Tag: tiny desk

Elle Mannion | September 3, 2025 Mustafa maintains hope in dark times. For this Tiny Desk, the Sudanese Canadian artist features material from Dunya, one of the best albums of 2024, plus “Stay Alive,” an earlier song of his that he says became “the thesis of everything that I believe in.” A talented poet and songwriter, Mustafa has written for stars like Justin Bieber and The Weeknd — but as you see here, his artistry shines most when he sings heart-wrenchingly beautiful songs about his community. “I was born and raised in the largest housing project in North America,” he [See More…]

Bobby Carter | August 14, 2025 As Omar performs “This Is Not a Love Song” at the Tiny Desk, I can’t help but think of how contradictory that particular selection is to his overall career in music. His knack for penning pure love songs has taken him on a 40-year musical journey around the world from Kent, England, and most recently, landing him at NPR headquarters. Born Omar Lye-Fook, the singer-songwriter is a key figure in the history of British soul music. His debut single, “There’s Nothing Like This,” released in 1990, not only helped to set the stage for [See More…]

Dora Levite | August 7, 2025 MIKE loves and uplifts those he cares about. During his 71-date Artists of the Century tour, every chance he got, his heart would pour over with gratitude for his fans, his family and his collaborators onstage. His Tiny Desk performance isn’t so different. “We are the band of the century” MIKE proclaims as he smiles behind the Desk as a light and breezy melody follows closely behind him. It’s a reimagined sound for the Brooklyn-based rapper, former teen prodigy and founder of independent label 10k. His set is sweeping and vulnerable, touching on all [See More…]

Kara Frame | August 1, 2025 On a cold and snowy night this past winter, Sierra Hull and her band brought bluegrass to Washington, D.C. Despite the frigid temperatures outside, barefoot fans danced as if at a summer music festival. Ever since she first picked up the instrument at a young age, the mandolin virtuoso has captivated audiences; it’s no surprise that she still owns the stage two decades later. At the Tiny Desk months later, her set features four songs from A Tip Toe High Wire, her latest album. “Boom” and “Lord, That’s a Long Way” showcase her incredibly [See More…]

Bobby Carter | July 29, 2025 Many artists who’ve played the Tiny Desk have come on the strength of their children. Most recently, Marvin Sapp told us, “My kids said that I had to do this.” In Sasha Keable’s case, it was her dad who introduced her to the Tiny Desk way back when Tom Jones played in 2009. Despite Keable’s early goals, she faced a series of music industry setbacks that could have led her to quit. However, her Tiny Desk performance stands as a testament to her resilience, a victory lap in a race that’s only just begun. [See More…]

Anamaria Sayre | July 22, 2025 Spanish producer and pianist Rusowsky has built a career, thus far, on making other people’s authenticity shine. This year, he released his debut album, DAISY, and took a stab at shifting the spotlight on his own artistry. And, in this Tiny Desk performance, Rusowsky’s soul is revealed for the first time in full force. Ever the producer, DAISY is intentional — beautifully orchestrated and aware of its own ability to manipulate. With all kinds of crashing sounds and fun synths, Rusowsky coats every song with carefully laid diversions. While artistic and bright, the studio [See More…]

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…]