On today’s episode, we’re tackling a question from a listener named Joel: Why do singers lose their accents when they sing?

Our guest this week is New Yorker writer Kelefa Sanneh. In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore identity in country music, why Taylor Swift stopped singing with a twang, how Drake changed the way people think about authenticity in hip-hop, and why Adele and Harry Styles don’t sound British when they sing.

Want to hear all the music from this episode? Check out our newsletter for a playlist.

Check out Kelefa’s book Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres

If you’re new here, listen to episode 36: Is Taylor Swift bigger than Michael Jackson? and check out our NST starter pack. 

Fill out our NST listener survey here.

Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ http://www.nordvpn.com/nst  

Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.