"Composer Steve Reich is one of the most influential musicians of modern times," BBC Radio 4's This Cultural Life host John Wilson says of his guest. "In the 1960s he helped rewrite the rules of composition, using analogue tape machines to experiment with rhythm, repetition and syncopation. As the godfather of musical minimalism, his influence on Philip Glass, David Bowie, Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead, and many other composers, has been enormous." You can hear their conversation about Reich's life, work, and the influence of Stravinsky, Bach, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Pérotin, and more here.

"Her approach is entirely unique, inventive, expressive, and quietly radical," David Mayfield guest host of NPR's Mountain Stage, says of Yasmin Williams, who performs songs from her Nonesuch debut album, Acadia, on the show. "She literally redefines what the guitar can be and how it can sound ... From the moment she picks up a guitar, you know you're witnessing something truly original."

"Her new album is a true love letter to her North Carolina roots," Jenn White, host of NPR's 1A, says of her guest Rhiannon Giddens and her new album, What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow, with Justin Robinson, who also joins the conversation and performs with Giddens on the show. Giddens was also on BBC Radio 4's Front Row to discuss the album. You can hear both here.

John Adams's new opera Antony and Cleopatra, which opens at the Metropolitan Opera in NYC tonight, was featured on NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday. NPR's Jeff Lunden spoke with stars Julia Bullock and Gerald Finley, director Elkhanah Pulitzer, and the composer, who concludes: "Part of composing is creating an alchemy between the colors and the gestures of the orchestra and the beauty of the voice. And, of course, in this case, I've got Shakespeare's language, which is incomparably wonderful." You can hear it here.

"When you've had a six decade long career at the forefront of contemporary music, and your record label issues a 27-disc box set called Collected Works, you tend to want to look back a bit," says New Sounds host John Schaefer. "Steve Reich is the subject of such a box set." Reich is also Schaefer's guest for the full hour of the show, in which they do look back to hear and discuss some of those earlier works as well as two new works in the set, Jacob’s Ladder (2023) and Traveler’s Prayer (2020). You can hear the episode via WNYC here.

"Every once in a while, you come across someone so skilled with an instrument that it makes you reconsider what you thought was possible," NPR's World Cafe contributing host Kallao says his guest. "That’s how it feels to watch Yasmin Williams play the acoustic guitar." Williams spoke with Kallao and performed songs from her new album, Acadia, and more. "It’s one of the most inventive and exciting performances we’ve had on the show." You can watch it here.

Laurie Anderson was on BBC Radio 4's Loose Ends to talk with host Clive Anderson about her new piece ARK: United States V, the premiere performances of which continue at Factory International's Aviva Studios in Manchester through Sunday, and more. You can hear the conversation here. The Quietus highlights ten key tracks from her catalog, from "O Superman"—"her most definitive track"—to "Flying at Night" from her new album, Amelia, "a poignant, moving reflection on what our heroes reveal about ourselves."

Rhiannon Giddens spoke with NPR's Morning Edition about the area in and around the town of Swannanoa, in her home state of North Carolina, as it recovers from the devastation brought by Hurricane Helene. She also talks about an earlier tragedy in the region—a 19th-century train tunnel collapse—that inspired the old work song "Swannanoa Tunnel," which she recorded with Silkroad Ensemble. "Why were we given the ability to sing and touch people?" Giddens asks. "And this is why: when you think about the destruction, there are no words, so a song can tap into something that then releases energy—now I can cry. That's what it's for, helping us all with the emotions that are bigger than we know what to do with."

Natalie Merchant spoke with Sheroes host Carmel Holt, a longtime friend, on the latest episode of the show and its special ten-part series The Road to Joni, honoring Joni Mitchell. This week, on episode four, "The Bridge to Joni," Merchant discusses her own relationship with Mitchell's music and shares a previously unreleased recording of her performing "All I Want" from her personal archives. You can hear the episode, which also features Madison Cunningham, here.

"On Hurray for the Riff Raff's latest album, The Past Is Still Alive, songwriter Alynda Segarra acts as a reanimator, casting the old American cowboy myth in a new light, crafting heroic legends for long-lost friends of theirs, and finding ways to commune with their father, who they lost right before recording the album," Raina Douris, host of NPR's World Cafe, says of her guest. "I love this record." You can hear their conversation here. Segarra was also on ABC Radio National's The Music Show ahead of their Australian tour next month.

"Airplanes, and flying, is a recurring imagery in Laurie Anderson's music ever since her unexpected crossover hit 'O Superman' back in 1981," John Schaefer, host of WNYC's New Sounds, says of his guest. "She often takes a quizzical look at technology and flight has been no exception." Anderson was on the show to talk with Schaefer about her new album, Amelia, which tells the story of Amelia Earhart's last flight. She also joined Schaefer and others at WNYC's centennial celebration in Central Park's SummerStage, where she performed live with the band Sexmob. You can hear both here.

"My participation in country music was short lived, but it was the launchpad for my career," k.d. lang tells Talia Schlanger, guest host of CBC's Q, ahead of her reuniting with her band The Reclines for the first time in 35 years to perform on the Canadian Country Music Awards and her being inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame this weekend. "It's nice to be recognized, that I had an impact for that small amount of time ... I'm lit up about it, what can I say? It was a really fun period of my life." You can hear their conversation here.