Category: Music

Alanté Serene | October 24, 2025 Asake arrived at the office with a warm smile and a quiet confidence that instantly bloomed as he stepped behind the Desk. The Nigerian artist is known for his high-energy stage presence, but this concert shows just how effortlessly he can blend the sounds of Afrobeats, amapiano and Fuji in an intimate setting. Grounded in his Yoruba roots, Asake’s music unites people across cultures worldwide. This set pulls hits from his last three projects, laced together in a seamless medley and backed by a stellar band. By the end, Asake joins in on the [See More…]

Isabella Gomez Sarmiento | October 22, 2025 Parcels does not shy away from abundance. The Australian quintet’s songs often feature a myriad of guitars, rivaling piano and synths, slinky basslines, pulsing drums and four (yes, four) vocalists. But the group opens its Tiny Desk concert with a secret weapon: hauntingly bare harmonies, backed only by gentle keys and guitar, that transform a snippet of the irresistibly catchy “Leaveyourlove” into a solemn oath of devotion. It’s a stunningly stripped-down choice for a band that can — and does — properly rock out, with explosive live performances that turn its glossy, electro-pop [See More…]

Bobby Carter | October 20, 2025 Onome Edgeworth, Kokoroko’s band leader and percussionist, told us: “Up until today, I thought, ‘No chance. This is going to go horribly wrong.’ ” It’s not uncommon for bands to come into our space with doubts. Still, in Edgeworth’s case, the insecurities were quickly shed: the NPR crowd gave “good vibes” and, more importantly, this young group of British musicians is just so naturally talented. The timing couldn’t be better for this Tiny Desk. The themes and motivation behind Kokoroko’s latest album, Tuff Times Never Last, speak directly to what many people are going [See More…]

Bobby Carter | October 17, 2025 Kevin Parker’s team came back with two words: “all acoustic.” I was dumbfounded, not only by the notion of an acoustic Tame Impala set but also by the idea of the band playing the real Tiny Desk. In 2020, Tame Impala was able to toe and, by some standards, cross the line for its Tiny Desk (home) concert. Here at NPR headquarters, Parker and the crew had to relinquish a certain level of control. “Let’s just try it and see what happens,” Parker told me. From a production standpoint, it feels like Tame Impala [See More…]