Cécile McLorin Salvant is the guest on the latest episode of Big Ears Conversations About Music, the podcast series from the Big Ears Festival. She spoke with music critic Natalie Weiner about her music ahead of the release of her new album, Oh Snap, and in advance of her return to the festival, which takes place in Knoxville, Tennessee, March 26–29, 2026.

“I am so happy to be here on the Big Ears podcast today, speaking with the wonderful, extraordinarily talented Cécile McLorin Salvant," says Weiner. "She really does embody the Big Ears mission of stretching beyond whatever genre is. And she kind of came out into the jazz world, took it by storm, but very quickly stretched beyond that. But also, while still being in it, I don't know. You know, using words to describe the kind of magic that she creates on stage feels pretty futile."

You can hear their conversation here via Spotify and Apple Podcasts:

Oh Snap comprises 12 very personal songs by the singer/composer (plus a cover of a verse from the Commodores’ 1977 hit “Brick House”) mostly recorded outside of a traditional studio environment. The songs showcase her genre-spanning tastes and influences from her 1990s childhood in Miami—from boy bands to grunge to classical to folk—and include party tracks with beats, samba grooves, and quiet folk songs. The album features longtime collaborators Sullivan Fortner, Yasushi Nakamura, and Kyle Poole, plus cameos from singers June McDoom and Kate Davis. You can get it and hear it here.

Other Nonesuch artists performing at the 2026 Big Ears Festival 2026 include Laurie Anderson, Mary Halvorson, Robert Plant, and Caroline Shaw and Sō Percussion with Ringdown. For more, visit bigearsfestival.org.