How Japanese Breakfast Made The Sounds Of ‘Jubilee’

Plus, the NPR Classical playlist celebrates Pride month.

View this email online by Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna Daniel Fox Your newsletter editors have been big fans of Japanese Breakfast, the songwriting project of Michelle Zauner, ever since we heard her dreamy, lush debut album, Psychopomp, in 2016. That next year, after the release of her sophomore album Soft Sounds From Another Planet, we invited her to perform a Tiny Desk concert at NPR HQ. (She even brought along a string section — we were obviously impressed.) This past year has been a busy one for Zauner. In April, she released her memoir, Crying In H Mart, written about her late mother’s battle with cancer, and the way Zauner reconnected with Korean food in honor of her. This grief is the central theme on the first two Japanese Breakfast records, too — but just this week, Zauner released Japanese Breakfast’s third album, Jubilee, which swaps that thematic touchstone for a more celebratory spirit. As it turns out, freelance writer Kira Grunenberg writes, “joy can be just as complex as grief.” She spoke with Zauner — along with her longtime friend, collaborator, producer and Japanese Breakfast drummer Craig Hendrix — about how they built the album of warm, orchestral pop songs, sound by sound. “Especially during these times, I realize how precious and rare of a commodity joy is,” Zauner told her. “I realized ... that we [all] interact with that feeling, and it's ultimately what drives all of our lives.” “Be Sweet,”  Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna  Newsletter continues after sponsor message New Music Our favorite songs and albums of May include a swoon-worthy collaboration between Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen, a self-actualized level-up from Sinéad Harnett, slyly creative post-bop from Sound Prints and more; hear them all on All Songs Considered.   This week’s update to the NPR Classical playlist celebrates Pride month with composers we can all be proud of – from Jean-Baptiste Lully, Lou Harrison and Francis Poulenc to Ethel Symth, Jennifer Higdon and Nico Muhly. On this week’s episode of New Music Friday from All Songs Considered, hear a conversation about the sophomore solo album from erstwhile Vampire Weekend member Rostam and the first new record in more than a decade from Liz Phair — plus, anniversary editions of beloved releases from The Avalanches and Juana Molina. This week’s featured Live Sessions video highlights the work of Steve Liddell as he performs an original composition on the centennial of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre from Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa.   Featuring Rarely does a life-altering album reveal itself, right away, to alter your life. But in our latest essay for Turning the Tables, writer Maria Sherman describes how Tiger Trap's 1993 album did just that for her, forcing her to reconsider what she thought she knew about punk, femininity and “serious” music.  The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant was meant to help small independent venues, theaters and other entertainment spaces hit hard by the pandemic. But it's taken six months to get up and running — and many owners are still waiting.  In the early-to-mid-'70s, the members of Kraftwerk were still under-the-radar music experimentalists from Düsseldorf. Fast forward to today, and the band is considered central to the foundation of electronic music and even early hip-hop. A new book examines the unique context that gave rise to the band. Sinéad O'Connor became a star in the MTV era, rising to fame in 1990 with a multi-platinum selling album. But ever since her controversial TV appearance on Saturday Night Live, her struggles have often played out in the public eye. Now she reclaims an influential legacy with a new memoir, Rememberings. On the latest episode of Alt.Latino: Filmmaker Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi documents new sounds as they emerge. His latest project, Bakosó: Afrobeats of Cuba, highlights the development of a new regional style that incorporates Cuban music, hip-hop, reggaeton and Afrobeats. Tiny Desk NPR If you’ve ever seen a Hold Steady show, then you know it’s a sweaty singalong, complete with confetti. For the long-running group’s first-ever full-band Tiny Desk set, the band convened backstage in a cramped corner of Brooklyn Bowl for a (home) concert of highlights from its latest album, Open Door Policy. It’s a quieter, crowdless affair, but the joy that’s integral to the band’s longevity remains.  Also this week: Latino hip-hop legend Fat Joe’s decade-spanning catalog is on full display in his (home) concert, which features a medley of his biggest hits backed by the Terror Squad Band. And Sasha Spielberg, aka Buzzy Lee, recorded her Tiny Desk set from her childhood bathroom with images of fairytales depicted on the tiling.  P.S.: If you’ve ever wanted to perform your own Tiny Desk concert, the Tiny Desk Contest is your opportunity. Entries for this year’s Contest close on Monday, June 7, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Incoming Join us Friday, June 11, at 2 p.m. ET on NPR Music’s YouTube channel for another NPR Music Listening Party, as Sleater-Kinney’s Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker join World Cafe host Raina Douris for a live listen of the band’s 10th studio album, Path of Wellness, plus a conversation answering your questions. RSVP for an email reminder, and we’ll see you in the chat! One More Thing A friendly summertime reminder from your newsletter editors: Wear sunscreen! Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WUFT 89.1 (edit station). 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! 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