World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

Sometimes you have to strike when the iron is hot, and sometimes you have to be patient. For today's guest Jeremy Ivey, that meant recording his first solo album at the age of 41. Over the years, Ivey's been busy backing his wife of more than 10 years, singer-songwriter Margo Price, playing on on her first two solo albums. In turn, Price produced his debut album, The Dream and the Dreamer . In this World Cafe session, we talk to Ivey about his story and hear music from Ivey and Price.

North Carolina's M.C. Taylor, also known as Hiss Golden Messenger, is a seeker. He's someone who is looking for truth – truth from the world, and truth from himself. You can hear that in the songs on his latest album, 'Terms of Surrender', an album so full of truth he originally wasn't sure if he should release it at all. Fortunately for us, he did. For this session, he joined me to talk about the album, the importance of family and what it was like dealing with depression while working on the record. You'll also learn about Taylor's admiration for teachers, which made its way into one of the songs on 'Terms of Surrender.'

The first time I heard Son Little's song "The River" back in 2014, it completely floored me. With a mix of R&B and soul, it simultaneously sounded both timeless and of the moment, much more than a simple throwback tune. Son Little's musical palette continues to hit all of those musical sweet spots, but on his latest album, 'Aloha', out Jan. 31, he's pushed his sound even further. There wasn't a flange effect on early R&B records from more than 60 years ago, but there is on this record, recorded in Paris and produced by Renaud Letang. In this session, we'll discuss Son Little's sound and influences, plus how you get over losing all your songs due to a fried hard drive.

Already one of the biggest bands in the world, The Lumineers did something adventurous on the group's third album, 'III': The Denver-based group created a record divided into three chapters, telling the story of a family across three generations and how addiction touched those lives. And while it's not the upbeat singalong music that the band is typically known for, the subject matter was important to The Lumineers' co-founders, drummer Jeremiah Fraites and singer Wesley Schultz. Both had witnessed the aftermath of addiction firsthand. We'll talk to The Lumineers about this very ambitious album, why the band decided to film a movie (across a series of ten music videos) in conjunction with the record and how it was partially set into motion by filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan.

Speaking to Michaela Anne feels a lot like listening to her music – she radiates a warmth both in her conversation and her music that immediately makes you feel at home. And for an artist who's spent her life constantly on the move, making wherever you are feel like home is an important skill. Michaela Anne's family moved constantly while her Dad was in the Navy. By the time she graduated high school, she'd lived in 20 different houses. That life is one of a touring and recording musician. A few years ago she went from Brooklyn to Nashville to record her second album 'Bright Lights and Fame', and to make her latest album 'Desert Dove', she took a trip to California. Desert Dove is a country album, but kind of like Michaela Anne's life – it doesn't stay settled in just one place. There are cinematic strings, there are nods to indie rock and honky tonk, and through all of it Michaela Anne's voice shines like a beacon, bringing you back home. In this session, Michaela Ann talks about her many homes, her many jobs, and her many sounds.