Tag: National Public Radio

Bobby Carter | August 8, 2023 There are times during Action Bronson’s Tiny Desk when his vocals momentarily drift. We instruct our guests to face the directional microphones so that our recorders clearly pick up the voices. Action warned us of the improbability of that happening before we started filming and sure enough, the Flushing, Queens emcee strolled off mic a couple of times, did an about face here and there and even took a knee mid-show. By the time we got to “Latin Grammys,” he looked over to our engineer Josh Rogosin and said, “I told you I couldn’t [See More…]

Felix Contreras | July 24, 2023 What’s an artist to do when, instead of standing and dancing before a stadium of adoring fans, she’s instead sitting behind the Tiny Desk? You do exactly what Puerto Rican vocalist Kany García does: dig deep into the intimacy of her songwriting and the musicality of one of the most distinctive voices in any form of Latin music. The first track, “Para Siempre” perfectly embodies a seductive declaration of togetherness with lyrics like: “I want to be the desire that brings you home every night.” In “Mundo Inventado,” the full power of her songwriting [See More…]

Bobby Carter | July 20, 2023 The first thing I noticed as Cypress Hill strolled into NPR headquarters was Sen Dog cradling his signature bucket hat. I asked him if my assumptions were correct; it was indeed the original hat seen in all the videos from the early ’90s. Before I could process that confirmation, B Real asked me, “Yo, is your greenroom a greenroom?” We got everything we expected and more from Cypress Hill at the Tiny Desk. While the term “pioneer” is used loosely in pop culture today, few terms describe Cypress Hill’s impact over the past three [See More…]

Anamaria Sayre | July 13, 2023 As captivating as birds who sing in sync, MARO’s guitar trio brought an almost imperceptible, natural beauty to her Tiny Desk, characteristic of an artist truly in her element. It makes sense that the Portuguese guitarist and singer-songwriter would feel at home in this space given her previous visit to the Desk as a featured player and vocalist in Jacob Collier’s Tiny Desk concert. Beyond that, the artist came ready-made for the platform, prepared to lay bare a transfixing expression of bilingual heartbreak, strung together by the seamless narration of three acoustic guitars. Opening [See More…]

NPR Music is celebrating Black Music Month with an array of brand new Tiny Desk concerts. Together, these artists represent the past, present and future of Black music. This month of carefully curated shows is a celebration of Black artists expressing themselves in ways we’ve never seen before, and of the Tiny Desk’s unique way of showcasing that talent. Ashley Pointer | June 14, 2023 It’s practically a sin to not have Durrell “Tank” Babbs on your spiciest playlist — he’s penned some of the steamiest records in R&B. If you’ve been following our Black Music Month takeover, it’s likely [See More…]

NPR Music is celebrating Black Music Month with an array of brand new Tiny Desk concerts. Together, these artists represent the past, present and future of Black music. This month of carefully curated shows is a celebration of Black artists expressing themselves in ways we’ve never seen before, and of the Tiny Desk’s unique way of showcasing that talent. Bobby Carter | June 5, 2023 Charlie Wilson’s Tiny Desk unexpectedly ran the gamut of emotions. His musical journey boasts some of the highest highs and fanfare for over 50 years. So much so, it’s easy to forget what he’s endured. [See More…]

NPR Music’s Tiny Desk is celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. These artists represent just a sliver of the cultural diversity that exists within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Stephen Thompson | May 31, 2023 NIKI, a.k.a. Nicole Zefanya, took a circuitous route to the Tiny Desk. Born in Jakarta, she scored a major opportunity by winning a competition at 15 to open for Taylor Swift when her Red Tour took her to Indonesia. After moving to Nashville and building a following as a YouTuber, NIKI released two EPs and an album (Moonchild), then moved to [See More…]

Jill Britton | May 17, 2023 “I just wanted to take a moment before we start to say — lower your expectations,” Lewis Capaldi told the audience before his Tiny Desk performance. He then immediately launched into a beautifully crafted, vocally stunning four piece set. Beginning with a special arrangement of “Before You Go,” Capaldi was flanked by a full band, including two horns — something new for the Scottish singer. His second song, “Wish You the Best,” is the latest, Capaldi-style heartbreaking single from his upcoming album Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent. Capaldi joked that he didn’t [See More…]

NPR Music’s Tiny Desk is celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. These artists represent just a sliver of the cultural diversity that exists within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Suraya Mohamed | May 10, 2023 For Sid Sriram and his band, playing loud is the norm. But in anticipation for this Tiny Desk, he turned the volume down while rehearsing for this unique acoustic setting. “When it gets quiet, you hear the subtleties, the background, vocal sounds and it even inspires new vocal ideas because you’re not hearing everything, powered up all the way,” Sriram told [See More…]