World Cafe

With emerging styles that fuse traditional folk and modern genres, Mexico has become a hub for experimentation in music. In this 30th installment of Latin Roots, World Cafe host David Dye explores the prominence of Mexitrónica with Josh Norek, the co-host and executive producer of the nationally syndicated radio program The Latin Alternative.

Performing and recording under the name Toro Y Moi, Chaz Bundick draws on elements of soul, jazz, Latin disco, funk and modern pop. With Toro Y Moi's 2010 debut, Causers of This, Bundick became a pioneer of what's often called chillwave.

His new album, Anything in Return, is a set of electro-pop songs enhanced by his smooth vocals. In this installment of World Café, Toro Y Moi plays a few songs from the album and talks about the inspiration behind his lyrics.

The Lions' members share a strong love of classic, Jamaican-inspired reggae. Hailing from different musical generations, the L.A. band's members craft a unique style which blends hip-hop and reggae with electrifying dub rhythms. Although the lineup has changed since The Lions' beginnings, the music has remained explosive and alluring.

With a career spanning more than 30 years, English musician Billy Bragg blends folk, rock and punk with messages about politics and love. His new album Tooth & Nail is his first release in five years.

After a three-year hiatus, Duquette Johnston is back with his upcoming release Rabbit Runs a Destiny.

Local Natives, a Los Angeles-based indie-rock outfit, made a splash in 2009 with its self-funded debut album Gorilla Manor. The band went on tour with Arcade Fire and The National in support of the record, which hit No. 3 on the Billboard 200 New Artist Chart.

Zach Williams, Kanene Pipkin and Brian Elmquist are The Lone Bellow. Although Williams, the principal songwriter and lead singer, is a native Georgian, the group found its soulful folk-rock sound in Brooklyn. The group recorded its self-titled debut album on the Lower East Side, yet the lyrical, foot-stomping songs could have easily come from the heart of Nashville.

The hazy garage rockers in Allah-Las are distinctly Californian, a group of guys whose lo-fi sound is a direct result of their low-key surroundings. Cool piece of trivia: three of the four men met while working at L.A.'s legendary Amoeba Records.

On today's studio session from World Cafe, the band performs three songs from its self-titled album, which was produced by retro-soul fetishist Nick Waterhouse.

At 25 years old, Trixie Whitley is already a veteran of the music industry. Growing up, she toured the world with her late father, singer-songwriter Chris Whitley, and gained repute as a DJ in Europe, spinning records in Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris and New York City.

Birdie Busch, Philadelphia's whimsical, verse-weaving siren, has always had a way with storytelling. Her lyrics are quirky, candid and infused with a sense of sentimentality.