FUV Live Sessions

Brooklyn-based band, Nation of Language, commuted to the Bronx to play a live set in Studio-A and talk to WFUV host Alisa Ali about their latest album, Dance Called Memory, the difference between making music and showing it to other people, the importance of following your instincts without worrying about what listeners might like or not like, and the opportunity to work with Subpop Records. Songs: Inept Apollo, Under The Water and Silhouette

Indigo De Souza joined WFUV host Alisa Ali in Studio-A to talk about her fourth studio album, Precipice, how important it is to be truthful and authentic during the songwriting process, the familial relationship between her touring team and the value in talking openly about mental health struggles. Songs: Not Afraid, Be Like The Water and Crying Over Nothing

In this episode of FUV Live Sessions, WFUV host Sam Sumpter weaved her way through the backstage of Forest Hills Stadium in Queens to get a chance to talk to Brittany Howard of the beloved band, Alabama Shakes – the two caught up about the band getting back together again, the new music they’ve put out in 2025 and how they’re better than ever because they took some time away to grow. The songs in this session were recorded live at Red Rocks in Colorado and Forest Hills Stadium in New York City. The music was recorded, mixed and mastered by Shane Haase. Photo by Brantley Gutierrez. Songs: Gimme All Your Love, Another Life and This Feeling

Nigerian singer-songwriter, Obongjayar, joined WFUV host Kara Manning in Studio-A to talk about his Sophomore album, Paradise Now (which was also released as a deluxe album titled Paradise Now & Forever the week before this session dropped), his first United States tour and playing Newport Folk Festival, how important it is to be authentic and to let the people you collaborate with be themselves, and where the cadence of his native language appears in his songwriting. Songs: Prayer, Sweet Danger and Jellyfish

Britpop band, Pulp, released their first album in 24 years, More, and Jarvis Cocker of the group chatted to UKNY host Kara Manning about the project, how he approached the band with the idea to do another album, how his lyrical writing process has changed over the course of his career and why radio is so essential to culture, music and artists across the board. Songs: Tina, Grown Ups and Slow Jam

English indie-rock band, Wolf Alice, caught up with WFUV host Kara Manning at The Power Station in New York City to talk about their latest album, The Clearing, how it feels to be the only band in the history of the Mercury Prize to be nominated for all their albums, what’s different about making music in their thirties versus making music in their twenties and the importance of making music both independently and then being able to come back together and turn it into an album. Songs: The Sofa and Leaning Against The Wall

John Oates joined Cavalcade host Paul Cavalconte at WFUV to talk about his latest self-titled solo album, Oates, how his recording process has both changed and stayed the same, his collaborations with up-and-coming artists like Devon Gilfillian and what it was like to be in the room and on the stage for historic musical moments like, “We Are the World” and Live Aid. Songs: Real Thing Going On, A Ways Away and She’s Gone

Karly Hartzman of the band Wednesday joined WFUV host Sam Sumpter in Studio-A to talk about the band’s latest album, Bleeds, how this project is a blend of music and audio archive for her small North Carolina town, what makes this record the spiritual counterpart to their previous album Rat Saw God and what exactly the genre “creek rock” is. Songs: Wound Up Here (By Holdin On), Pick Up That Knife and Elderberry Wine

Singer, songwriter, musician and muscle car enthusiast Natalie Bergman sat down with FUV’s Alisa Ali to talk about her latest solo album, My Home Is Not In This World, how this latest project is a departure from her first solo album, the role that faith plays in her music and what it’s been like to balance her roles as both a new mother and an artist. Songs: Lonely Road, Gunslinger and My Home Is Not In This World

New Orleans Bounce icon, Big Freedia, sat down with WFUV host Kara Manning in Studio-A to talk about her latest album, Pressing Onward, how her childhood baptist church of the same name inspired her musical journey, the connection between Gospel music and Bounce and the beauty in bringing people together no matter where they come from or who they are. Songs: Church and Take My Hand

Boston born Bebe Stockwell joined WFUV host Alisa Ali to talk about her debut full-length album, Driving Backwards, how her time at both Berklee as a teenager and NYU as an undergraduate student influenced her music, the gift of a wide range as a vocalist and coming to the realization that making music can be a fruitful career. Songs: Minor Inconveniences, Want Me and Blue Moon

The New York City born and bred trio, ZOPA, joined WFUV host Paul Cavalconte in Studio-A to talk about their 2025 album, Diamond Vehicle, how the three of them crossed paths over decades to eventually come together to form a group with Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos) at the helm, their shoegaze musical influences and how the history of New York City influences the art they make together. Songs: Still Life, Love and Other Forms of Violence and Ocean / Heroin

Triple threat Tony Award winner Renée Elise Goldsberry, well known for originating the role of Angelica Schuyler in the Broadway musical “Hamilton,” sat down with WFUV’s Meghan Suma to talk about her debut album, Who I Really Am, how important it is to write music that celebrates both the accomplishments and the obstacles in life, the sounds from her childhood that influenced the musical palette heard on this record and what she loves about being an artist. Songs: Who I Really Am, Staring and Smiling

Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Molly Tuttle, joined FUV host Alisa Ali in Studio-A to talk about her latest album, So Long Little Miss Sunshine, how this record reflects all of Molly’s different musical sides, how she learned the clawhammer style on both banjo and guitar when she was young and whether or not she has more wigs or guitars at home. Songs: The Highway Knows, That’s Gonna Leave a Mark and San Joaquin

Michelle Zauner, who makes music as Japanese Breakfast, joined WFUV host Alisa Ali to talk about her new record, For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women), the differences in production between this project and past albums, the personal inspirations that can be found in the lyrics and the dichotomy between life as a touring musician and trying to maintain relationships back home. Songs: Orlando in Love, Leda and Magic Mountain

Mike Hadreas, who makes music as Perfume Genius, joined FUV host Benham Jones in Studio-A to talk about his new album, Glory, how collaborations with producer Blake Mills and guitarist Meg Duffy influenced the sound of this album, the potential power of AI to both hurt and help and his realization that making uncensored, authentic music is inherently political. Songs: In a Row, No Front Teeth and It’s a Mirror

Sunflower Bean sat down with WFUV host Eric Holland to talk about their new album, Mortal Primetime, the secret misheard Iggy Pop lyrics that led to the name of the record, how the pandemic pushed the band to learn how to self-produce and how taking some space from the band helped them come back stronger than ever for this project. Songs: Champagne Taste, Nothing Romantic and Look What You’ve Done To Me

Chris Davids and Liam Ivory, who make up the UK-based duo Maribou State, sat down with WFUV host, Kara Manning, to talk about their latest album, Hallucinating Love, how they became closer friends than ever before during this project, the fact that this record was born from a difficult medical diagnosis and what sonic elements make up a Maribou State song. The songs in this session were recorded by Jay Heigl at the Ogden Theater in Denver on April 24, 2025. Songs: Blackoak, Otherside, All I Need and Dance on the World

Brian Fennell, who makes music as SYML, sat down with FUV host Alisa Ali to talk about his third album, Nobody Lives Here, his classical music roots and how he both used and tabled those skills while making this record, the simplicity of the recording and how easily these songs transfer to live performance and how special it is to work on a project with your lifelong best friend. Songs: Heavy Hearts, Fear of the Water and Carry No Thing

Jessica Dobson of the band Deep Sea Diver joined WFUV host Alisa Ali in the studio to talk about the group’s fourth album, Billboard Heart, the importance of making music without worrying about how it will be received, what it was like to tour with Pearl Jam and what the band learned from debuting brand new songs in arenas filled with thousands of people. Songs: What Do I Know, Shovel and Emergency