Saya Gray joins host Raina Douris

SAYA may be Saya Gray’s debut album, but the Japanese-Canadian songwriter and producer has been releasing sonically ambitious, album-length projects since 2022. Before then, the multi-instrumentalist cut her teeth as a music director for other musical acts. On the World Cafe, Gray joins us to talk about why it was finally time to create a proper debut album, why traveling is so important to her creative process, plus Saya Gray and her band perform live in the studio.

Listen to the session here.

Today’s Playlist

Hour Two
Saya Gray, “Shell (Of A Man)”, Recorded Live for World Cafe

Saya Gray, “This is Why (I Don’t Spring 4 Love)”, Recorded Live for World Cafe

Saya Gray, “If There’s No Seat In The Sky (Will You Forgive Me)”, Recorded Live for World Cafe

Saya Gray, “Lie Down”, Recorded Live for World Cafe

Fiona Apple, “Shadowboxer”, Tidal

Father John Misty, “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings”, Fear Fun

Ray Lamontagne & The Pariah Dogs, “Beg Steal or Borrow”, God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise

Hour Two
Sting, “All This Time”, The Soul Cages

Tunde Adebimpe, “Magnetic”, Thee Black Boltz

Bloc Party, “Helicopter”, Silent Alarm

Wilco, “Impossible Germany”, Sky Blue Sky

Julien Baker & Torres, “Sugar in the Tank”, Send a Prayer My Way

Jewel, “Who Will Save Your Soul”, Recorded Live for World Cafe

Corinne Bailey Rae, “Put Your Records On”, Recorded Live for World Cafe

Bebe Stockwell, “Minor Inconveniences”, single

Adele, “Set Fire to the Rain”, 21

My Morning Jacket, “Time Waited”, is

Horsegirl, “Switch Over”, Phonetics On and On

Parquet Courts, “Wide Awake”, Wide Awake!

Leif Vollebekk, “Peace Of Mind (Evening)”, Revelation

The Decemberists, “The Engine Driver”, Picaresque

Kings of Leon, “Molly’s Chambers”, Youth And Young Manhood