Okapi

Productions

October 7, 2023

Nat Myers on how the blues keeps the blues away

Kentucky blues artist Nat Myers joins Tom Casciato on PBS NewsHour to talk about growing up with the blues, the poetry of Charlie Patton and Tommy McLennan, his debut album “Yellow Peril” and how playing the blues keeps the blues away.

May 19, 2023

Aoife O’Donovan on Covering Bruce Springsteen’s “Nebraska”

Singer/songwriter Aoife O’Donovan joins Tom Casciato on PBS NewsHour to talk about growing up on music, what it means to be a folksinger, and the deep emotional connection she feels to Springsteen’s acoustic classic.

Peter One Puts His Own Twist on the Nashville Sound

Musician Peter One joins Tom Casciato on PBS NewsHour to discuss his extraordinary musical journey from Ivory Coast to Nashville, and how he blends the cultures of both his new album “Come Back To Me.”

February 1, 2023

Jake Blount on Tradition and its Future

Musician/scholar Jake Blount joins Tom Casciato on PBS NewsHour to talk about the history of Black stringband music as well as his recent album, The New Faith, which tackles climate change even as it maps out what you might call the future of tradition.

Beth Orton on her personal struggles and her stunning album Weather Alive

Singer/Songwriter Beth Orton joins Tom Casciato on PBS NewsHour to talk about the struggles of her youth, becoming a parent, and finding her way to making her latest album, Weather Alive, described by Pitchfork as “the best work of her career.”

Bartees Strange Pushes The Boundaries

Indie music’s extraordinary Bartees Strange joins Tom Casciato on PBS NewsHour to discuss his unique background, inspirations like TV On The Radio and The National, plus his breakthrough album “Farm To Table.”

July 20, 2022

Molly Tuttle’s Musical Journey

Guitar picker extraordinaire joins Tom Casciato on PBS NewsHour to talk about growing up on strings, living with alopecia, and taking her music way beyond bluegrass.

May 9, 2022

Guitarist Yasmin Williams makes music without lyrics but not without meaning

The extraordinary musician Yasmin Williams joins Tom Casciato on PBS NewsHour to talk about her unique guitar style, her influences, the importance of role models, and more.

March 20, 2022

AIMEE MANN on songwriting, mental health, and the “uplifiting quality” you can find in a sad song

Acclaimed singer/songwriter Aimee Mann joins Tom Casciato on PBS NewsHour Weekend.

March 8, 2022

Blues Artist Keb’ Mo’ On His Musical Odyssey

70-year-old blues (and so much more) artist Keb’ Mo’ joins Tom Casciato for an illuminating and surprising career-spanning conversation on PBS NewsHour Weekend.