A few of the stars of African pop's recent westward expansion. Clockwise from top left: Tyla, Davido, Ayra Starr, Wizkid, Rema. Photos by Patrick T. Fallon/Shotbycozyy/Axle Jozeph/Leon Neal/Theo Wargo/Getty Images/Illustration by Jackie Lay hide caption
Elim Chan conducts the San Francisco Symphony in June. She officially takes over the orchestra as music director in September, 2027. Stefan Cohen hide caption
Sylvan Esso's fifth studio album, Ow ∞ ("ow infinity"), was released Sept. 11 on the band's own label, Psychic Hotline. Graham Tolbert/Psychic Hotline hide caption
Nico Michael Ochs Archives Getty Images hide caption
"There's a time and place for confrontation and there's a time and place to just let it pass you by," Williams says. "But overall, my issues are with power and with people's relationship to power." Sam Lee hide caption
On What Are the Odds, Jorja Smith pivots toward the dance-floor genres that have haunted the corners of her music but rarely taken center stage. Bolade Banjo hide caption
Adrianne Lenker (at left) and her band Big Thief were joined by all-star collaborators including songwriters Iris DeMent (center) and Gillian Welch (right) during a pair of shows at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville to preview the forthcoming album Horsepower. Genesis Baez hide caption
Dolly Parton in 1979. Richard E. Aaron/Redferns hide caption
Tirzah Spike Lynch-Koch hide caption
fata morgana is multi-instrumentalist and composer Taja Cheek's fourth album as L'Rain. Mackai Sharp hide caption
Blue Island is the third studio album by Ravyn Lenae, and the first since the unlikely viral breakout of her song "Love Me Not." Cairo Dipika hide caption
The third album by Phoebe Bridgers, Lost Weekend, comes after the songwriter won three Grammy awards with her group boygenius, then retreated from the public eye, reeling from the effects of fame, a complicated love life and the sudden death of her father. Olof Grind hide caption
The PUBLIQuartet's new album explores the many facets of rhythm in American music. Titilayo Ayangade hide caption
Aretha Franklin Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images hide caption
Jim James of My Morning Jacket (left) and Jeff Tweedy of Wilco both went on to develop a deep relationship with the strange and psychedelic musicianship of the Grateful Dead. hide caption
The third album by Role Model, whose real name is Tucker Pillsbury, comes on the heels of his viral hit "Sally, When the Wine Runs Out." "I love that song for what it is," he says, but he knew by the time it was out he needed to move beyond it. Chloe Chippendale hide caption
Syd's solo album Beard and Steve Lacy's Oh yeah? find the two members of R&B group The Internet taking distinct approaches to refining their stardom. Nabil / Gus Van Sant hide caption
The Grateful Dead (left to right): Brent Mydland, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, Bob Weir, Jerry Garcia and Mickey Hart Roger Ressmeyer / Corbis / VCG via Getty Images hide caption
On her new album, conductor Dalia Stasevska makes a case for Ukrainian orchestral music. Lindsey Childs hide caption