Holiday Extravaganza," turning each of its shows into a sort of traveling holiday music carnival. Here, The Polyphonic Spree brings its dense, exuberant songs to the World Cafe studios to perform spirited renditions of Christmas classics.

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Gotye On World Cafe

Gotye's new album is titled Making Mirrors.

James Bryans Gotye's new album is titled Making Mirrors.

James Bryans "Somebody That I Used To Know (Album Version)""State Of The Art""Easy Way Out""Eyes Wide Open"

Gotye (a.k.a. Wouter "Wally" De Backer) has become an international pop star on the strength of his new album, Making Mirrors. The poppy collection includes "Somebody That I Used To Know," which has topped the charts in six countries and hit the Top 20 in 14 others. There's something hauntingly relatable and undeniably catchy about the insightful, ubiquitous break-up song.

Making Mirrors was a breakout release for Gotye, but it's not his first time around the block. Born in Belgium but raised in Australia, the bilingual multi-instrumentalist began playing drums, piano and other instruments as a child. He started a band in his teens, started another in college and released three albums during that time. Given Gotye's bold, quirky and vivid songwriting, he's looking to stick around for a while, too.

This segment originally aired on April 13, 2012.

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Brian Eno On World Cafe

Courtesy of the artist

British musician, composer and producer Brian Eno is commonly recognized as one of the most important innovators in ambient music. Though he now mainly composes using computers, Eno was one of the early pioneers of tape-loop music. He's been an important figure in the history of more conventional pop, as well; he began his career as a member of Roxy Music, and later went on to collaborate with a variety of artists, including U2 and David Byrne.

Eno's latest album, Lux, began as a piece he was commissioned to create for a baroque gallery within a palace near Turin, Italy. He wrote the piece at a studio he built within the gallery, and tailored the music specifically for the physical space of that room, working with its natural acoustics. He was so enamored with the result that he later produced a reworked version to be released as a standalone album.

Here, Eno talks with World Cafe host David Dye about Lux, as well as some of the other projects he's been created during his remarkable career.

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Pink Martini On World Cafe

Autumn De Wilde "Little Drummer Boy""Congratulations (Happy New Year)""Do You Hear What I Hear""White Christmas""We Three Kings"

From Portland, Ore., stems a global sound that is powerful in its orchestral beauty. Thomas Lauderdale started Pink Martini more than 15 years ago, a fitting name for the colorful and classy orchestra. Lauderdale's mission was to create a sound that would support political fundraisers for civil, environmental and educational causes, among others. Since then, the group has sold millions of albums worldwide.

With the same global outlook, Pink Martini released Joy to the World in November 2010, a collection of nondenominational holiday music from various countries. Among the traditional holiday tunes, the album features works in Chinese, Japanese, Hebrew and Spanish.

This edition of World Cafe originally aired December 24, 2010.

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Tracey Thorn On World Cafe

Edward Bishop/Courtesy of the artist Tracey Thorn.

Edward Bishop/Courtesy of the artist

When veteran U.K. singer-songwriter Tracey Thorn decided to put together her own Christmas album — a project she'd been pursuing for several years — she opted for a slightly less traditional approach. The Everything but the Girl singer's new album, Tinsel and Lights, has only one very familiar holiday tune, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." The rest of the record is a mix of Thorn's original work and traditional songs that, while still written in the holiday spirit, aren't as well-known as the songs we hear in every shopping mall throughout the season.

"Joy""Like A Snowman""River""Tinsel And Lights"

Among Thorn's original material on Tinsel and Lights is "Joy," which isn't quite as cheery as your average holiday tune. "Joy" was informed, she says, by the change in perspective we experience as we get older: "This is what Christmas is for — you know, it is kind of there to get you through some of the difficult stuff," she tells World Café host David Dye. "And maybe one of the reasons we all get together at Christmas — and we put up lights, and we celebrate this stuff — is precisely because life starts to seem really difficult when you're older."

Thorn performs songs from the new album and recounts the story of its creation with David Dye in this session of World Cafe.

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Bonnie Raitt On World Cafe

Bonnie Raitt's new album is titled Slipstream.

Marina Chavez Bonnie Raitt's new album is titled Slipstream.

Marina Chavez "Right Down The Line""Used To Rule The World""Not 'Cause I Wanted To""Love Sneakin' Up On You"

Bonnie Raitt is a blues-rock legend with nine Grammys and five platinum albums under her belt. Her rootsy and passionate take on everything blues — combined with her intimate understanding of composition, deft slide-guitar skills and soulful vocals — helped Raitt become an icon.

It's been 40 years since Raitt started releasing albums, and she's still in remarkably fine form. In fact, her new 16th studio release ranks among her best yet. Slipstream comes seven years after her last release, and it's a daring and introspective album with reggae, soul, rock and blues influences.

Here, Raitt plays live and talks to WXPN's Michaela Majoun about the making of Slipstream.

This edition of World Cafe originally aired June 18, 2012.

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Minus The Bear On World Cafe

Minus The Bear performs the song "Steel and Blood" live at KXT.

"Steel and Blood""Empty Party Rooms""Diamond Lightning"

The majority of Minus The Bear's records have been iterations of the intricate, melodic rock the Seattle band has been playing since it formed in 2001. In 2010 the band made a slight departure with Omni, an album that relied much more heavily on synthesizers and keyboards.

The band didn't go into the recording process for its latest record, Infinity Overhead, with any stated goals of returning to its trademark sound, but that was the outcome nevertheless. Guitarists Jake Snider and David Knudson say they fell back in love with playing guitar, and their renewed affection for their instruments is immediately apparent in the riff-laden hooks that dominate the album.

The band plays an acoustic set of songs from Infinity Overhead in this session of World Cafe.

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Latin Roots: Christmas Preview

Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles is an all-female mariachi band.

Courtesy of the artist Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles is an all-female mariachi band.

Courtesy of the artist Los Papines, "El Pequeño Tamborilero (The Little Drummer Boy)"Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, "Los Peces En El Río"

As the peak of the holiday season draws near, Latin Roots explores some sizzling renditions of well-known Christmas classics. Most people are familiar with the traditional "Little Drummer Boy," but many have yet to enjoy a very popular Cuban version of the song, interpreted by the band Los Papines. The band, commonly known as the "Kings of Rumba," uses deep, percussive sounds to tell the story of a child's perspective of the holiday season.

World Cafe host David Dye is joined by Catalina Maria Johnson — host of Beat Latino — as they discuss the musical traditions of Spain, and one particular Christmas song that has spread across all of Spain's former colonies: "Los Peces en el Rio."

Many Americans may not be familiar with the song, but throughout Latin America, singing it has become a household tradition. Nearly every country has its own rendition, and Catalina performs a mariachi version of the much-beloved tune.

While mariachi is typically a male-dominated genre in Latin America, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles is an all-female band that defies stereotypes. The band offers a unique biblical perspective on "Los Peces en el Rio," which recounts the story of a fish watching the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus as they make their way along a river bank.

Listen to the Latin Roots Catalina Maria Johnson Christmas playlist on Spotify

Latin Roots from World Cafe is made possible by a grant from the Wyncote Foundation.

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Sea Wolf On World Cafe

Courtesy of the artist Sea Wolf.

Courtesy of the artist "Old Friend""Middle Distance Runner""Priscilla""You're A Wolf"

Alex Brown Church began performing under the name Sea Wolf in 2003, after writing a handful of songs that didn't fit the rock band he played with at the time. Although Church has roped in a supporting cast of musicians to perform his songs, Sea Wolf is still very much his baby.

For the second Sea Wolf record, White Water, White Bloom, Church began to put together more ornate arrangements with strings and unusual instruments. For his latest album, he took a stripped-down approach, relying on just his voice and guitar and focusing on the cores of his songs. The result, Old World Romance, is a more straightforward affair, one that Church produced himself.

Although Church did at one point accidentally wipe the hard drive containing all of the audio files he'd been working on for the album, he was eventually able to get them all back. The album comes across as a distillate of the confidence Church has developed over the past few years, revealing strength in his singing and songwriting that wasn't quite so obvious in his previous work.

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Susanna Hoffs On World Cafe

Jonathon Kingsbury/Courtesy of the artist Susanna Hoffs.

Jonathon Kingsbury/Courtesy of the artist "Raining""Picture Me""When You Walk In The Room"

Susanna Hoffs, best known as the lead singer of the all-female 1980s pop group The Bangles, has a history of playing well with others. After she and the band's other members parted ways — only to reunite a few years later — Hoffs wrote two solo albums. Soon enough, though, she found a new collaborator in Matthew Sweet, with whom she released two collections of covers.

Her recent solo album Someday also finds Hoffs pulling in help from friends; she co-wrote most of the songs from this session with Nashville musician Andrew Brasell. Brasell spent a stretch of time staying in the guest room at Hoffs' family home, and Hoffs tells World Cafe host David Dye that his presence there was an essential part of the album's creation: "Having a musician whose singular focus was writing and music and creativity, sort of right in my living room ... caused me to stop everything that I was doing that was a distraction."

Although the majority of the songs on Someday come from the time Hoffs spent writing with Brasell, one has its roots in a considerably older partnership. Hoffs put together the final version of "Raining" with Brasell and producer Mitchell Froom, but she found the first version of the song on an old cassette — she'd originally written it with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell in 1989. Hear "Raining" and other songs from Someday on this session of World Cafe.

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Jovanotti On World Cafe

Courtesy of the artist Jovanotti.

Courtesy of the artist

"Piove"
"Mezzogiorno"
"Sulla Frontiera"

Lorenzo Cherubini, better known by his stage name Jovanotti, occupies a curious position on the pop landscape — that of the hugely successful international star who remains largely unknown to U.S. audiences. More than two decades have passed since he first broke out in his native Italy, though, and now he's making moves to do the same in the States.

Jovanotti just put out a career-spanning retrospective album called Italia 1988-2012, his first-ever U.S. release. It's a good starting point to those unfamiliar with his work, which pulls from a vast array of genres. He started out making mostly hip-hop, but later dabbled in more mainstream pop songs, Italian ballads and Latin pop.

In this World Cafe session, Jovanotti plays songs from across his career, and talks with host David Dye about his recent move to New York. Jovanotti relocated to the U.S., he says, to surround himself with the American music that has inspired him throughout his life.

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Yukon Blonde On World Cafe

Courtesy of the artist Yukon Blonde.

Courtesy of the artist "Sweet Dee""Stairway""Nico Canmore"

The physical environment surrounding a band can have a pronounced influence on the songs said band produces, whether it's a sunny beach in Malibu or a craggy, wind-swept hillside in Scotland.

Given that Yukon Blonde calls Vancouver home, it wouldn't be surprising if the group's music took some cues from the perpetually rainy skies that settle over the city every winter. Perhaps as escapism, though, the songs written by Jeff Innes, Brandon Scott, Graham Jones and John Jeffrey have an inherently sunny quality to them, drawing heavily from 1970s American radio-rock.

Here, Yukon Blonde runs through a few of those songs during the band's visit to World Cafe.

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Next: Leagues

Heidi Ross/Courtesy of the artist Leagues.

Heidi Ross/Courtesy of the artist

The three members of Leagues — singer Thad Cockrell, guitarist Tyler Burkum and drummer Jeremy Lutito — have been known to say that they're inspired not by artists, but by specific songs. That intense focus on individual tracks is clearly put to work on Leagues' debut album, You Belong Here. There's a cohesive sound to the record as a whole, but it sounds like the band deliberately pushed for each song to stand on its own. As a result, the album plays like a collection of singles, each track as catchy as the next.

Hear two songs from Leagues' debut on this edition of World Cafe: Next.

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Next: The Henry Millers

Courtesy of the artist The Henry Millers.

Courtesy of the artist

Naturally, the New York band The Henry Millers takes its name from the author, who was famous for creating his own genre of literature out of an assortment of preexisting ones. Miller was also notorious for his books' often-explicit sexual content, which was deemed illicit enough for his work to be banned in the U.S. While The Henry Millers' bright, buoyant songs aren't likely to cause a scandal, the band does share Miller's penchant for drawing from different styles — its debut album, Daisies, is equal parts indie-rock, folk and synth-pop.

Although The Henry Millers' influences may come from all over, the songs on Daisies are tight and focused, never feeling like they're stretching too far or trying too hard to pile on too many different sounds at once. What anchors the disparate influences is singer-guitarist John McCallum's concise songwriting; no matter how many different sounds he incorporates, it's always clear what he's trying to say.

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Josh Ritter On World Cafe

Laura Wilson/Courtesy of the artist Josh Ritter.

Laura Wilson/Courtesy of the artist "Me & Jiggs""The Temptation Of Adam""Folk Bloodbath""Joy To You Baby"

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Josh Ritter has blurred the line between narrator and musician. Beyond music, Ritter is also an author; he published his first novel, Bright's Passage, in 2011. He bridges the divide between his two occupations in his lyrics and performances, which always have an air of storytelling about them.

This past September David Dye and the World Cafe took a road trip to Ithaca, NY, to record a special concert and interview with Josh Ritter in front of an audience at The State Theater.

Ritter talks with host David Dye about his beginnings as a musician and growing up in rural Idaho. In addition, he plays several songs — including one from his forthcoming album, The Beast in Its Tracks.

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Rodriguez On World Cafe

Courtesy of the artist Rodriguez.

Courtesy of the artist

Detroit singer-songwriter Rodriguez has finally found the fame that had eluded him for more than four decades. In the early '70s, he achieved cult status in South Africa, while at home, he remained virtually unknown. His public obscurity sparked rumors that he'd killed himself, but while he was alive and well, he'd retreated from music, earning a philosophy degree while working as a demolition man.

Searching for Sugar Man is a film documentary which chronicles the efforts of two South African fans trying to piece together information about Rodriguez's life. They finally find the folk-rocker doing manual labor, unaware of his music's profound popularity abroad. In this World Cafe session, you'll hear from Rodriguez himself, as well as the producers of his records, the people who found him and the director of the documentary about how it all happened.

"Inner City Blues""Like Janis""Cause""This Is Not A Song, It's An Outburst: Or The Establishment Blues""I Wonder""I Think Of You""Can't Get Away""I'll Slip Away""Street Boy""Crucify Your Mind""Jane S. Piddy"

This edition of World Cafe originally aired October 18, 2012.

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Stars On World Cafe

Norman Wong/Courtesy of the artist Stars

Norman Wong/Courtesy of the artist "The North""Backlines""Wishful"

Stars returns to the World Cafe studio to play songs from its latest album, The North. Here, the band sits down with host David Dye to discuss its decision-making process, and how its insistence on being as democratic as possible has helped it stay together over the years. Stars' members also discuss the creation of their latest album, which singer Torquil Campbell describes as being heavily influenced by events in their personal lives: "I just think you're hearing the sound of people who are happier in their lives, and so the music itself sounds imbued with some happiness and some openness and some relaxation."

As well as songs from the new record, the band plays one unreleased track, "Wishful," in this edition of World Cafe.

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Gary Clark Jr. On World Cafe

Courtesy of the artist Gary Clark Jr.

Courtesy of the artist "Ain't Messin 'Round""Oh, Pretty Woman""Travis County""Numb"

Gary Clark Jr.'s new album Blak and Blue is his major-label debut, but the blues guitarist is hardly a newcomer. Clark made his first album at 17, and by then he'd already spent several years hanging out in the blues clubs of Austin, Texas.

One place in particular had a big influence on his growth as a player: Antone's Blues Club. It was there that Clark watched legends like Buddy Guy perform, and where he played some of his first shows after the club's owner took note of the precocious young guitarist's playing.

For Blak and Blue, Clark stepped outside his comfort zone and enlisted the help of outsiders for the first time, including producers Mike Elizondo and Rob Cavallo. Working in unfamiliar territory in the studio may have been a refreshing change for Clark — at this point in his career, he's been playing for so long that performing is clearly second nature to him.

"I love it. I love getting up there," he tells World Café host David Dye. "I'm comfortable — it's a place to kind of let go and really be myself."

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John Fullbright On World Cafe

Courtesy of the artist John Fullbright.

Courtesy of the artist "Gawd Above""Satan And St. Paul""Moving"

Folk singer John Fullbright got his start at the age of 16, playing at small venues in his native Oklahoma for tips and the occasional free meal. "I'd stand up there and play until my voice was gone, which sometimes would take three hours. Sometimes it'd take longer," Fullbright says. "But that's where I really learned to scream."

Fullbright sings with a raw howl, but he never loses control — countless hours spent performing have helped him refine the rough edges of his voice. Although he had previously released a live album — 2009's Live At The Blue Door — Fullbright's proper studio debut, From The Ground Up, was released earlier this year.

Written mostly in his family's Oklahoma farmhouse, the album focuses on the singer's faith — Fullbright even sings from the perspective of God himself on "Gawd Above." The album has won Fullbright plenty of well-earned attention, and he was even included in NPR Music's list of 10 Artists You Should Have Known In 2012.

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Django Django On World Cafe

Mikael Gregorsky/Courtesy of the artist Django Django.

Mikael Gregorsky/Courtesy of the artist "Firewater""Storm""Love's Dart""WOR"

Most young bands hope to get some kind of break or media exposure as soon as they possibly can. But as Django Django, a four-piece originally from Edinburgh, discovered, it's possible to get noticed a bit too early. In 2009, the group released its first single, "Storm," as a seven-inch through a friend's Glasgow-based record label. The song quickly stirred up buzz, but the group didn't have anything to release as a follow-up — "Storm" was truly the first thing they had ever done together.

In the three years that followed, singer Vincent Neff and the rest of Django Django wrote more songs, worked on their live show, got a record deal and finally released their first, self-titled full-length. Any fears the band may have had about falling off the radar since it released "Storm" were put to bed when Django Django was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize, the prestigious annual award that recognizes the U.K.'s best up-and-coming talent.

Here, Django Django performs a few songs and talks with David Dye about the process of putting its album together.

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Lianne La Havas On World Cafe

Courtesy of the artist Lianne La Havas.

Courtesy of the artist "No Room For Doubt""Forget""Age""Is Your Love Big Enough?"

Lianne La Havas has toured with Bon Iver, sung with Willy Mason and recorded her debut album with producer Matt Hales, better known as Aqualung. More than most, she can attest to the benefits of knowing the right people, but La Havas also has heaps of talent on her side. Her debut album — Is Your Love Big Enough? — is full of soulful, folk-tinged songs that are cleverly crafted and undeniably catchy.

La Havas' voice practically leaps from the speakers, and her guitar playing — never overly flashy and always tastefully arranged — is all the more impressive for the fact that she only started playing a few months before recording the album. On this edition of World Cafe, she plays several songs from Is Your Love Big Enough? and talks with host David Dye about the chance encounters that have shaped her career.

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Alt-J On World Cafe

Jory Cordy "Fitzpleasure""Tessellate""Breezeblocks"close "Something Good"Album: An Awesome WaveArtist: Alt-JLabel: InfectiousReleased: 2012

Alt-J (stylized as ?) may be the most successful new British band of 2012 — a favorite to win the Mercury Music Prize in November and a Top 20 chart phenomenon in the U.K. The group, which chose its name from the mathematical symbol for change, made a splash with its debut album, An Awesome Wave, which came out in September. The record mixes upbeat indie rock and brooding synths with vocals that sound like no one else's in music today.

In this World Cafe session, Alt-J's members discuss how they met at Leeds University, the story behind their band's name, and the way they got started in the industry. And, of course, they perform several tracks from An Awesome Wave.

This edition of World Cafe originally aired October 23, 2012.

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