🎉 Celebrating 10 Years Of ‘Alt.Latino’

Plus, a previously unreleased Thelonious Monk concert

by Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna NPR This week, Alt.Latino, NPR Music’s podcast about Latinx music and culture, turned 10. To celebrate, the show reshared its very first episode (and pilot!), plus two conversations from this year’s Latin Alternative Music Conference. We also asked host Felix Contreras (aka Tío Felix) to reflect on the show’s first decade: Alt.Latino feels like my third child.   There were baby steps in the beginning, teetering toward an identity during the first podcast boom. Like my real-life sons, Alt.Latino developed an identity of its own fueled by the spirit, insight and humor of original co-host Jasmine Garsd. And now, with (figurative) middle school on the horizon, Alt.Latino enters a new decade with a true sense of self, full of purpose but retaining its child-like sense of wonder about music, the people who make it and the people who need it now more than ever.   After almost 850 episodes, we have an archive unlike any other: interviews and conversations with artistic pioneers like Rita Moreno and Carlos Santana, as well as contemporary groundbreakers like rapper Residente of Calle 13, Guatemalan blues musician Gaby Moreno and the mariachi group Flor de Toloache, just to name a few. We’ve also made a concerted effort to chronicle Afro-Latinx expression in all its forms.   Thanks are in order for all who have come into our circle of trust and joy. Producing a show like this only happens with a shared sense of commitment to the musicians and the listeners.   And speaking of you, our listeners: There are no words, spoken or written, that can convey the gratitude that we have for you entrusting us with your collective passion for music, culture and conversation. It’s what has kept us going for the last 10 years and what inspires us to look ahead to another decade (with a stop for the must-do quinceñera in five years). Muchas gracias, Felix Contreras Newsletter continues after sponsor message New Music In 1968, a teenager convinced Thelonious Monk to play a concert at his high school to ease racial tensions in his community. More than 50 years later, it's been rediscovered, remastered and will be released for the first time on July 31. The enigmatic musicians behind Sault released a new album this week, with little warning or information. UNTITLED digs into the everyday aspects of Black existence, celebrating the private and honoring the whole – and to Marcus J. Moore’s ears, it’s the group’s best album yet (which is saying something). This week’s new music mix from All Songs Considered begins with a breakup anthem from Shamir and concludes with a song inspired by ultrasonic field recordings of bats. Also on the show: a powerful song from H.E.R. inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement called “I Can’t Breathe.” “Lockdown,” Anderson.Paak’s new song, sets the artist’s own experiences attending recent protests against his characteristically summery sound; the video opens with a cross-section of LA and becomes a series of close-ups that expose the emotional intimacy of this uprising. Featuring This week, we published two essays from musicians reflecting on the current national reckoning with racism and police brutality. Jazz trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard argued that it is time for well-meaning supporters to hear the words of Black protest — not just hum the melody. And Patterson Hood of the band Drive-By Truckers pondered the complicated implications of his band’s name. To celebrate Pride month, we’ve put together a collection of playlists that honor LGBTQ+ music history, including guides to queer punk and women’s music and the history of queer musicians in New Orleans. The term “urban” has served as a nebulous catch-all for Black musicians; now, it’s been abandoned by major organizations, including Republic Records and the Recording Academy. But it's not clear what should take its place. Tiny Desk Kisha Ravi/NPR This week, we shared another Tiny Desk concert that we taped back in February – and this one was years in the making. Alicia Keys’s performance included the premiere of a new song from her forthcoming album, ALICIA. Plus, we shared a Tiny Desk (home) concert from HAIM. Este, Danielle and Alana Haim are quarantined separately, but for this set – featuring songs from the trio’s forthcoming album, Women in Music Pt. III – the sisters use a little video editing magic to perform alone, together. One More Thing Hear a new Juneteenth tradition from NPR. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprmusic@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Books, Pop Culture, Health and more! Need a new playlist? Follow NPR Music on Spotify and Apple Music! You received this message because you're subscribed to NPR Music emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy