Tag: NPR Music

Maia Stern | July 15, 2025 “Come on, Tiny D!” Kele Okereke excitedly yelps about a minute into Bloc Party’s Tiny Desk concert. The English rock group’s members were stoked to pay us a visit during their recent trip across the pond — and we were lucky to have them. They approached the Tiny Desk challenge with ease and delivered a carefully curated set with smiles and all. This year marks two decades since the release of Bloc Party’s enduring debut album. To celebrate, this Tiny Desk set begins with the super catchy and energetic pop anthem “Banquet” from Silent [See More…]

Bobby Carter | July 11, 2025 After a 16-year hiatus and with no go-to band in place, Clipse’s Tiny Desk took lots of time to piece together. At first, I didn’t know exactly what they were looking for, in terms of sonics, but it clicked when I was told what they didn’t want: no jazzy renditions of their music. They meant no disrespect to jazz at all, and if you follow the duo’s music, it boils down to hard drums and even harder synths. Hybrid drummer Daru Jones, who played on last year’s Tiny Desk for the LOX, was the [See More…]

Robin Hilton | July 9, 2025 We’ve been chasing a Wet Leg Tiny Desk ever since the Isle of Wight band floored us with the 2021 single “Chaise Longue,” a song that, like much of the group’s work, is as understated and droll as it is frenetic and infectious. So, when we finally got Wet Leg into the office to record this performance, we weren’t surprised by the amount of playful swagger the band brought, or by how carefully calibrated the set was. But fans might be surprised by how much Wet Leg leans into that more understated side. You [See More…]

Lars Gotrich | July 2, 2025 Two guitars. Two voices. Fifteen years since the duo last stopped by the Tiny Desk, not much has changed in how they present themselves, right down to their preferred guitar tuner. This is how it’s been, with some variation, for over three decades, in the timeless music of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. And, yet, everything changes when you listen deeper and live longer. Behind the Desk, facing each other, the ballad “Empty Trainload of Sky” achieves an auditory illusion as their guitars chug and vocal harmonies swirl surrealistic imagery across a classic American [See More…]

This Black Music Month, Tiny Desk honors the anniversaries of landmark albums that have shaped the course of music and culture. Felix Contreras | June 25, 2025 Did we really squeeze the big sound of Living Colour behind the Tiny Desk? Yes, we did. And, yet, the band lost none of its intensity at a slightly lower volume. Living Colour starts with “Cult of Personality,” the shot heard around the world, but spends the rest of the set celebrating 35 years of Time’s Up. The album planted a flag for Black rock bands inspired by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, [See More…]

This Black Music Month, Tiny Desk honors the anniversaries of landmark albums that have shaped the course of music and culture. Bobby Carter | June 23, 2025 Five years ago, Alex Isley gave us a Tiny Desk (home) concert to remember … and ever since, I’ve wanted to bring her into the office for a proper shoot. To preserve everything in her vocal cords, the LA native remained silent until it was time to perform, even pensive as she approached the Desk. Still, her eyes gleamed with enthusiasm for the moment that she and her fans had anticipated for years. [See More…]

This Black Music Month, Tiny Desk honors the anniversaries of landmark albums that have shaped the course of music and culture. Bobby Carter | June 20, 2025 Before he stepped behind the Tiny Desk, Beenie Man contemplated our office space. The man born Moses Anthony Davis is accustomed to performing at maximum velocity, touching every part of a big stage … and here were but a few square feet for him to move. Nevertheless, the king of dancehall brings Kingston to Washington, D.C. As an exemplar of longevity, he pauses to remind us just how long he’s been at it: [See More…]

This Black Music Month, Tiny Desk honors the anniversaries of landmark albums that have shaped the course of music and culture. Mitra I. Arthur | June 17, 2025 Once the Tiny Desk logo fades away, one of the things you’ll notice is a wall of amps. Robust sound has always been a hallmark of bassist Stanley Clarke’s musicality; he reminded our audio team not only to pay attention to what the soundboard says but also if it sounds good. Clarke’s storied career has been awash with showcases in his virtuosity on the acoustic and electric basses. He’s worked with fellow [See More…]

This Black Music Month, Tiny Desk honors the anniversaries of landmark albums that have shaped the course of music and culture. Ashley Pointer | June 13, 2025 CeCe Winans’ voice transcends genre, race and generations — something incredibly rare in the gospel and Christian music realms. Her Tiny Desk concert, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of her solo debut Alone in His Presence, is a moving journey through the many eras of her monumental career. Winans laughed when she told me, “Ashley, you had me working today!” She dusted off songs she hadn’t performed in decades to craft this moment. [See More…]