Lianne La Havas's new, self-titled album was just released to critical acclaim on Nonesuch Records in the US. Here, she talks with writer Sophie Harris about her third album, which spans the arc of a relationship and reflects musical references as varied as Milton Nascimento, Joni Mitchell, Jaco Pastorious, Al Green, and Destiny’s Child. Read the article to find out why she tells Harris: "I dare say that this is the closest I’ve gotten to a pure expression so far."

Devendra Banhart, whose new EP, Vast Ovoid, is out now, performed "Taking a Page," from his 2019 album Ma, for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's online series Play at Home. The video was filmed at his home in Los Angeles by Consuelo Althouse. You can watch it here.

Devendra Banhart's four-song EP Vast Ovoid is out now. It follows his 2019 studio album, Ma, about which Q says: "Banhart’s singular world remains as intoxicating as ever, as if all human life is here." The EP, available in a limited-edition 12" white vinyl 45 and digitally, includes the Helado Negro remix of the Ma song "Love Song" and three songs "that didn’t quite fit in with Ma's theme of maternity," Banhart says. "Ultimately all three songs are about the difference between disappointment and disillusion … Bigger difference than I realized ..."

Pulitzer Prize–winning composer Caroline Shaw’s Orange, which earned Attacca Quartet a Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance, is now available on vinyl for the first time. The two-LP vinyl edition includes the album on double 180-gram orange vinyl, pressed at Record Industry in the Netherlands, along with a printed excerpt from the score. "Completely gorgeous in so many ways," exclaims BBC Radio 3. "It hits you everywhere, all at once." "A love letter to the string quartet," says NPR. "[W]hen you hear all the imaginative sounds on Orange, you know you're listening to the voice of a strong composer."

NPR Music and Jazz Night in America debuted an hour-long set from shows Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, and Brian Blade played at The Falcon in Marlboro, NY, just before recording their new album, RoundAgain, last September. The premiere event on Wednesday also included a live Q&A with the musicians and NPR Music's Nate Chinen. You can watch both again here.

Vagabon is featured on the cover of and in the pages of Mirror Sound: A Look Into the People and Processes Behind Self-Recorded Music, a new book by musician and writer Spencer Tweedy, graphic designer Lawrence Azerrad, and photographer Daniel Topete, due October 20, 2020, from Prestel. The book is a visual portrait that delves into the people and processes behind self-recorded music, showcasing twenty-seven musicians, interviews, and studio visits and more than 150 images, as well as an introduction by Sleater-Kinney's Carrie Brownstein.

Lianne La Havas played a special KCRW In Residence acoustic set, performing "Courage" and her "jaw-dropping cover of Radiohead’s 'Weird Fishes'” from her new album as well as her 2012 tune "Au Cinema." "Lianne La Havas is really something special," says KCRW's Anne Litt. "Her new album ... is stunning." Hear the set here. The New York Times says: "The songs illuminate passion, impulsiveness, ambivalence and uncertainty, yet the structures La Havas created are lucid and poised. While matters of the heart may be out of control, her fingers and voice are impeccable."

The HBO film of the Broadway show David Byrne’s American Utopia, directed by Spike Lee, will be the Opening Night Presentation of the 45th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Thursday, September 10. “This joyful film takes audiences on a musical journey about openness, optimism, and faith in humanity,” said Joana Vicente, Executive Director and Co-Head, TIFF. “This is especially poignant at a time of great uncertainty around the world. We’re eager to share the excitement of Opening Night with audiences.”

The Magnetic Fields got together separately to perform songs from their new album, Quickies, for Rough Trade's Transmissions series on IGTV. As on the album, Stephin Merritt and other Magnetic Fields band members Sam Davol, Claudia Gonson, Shirley Simms, and John Woo are joined for the session by longtime friends and collaborators Chris Ewen, Daniel Handler, and Pinky Weitzman. You can watch it here.

Congratulations to Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, and Brian Blade, whose new album, RoundAgain, debuted at No. 1 on the Current Traditional Jazz Albums chart in the US and at No. 1 on the Jazz & Blues chart in the UK. The album has also debuted in the Top 100 of the Current Albums chart in the US and in the Top 10 of the overall albums chart in Switzerland and Top 100 of the same in Germany, Belgium, and Japan. Tune in this Wednesday to join the musicians for the premiere of an hour-long set from last September via NPR Music and Jazz Night in America, plus a live Q&A.

British singer/songwriter/guitarist Lianne La Havas’ self-titled album, her first since 2015’s Blood, is out now. The eleven tracks span the arc of a love affair, one that brought growth and newfound confidence. “This is my first completely self-produced album with my own band. I got my own way with everything—all the decisions that you hear on this album were mine,” she says. “I’m a woman now, so I’m less shy and timid about saying certain things. And there’s no right or wrong when it’s your record, so I was very much embracing that fact, as well.”

While we can't go out to take in great live music, here are some events taking place online to enjoy while staying home this weekend: Lianne La Havas joins NPR Music's live listening party of her new album; Rhiannon Giddens, Francesco Turrisi perform in National Concert Hall Covid-19 memorial concert; Chris Thile's Caramoor concert is streamed; Sam Amidon performs on DeBarra's Folk Club Facebook live; Jeremy Denk's 2015 BBC Proms debut airs on BBC Radio 3; the virtual Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival features past sets by Nickel Creek, Michael Daves.