Lars Gotrich
Lars Gotrich is the editor of Tiny Desk and Tiny Desk Radio, a nationally broadcast program based on the beloved live concert series. He's produced performances at the Desk by Paramore, GWAR, Amy Grant, Turnstile, and Goo Goo Dolls.
After years writing about music for zines and working in college radio, Gotrich started his career at NPR as an intern for the All Songs Considered podcast in 2006, where he's been a regular presence ever since. He's produced several different series for NPR Music, including First Listen, Song We Love, #NowPlaying and the Listening Party. While Gotrich covers all kinds of music, he is best known as the creator of roséwave, the pop-forward summer music series, and Viking's Choice, a curatorial free-for-all that emphasizes the loud and the weird. And, once upon a time, Gotrich hosted #WAXnEGGS, a live cooking show filmed in his home, featuring live sets by the likes of Waxahatchee and Speedy Ortiz.
When he's not behind the mic or editing stories, Gotrich has appeared as a talking head in the music documentaries Welcome to Deathfest, Parallel Love: The Story of a Band Called Luxury, and No More Punk Time. He's also penned liner notes for vinyl releases by Sixpence None the Richer, Mary Halvorson, and Roadside Monument, among others. He is the world's okay-ist guitarist.
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Johnny Cash died in 2003, but an un-released demo he recorded in 1993 has been refashioned into a new album. What are the unwritten rules about how to tastefully release posthumous material? -
Luiza Brina spent 10 years developing an album of nonreligious prayers. NPR Music's Lars Gotrich dives into newly released music from Brazil, featuring Milton Nascimento, Amaro Freitas and Anitta. -
Albini led the abrasive underground rock bands Big Black and Shellac and recorded — by his own estimate — thousands of albums, including classics like Nirvana's In Utero and the Pixies' Surfer Rosa. -
Madlib's music feels like a magic trick. On this edition of 8 Tracks, we bow down to Madlib's mastery, plus check out new music by Charly Bliss, Fana Hues and reminisce on an old Ted Leo record. -
Thursday's first song in 13 years leads off this edition of 8 Tracks, which we'll have to call 10 Tracks because there's been too much good music lately. -
What do New Jazz Underground, Black Sabbath and Remi Wolf have in common? According to NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich, they put out the best tracks of the week. -
What would you do if your favorite artist stared you down and asked for the truth? On this 8 Tracks: Michael Knott, Rapsody and Tierra Whack offer mirrors to themselves and to anyone listening. -
An entire industry wouldn't exist without him, yet few know his name. In his songs, Knott challenged the faithful to examine their faults and hypocrisies. -
You, a Pisces full of wisdom, have discovered a new song that lights up your soul. This week on 8 Tracks: Mild to wild obsessions with SZA, Bat for Lashes and Alice Coltrane. -
Recent songs by Maggie Rogers and Kacey Musgraves took NPR Music's Lars Gotrich back to a familiar sound and ethos. On this edition of 8 Tracks, we dream up a Lilith Fair lineup.
