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Janiva Magness On World Cafe

Janiva Magness.
Courtesy of Jeff Dunas
Janiva Magness.

Known for exploring the complexity of human hurt in ways that are both personal and universal, Janiva Magness is a widely praised blues and soul singer. Magness writes from a serious place, and fittingly, her music isn't to be taken lightly: She often weaves a difficult personal history into her songs, but, as her new album's title suggests, Magness pushes through tough times on Stronger for It.

Stronger for It arrives in the wake of a difficult year for Magness, who lost several people close to her and ended her 17-year marriage. Yet, as she explains in today's episode of World Cafe, she shaped those experiences into songs. She also discusses why she gravitated toward blues in the first place — a decision which may seem obvious to fans, but has a surprising answer. Here, Magness talks about Stronger for It and plays some of its songs live in the studio.

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