Jeremy Denk led the third and final event of Bach's Well-Tempered Lens, his online series for WNYC/WQXR's The Greene Space in NYC, with "How to Think Like Bach." From his barn in upstate New York, Denk performed pieces by Bach and led a distanced discussion about what happens to our brains when we listen to the composer's work, joined by neuroscientist Daniel Levitin, music therapist Concetta Tomaino, and longtime recital partner cellist Steven Isserlis for performance and conversation. You can watch it here.

Lake Street Dive led Volume 2 of its Lounge Around Sounds Variety Hour of music and laughter, joined for this episode by special guest Emily King. It was an hour of pay-what-you-can fun, with a portion of the proceeds going on King's behalf to City Harvest, which rescues food in NYC to feed neighbors in need. You can watch it all here, and keep the lounging going afterwards with new Lounge Around Sounds merch from the Lake Street Dive Store.

Rhiannon Giddens has released a cover of Bill Withers' “Just the Two of Us" featuring Sxip Shirey. The video, which you can watch here, features photos and videos taken by friends and family in quarantine, and workers in the UNC and NY-Presbyterian healthcare systems. Proceeds go to Global Giving’s Coronavirus Relief Fund. You can also watch her performance with Francesco Turrisi on The Bluegrass Situation's Whiskey Sour Happy Hour.

Randy Newman was on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert from home to perform his new song, "Stay Away," a public service announcement for social distancing. "People are saying it's the greatest song ever written or that they've heard," Newman quips. "A lot of people are saying it. I'm not; it's they who are saying it." You can watch it here. Proceeds from the song support the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in New Orleans.

Stephin Merritt, whose new album with The Magnetic Fields, Quickies, is out this month, spoke with Jarvis Cocker, of Pulp fame, for the Talkhouse Podcast in Brooklyn back in February. You can now hear their conversation here. "Two of my favorites," says host Elia Einhorn. "These are two of the greatest living songwriters. With witty, literate lyrics, often dissecting the multiplicity of sex, they have reimagined what songwriting can look like and accomplish."

Lianne La Havas spoke with Genius' Verified series about "Bittersweet," the first single off her forthcoming self-titled album, due July 17 on Nonesuch Records. You can watch it here. "In the context of the whole album," she says, "it's kind of the overview of reconnecting with yourself and realizing that you may have to change something dramatically in your life to make yourself happier and to get more fulfillment from your life. It's basically about realizing that something needs to change, and then taking the steps to do so."

The members of the original Joshua Redman Quartet—Redman (saxophone), Brad Mehldau (piano), Christian McBride (bass), and Brian Blade (drums)—have released a new song, "Father," from their upcoming album, RoundAgain, due July 10. You can download the track, along with the previously released track "Right Back Round Again," when you pre-order the album, and watch the group perform the Mehldau tune live back in September, in a newly released video directed by Matthew Beighley, here.

British singer/songwriter/guitarist Lianne La Havas releases Lianne La Havas, her first album since 2015’s Blood, July 17 on Nonesuch in the US. La Havas performed the new album track "Paper Thin," along with the previously released album track “Bittersweet” and “Midnight” from Blood in a NPR Tiny Desk (Home) Concert, which also premiered today and can be seen here. Lianne La Havas is available to pre-order on limited-edition clear vinyl, standard vinyl, and CD in the Nonesuch Store.

Mountain Man has released Mountain Man Sings Kacey Musgraves, the latest in its series of cover singles, featuring its version of “Slow Burn” from Musgraves’ 2018 album, Golden Hour. "We are all huge fans of Kacey Musgraves,” says the band. "'Slow Burn' embodies the magic of the unfolding of life, the power of being present and patient and knowing that sometimes things just take time. Like following a thread—it requires attention and curiosity.”

"Stephin Merritt is a prolific and highly talented songwriter, musician, and singer," says Vish Kahnna on the latest episode of his Kreative Kontrol podcast. "A contemporary pop genius, Merritt has crafted some of America's most touching and brilliant love songs ... He is perhaps best known for his band The Magnetic Fields, whose hilarious and beautiful twelfth album is called Quickies." On the show, Merritt offers insight on each of the twenty-eight short songs on Quickies, which is available from Nonesuch digitally on May 15, in a five 7" vinyl box set May 29, and a single CD June 19. You can hear their conversation here.

Reasons to Be Cheerful, the online magazine founded by David Byrne, has announced Now Anything Is Possible, a new series that explores the potential of the changes occurring around the world in response to COVID-19. "This is a catalyzing moment and many of the changes that have been made or contemplated are going to be permanent––some of those are good, and some deeply questionable,” says Byrne. "We at Reasons to be Cheerful of course want to know: how can we keep the good stuff? Who is doing it (it's already happening) and how those ideas and initiatives are working out?"

Laurie Anderson was celebrated at Joe's Pub's 2020 Vanguard Gala event back in February. That concert, in which artists and friends perform music from throughout her career, premiered last night as part of the Joe's Pub Live! From the Archives series and can be seen here. Under the music direction of Shara Nova (of My Brightest Diamond), the evening featured performances by Ryuichi Sakamoto, Carl Hancock Rux, Theo Bleckmann, Colin Stetson, Nona Hendryx, Christina Courtin, Joan as Police Woman, Meshell Ndegeocello, and many others.