NPR Music

On this week’s Alt.Latino, Anamaria and I both gush about 'Femme Fatale Vol. 2,' the new album from Chilean-Mexican singer Mon Laferte, who is on one of the more amazing creative streaks I've witnessed in a while. Also, Ana and I sometimes unintentionally align when picking new music for the show, and that took place this week with a couple of Brazilian highlights: I chose an artist who records as MOMO., while Ana brought in music from São Paulo-based artist Tijolo. Also this week, Chicago-based artist Sparklmami and an EP from Texan-Mexican singer Iveth Luna that got me thinking about the world of Spanish-language Christian music. — Felix Contreras

Artists & albums featured in this episode:

(01:31) Sparklmami, 'in this body'

(06:36) The Animeros, '¡Qué Bárbaro!'

(09:51) Mon Laferte, 'Femme Fatale Vol. 2'

(16:47) Iveth Luna, 'Making Ways'

(21:34) Tijolo, 'Y'

(25:37) MOMO., 'Tum Tum Tum'

This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell and edited by Otis Hart. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.

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It's the midway point of 2026, and it's safe to say that when it comes to the best songs of the year, there's not really any consensus to be found. So we’ve assembled our personal Top 10 list of the most memorable songs to cross our paths, from the outlaw country of Charley Crockett to the glam rock of Friko, Lana Del Rey’s twisted ode to love, Vince Staples' "White Flag" and more.

NPR Music’s Sheldon Pearce joins host Robin Hilton.

Featured artists and songs:

(00:00) Intro

(01:38) Mandy, Indiana: “try saying”

(05:09) Aldous Harding: “Coats”

(09:28) Vince Staples: “White Flag”

(14:25) Yebba: “Yellow Eyes”

(18:04) Friko: “Seven Degrees”

(22:01) Charley Crockett: “Kentucky Too Long”

(26:03) Lana Del Rey: “White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter”

(32:07) Baby Rose: “Friends Again" (feat. Leon Thomas)

(37:59) Mumford & Sons: “Rubber Band Man" (feat. Hozier)

(42:58) Irreversible Entanglements: “Don’t Lose Your Head" (feat. MOTHERBOARD)

Reviews help! Leave us one on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org


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Beth Orton. Chanel Beads. Cécile McLorin Salvant. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Ayana Contreras from KUVO in Denver about their favorite new albums out Friday, June 26. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round.


The Starting 5

(00:00) Introduction
- Roberta Flack, 'The Montreux Years'

(02:01) Album No. 1
- Cécile McLorin Salvant, 'With Every Breath I Take'

(09:11) Album No. 2
- Ibeyi, 'Offering'

(15:57) Album No. 3
- Chanel Beads, 'Your Day Will Come'

(21:52) Album No. 4
- Beth Orton, 'The Ground Above'

(28:34) Album No.5
- ALIA, 'Where the Echoes Bloom'


(33:59) The Lightning Round

- Andrew Sa, 'American Rough'
- Tasha, 'You Are Spring!'
- Madeon, 'Victory'
- Rodney Crowell, 'Then Again'
- Downtown Boys, 'Public Luxury'

Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org.

Credits:
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Ayana Contreras, KUVO
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Lars Gotrich and Ann Powers

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This week's episode is a musical time machine. In the late 1960s, the band Zapata sprang out of a street gang in northwest Washington, D.C., with a sound that combined a variety of contemporary styles: Afro-Caribbean rhythms, soul jazz and the golden era of American R&B. The mixture worked. For a few years, Zapata opened for an astonishing number of A-list acts passing through the city, like Miles Davis, Sly and the Family Stone, Herbie Hancock and The Isley Brothers. But the band would break up in 1974, and for years their recorded material was believed to be lost. Now, surviving member Pepe Gonzalez has restored a cassette tape of Zapata's music from 1971, and is releasing it for the first time. In this episode, Felix chats with Gonzalez about the origins of the band, and how they tried to unify the Black and Hispanic musical scenes in the city at the time.

The podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell and edited by Otis Hart. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.

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We share our picks for the best new tracks of the week, including Mitski’s surprising cover of One Direction’s “Fireproof.” But first, we remember Beck’s still mind-blowing Odelay, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary. 

NPR Music’s Lars Gotrich joins host Robin Hilton.

Featured artists and songs:

(00:00) Beck’s Odelay at 30
(03:39) Perennial: “What’s New On The Beat Scene”
(08:55) Mitski: “Fireproof”
(13:50) Sarah Davachi: “Songs of the Smile’s Fig: III. Follies”
(21:56) Shearwater: “Daydream Unbeliever”
(32:33) Sleep: “Have Spacesuit Will Travel”
(41:39) L’Rain: “soulless cycle”

Reviews help!  Leave us one on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org


See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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