Matt Berninger and Brent Knopf are the duo behind the band EL VY. You may know Matt from the hugely popular indie band The National, and Brent from the Portland band Menomena. They bring you down to earth with their party playlist for a night of playful banter.
Soundtrack
Melodies and Metaphors with Car Seat Headrest
Seattle-based musician Will Toledo -- of the indie band Car Seat Headrest -- got his start in Leesburg, Virginia recording music in his car, hence the band's name. He just signed to Matador Records, and he's got a new album called "Teens of Style." Here he is with a laid-back playlist.
Neon Indian Guides You From Dinner Time to Party Time
Alan Palomo, better known as Neon Indian, weaves disco bass lines into reggae beats to produce a sound that's easily danceable, but hard to describe. He offers up a late-night playlist that'll take you deep into the evening and with a little Spanish flair.
Raury DJs the Party of the Future
Raury is the 19-year-old musician who caught the eye of Kanye West with his mixtape "Indigo Child." With his debut album "All We Need," he blends folk and hip hop in songs that range from feel-good to political. The Georgia-born soul-folk wunderkind picks a playlist that takes us into the forest – and the future (3500, specifically). No word if Andre 3000 is invited.
Stephen Costello Takes You From MJ to Verdi
Stephen Costello is one of the rising stars of the opera world. You can catch him now at New York's Metropolitan Opera in a production the New York Classical Review says, "Should remain in rotation for as long as people listen to Sinatra." He delivers an eclectic mix of tunes for dinner parties and divas alike.
Kurt Vile’s Easygoing Party Playlist
Kurt Vile co-founded the band The War On Drugs, then launched a solo career so successful that his hometown of Philadelphia declared August 28 "Kurt Vile Day." Grantland calls him "One of the most talented rockers of his generation." His new album, called "b'lieve i'm goin down..." is out now. He gives us a few tracks to float along with at your next dreamy dinner party.
Ska’s First Lady Pauline Black Selects a Soul-Infused Soundtrack
Pauline Black is the front-woman of the legendary U.K. ska band, The Selecter. Back in the '80s, they and groups like The Specials revived the genre with socially conscious lyrics and punk energy. The Selecter's new album, "Subculture," is out now. Pauline prepares a playlist with a few legendary soul singers for a legendary night.
Shamir Brings his Favorite Department Store Jams to the Dinner Party
Shamir's androgynous voice and killer hooks landed him a record deal just out of high school. The Las Vegas native, who released his debut LP "Ratchet" in May to rave reviews, gives us an eclectic playlist filled with mid-tempo tunes that won't make you fall asleep on your plate.
Destroyer’s Dan Bejar Invites Van Morrison to the Party
Canadian singer-songwriter Dan Bejar has been crafting songs and performing as the frontman for Destroyer since the '90s. A couple weeks back he released his 11th full-length album, called "Poison Season." This week, Dan gives us a monomaniacal list of party tunes.
Carly Rae Jepsen Goes From Dinner to Dance Party
Carly Rae Jepsen is out with her third album, "E·MO·TION." It's fun, '80s-pop-inspired, earworm-heavy, and the critics dig it. The Canadian singer serves up a soundtrack for a night feasting on homemade lasagna, grooving on the dance floor, and mending broken hearts.