Folkracy, Rufus Wainwright
Music is not an industry lacking in nepo babies, but in a crowded field, Rufus Wainwright stands out. The 49 year-old’s virtuosic music ability and willingness to embrace his family background means the label has never really stuck. His newest release sees him step away from the “popera” genre he helped create and into the folk style of his mother and father. None of the songs on the record are new. They’re all classics, and on each Wainwright teams up with a different music legend, including (but not limited to) Susanna Hoffs, David Byrne and Chaka Khan. Through love of his past, he creates something vibrant for the modern day. But of course, you already knew it was going to be good – it’s Rufus after all.
The Louis Theroux Podcast
Louis Theroux is back, this time in audio form. In the first episode, he sits down with pop megastar Shania Twain. Theroux confesses that even he, as a “25 year-old, struggling journalist in New York,” felt connected to Twain’s hit record Man! I feel like a Woman. As the conversation gets deeper, his uniquely honed interview skills shine through and he manages to pull back the curtain on Twain’s life, from her beginnings as a child performer living in an abusive environment to becoming the icon we know today, despite never wanting to be in the spotlight. The episode gives a glimpse into the candid conversations we’re likely to hear in episodes to come.
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