Tag: Performance

Dora Levite | April 13, 2026 When Missy Dabice sings, the words course through her entire body. Just as quickly as she screams about the cyclical nature of lust, she whispers her heartbreak and longing. Mannequin Pussy lives between those two spaces: the raw ferocity of feminine rage and the quiet moments of hopeless vulnerability. “I want to be a danger,” she sighs. “I want to be adored.” When an artist comes to the Tiny Desk, they often seize upon the opportunity to reimagine their music. Here, a string quartet helps to crack these songs wide open, swelling with urgency [See More…]

Bobby Carter | April 9, 2026 Tiny Desk has featured some of the best music across various genres throughout our 18-year history; however, Lecrae is the first Christian rapper to perform at NPR headquarters. I felt guilty when I mentioned this to the Houston-born emcee, only because it’s taken so long. If we’re putting a spotlight on faith-based hip-hop, we had to start with Lecrae. Hip-hop originated in the streets; its growth has been slow and steady, with faith often appearing as a caveat in the music. It felt acceptable to mention God without getting too preachy, but if you [See More…]

Lars Gotrich | April 2, 2026 Bush always felt like the most stylish version of ’90s rock. Sixteen Stone, now celebrating nearly 32 years since its release, captured a sonic shift in motion, with razor-sharp riffs and an air of mystery propelled by Gavin Rossdale’s distinctively sexy howl. But if you think you know “Machinehead,” prepare to be surprised by this Tiny Desk arrangement. It’s quieter and slower than the revving speed of the original, but thoughtfully weighted — the years of wear and tear give meaning to once nonsensical lyrics like “bleeding through a tourniquet smile.” The same goes [See More…]

Dora Levite | March 27, 2026 There’s a misconception that a Tiny Desk performance needs to be quiet, stripped back and acoustic. When thinking about how Militarie Gun could pack its explosive-yet-melodic rock anthems into our cramped space, we asked the band to lean into the loud. As a result, lead singer Ian Shelton vibrates in this space, his energy filling it out as gang vocals surround him. Originally a solo project for Shelton, who also fronts Regional Justice Center, Militarie Gun’s hooky and punky songs brim with empathetic, vulnerable and often self-effacing lyrics. As he mentions at the Desk, [See More…]

NPR Music received more than 6,000 submissions to this year’s Tiny Desk Contest, our annual search for the next great undiscovered artist. Before we reveal this year’s winner, our Contest judges are sharing their favorite entries as part of our annual Tiny Desk Contest Top Shelf livestream series. Entries featured in this episode: https://youtu.be/Es1-uxs_xQI?si=vGf-8MRALzhLKegK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOrL8B7C-yg https://youtu.be/KNZOiaKKJLQ?si=8W0yCA2XzyNWrkIr https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOtg3g1Law0 https://youtu.be/wSFPSaJk6DI?si=x5UUORQjcKLrUMD6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM4JNpn9OVc https://youtu.be/LrYEP3UeGoI?si=deAcXk1ZL0Ekjg95 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoCBfXD4U8E https://youtu.be/J5oHymRbqmY?si=MqysH9cUTH0m5X69 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNXYox8tgKw Learn more about the Contest: https://npr.org/tinydeskcontest #tinydesk #tinydeskcontest NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concerts is a popular video series featuring live, intimate music performances by diverse artists, from major stars to up-and-coming musicians, recorded in the small workspace [See More…]

Robin Hilton | March 25, 2026 Sometimes we have to reschedule Tiny Desks. And sometimes it can take a while to get a band back on our calendar. In the case of Mumford & Sons, it took 13 years. Back when the band was touring its sophomore full-length, Babel, the trio from London was set to play the Desk in NPR’s old (and long-since-demolished) building, but had to cancel at the last minute. Now that we finally got them here, you’ll see and hear it was worth the wait. The band’s sixth and latest album, Prizefighter, ranks among its best, [See More…]

Tom Huizenga | March 23, 2026 We rarely invite the same band back to the Tiny Desk. But the beloved Kronos Quartet, which first played our offices 12 years ago, isn’t the same band. Three of the four members are brand new: Cellist Paul Wianko succeeded Suny Yang; violinist Gabriela Diaz and violist Ayane Kozasa replaced retiring original members John Sherba and Hank Dutt. The newly rejuvenated quartet, still under the durable leadership of violinist and founder David Harrington, appears to be having more fun than ever. And it shows in these vigorous performances of pieces that are whimsical and [See More…]