NPR Music

With three Grammys to her credit, Lari White has carved out a multifaceted career as an award-winning recording artist, hit songwriter, producer, independent record-label owner and versatile actress. She's widely regarded as Nashville's "Renaissance Woman."

On June 19, a week and a half ago, Fiona Apple released a brand new album, her first in seven years. The entire album had been available for streaming by NPR Music for a week and a half by then. Three days later, my copy arrived in the mail. It hasn't left my desk since.

I still haven't listened to it.

For a special road show recorded in partnership with the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance in Bristol, Tenn./Va., Mountain Stage brought along a hometown favorite, singer-songwriter John Lilly. The editor of West Virginia's treasured Goldenseal magazine since 1997, Lilly plays music that recalls the sounds of a different era.

Ben Howard is already a phenomenon in the UK. Word of mouth spread quickly after a series of performances around London and his native Devonshire and, after seeing him live, I can see why. He sang a handful of haunting folk songs, including standout "Depth over Distance".

Click here for more from this KCRW session.