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NPR Tiny Desk Concerts(2008–)
April 22, 200819 Seasons · 1755 Episodes
Returning Series
3.5from 10 users
Overview
Intimate musical performances, recorded live at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen.
Network NPR
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Intimate musical performances, recorded live at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen.
2008
Laura Gibson works through a handful of tenderhearted songs: two of them unreleased and two of them from her full-length debut, If You Come to Greet Me.
When Athens, Ga., songwriter Vic Chesnutt was on tour in support of his album, “North Star Deserter,” he stopped by NPR to perform live at All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen's desk. Chesnutt played five songs, including two entirely new ones.
The music of Sam Phillips unfolds like perfect, miniature pop dramas. Of all her incarnations as a performer — first as a Christian singer, then as a pop singer — the current Sam Phillips is one of the most alluring. Phillips performs four songs from “Don't Do Anything.”
Sera Cahoone got her start playing drums for a few widely adored bands in the Pacific Northwest, most notably Band of Horses and the spell-checker-defying Carissa's Wierd. But her self-titled, self-released 2006 album marked her as a fully formed talent — a warm and inviting singer whose songs convey world-weariness and homespun grace.
Thao Nguyen makes captivating music. Her songs are raw and infectious, her voice has a distinctive swagger, and she's a remarkably nimble guitarist.
Kurt Wagner writes and sings beautiful songs with Lambchop, a hefty Nashville ensemble with a calm, restrained sound. When Kurt Wagner came by the office to play a Tiny Desk Concert, he came alone, with just an acoustic guitar, a stack of lyrics and his humble, good-natured sense of humor.
Dr. Dog isn't an obvious choice for one of NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concerts. For one thing, it's a pretty big group, at least for the small space behind Bob Boilen's desk. The band's music can be pretty chaotic — loud and rumbling, with multiple instruments fighting to be heard. And singer Toby Leaman likes to belt out his vocals in a window-rattling, raspy growl.
Jim White is a storyteller first and a musician second. It's a kind of storytelling rooted in his own unusual history: He grew up in Florida in a deeply Pentecostal community and fell in love with the white gospel music he heard. But from there, White took a surprising path to becoming a full-time musician. He was a professional surfer, a boxer, a fashion model in Milan and a cab driver in New York City. White's travels recently took him to Washington, D.C., where he stopped by the offices of NPR Music for this live performance.
A glorious four-song set that's at once pristine and ramshackle — equal parts clarity and clatter — not to mention one of our best Tiny Desk Concerts yet.
He should be a name everyone knows by now. Instead, troubadour David Dondero returned to NPR having slept the night before in his car. Dondero travels from club to club, singing his well-crafted songs — songs that have his signature lyrics at their core. His lyrics can make you smile with their wit and hurt with their bite, all at the same time.
2009
David Eugene Edwards performs his fiery Americana and covers a rare Bob Dylan song.
Hear the singer give an intimate acoustic performance at the desk of NPR Music's Bob Boilen.
Hear the legendary singer perform at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen.
See the band perform live at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen.
Ferree has enough charisma to draw you into his odd world. Watch him perform in the NPR offices.
Singer Tony Dekker performs three songs at the desk of All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen.
The classical guitarist plays with a clear, lyrical technique in music from the baroque and beyond.
Hear the harmony-drenched roots-rock band perform a kinetic, frenetic set in the NPR Music offices.
Hear the singer-songwriter's tender, winsome music, performed live in the NPR Music offices.
After a few restarts, the singer played a bare, stark, memorable solo set in the NPR Music offices.
Watch the artist formerly known as Smog play a three-song set that's almost eerily transfixing.
Or, the day a trumpet, trombone, French horn and tuba played us a soulful Rufus Wainwright cover.
In this video shot at the NPR Music offices, Siskind showcases a voice that's both honeyed and raw.
Hear Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, stars of the movie Once, playing six new songs and an encore.
Dark Meat has as many as 20 members. We fit as many as we could behind Bob Boilen's desk.
The young Swedish folksinger is passionate, gruff, a great guitar picker and a damn good poet.
Reduced to a duo for this charming session in the NPR Music offices, Telekinesis is all heart.
The Grammy-nominated R&B artist performed three acoustic interpretations of his soul-inspired tunes.
Vanderslice shares acoustic versions of songs from his most recent album, Romanian Names.
The duo's new album pays tribute to the pair's heroes, such as Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana.
See and hear the legendary bluegrass and old-time gospel singer give an a cappella performance.
At 10 members, this is the biggest band ever to play a Tiny Desk Concert in the NPR Music offices.
The Norwegian-born singer-songwriter performs three liltingly sweet songs in the NPR Music offices.
The rapper's set exuded shimmery grace while incorporating the sounds of soul, pop and reggae.
Bowerbirds' handcrafted songs creak and swell like wooden floorboards in an old house.
Avi sings three hushed lullabies, including her signature cover of Morrissey's "First of the Gang."
The fearless party-rocker stands in NPR Music's offices and performs four songs alone at the piano.
Lightning Dust specializes in quiet moments, whether in a shared glance or a finely knit harmony.
The charming London indie-folk band performs a holiday-themed set in the NPR Music offices.
Members of the adventurous ensemble play music by Ravel and an original piece, Egyptian-style.
2010
In a solo show at NPR Music, John Darnielle's twitchy energy serves his fearless songwriting well.
In a performance at NPR, the talented singer's voice is powerful without unnecessary melodrama.
The band's sullen, spacious music was a perfect fit for the intimacy of the NPR Music offices.
The string quartet showcases a small sample of its visceral fire at the offices of NPR Music.
A longtime session guitarist, Rawlings takes the lead, playing his own music at NPR Music's offices.
The harpist crafts a transporting mix of tradition and improvisation in this desk-side performance.
With roots in Greece, Turkey, Armenia and France, Abaji has a passion for music from many countries.
The singer-songwriter performs music from Mo' Beauty, accompanied only by two guitars.
The singer treated the NPR Music offices to three songs that invited us into her warm musical world.
The Cuban singer performs two boleros, which transport the listener to another time and place.
The Brooklyn-based trio strips down its wall of noise for an intimate performance at NPR Music.
The talented Baltimore duo didn't have to travel far to liven up a day at the NPR Music offices.
Jakob Dylan, Neko Case and Kelly Hogan perform a mesmerizing set at the Tiny Desk.
The violinist plays traditional African melodies, re-imagined through her own jazz sensibilities.
The classical guitarist showcases his warm, lyrical tone in three staples of the repertoire.
The unusual jazz guitarist and his drummer perform at the NPR offices, literally with bells on.
Fredrik's lush harmonies are stripped to guitar, snare drum and maraca in this intimate performance.
Moby gives a live performance of his Project Song creation, "Gone to Sleep," at NPR's offices.
The singer performs three harmony-drenched reggae songs with Dean Fraser and a guitarist.
Hear instantly recognizable hits such as "1901" and "Lisztomania," stripped down and reassembled.
The veteran soul singer blew into the NPR Music office and conquered it before she'd sung a note.
Seven authors (Roy Blount Jr., Scott Turow and others) perform with a big-time ringer.
Hear the acclaimed musician play Bach on his amazingly resonant cello, built in 1693.
Laura Burhenn's new band performs a soulful Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR Music offices.
The venerable, multimillion-selling pop parodist plays three acoustic originals in the NPR offices.
The frenetic gypsy punk band performs the most rollicking and insane Tiny Desk Concert of all time.
The whip-smart sometimes bawdy U.K. band performs a clamorous ruckus in this Tiny Desk Concert.
The reggae icon performs classics from the film The Harder They Come in this acoustic performance.
Villagers' Conor O'Brien performs a beautiful and memorable solo set in the NPR Music offices.
The three demonstrate the way musical mastery can become an exercise in wordless communication.
Hear the band play inspired soul from its latest album, Feed My Soul, at the NPR Music offices.
The soul icon performs songs from her latest album, You Are Not Alone, at the NPR Music offices.
The singer came to NPR Music with just her guitar to play four beautiful tunes from Obadiah.
The Minneapolis duo performs songs from its stormy debut album, Inter-Be.
The New Zealand band plays four songs from its album Chant Darling at the NPR Music offices.
The gospel singer sounds like somebody you know — somebody you know with stage presence for days.
With these intimate songs, the French-born Chilean rapper proves that hip-hop has no boundaries.
The ever-adaptable guitarist creates challenging and expressive music in the NPR Music offices.
The singer and his band feed off the audience's live energy in a concert at the NPR Music offices.
The young cellist plays Bach with elegance and a new piece by Golijov with Technicolor brilliance.
Barzelay, maybe the most underrated songwriter in the business, performs at the NPR Music offices.
The band showcases its cinematic blend of storytelling and strings at the NPR Music offices.
The legendary group performs its pop hits in a rare acoustic set at the NPR Music offices.
Watch Jana Hunter bring her delicate, haunting voice and hypnotic sound to the Tiny Desk.
It doesn't take more than four minutes to fall in love with this utterly charming seven-piece band.
The 12-person ensemble performs from the NPR Music offices.
At 61, Lowe is part crooner, part country and a little crotchety, but with a heart of pure pop.
In honor of the Day of the Dead, Santacruz performs at the NPR offices in traditional mariachi garb.
In an intimate four-song set, Daniel Lanois and Trixie Whitley sound warm, vulnerable and ferocious.
This set from the NPR Music office has something new, something old and something to dance to.
In this lovely Tiny Desk performance, Van Etten plays beguiling songs from her latest album, Epic.
Watch Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl perform songs from Acoustic Sessions in the NPR offices.
Watch the Icelandic singer perform a lovely, folk-flavored set from the NPR Music offices.
Watch Mali's queen of desert rock unveil her stunning vocal chops at the NPR Music offices.
Watch the inventive and unpredictable duo play a joyfully pummeling set from the NPR Music offices.
Watch the harpist give a powerful and intimate performance at the NPR Music offices.
Watch the 10-member band squeeze behind the Tiny Desk for an elegant, stripped-down performance.
What better way to celebrate our 100th Tiny Desk Concert than by discovering an artist worth loving?
Though heavy on puns, the extraordinary jazz drummer's merry band isn't light on musicianship.
The Brazilian singer floats and sprinkles notes onto just the right places at the NPR Music offices.
1967
2012
Even in a stripped-down acoustic set, Tinariwen's trance-inducing desert music doesn't disappoint.
Watch singer Teri Gender Bender transform from a soft-spoken musician into a rock 'n' roll beast.
The band's keen sense of song prevails, especially in a new song called "It All Means Nothing."
Banjo master Schepps and friends create an intriguing goulash of Bartók, bluegrass and bebop.
Watch the masterful folk guitarist perform a lovely instrumental set at the NPR Music offices.
Calvi plays songs from her self-titled debut in this powerful performance at the NPR Music offices.
The San Antonio trio gets back to basics to explore its songs' forms and the soul of its lyrics.
The brilliant and nimble guitarist reinvents the songs of John Lennon at the NPR Music offices.
The group has revitalized a long-lost culture through music performed entirely in Haitian Creole.
The Hold Steady singer's stark side is nicely conducive to barren arrangements at the NPR offices.
The dance-friendly, India-inspired funk group performs a high-energy set at the NPR Music offices.
"The Duke of Bachata" gives a raw but beautiful interpretation of bachata at the NPR Music offices.
Hear the fresh-faced opera singers perform Puccini at the NPR Music offices.
In this performance at the NPR Music offices, the Irish pop band mixes new songs with early hits.
A band of selective minimalism, Milagres gets the most of simple sounds at the NPR Music offices.
Through her insightful lyrics, Sandra Velasquez conjures the sounds of the Mexican desert.
Her gorgeous, whispery voice inspired the Tiny Desk Concerts series in 2008. Now, Laura Gibson returns with her band to perform four songs from her new album, La Grande.
The saxophonist's new repertoire salutes electric funk, South Indian modes and swarming solos.
Real Estate wears placidity well: It's a band born and bred to convey and celebrate laconic comfort.
A soulful master musician from Iran, Kalhor performs a beautiful improvisation at the NPR offices.
Sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg make charming, folk-infused pop music that lulls and enchants.
The ensemble employs all kinds of toys, from an amplified cactus to a mug filled with spare change.
The Canadian singer performs four sweet, warm, relatable songs that soothe as they nourish.
Caveman writes guitar-based pop songs full of space and melodies you can carry around in your head.
At the NPR offices, the band plays in a lean, funky configuration that gets the room grooving along.
The group fuses the music of many Christian cultures, with nods to African songs of celebration.
Holland plays songs with an unadorned tone that makes the voice and lyrics all the more touching.
The venerable band sounds as poignant and tender as ever in this performance at the NPR offices.
The group doesn't overwhelm so much as it wears listeners down with a subtle charm offensive.
The guitarist displays intricate fingerpicking in two songs inspired by Kentucky Derby racehorses.
The jazz quartet draws from post-bop, 20th-century chromaticism and New Orleans funeral marches.
K Ishibashi is a master at building songs from live violin loops, layered singing and beatboxing.
The improvisational music of the father-son, guitar-cello duo functions as a beautiful conversation.
The Godfather of Go-Go died Wednesday. In 2010, he brought his full band to the NPR Music office.
Rooted in acoustic traditions, the music of Arborea stands out for its calm beauty and rough edges.
Tiersen's rich, liltingly eccentric pop music is constructed from lots of sweet, intricate pieces.
The venerable brass quintet sports virtuosic, fresh-faced players in tried-and-true repertoire.
Watson has a lovely voice and a gift for wringing evocative sounds out of everything he touches.
The unflappable singer performs three songs with seeming effortlessness and easygoing charm.
The drummer dedicates tunes to her friends, including her first teacher — a "sometimes great guy."
Watch three songs by a troubled soul with a talent for writing honest, disarmingly direct music.
Hansard flexes his neck muscles a bit as he performs new songs and deep cuts at the NPR offices.
The band plays with just the right mixture of passion and pathos in a fun set at the NPR offices.
The comedian and musician performs spontaneous improvisations full of killer grooves and humor.
The band plays a beautifully buzzing, nuanced set, marked by gorgeous grace and stirring melodies.
At the NPR offices, Carlile and her band sing from-the-gut songs about messy lives, loudly lived.
Two songs from A Creature I Don't Know bookend a gorgeous new, unreleased song called "Once."
A soulful yet steely singer-songwriter from Algeria charts her own course in these four songs.
Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale sing sweet but intricate folk-pop songs in the NPR offices.
Feder marries classical and folk techniques with otherworldly guitar textures and sounds.
The band makes the Tiny Desk accommodate its booming sound rather than the other way around.
Known for mixing folk and electronics, Orton unveils three new songs with just an acoustic guitar.
Two surviving members of the band still have the same chemistry here in a stripped-down performance.
By the middle of Wainwright's final song, "Montauk," few dry eyes remained in the NPR offices.
Watch the renowned double bassist thump, strum and loop his way through three mesmerizing songs.
Avital's mandolin sings with the sounds of Ernest Bloch and a raucous Bulgarian folk tune.
These songs' fervor is the product of a singer armed with intensity and musicians who can match it.
Watch Las Vegass bring a punk aesthetic to Venezuelan folk music with a cuatro at the NPR offices.
Hearing the 29-year-old singer makes it virtually impossible to do anything but stop and listen.
It's one thing for 11 musicians to make a big sound, but what stands out is Antibalas' subtlety.
The group plays fiddle, banjo, guitar and washboard, all gathered around a single microphone.
The band unleashes a gorgeous flurry of shambolic rumbling, prolific hairiness and dramatic yelling.
Like any great blues singer, Cray makes heartache and dysfunction sound engaging and relatable.
The band's rich harmonies are welcoming, its lyrics relatable and its live performances thrilling.
Michael Angelakos makes electro-pop with monster hooks. But his songs are sturdy, versatile things.
The longtime frontman for Grandaddy goes it alone with acoustic solo songs from his latest record.
The conjunto icon spins magic, and stays true to tradition, with his trademark button accordion.
For Tiny Desk Concert No. 250, the Death Cab for Cutie and Postal Service singer performs solo.
Wainwright roughs up life's smooth spots, then digs her fingertips into the cracks that form.
Victoria Bergsman's songs seem to come from a place somewhere between a dream state and waking life.
The Seattle duo literally shakes the dust off the ceiling tiles at the NPR Music offices.
The singer-songwriter performs three of Young Man in America's most bracingly beautiful songs.
Once the acoustic guitarist zeroes in on the center of a song, it's easy to get lost in it yourself.
Lovett gives a loose, engaging performance that feels like both an introduction and a victory lap.
The Mercury Prize-winning band plays angular, poetic, inventive music that takes unexpected turns.
The sprawling group, 17 strong, squeezes behind Bob Boilen's desk for a special holiday performance.
Performing at the NPR Music offices, Miguel strips his highly produced hits down to their bones.
2013
One minute, Lucius sounds like a '60s girl group; the next might conjure images of Emmylou Harris.
With members of The Decemberists, the band lends a snappy, lilting quality to songs of alienation.
Frontman Kevin Barnes uses the intimacy of the NPR Music offices to try out some quiet new material.
The a cappella ensemble sings widely divergent songs from American, European and Sufi traditions.
In The xx's songs, all the calm chilliness in the world can't quite contain an exposed heart.
Winston Yellen's arresting voice propels a lighthearted but deeply affecting set at the NPR office.
The guitarist brings a decidedly non-standard approach to jazz's standard practices.
The fast-rising Brooklyn trio sings beautiful, heartfelt, impeccably harmonized folk-pop songs.
Watch one of the best fiddlers on the planet and a subtle guitar master work their magic.
The Danish band ransacks the NPR Music offices looking for sound-making material and new ideas.
To coincide with the release of the band's 13th album, Fade, Yo La Tengo performs an acoustic set.
The duo's quietly energetic performance hangs over the the NPR Music offices like a soft mist.
Zany, brainy and danceable, these guys' music mixes rock and jazz like King Crimson at its fiercest.
Watch the violinist spin out music by John Williams and Bach in sweet, soulful tendrils of sound.
The veteran country players mix corny humor, musical merrymaking and timeless vocal harmonies.
The 73-year-old Iranian icon unleashes torrents of swooping, soaring sound that elicit goosebumps.
Imani Winds' members shrink Igor Stravinsky down to size in a quintet take on The Rite of Spring.
OK Go helps us transport the Tiny Desk from NPR Music's old headquarters to our new facility.
Watch the band perform acoustic arrangements of four songs from its new album, Trouble Will Find Me.
An 11-piece brass band turns up the funk and flies the flag high for its native Richmond, Va.
One of the world's finest folksingers channels the spirit of Woody Guthrie at the NPR Music offices.
Watch the singer-songwriter and her band perform three songs from her fine new album, American Kid.
A brilliant cellist with a stunning command of her instrument, Beiser performs at the NPR offices.
The U.K. singer performs some of her most intimate material in a short set at the NPR Music offices.
The Malian musician and his band craft melodies and rhythms that cut across age and ethnicity.
The rowdy English folk-punk band brings its barely controlled mayhem to the NPR Music offices.
Two men with unplugged instruments convey the bawdy rowdiness of a full band.
When the British singer performs, her emotionally fiery music just gets hotter and grittier.
The singer, instrumentalist and music therapist plays slinky, forceful songs at NPR Music.
Hear three sturdy pop songs from In Guards We Trust, performed live at the NPR Music offices.
Hear the "classically trained garage band" perform with staggering technique and contagious energy.
Watch Falconberry and five bandmates perform three delicate songs from her recent album Leelanau.
Henson's voice is so fragile and hushed, if you were 10 feet away from him you'd barely hear a peep.
Guthrie and his band drove 18 hours round-trip from Ontario to perform three songs for NPR Music.
The Australian sextet crafts busily impeccable, harmony-intensive pop music with a danceable sway.
The 17-member chamber-rock collective uses its size in the service of great, snappy, stirring songs.
The community that's formed around The Front Bottoms speaks to the band's passion and compassion.
Concha Buika's voice comes from Africa and the past. Watch her perform in the NPR Music offices.
Watch Gunn's trio perform a set of hypnotic long-form jams that are perfect for taking it easy.
Watch Baths' Will Wiesenfeld perform mysterious, textured electronic music in the NPR offices.
For our 300th Tiny Desk Concert, we showcase a Tuareg guitarist's fierce, hypnotic, alluring jams.
Performing solo, singer Matthew Healy doesn't hesitate to transform both his songs and himself.
With an eye on both the past and the future, O'Farrill has jazz and Afro-Cuban music in his DNA.
The husband-and-wife duo mixes rowdy folk-rock and rootsy ballads, with the help of a canine friend.
A Galician bagpiper and her trio take Celtic sounds in an entirely wild and wonderful direction.
Hem makes a homey, fireside kind of music, with songs that feel as if they've always been there.
The Zimbabwean legend performs songs from the mournful but celebratory Sarawoga for NPR Music.
The operatic tenor, acclaimed for his Rossini, circles back to his roots as a singer of spirituals.
Watch the venerable band translate its electric sound to acoustic instruments in an intimate way.
Short of seeing her live and in person, this is the best way to encounter June's heartfelt sound.
The band performs three songs from a record inspired by the childhood of singer Will Sheff.
The bassist composes beautiful, unpretentious music for an unusual jazz band with accordion.
Pretty and melancholy, the Londoners' music conjures a perfect mix of gloom, desire and hostility.
The dozen members of this Portland, Ore. band crammed behind the Tiny Desk for a transcendent set.
The orchestral folk-pop band's little song-worlds burst with ambition, talent and extreme joy.
Watch a Halloween Tiny Desk Concert in which Case performs with Kelly Hogan and Eric Bachmann.
This three-song set in the NPR Music offices captures a nice cross-section of Monroe's appeal.
The jazz vibraphone pioneer is 70 now, but that hasn't slowed his flying four-mallet technique.
Bhattacharya draws on North Indian classical music, but blues also pours out of his stunning work.
The soul singer retains the easygoing grace of a performer fit for any stage — even a tiny one.
This is Katie Crutchfield as Waxahatchee, playing intimate music for an intimate setting.
The intrepid champions of new music bring a lullaby, rare blues and a work by Bryce Dessner to NPR.
The band exudes playfulness and wry charm throughout these three songs from Uncanney Valley.
Jarosz and her small backing band craft a careful mix of technical proficiency and poppy warmth.
The whip-smart rapper, singer, poet and songwriter performs three tracks from Parts of Speech.
Salem sings work songs and chants from the maloya tradition on Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean.
The video here provides just a hint of the L.A. band's dynamic live shows, albeit a spectacular one.
The hot and historic New Orleans band brings a tuba-wielding Santa and some original holiday cheer.
2015
The Phish star was in town to put on a huge show, but the songs here feel more personal than that.
The producer presides over an all-instrumental, free-form trio with Brian Blade and Jim Wilson.
Even without its confetti cannon, the band brings a fun mix of brass and brash to the NPR offices.
The Nashville singer writes with acidic wit in lines worthy of his old mentor, Shel Silverstein.
Reilly sings and plays guitar alongside Tom Brosseau and Lavender Diamond's Becky Stark.
With 23 members, the performance-art marching band is the biggest ever to play the Tiny Desk.
The band strips down its electronic sound with the aid of a spaghetti strainer and a paint bucket.
With her huge voice and an assist on trombone, Nika Roza Danilova offers up a curious combination.
The Tiny Desk becomes a DJ booth for an office space dance party.
The Wisconsin band performs three of its warm, accessible songs in the NPR Music offices.
Aurelio weaves intricate layers of acoustic guitar to capture the feel of African and the Caribbean.
The singer beat out nearly 7,000 other submissions to win NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concert Contest.
The duo plays visionary Beethoven, heartbreaking Janáček and Glass that unfolds like a lullaby.
Before the wide-ranging band plays, the audience sings "Happy Birthday" to mandolinist Chris Thile.
The a cappella quartet, with banjo and fiddle, offers popular songs from the Civil War era.
Performed softly in the light of day, these three songs feel fresh and lovable.
In a beautifully stark performance, the band plays two songs from Kintsugi and two older favorites.
James Snyder's euphoric punk anthems become raw and uplifting confessionals in this acoustic set.
Stokes' songs feel familiar; they're old friends before you're done hearing them for the first time.
The singer's lyrics reflect deeply felt emotions in this performance with cellist Daniel de Jesus.
The young English singer brings warmth to electronic music and a swooning quality to her own pop.
The Ukrainian acoustic quartet's music encompasses sounds and rhythms from around the world.
This soft-spoken Swedish singer left an imprint at the Tiny Desk that was gentle and long lasting.
The singer has been called "the Sinatra of flamenco." His expressive style draws on jazz.
Iyer's working band transforms selections from throughout the pianist's deep and varied catalog.
Found objects are percussion instruments in the hands of a man who's part musician, part magician.
These are enchanting songs, with the power to drift in your head for days.
A star in his native Portugal, Camané evokes melancholy with a silky baritone and elegant phrasing.
Intense, hip-hop-infused poetry is reduced to just the essentials in this two-song, four-minute set.
Watch the Grammy-winning guitarist and acclaimed harpist play music influenced by Africa and Asia.
The mother-son duo's songs are memorable and singable even days after you hear them.
A young man with an old musical soul has a spellbinding voice and fluid fiddle playing.
See a singer with a powerful voice and extremely encouraging message.
If you've never thought your tastes would lean to mountain music, breathe deep and soak it all in.
The clever trio shares its love of everything from Law & Order to old-school girl groups.
Timothy Showalter's music is filled with bite and sometimes regret, but also a good deal of warmth.
Frances Quinlan's raspy voice whispers one moment, then lets loose a gut-punching howl the next.
The charismatic Brooklyn-via-D.C.-area rapper creates just the right amount of space in his music.
The trio's music is full of life, with dissonant sounds that still feel suited for singalongs.
Best witnessed live, Stelling's music is steeped in tradition yet filled with vitality and soul.
The charming duo performs three of the simple, direct songs from Before The World Was Big.
See a Malian band that fuses African music with Western rock.
A celebrated English playwright and rapper deploys storytelling and poetry.
See the beloved Britpop veteran perform songs from his new album, Saturns Pattern.
The singer's disco-infused funk and soul gets stripped down to a lone voice with a guitar.
Irish singer-songwriter Bridie Monds-Watson makes the most of a single voice and an acoustic guitar.
The New Orleans trumpeter's funky new band creates dance music to ward off despair.
Mackenzie Scott's music channels Patti Smith and PJ Harvey while hinting at further growth.
The Philly rock band's big-hearted songs are stripped down to a few guitars and a MiniKorg.
The country singer plays four songs from Pageant Material, plus the set-closing "Follow Your Arrow."
The trio blows up its sound by adding off-duty, civilian horn players from the U.S. Marine Band.
Rose plays music as if she's just met her new best friend: It's fresh, fun and enthusiastic.
There's lighthearted, almost childlike beauty in the way Gabrielle Smith puts words to song.
Mitski's music is dark and even scary, but glimmers of beauty peek through.
If you're a fan of dark, incredibly dry, wry humor, you've just found Happyness.
Bridges is easy to love and hard to resist, with purity in his voice that's untouched by modern pop.
The singer found his voice by finding and preserving old British, Irish and Scottish folk songs.
With help from Fiona Apple, two Nickel Creek alums gather a band to perform old and new songs.
The Austin singer-songwriter performs with intense openness, directness and warmth.
As technology rules the day, here's a reminder that a single voice can carry deep emotion.
The R&B band might just be the oddest thing to come from the hip-hop collective Odd Future.
The singer is soulful yet playful, raw and vulnerable in a commanding kind of way.
She came so close to winning NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concert Contest, we just had to see her play.
The trumpeter presents his emotionally charged, jazz-hybridized "stretch music" in performance.
Day's songs feel candid and vulnerable, but not understated.
The band's clever, thoughtful music fits in everywhere from Nashville to its hometown of Melbourne.
The Sardinian guitarist has a whole toy shop aboard his instrument.
In Beauty Pill, life whirs with plunderphonic glee and riffs are funky from the inside out.
The 10-piece band can barely fit all its horns, guitars, percussion and energy behind one desk.
Conjuring David Bowie, Diane Coffee's Shaun Fleming swaggered and shimmied behind the Tiny Desk.
With his wife Morgane, the country singer-songwriter sings patient, detailed songs of devotion.
My bubba is a duo of women whose quirky, delicate, sweetly sung folk songs are a delight.
At 19 and on the cusp of her first album, the Norwegian singer performs with a sense of discovery.
The oud player's wordless music tells powerful stories about life's blessedness and fragility.
At the Tiny Desk, Rateliff's body-shaking Southern-style soul takes on a more laid-back sound.
Great singers aren't easy to come by, so finding three in one band is something special.
Trevor Powers' new songs are expansive and self-assured, a transition reflected in this performance.
Hear a young conductor, composer and pianist play Beethoven and his own jazzy pieces.
The Detroit band's loud, screeching, grousing rock can be profound, poetic and bewildering.
The nine-piece band bursts with anthemic joy, even as its songs convey darkness and loneliness.
The Denver band's mysteriously swirling music is singular, new and adventurous.
When the singer breaks out his guitar and suitcase drum, a rush of adrenaline hits the room.
A modernistic bluesman with a taste for electronics appears with just his acoustic guitar.
Watch the soul star perform "Silent Night" and two originals — one for Christmas, one for Hanukkah.
2017
Hear the spirited young singer-songwriter take on religion, poverty and politics, armed with just a guitar and some unrelenting hooks.
Hear McCaslin, the saxophonist and bandleader whose group backed David Bowie on Blackstar, near the anniversary of that album's release. Selections include an instrumental take on Bowie's "Lazarus."
With a voice that borrows heavily from opera, Downs performs the kind of full-throated mariachi singing that would fit right in at Mexico City's Garibaldi Square — ground zero for mariachi.
Cobb's words shimmer like a tall glass of sweet tea in the late-morning sun. Watch the country singer-songwriter perform four songs from his debut album.
The jazz band, known for its soulful interpretations of songs by Nas and Ol' Dirty Bastard, plays its own new material live in the NPR Music offices.
Watch the Virginia band sweep the NPR crowd off its feet with a collection of exquisite boleros by Puerto Rican composer Sylvia Rexach.
The rising R&B star performs three falsetto-drenched highlights from his 2016 debut, Ology — including "Bourbon," which features a guest rap from Chance The Rapper collaborator Saba.
The rapper/singer storms the NPR Music offices, activating his signature smile and bouncing through five highlights from his catalog — including the smash single "Broccoli."
Killer Mike and El-P continue to out-muse each other in a supergroup that somehow seems to get better, louder, and more pertinent since their start in 2013.
Esmé Patterson has dropped the banjos and folk from her previous project Paper Bird, and in their place are electric guitars and a backing band worth getting behind.
Agnes Obel manipulated the Tiny Desk to better suit the deeply alluring and powerful music she brought to us.
Little Simz has been compared to Lauryn Hill for her self-reflective wordplay. And though the British lyricist is a relative new-comer, her Tiny Desk performance was poised and confident.
To celebrate Fat Tuesday, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band brought their euphoric horns to the Tiny Desk for a raucous, joyous set.
One of Israel's very popular artists may be walking a similar path to early-career Joan Jett — she brought that same intensity to the Tiny Desk.
One of the newest Grammy winners stops by the Tiny Desk to share her winking, sometimes tongue-in-cheek songs.
Tank And The Bangas' victory lap around the Tiny Desk was momentous, celebratory and deeply touching, with a flair and alchemy of styles that could come from New Orleans.
The Brooklyn bhangra band come to the Tiny Desk in celebration of Holi, the Hindu festival of color that welcomes the coming of spring.
A Tiny Desk Concert as intimate as it gets (that's saying something). Just Sampha, a piano and three heart-wrenching songs that seem to double as coping mechanisms.
This fierce and lyrical guitar player writes playful instrumental music led by hooky vocals — but there is no voice, just the human-like twang of a glass slide on a guitar.
Hana Elion and JJ Mitchell's vibrant vocal harmonies are set against an electronic backdrop that feels spacious and refreshing.
The power of language to penetrate a difficult subject, and the power of performance to share that language, are the gifts Noname brought to the Tiny Desk.
It's astonishing to watch Sultana's fluidity on her instrument, like a natural extension of her body. She also plays bass, saxophone, trumpet, flute and more, but kept it "simple" for the Tiny Desk.
You can hear a great New York jazz band in the rhythms of Sinkane, but you can also hear the influence of Bob Marley and the hypnotic repetition of Sudanese desert sounds.
Composer, arranger and viola player Ljova lead his Kontraband to the Tiny Desk for an eclectic swirl of Western classical, jazz, tango and Eastern European and Balkan folk music.
Chicano Batman comes with a sound that perfectly captures dark lounges, quinceñera dances, car shows and backyard parties.
There's a self-imposed rule for Tiny Desk Concerts: No artist can visit twice unless there's something wholly different about what they're doing. alt-J was happy to oblige.
The traditions of flamenco and jazz are disparate, but in the hands of a few Spanish jazz musicians, these two worlds commingle and find common ground.
The gospel-trained singer showcased why she counts Aretha Franklin and Smokey Robinson as fans.
A strange condition hushed the life of Peter Silberman, resulting in what may be the quietest Tiny Desk Concert ever.
"This song is called 'You Never Loved Me' — it's another cheery, optimistic number," says Aimee Mann, introducing the second of four songs in this Tiny Desk Concert.
Danilo Brito and his band brought their dextrous expression of choro music to the Tiny Desk, a long-established musical style that has its roots in the streets and backyards of Brito's native Brazil.
Tim Darcy of Montreal band Ought brings his mysterious solo work, from the album Saturday Night, to the Tiny Desk. The record he says, was his chance to “get back to my roots, in my own voice.”
Mexico may not be known for its jazz, but the young lions of Troker are a promising hope to make the country and its capital city a destination.
A restrained, whisper-soft Tiny Desk concert from Australian singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin with songs taken from her debut album Don't Let The Kids Win.
Gabriel Garzón-Montano spent three years writing and recording his beautiful, dense album Jardin -- but for his Tiny Desk visit, he stripped it all down to two elements, the piano and his voice.
What happens when you ask a hard-rock band to unplug its thunder? It draws power from a raw, desperate vulnerability.
The Atlanta-based MC came through with the flu and coolly earned our praise. How sick is that?
While her band was on hiatus, Monica Martin joined Jeremy Larson's project Violents, yielding a lush record of electronic pop, translated into a quieted set at the Tiny Desk.
The band's long-awaited performance at the Tiny Desk was both beautiful and, at times, intense, featuring three deeply personal songs by frontman Mike Hadreas.
Penguin Cafe folds in sounds from around the world and throughout music history — Africa, Kraftwerk, Brazil and Franz Schubert.
The duo strips down to acoustic guitar and keyboard for a strikingly intimate set, illuminating their close harmonies that tangle like garlands.
Backed by a suitably low-key band, Macve would sound subtly radiant just about anywhere, from your nearest country bar to the most dreamily lit stage in Twin Peaks.
Artistic legacy, evolution and studied ease coalesced at this Tiny Desk Concert, with Coltrane offering four interpretations of his and others' works.
Helado Negro ditches his bank of electronics for alto and tenor saxophones, bringing his utterly unique style to a intense, perfectly balanced Tiny Desk Concert.
Chance The Rapper, fresh from a 23,000-strong, sold-out show the night before, brought a thoughtful and fresh take to his Tiny Desk concert.
Melina Duterte may have played all the instruments on Jay Som's newest record, Everybody Works, but her touring band brought a rougher edge to those silky recordings.
Fragile Rock is a band that relies on the boogie of The B-52s, the melancholy of The Smiths and the humor of Kermit the Frog. Oh, and they're all puppets.
Tuxedo, the unlikely-on-paper funk-soul duo of Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One, brought a left-of-center sonic approach and a sharp sense of style to their Tiny Desk Concert.
Rare Essence has been bringing go-go to the world since 1976 — the group brought that pedigree, and the genre's massive meld of funk, rhythm and blues and soul, to this raucous hometown Tiny Desk.
Albin Lee Meldau possesses a thunderous, deeply affecting voice, which he uses to tell some utterly dark, but demonstrably cathartic, tales.
James Mercer, the emotional and creative heart of The Shins, gives a moving performance at the Tiny Desk, with two new songs and a classic from the band's 2003 album Chutes Too Narrow.
Intensity in songs often expresses itself as volume – a loud guitar, a scream, a piercing synth line. But in the case of Aldous Harding it's in the spaces, the pauses, and her unique delivery.
Diet Cig's songs crackle like Pop Rocks, but with a confrontational honesty and striking gravity — and on top of Bob Boilen's desk.
The rising pop star performs three of her best-known songs, including a sweet solo take on her career-making “Alaska.”
ALA.NI captures and conveys a reverent love of early-20th-century music, while injecting those sounds with charisma and charm well suited for any era.
One of hip-hop's most revered producers brings his songs to life behind the Tiny Desk, with the help of a four-piece band.
The Alabama singer-songwriter and his band perform three songs from The Nashville Sound, but their set includes a few surprises, too.
The Nigerian-American MC and his band perform three reworked selections from Jidenna's impeccable debut album, The Chief.
The Brooklyn-based band crafts infectious pop music that builds dramatically before giving way to a quiet calm.
Jack Antonoff re-arranged three songs from his band's latest album, Gone Now, for the Tiny Desk.
The story songs and poetry of Lookman Adekunle Salami, who writes and records as L.A. Salami, recall the brilliant and epic ramblings of Bob Dylan.
Snail Mail's sleepy songs have a way of waking you up. Watch the band perform music from its quietly stunning Habit EP, plus a new song played solo by Lindsey Jordan.
It's safe to say this Korean, cross-dressing rock band looks and sounds like no one who's ever performed at the Tiny Desk.
Bomba Estereo is not known as a hushed band. Member Simon Mejia said this Tiny Desk performance was the group's quietest, a stripped-down treatment that illustrates the inherent quality of the music.
It's hard to think of an artist who's brought more joy to more people, across more generations — and in more ways — than Steve Martin.
The Jamaican reggae star proudly carries the torch of his country's roots reggae legends.
Welcome the world of Dawg Yawp, the musical concoction of Rob Keenan and Tyler Randall, where drones and toy pianos are likely to collide with heavy metal electronics and a well-placed melody.
Paramore captures the moment between rapture and its comedown. Watch the band rearrange songs from its sparkling pop album After Laughter.
Landlady's music is more than sonic exploration, it's an adventure. The songs can feel a bit drugged-out – a bit high and full of curiosity – but never overly intoxicated or out-of-touch.
Watch the six-time Grammy winner go solo behind the Tiny Desk.
Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson just celebrated their 25th anniversary as a band. To celebrate, watch them perform three of their post-“MMMBop” career highlights.
Thundercat is willing and able to shape-shift to fit into just about any box you show him, but he won't stay in there for long.
Watch hip-hop veterans Mr. Lif and Akrobatik team up behind the Tiny Desk.
Hip-hop's otherworldly lot touches down on Bob Boilen's desk for some Afrofuturistic mind travel.
For this Tiny Desk concert, Japanese Breakfast's Michelle Zauner replaced her gauzy synths with a string quartet. The result is something to behold.
The Grammy-nominated singer's Tiny Desk is an ode to a magical time in Mexican popular music.
Yes, it happened. Black Thought, Questlove and the entire crew packed in behind the Tiny Desk to perform a new song called “It Ain't Fair.”
Gracie And Rachel mix piano pop with darker, classic violin arrangements to make songs full of mystery and tension. They're joined in this Tiny Desk performance by percussionist Richard Watts.
The drums take center stage at this Tiny Desk. Watch veteran jazz percussionist Nate Smith dazzle the NPR audience in a transfixing performance.
The hip-hop statesman walked through our doors greeting and charming anyone within arm's reach. Once in front of an audience, he was in attack mode, including a unique rendition of his signature hit.
With the help of a backing band that includes Ivan Neville and Jenny Scheinman, the iconic singer-songwriter plays three songs from across her tough and uncompromising career.
Singer Laura Burhenn is joined by Jessica Lea Mayfield and the Umoja Choir for songs inspired by the political and cultural upheaval of 2016.
The Portland artist with the most mispronounced name in hip-hop puts on an unforgettable performance.
The band has new tools in its arsenal, but even in a stripped-down Tiny Desk performance, its focus on tiny moments between people just outside of love is as sharp as ever.
Benjamin Booker has a deeply tender voice that, at times, can feel like a whisper But it always cuts to the heart.
Billy Corgan, complicated frontman of The Smashing Pumpkins, has had a tumultuous decade-and-a-half. His visit to the Tiny Desk, with a string quartet backing him, was anything but.
In person, the master R&B vocalist impresses not just with her exquisite artistry, but with her radiant spirit of contentment and grace. Just ask her makeup artist.
With a knack for cunning juxtapositions, the adventurous pianist stitches together a baroque sonata, a slice of French serenity and a quirky portrait of a mysterious barn owl.
Her songs come laden with finely detailed observations about hypnotherapy, Jeffrey Dahmer and everything in between. They receive a languid, impeccably-phrased performance at the Tiny Desk.
The Los-Angeles-based force of nature, one of the most inspired talents of today, shows off a spontaneous side at (and around) the Tiny Desk.
Best known for his role with The Walkmen, as a solo artist he makes unabashedly joyful, sweetly innocent and playful music. And only he would arrive with a barbershop quartet.
Leo's work has, more often than not through the decades, addressed an anxious world, growing and shifting with it and with its listeners. Seven years after his last solo album, he's turned inwards.
King Krule, the musical project of English singer, songwriter and rapper, Archy Marshall, brings its twisted, woozy tones to the Tiny Desk.
The two singers, songwriters and guitarists bring out the adolescence in each other, poking jabs, goofing around and having fun at the Tiny Desk.
Tyler, The Creator performs three songs from his latest album Flower Boy -- and pulls off (at least) two Tiny Desk firsts in the process, while maturing beyond his class-clown image (mostly).
This comes close to the quietest Tiny Desk Concert we've ever had. The music Cigarettes After Sex makes is incredibly hushed. It's a sound so minimal it barely exists.
Effortless storytelling is at the heart of This Is The Kit. And the stories the band's only permanent member, Kate Stables, weaves are profound but sweet with a tone that quietly reels you in.
Frantic time-lapse set decoration. An intrusive snow machine. Ugly holiday sweaters. It's time to hunker down and soak up a raucous and reverent Christmas party, courtesy of Hanson.
2020
The Swedish singer sways and writhes as he and his band create a dream state calming enough to slow the day's hectic pace to a crawl. Take a seat on a comfy couch and have a listen.
The irrepressible harpist proves that the instrument can be as tempestuous as a tango, as complex as a Bach fugue and sing as serenely as a church choir.
The Austin, Texas band brought old-school R&B horns, bongos and deep grooves to the Tiny Desk.
Despite some unexpected gear problems, the soulful R&B artist and his band locked-in and played a phenomenal set behind the Tiny Desk.
Watch the celebrated opera star deconstruct old Italian love songs with her signature flair, backed by a crack jazz ensemble.
The singer who once sang for Massive Attack and sampled by Iggy Azalea and The Chemical Brothers, is front-and-center at the Tiny Desk.
The eclectic composer joins members of the ACME ensemble for some of his most affecting music, which moves the audience to tears.
After first trying to win our annual Tiny Desk Contest, the singer-songwriter from Nairobi decided to put out a record, got nominated for a Grammy and wound up here anyway
The fast-rising teenager from Jamaica just won a Grammy for Best Reggae Album, making her the first woman and youngest artist to ever win in the category.
Jimmy Eat World showed up to the NPR Music office all smiles and no guitars. They borrowed a couple acoustics, a gong and a tambourine for a heartfelt set that included "The Middle."
The Atlanta-based band came to NPR in a van packed with a bodhrán (Irish drum), an ngoni (West African harp) a huge gourd, a cello, a baritone guitar and more.
The R&B singer from Inglewood, CA made his performance a family affair, dedicating it to his late godson, with his mother and older brother on backup vocals.
The strength of this London band is matching message with music. There's intensity and clear intention in their use of rock as an art.
Here's a first: Steelpans at the Tiny Desk. It's true. Nearly a thousand performances into the series and the instrument has never been featured, until now.
At 25, she mixes the bluesy melisma of Nina Simone and the deep register of Sarah Vaughan — two of her influences — with songwriting as devastating as her delivery.
Phil Elverum shares his open wounds — of death, love and the loss of love — in close harmonies, accompanied only by electric and nylon-string guitars.
Backed by a small string section, Stevenson performed three songs that sounded so gorgeous, an actual marriage proposal broke out shortly after her set ended.
The Iranian-Swedish singer draws her musical cues from Brandy and Sade while racking up a list of collaborators such as Vince Staples, James Fauntleroy and, most recently, Pharrell Williams.
The Canadian singer-songwriter gives a deep, soulful performance against a sometimes moody backdrop of bass saxophone and bowed guitars.
Chris Dave, your favorite musician's favorite drummer, takes listeners on a journey through a virtual record store, picking up different genres along the way and putting them in your bag.
A consummate storyteller, going as far back to her days with her band Rilo Kiley, the words of Jenny Lewis comfort and inspire.
The Australian singer transforms the NPR Music offices with a voice that, at moments, comes as a whisper.
The band from Havana brings its intoxicating mix of Afro-Cuban dance music and 1970s funk-and-soul to the Tiny Desk.
Weir, along with Don Was and Jay Lane, play a set rich in Grateful Dead lore, including an emotional take on the sing-along, "Ripple."
Robby Grant, Pat Sansone (Wilco), Jonathan Kirkscey and John Medeski (Medeski, Martin & Wood) give an all-Mellotron performance, making music of magic and mystery.
The veteran jazz drummer is joined by special guests that include producer and percussionist Kassa Overall and actor Malcolm Jamal Warner, for a potent and deeply moving set.
Within the first moments of Taimane's magical set, we hear her play fiery flamenco, a famous phrase from the opera Carmen, a touch of Bach and more than a nod to her Hawaiian homeland.
A nine-piece choir joins the band for an inspired reworking of four Coldplay songs — and a surprise cover of Prince's "1999."
Watch the award-winning pianist play a hit by Chopin, a premiere by Thomas Adès and a cherished song by Gershwin dressed in a virtuosic arrangement.
The 23-year old rapper from Alabama went for a stripped-down set anchored by a Peruvian cajón.
The former One Direction singer gave a charming performance of "Watermelon Sugar," "Adore You" and other cuts from his latest album, Fine Line.
Watch the low-key British pop star perform "Sunflower," "Loving Is Easy" and more at the Tiny Desk.
The New York band (yes, band) is reminiscent of Talking Heads, Laurie Anderson and Dirty Projectors. Watch the five-piece play three songs at the Tiny Desk.
Chris and Rich Robinson revisit songs from their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker.
The New Normal includes some Tiny Desk concerts without the Tiny Desk. Sophie Allison, aka Soccer Mommy, performed a short set while quarantining in her Nashville home during the coronavirus crisis.
One of Nashville's most talented couples took to their attic for a three-song set, including an unrecorded song that speaks to what so many of us our feeling right now.
"Don't go out to the cookout." The leader of Tank and the Bangas spreads pure joy from her living room in New Orleans.
The soul singer demonstrated a commitment to the Tiny Desk that we rarely, if ever, see.
No joke: The Doobie Brother took to his studio to record a special quarantine concert for Tiny Desk fans.
Jesca Hoop last appeared at the Tiny Desk as a duet with Sam Beam (Iron & Wine) in the spring of 2016. They sang songs from their collaborative record Love Letters For Fire. This time around, Jesca Hoop came to the Tiny Desk with just her guitars, her lovely voice, and brilliant poetic songs.
The Death Cab For Cutie frontman performs a new song and pays tribute to Fountains of Wayne songwriter Adam Schlesinger in this quarantine concert.
Ho hey! Look who turned up at the Tiny Desk. Watch The Lumineers play a four-song set for the smallest crowd in ages.
From her "quarantine shed" in Hawaii, King Princess performs three songs from Cheap Queen in ways we never would have imagined.
Watch one of the greatest emcees in hip-hop history perform three new songs in quarantine.
From Margo Price to Nathaniel Rateliff, watch five artists perform their favorite John Prine tunes from their homes (and bathtubs) in honor of one of the greatest songwriters of any generation.
Alex Toth, who played the Tiny Desk back in 2015 as a member of Rubblebucket returns front and center with his own band, Tōth.
From Kevin Morby's tiny desk in Kansas City, Kevin Morby and Waxahatchee duet.
With a great deal of "Salva-Mex-American" pride, Angelica Garcia performs three songs from her album, Cha Cha Palace at the Tiny Des
Laura Marling delivers an intimate performance of songs from her just-released record Song For Our Daughter in her living room
Watch the superstar pianist at home in Shanghai, China, play a soothing Chopin Nocturne and Bach you can dance t
The Free Nationals and Anderson .Paak make their triumphant return to the Tiny Desk along with some other special guests.
Nick Hakim premieres new music from a dark corner of his bedroom in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
For "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day," The Pop Ups save the earth from an asteroid, explain sound waves through a sing-a-long and a keytar, and encourage us all to invent and create.
John Fogerty plays three Creedence Clearwater Revival classics with some help from his family for his Tiny Desk home concert.
The harpsichord is alive and well. Watch Mahan Esfahani give the first solo harpsichord recital at the Tiny Desk, playing music that spans over 250 years.
Rodrigo y Gabriela play a relaxed Tiny Desk home concert from their studio in Zihuatanejo, Mexico.
Alexandra Sauser-Monnig returns to the Tiny Desk with her band Daughter of Swords, showcasing new music as well as songs from 2019's gorgeous Dawnbreaker album.
Jeru The Damaja, the '90s emcee, shares a medley of classics for his Tiny Desk home concert.
The American guitarist met Adele Pappalardo years ago while touring Italy. They perform droning psych-folk songs together from their Bergamo home.
Jon Batiste premieres new songs and takes us through some of the many sides of his rich musical history at the Tiny Desk.
Lianne La Havas plays a Tiny Desk from her cozy London space. Her set includes two songs from her upcoming, self-titled album
MILCK performs two recent singles, along with an unreleased track in a deeply moving Tiny Desk set from her home in Los Angeles.
Braxton Cook has supported artists at the Tiny Desk on three separate occasions. This time around, he takes center seat, so to speak, from the comfort of his sunny New Jersey home.
Grammy-winning fiddler Augustin Hadelich brings one of the finest violins in the world to the Tiny Desk.
The frontwoman of the indie-rock band Hop Along made her second appearance at the Tiny Desk, this time performing songs from her debut solo album.
The country singer performed four songs from her latest album, Never Will, including one of our top 25 songs of 2019.
The R&B singer, whose music appeared on Season 4 of Insecure, performs four songs for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
The jazz singer and guitarist has multiple Grammy nominations to his name. He performed five songs for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
The award-winning Irish quartet performs three songs from its latest album, The Livelong Day, at the Tiny Desk.
Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn perform three songs from their couch for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
The two rappers perform tracks from their joint mixtape Janktape Vol. 1 for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
Clem Snide and Scott Avett play spiritually searching songs from Forever Just Beyond while maintaining social distancing for their Tiny Desk (home) concert.
More than 40 years after forming, the British post-punk pioneers finally visited the Tiny Desk.
Watch the Americana star perform four songs in quarantine from her home in Ireland.
Watch D Smoke perform a riveting Tiny Desk (home) concert.
Watch the pianist reimagine old spirituals and songs of freedom that continue to resonate in new ways.
The cast and musicians of the hit Broadway musical Hadestown pack into the Tiny Desk for a truly glorious performance of its greatest songs.
The Washington D.C. rapper and Rhymesayers signee debuts two songs from her upcoming album, The Sharecropper's Daughter.
One of our favorite new artists of 2019 shares a new song as part of her Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
You've heard this Mississippi songwriter multiple times on HBO's Insecure this season. Now watch her perform live as part of our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
The Los Angeles songwriter shines on the soundtrack of HBO's Insecure. Watch her perform three songs as part of our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
The pop superstar premiered a new song, "Gramercy Park," and revisited a classic during her Tiny Desk performance.
Although sisters Este, Danielle and Alana are self-quarantining in separate residences, their Tiny Desk set from home is a reminder that California is a state of mind.
The Swedish funk foursome perform songs from its latest album, New Me, Same Us, plus an old favorite for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
Benny The Butcher, one third of Griselda, performs a short set in his living room, with help from BSF labelmates Rick Hyde and Heem.
The Walkmen frontman gathers his children and a few haystacks for a special Father's Day edition of Tiny Desk.
Sudan Archives draws inspiration from Irish and African traditional music. Watch her channel both in this Tiny Desk concert.
Watch the drummer and activist perform three songs for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
The acclaimed guitarist (and masculine half of She & Him) performed seven songs in his Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
The Miami-based reggae singer brings a green screen to his Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
The Seoul-based sextet performs music that blends Korean traditional music with modern sounds.
This Southeast African band deserves your attention. Watch a very special remote Tiny Desk concert.
The Brazilian-born guitarist performs a peace-inducing concert from his home in Los Angeles.
The Polish rock band performed a Tiny Desk quarantine concert in Gdańsk basement.
The indie rock band performs four songs while quarantining in five separate homes.
The Alt.Latino favorite comes together virtually to perform a handful of songs from the band's latest album, Invisible People.
The chart-topping rapper and songwriter performs a Tiny Desk quarantine concert at West Coast Customs in Los Angeles.
Watch four different Jacob Colliers perform simultaneously in the same studio in this unprecedented Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
This Tiny Desk quarantine concert features a guest appearance from guitarist John Mayer.
The Dutch singer brings us into his home studio for this Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
The singer-songwriter channels Whitney Houston, Alanis Morissette and The Cranberries' Dolores O'Riordan in her Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
The bohemian rock icon performs a Tiny Desk quarantine concert from his home in the Bahamas.
The singer and songwriter plays four new songs from his home in Cornwall, accompanied by a modular synthesizer and fronted by Adams' gifted falsetto.
After performing for us last year, Nilüfer Yanya rejoins the Tiny Desk team from afar, performing three works from her last album and debuting a new song.
Lucinda Williams and her guitar mate, Stuart Mathis, set up shop for a Tiny Desk home concert at Thirty Tigers' headquarters in Nashville.
Thao is joined by two cellists in this remarkable set for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
The Boston-born, Los Angeles-based rapper does it all in this performance for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
This four-song set for Tiny Desk's quarantine series is utter joy.
One of our favorite indie rock lyricists performs a four-song concert for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
Melanie Faye stole the show during Masego's Tiny Desk concert, so we invited her to perform her own quarantine concert.
The singer-songwriter performed music from his new album, græ, from his home in North Carolina.
The Nashville-based rock musician recorded a five-song set for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
Watch the rising young pianist, in a final performance from his Berlin home, make the case for two seemingly disparate French composers born nearly 200 years apart.
Watch the hip-hop group perform a stripped-down set from a house in Los Angeles for Tiny Desk's quarantine series.
The platinum-selling, low-key superstar performs a solo set at her piano for Tiny Desk's quarantine series.
This Tiny Desk quarantine concert takes place in a large car, looking out on the Caribbean Sea.
The rising reggae star performs a four-song Tiny Desk quarantine concert from Jamaica.
One of the shining lights of Americana music recorded a Tiny Desk concert at her home in Nashville.
Kevin Parker brings his "Tame Impala Soundsystem" to life in a Tiny Desk from Australia.
The soulful British singer invites us into her temporary backyard in Nashville for a Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
Billie Eilish used some of her signature video magic to perform in front of the Tiny Desk from the comfort of her own home.
To mark the release of her newest album, Tiwa Savage and her band, The Alternative Sound, returned to Lagos for a lovely set in a beautiful setting.
The quartet, known colloquially as Goat Rodeo, jammed out from four different homes in this Tiny Desk quarantine performance.
The Israeli clarinetist and Brazilian guitarist recorded this Tiny Desk quarantine performance in Rio de Janeiro.
Burt Bacharach, one of pop's historic melody makers, is still performing at age 92, as you'll see in this Tiny Desk quarantine concert with lyricist Daniel Tashian.
The reggae star performs a four-song set from the hills outside Kingston.
Bill Callahan has a deep pocket of stories to tell. Standing outside his home, he performs a few of them with guitarist Matt Kinsey and trumpet player Derek Phelps.
Phoebe Bridgers performs her Tiny Desk quarantine concert in a virtual Oval Office, with help of dozens of fans.
The 21-year-old McKenna performs a four-song quarantine concert with a full band.
Watch the young London pop artist perform four songs for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
One of the British jazz scene's rising stars performs a quarantine concert on the River Thames.
The most popular band in the world performs three songs with a live band for Tiny Desk's quarantine series.
The rapper convened a live band for his five-song Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
The Griselda MC takes over a Queens diner to perform a quarantine concert for Tiny Desk.
The Nashville songwriter performs four songs from her picturesque loft apartment, including fan favorite "Hold My Hand."
Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott perform songs from their latest album, Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was, for our quarantine series.
The Rwandan duo perform a concert from a hilltop farm for one of our tiniest Tiny Desks.
Americana's most famous couple perform a Tiny Desk quarantine set in their barn, backed by gorgeous stain-glassed windows.
One of R&B's biggest stars performs an eight-song medley for her Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
Watch Linda Diaz's Tiny Desk concert, recorded atop New York City's Javits Center.
Little Big Town, one of the biggest bands in country music, perform a Tiny Desk quarantine show, and they bring the hits.
The singer-songwriter performs four songs on her porch in Asheville, N.C., for Tiny Desk's quarantine series.
Wayne Coyne has been preparing for this era of social distancing for 10 years. Watch The Flaming Lips perform in bubbles for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
The Polaris Music Prize winner kicks off our week-long Tiny Desk celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Colombian actor and singer Carlos Vives has been performing Latin American hits for almost 30 years. His Tiny Desk (home) concert is part of our Hispanic Heritage Month extravaganza.
Two members of Brazilian musical royalty unite for a special Tiny Desk quarantine performance (and a heck of a view).
Global superstar Ozuna performs five songs in quarantine for Tiny Desk.
The pop-meet-classical duo perform a quarantine concert from their New York City apartment.
The blues prodigy performs a special Tiny Desk show at the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Miss.
Phish bassist Mike Gordon and guitarist Leo Kottke perform a magical Tiny Desk quarantine show, with a little help from Phish drummer Jon Fishman.
Let the Atlanta hip-hop collective take you to church in its Tiny Desk quarantine video.
The Nashville singer-songwriter delivers an empowering performance in this Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
Gregory Porter, Brad Mehldau and Chris Potter all appear in this 18-musician Tiny Desk quarantine concert, organized by Snarky Puppy's Michael League.
The R&B superstar assembled some frequent collaborators — including Skrillex — for a six-song quarantine concert.
Dressed as devils from their own homes, Sadie Dupuis and her virtual band explore the wild textures of her sweet-and-sour pop songs.
The platinum-certified Chicago-born emcee performs three songs on a basketball court for his Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
The ascending R&B talent brings us into her South London home for a four-song quarantine concert.
Country music's breakout star of 2020 performs three songs for her Tiny Desk quarantine concert, including "Black Like Me."
British folk singer Shirley Collins is a living legend. Watch her perform five songs for her Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
The award-winning pianist performs three solo songs from his home in Armenia.
A trio of musicians gather at Aaron Copland's longtime home. Watch them play the iconic American composer's music at his own piano and beside his own writing desk.
The 2020 Mercury Prize winner performs five songs in a London flat for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
The talented Canadian composer and songwriter creates an ensemble in their bedroom for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
The leader of Big Thief performs five songs from a camper in Joshua Tree for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
The R&B veteran performs three songs from his latest album for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
The soul legend isn't letting quarantine slow him down.
The Rap Game champion and self-proclaimed "Queen Of Da Souf" performs three songs for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
The Long Island R&B singer premieres a new song during his Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
From her home in Germany, the provocative American soprano delivers songs of introspection and freedom from Franz Schubert's mountaintop epiphany to Billy Taylor's wish for equality and justice.
Watch the Grammy-nominated artist perform three songs from his album The Gospel According To PJ.
The defining disco diva of 2020 performs four songs from her album Future Nostalgia for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
The Austin-based rock band is nominated for the album and record of the year at next year's Grammys. See why in this Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
The most exciting sister act in contemporary pop performs five songs for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
From the moment we pan out of a literal tiny desk diorama, a jolt of energy leaps from Paramore's Hayley Williams. Her home band includes Julien Baker and Becca Mancari.
The Nashville singer-songwriter performs music from her celebrated album, Pauline, for Tiny Desk's quarantine series.
To mark the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth, pianist Jonathan Biss explores the solitary side of the composer in extraordinary music written after Beethoven became deaf.
Members of the celebrated Borromeo String Quartet – playing it safe with masks – unlock the sillier side of Beethoven in music he wrote late in life.
Join cellist Jan Vogler and pianist Alessio Bax at the "doctor's office," where they make the case for Beethoven as the liberator of the cello by playing music from his cello sonatas.
The former Snarky Puppy keyboardist and bandleader performs a special holiday Tiny Desk for our quarantine series.
2025
Music can transport you, even or especially when the destination's unknown. For 22 minutes, this is what Jeff Parker's Tiny Desk with the ETA IVtet can offer: a space for your mind to meditate on what the music speaks, set to a gossamer groove. SET LIST "Hearing 3.26.25"
Katie Gavin is the kind of performer whose dynamism knows no bounds. Whether she's performing with her pop band MUNA or solo, Gavin is a captivating presence. SET LIST "The Baton" "Sanitized" "Sketches" "Aftertaste"
Carín León is an old soul. There is no other way to account for the power of the emotion in his voice. His 16-piece band tests the limited space behind the Tiny Desk, but when the brass takes over to punctuate a performance, Leon's commanding presence shows why he's one of the best at what he does. SET LIST "Ese Vato No Te Queda" "Lado Frágil" "El Amor de Mi Herida" "Por la Suave"
SET LIST "If You Want Perfection" "Tell Me, Ernest" "Alive Forever" "Don't Say I Didn't (Warn You)"
Yes, ARTEMIS is named for a Greek goddess. This jazz supergroup has super powers and they're on full display from beginning to end during this Tiny Desk. The multi-generational and multinational group is composed of pianist Renee Rosnes, drummer (and Tiny Desk alum) Allison Miller, bassist Noriko Ueda, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen and tenor saxophonist Nicole Glover, all bandleaders with their own prolific outputs. SET LIST "Olive Branch" "Little Cranberry" "Sights Unseen"
SET LIST “Bakunawa” “7000 Miles” “Someday”
SET LIST "Da Bumble" "Yay Area" "Sprinkle Me" "Captain Save a Hoe" "Snap Yo Fingers" "U and Dat" "Choices (Yup)" "Hope I Don't Go Back" "1-Luv" "Function" "Tell Me When to Go"
2014
The musician unpacks an array of traditional Vietnamese instruments — and 1,000 years of culture.
The teenagers play a restrained, homespun mix of folk and pop with undeniably sweet harmonies.
The Howard University vocal jazz ensemble performs beautiful African-American spirituals.
Members of the Grammy-winning, organic R&B Experiment band jam with singer Marsha Ambrosius.
The expressive, powerful singer previews songs from her new album, Burn Your Fire for No Witness.
Hear the legendary band perform 1989's "Monkey Gone to Heaven" and two new songs — one unreleased.
The joyous Balkan brass band plays at a pace that would make the Ramones burst into a sweat.
The inventive folk-music veteran book-ends a four-song set with her hits "Luka" and "Tom's Diner."
The Welsh singer's set conveys loneliness and doubt with just two guitars and an inviting whisper.
For about 20 minutes one sunny afternoon, Rei turned a desk into a small Latin American folk club.
See the band re-create some of its stellar studio effects with a pedal steel and some novelty mics.
Avidan has an album and no U.S. record label to put it out. But he's on a solo tour that's stunning.
It's hard to convey the sound of two people in love, but Lowland Hum does that effortlessly.
Watch the 20-year-old English singer-songwriter, who has worked with superproducer Rick Rubin.
On record, Cluck's elastic voice and fingerpicking are impressive. Live, they jam the senses.
All the world's top opera houses want the young tenor with the old-school approach.
When the sisters cover classic country music together, the result is a treat and a trip in time.
Singer-songwriters Aimee Mann and Ted Leo unite from opposite ends of the volume knob.
The North Dakota singer-songwriter possesses one of the most arresting voices in folk music today.
Barnett tells stories like your best friend, provided your best friend is a funny Australian poet.
A young Pakistani musician treats the guitar as percussion — with surprisingly shimmering results.
The Argentine singer uses his dark, husky voice to produce a specific effect in these three songs.
Interweaving harmonies and guitar lines set the tone for these soft, benevolent, dreamy songs.
Impossibly telegenic and charming, the band mixes booming intensity with polish and sparkle.
The Dublin guitarist runs through a ragtime jaunt, a basement-bar choogle and a sad-sack closer.
The duo's sample-laden instrumental music is entertainment as education for the head and feet alike.
See the swamp-folk band play a characteristically eerie and mysterious set in the NPR Music offices.
The Scottish synth-pop band turns up with a small arsenal of synthesizers to perform three songs.
See the countertenor and lutenist Thomas Dunford perform John Dowland's melancholy songs.
The band makes the kind of music that can at least briefly restore your faith in humanity.
The Lebanese singer-songwriter is one of the most groundbreaking musicians in the Middle East.
Andrew Hozier-Byrne wraps his rich, vital, soulful voice around songs rooted in the blues.
Molina sounds as if she'd been raised by wolves and discovered the world of music on her own.
Watch the celebrated pianist make Bach's Two-part Inventions sing and zing.
A quirky and wistful performer with a string section, McLaughlin makes music like few others.
A classical virtuoso and an equally captivating flamenco player combine for a set of duets.
The country singer-songwriter performs with the ease and swagger of a man comfortable in his ways.
The singer-songwriter and musician performs with unabashed positivity and an uplifting spirit.
The Bright Eyes singer performs songs from Upside Down Mountain with help from members of Dawes.
See the innovative player create waves of sound with a six-string violin.
The 23-year-old singer-guitarist performs gritty, countrified blues-rock in the NPR Music offices.
Watch the Tiny Desk turn into a church, comedy club and neo-soul spot.
They call what they make "cave music" — but it's just as powerful at the Tiny Desk.
Grant's songs don't mess around, with lyrics that function as darts of retort and thought.
The singer has a magnificent way with phrasing, not to mention a remarkable country-music lineage.
The guitarist kicks up some dirt with a Rev. Gary Davis deconstruction and a Stratocaster hoedown.
In this three-song set, the Walkmen singer demonstrates that he's lost none of his vocal power.
Watch an atmospheric Norwegian band with a yearning sound. Also: See a flugabone!
In the NPR offices, the Ohio band plays three alternately brooding and stomping songs from Dark Arc.
The veteran East L.A. band's music penetrates the intellect even as it makes your hips sway.
The band's seven players are trained in classical and jazz, led by Liam McCormick's powerful voice.
With Carolyn Cardoza, Diaz conjures a place where emotions run deep and beauty is unmistakable.
The former Hüsker Dü and Sugar frontman plugs in for a characteristically loud four-song set.
Watch a talented, charming guitar legend make magic as his band Avila holds down the beat.
Watch the group play selections from Shostakovich's cycle of introspective string quartets.
A veteran of Little Joy and Los Hermanos, Amarante makes warm, tender music as a solo artist.
The band was made to sing and play around one microphone, so a Tiny Desk Concert seemed inevitable.
The Kentucky native writes country songs about loneliness, failed dreams, drinking and drugs.
Known for the speed of their playing, the Minnesotans are about more than just blistering bluegrass.
Mayfield's music has gotten more beguiling as she explores the many contrasts in her hypnotic sound.
In advance of his new album Single Mothers, the singer performs two new songs and an old favorite.
Graceful singing and storytelling meet guitars and textures that help create an unforgettable aura.
With his drummer son Spencer, Wilco's Jeff Tweedy performs songs from their new album, Sukierae.
The 10-piece salsa band built its career on dance floors, where it never fails to make people move.
The trombonist's working band established some nifty swing, assisted in absentia by Sufjan Stevens.
Browne still writes songs with conviction, craftsmanship and careful attention to detail.
Sofia has spent most of her career 20 feet from stardom as a backup singer for Juanes and Shakira.
The band plays with a great rock-duo punch that recalls The White Stripes or JEFF The Brotherhood.
The Icelandic singer's voice is angelic and yearning, his songs simple and universal.
D'Amato's music can feel Motown-y, garage-y and Springsteen-y, but he sounds sparer here.
Watch the young, versatile ensemble play folk music from around Denmark and beyond.
We asked the King of Auto-Tune to grace the Tiny Desk without any embellishment or effects.
Known for lavish electronic productions, Banks serves notice as a powerful singer in her own right.
With costumes inspired by Egyptian symbolism and sci-fi, Ra's band plays a special Halloween set.
A rousing band from Kansas City, Making Movies mixes languages and eras with infectious energy.
Watch the group sing new music with yelps, yodels and a few fine harmonies.
The Austin singer-songwriter joins his stunning voice with that of touring partner Gaby Moreno.
The Dinosaur Jr. frontman, one of the world's loudest musicians, performs unplugged and acoustic.
Benatar and Giraldo play three classics: "We Live For Love," "We Belong" and "Promises In The Dark."
Amidon weaves his compositions into traditional music, while Frisell adds atmospheric guitar.
Hear the Irish ensemble's fresh take on Philip Glass' propulsive yet intimate string quartets.
The band's got heart and soul and flair, with a well-worn sound buoyed by strong, fresh songwriting.
The singer performs two new songs, as well as "The First Cut Is the Deepest" and "Father and Son."
She came to the desk a little unsure, and left singing "West Memphis" with intensity and passion.
Watch our favorite hamsters play their twee-as-all-get-out holiday pop-punk song, "Snow Day."
2023
The band creates a surreal atmosphere at the Tiny Desk, reimagining the sonically adventurous sounds of A Light for Attracting Attention.
The young proponent of traditional music brought a talented band, his astonishing imagination and a selection of what he calls "Black folk music from the future" to the Tiny Desk.
The English singer-songwriter and her band give a cathartic, playful performance at the Tiny Desk.
Watch the pianist, who's been called "a performer of near-superhuman prowess," play a smart set that spans six centuries.
Sophie Allison and crew finally, after a three-year delay, make their Tiny Desk debut in a lovingly performed set.
For the third year, Tiny Desk concerts team up with globalFEST for a thrilling online music festival — Tiny Desk meets globalFEST.
For the third year, Tiny Desk concerts team up with globalFEST for a thrilling online music festival — Tiny Desk meets globalFEST.
For the third year, Tiny Desk concerts team up with globalFEST for a thrilling online music festival — Tiny Desk meets globalFEST.
For the third year, Tiny Desk concerts team up with globalFEST for a thrilling online music festival — Tiny Desk meets globalFEST.
For the third year, Tiny Desk concerts team up with globalFEST for a thrilling online music festival — Tiny Desk meets globalFEST.
For the third year, Tiny Desk concerts team up with globalFEST for a thrilling online music festival — Tiny Desk meets globalFEST.
For the third year, Tiny Desk concerts team up with globalFEST for a thrilling online music festival — Tiny Desk meets globalFEST.
For the third year, Tiny Desk concerts team up with globalFEST for a thrilling online music festival — Tiny Desk meets globalFEST.
For the third year, Tiny Desk concerts team up with globalFEST for a thrilling online music festival — Tiny Desk meets globalFEST.
The brothers' Tiny Desk performance is the perfect, slow-burning introduction to their music.
NPR Music's Tiny Desk series kicks off a celebration of Black History Month with this stunning performance from Lady Wray.
Amy Ray and Emily Saliers have been offering life lessons to their fervent fans for nearly four decades; here, they play a set of stone-cold classics, including "Closer to Fine."
NPR Music's Tiny Desk series continues a celebration of Black History Month with this set from Lee Fields.
One of the most sought after producers in music brings a trio of familiar voices to the Tiny Desk.
Britanny Fousheé is not an artist who can be boxed in. In her Tiny Desk set, she flexes her eclectic artistry and vocal — and emotional — range.
The trumpeter brings his unmistakably chill attitude and determination to expand the sound of jazz to this stripped-down Tiny Desk set.
It's impossible to tell the history of Black people in America without the gospel, and Tamela Mann represented at NPR headquarters.
Ab-Soul's career is a prime example of how rap has grown over the past 50 years. For his Tiny Desk set, he hand-picked a live band and gave a display of raw honesty and next-level lyricism.
In his vintage Stetson, the Texas troubadour performed a set of songs that find new meaning in familiar country, folk and blues forms.
The singer and songwriter made a special trip from Nigeria to the Tiny Desk for a performance of his Afro-fusion hits.
Sánchez observes the world with a drummer's sensibilities. Here, he and his pals in Bad Hombre explore the rhythm of language in a set of tracks from Sánchez's latest album.
Two musical cultures come together to create something that didn't exist before in this Tiny Desk performance.
The duo performs a set of dark yet hopeful songs filled with haunting harmonies and unique rhythms.
The singer-songwriter has impressed us with her Tiny Desk Contest entries over the last few years; at the Desk, she brought confidence, a sense of belonging and a brilliant set of songs.
Watch the restless singer-songwriter in a set of penetrating new tunes, capped with a breathtaking love song.
It's hard to overstate the kindness and good-natured humor the U2 singer and guitarist brought to this set, where they performed reimagined songs from All That You Can't Leave Behind.
Tye Tribbett brings his high energy praise music to the Tiny Desk in a set of six inspiring songs.
Andress writes songs that have a way of digging up clear-headed truths; here, she performs three tracks from across her catalog.
This magical, four-song set is an Athens, Ga., insider's dream.
The New Zealand band writes sparkling indie pop underpinned by empathy. At the Tiny Desk, you can hear that support and camaraderie in the band's stripped-down arrangements and dry banter.
Before his eclectic, high-energy performance, the singer and showman told the Tiny Desk team: "I'm not meant to be understood; I'm meant to be experienced."
The drummer, singer and producer gives a virtuosic display of musicianship, lyricism and artistic innovation at the Tiny Desk.
The rap icon treated fans to an epic set featuring the best of her sprawling discography.
The electronic producer and songwriter moves seamlessly in this jam-packed Tiny Desk.
A long time coming, the South London-bred singer-songwriter performs at the Desk with the confidence of a veteran vocal powerhouse.
The Chilean jazz vocalist makes a lasting impression at the Tiny Desk.
With a piano draped in spring flowers, Lara Downes plays a smart set of music, new and old, that offers the power of renewal.
With a who's who of forward-thinking guitarists, Bill Orcutt brings his ecstatic minimalism to the Tiny Desk.
Slow-rolling through four tracks, Cuco seamlessly blends the soul of chicano ballads and the smooth energy of soft rock.
The distinguished saxophonist pushes the boundaries of modern jazz in his expressive Tiny Desk performance.
The minimalist English octet stresses a communal spirit in its Tiny Desk performance.
The India-born, California-raised musician melds Carnatic music, R&B and soul in his Tiny Desk set.
In its Tiny Desk performance, the trio makes music strictly for the moment — creating a shared language in real time.
The Colombian singer and global superstar shines brighter than ever in this surprising Tiny Desk performance from last May.
If you didn't know anything about Capaldi before this Tiny Desk, the self-deprecating humor mixed in between gut-wrenching ballads will quickly catch you up to speed.
The Broadway cast, band and composer assemble behind the Tiny Desk to share four songs from the touching new musical, which is nominated for eight Tony Awards.
In her Tiny Desk, Tivel's empathy elevates her folk-based, jazz-touched compositions from mere stories to secular prayers.
The singer and rapper displays the subtle breadth of his music in this Tiny Desk (home) concert.
2023's Tiny Desk Contest unique, winning band performs a range of emotional and creative songs.
The Indonesian artist Nicole Zefanya brings a tiny toy piano and sleek songs to this Tiny Desk debut.
The band's Tiny Desk performance featured songs that leaned right into its incalculability.
The old-school funk and R&B artist tells a tale of "two Charlies" in his Tiny Desk performance.
The singer, songwriter and producer brought his timeless love songs to the Tiny Desk.
The veteran R&B scholar turns NPR's modest venue into "the big, nasty Desk" in his performance.
The producer, songwriter and musical director to the stars performed a multi-genre celebration of Black music.
Everything in this Tiny Desk performance is unapologetically New Orleans.
The artist's Tiny Desk proves how far the sounds of West Africa have influenced the U.S. and, more implicitly, just how much the music defies catch-all labels like 'Afrobeats.'
At the Tiny Desk, the pop trio preached the importance of joyful revolution.
The 14-piece Los Angeles-based ensemble's performance of music by Julius Eastman is nothing less than an exuberant house party unto itself.
In her stunning Tiny Desk, the artist demonstrates her ability to showcase all sides of the harp, from an instrument in classical music to contemporary pop.
The viral tweets were real — it's finally here: one of the most rambunctious experiences at the Tiny Desk.
With members hailing from Cuba, Senegal and Venezuela, this Tiny Desk is a truly international musical experience.
The eccentric, fictional salsa band pulls the Tiny Desk audience into the realm of the imaginary.
The Irish singer brings a plaintive, pensive atmosphere to the Tiny Desk.
The Portuguese guitarist brings listeners into her journey of heartbreak.
The widely acclaimed pianist serves up nearly 200-year-old music by Chopin mixed with a contemporary work that looks back in time.
For nearly four decades, the band has terrorized planet Earth with its raucous stage shows, raunchy metal songs and grotesque satire. GWAR finally came to destroy the Tiny Desk, once and for all.
The duo bring their twisted musical sense of humor, honed for over 50 years, to the Tiny Desk.
The pioneering hip-hop group rolled into NPR headquarters with a horn section to play five funky tracks.
The Puerto Rican vocalist brings her distinctive songs of desire and longing to the Tiny Desk.
Shifting from English to French to Guro, Peter One brings his passion-filled songs about his storied past to the Tiny Desk.
The Nigerian-born, London-based artist gave us everything at his Tiny Desk.
In the hands of Colombian musician, the accordion is both a melodic and rhythmic wonder.
The artist, whose world encompasses rap, clothing, fitness, food and more, performs funky, reinterpreted highlights from his discography in his Tiny Desk.
The boundary-pushing dance pop group delivers a performance awash in upbeat and optimistic melody.
One of the world's biggest stars performs a few of the world's biggest songs at the Tiny Desk.
The Spanish artist dances along the border of tradition and modernity in his Tiny Desk performance.
The intrepid champion of new music turns her attention to female composers, offering a sampler of works by women across four centuries, including a favorite of Louis XIV and an Ethiopian nun.
The family trio belt out songs of lost love and longing in their Tiny Desk performance.
This unpredictable, funky set showcases the distinctive creative interplay between each player's personality.
The clever rock band delivers a performance 10 years in the making.
In her Tiny Desk performance, the singer filled the room with a stunning vocal performance, her positive spirit and light radiating throughout the entire room.
The thoughtful violinist makes a set of contemplative music, including a piece by Philip Glass, sing sweetly on her $16 million instrument.
The Japanese composer delivers a highly energetic and joyful Tiny Desk set.
The singer-songwriter's vocals soar in this beautifully simple Tiny Desk performance.
The K-pop superstar and BTS member performs three love songs from his new album.
The Venezuelan group brings its infectious energy and beach-infused sound to the Tiny Desk.
Broadway stars Alyssa Fox and McKenzie Kurtz defy gravity, accompanied by composer Stephen Schwartz to celebrate 20 years of Wicked.
J Noa came to the Tiny Desk to show the world what a girl from her barrio is capable of.
The Chicano singer brings a grounded sense of reflection to the Tiny Desk.
The singer's Tiny Desk performance is a joy to behold.
Alex Cuba weaves evocative imagery into musical arrangements that conjure his native country.
Antillano shows why she's one of the most exciting voices in Latin trap and reggaeton right now.
Haters may say it's AutoTune, but when Caroline Polachek sings live, it's clear that the impressive range and control you're hearing is all her.
"La Caballota" herself gives a performance for the girls.
The stripped down sound of some of Becky G's biggest hits offered a rare view of her artistry.
If there was ever an artist the word "legend" applies to, it would be Smokey Robinson.
The Colombian superestrella brought his mesmerizing vocals and a few proud tears to the Tiny Desk.
The R&B singer performs a set of his most beloved musical moments.
The two artists perform a set of music full of yearning, joy and history.
As the ringleader of the CHIC experience, Rodgers crams a lifetime's worth of nightlife into every strum of his guitar.
The Indian jazz fusion band stops by the Tiny Desk for a historical performance.
The British singer-songwriter articulates relatable emotions in ways a mere layman couldn't imagine.
In our very first tap dancing Tiny Desk, the artists created an experience so unexpectedly fresh and suffused with joy, it moved some to tears and others to cheer for more.
In one of its very final performances ever, the durable and beloved string quartet says farewell with music by Beethoven, Walker and Ravel.
Samia's set provides a stunning showcase for her charisma, vocal talent and deftly detailed lyricism.
The Chicago-bred emcee-activist performs some revolutionary raps from her third album Sundial.
At the Tiny Desk, the guitarist plays quiet, gentle melodies inspired by his Texas panhandle home.
The renowned Portuguese guitarist bridges centuries of history with immaculate playing.
In her Tiny Desk performance, the artist lives on her own artistic plane — inviting listeners to take their time to fully join her.
Songwriting team Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally take us on a musical journey from Nashville to Broadway with their musical, Shucked.
The singer-songwriter performs songs that swoon at the wonders of love, but also deep partnership.
The standout group of K-pop's fourth generation is in their element in this Tiny Desk Korea performance.
The artist returns to the Tiny Desk for a full circle moment of a performance.
The Tiny Desk blooms with the stanzas, sounds and legacy of jazz poetry.
The Radiohead drummer performs three songs with a mix of deep warmth and wry, self-effacing modesty.
Bob Boilen's favorite Hanukkah tradition graces the Tiny Desk for fun-filled songs about latkes and gelt.
The singer-songwriter brings a handful of searing cuts from her sophomore album, GUTS, to the Tiny Desk.
The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter brings her modern jazz-pop love songs to the Tiny Desk.
The band's recreation of its billowy, shoegaze-y sound lights up the Tiny Desk.
The rapper's performance radiates with his decadeslong passion as an emcee and producer.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert bandleader believes that live music builds community. At the Tiny Desk, Cato captivates.
Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford lead the Broadway cast, complete with Tiny Desk-sized orchestrations by Stephen Sondhiem's longtime collaborator, Jonathan Tunick.
2024
Sunny Jain's music promotes the idea of not just crossing boundaries but obliterating them all together.
The Chihuahuan artist transfigures traditional Sinaloan instrumentation into folky new styles.
The Rwandan group's determination to spread its musical message is an inspiration.
The band's unique sound, driven by its peculiar blend of trumpet, winds and strings, seems like a compelling soundtrack for an age when music genres are becoming increasingly arbitrary.
The U.K. singer-songwriter recasts four of her electro-pop songs in fresh arrangements.
The Polish pianist and composer blurs the lines of ambient, classical and house in this performance.
An 18-minute flex that proves the artist is the modern personification of funk.
The San Diego-based trio made its mark at the Tiny Desk with satin vocals and vintage melodies.
With an eight-piece band, the singer-songwriter brings her wry charm to the Tiny Desk.
To mark Philip Glass' 87th birthday, the astute pianist Timo Andres stops by to play a contrasting pair of the composer's popular etudes.
Joshua Redman illustrates why he is one of today's best saxophonists.
Ben Carr, who performs as Carrtoons, keeps the producer-led Tiny Desk tradition alive in this set.
The Atlanta singer pays homage to his roots with Ethiopian jazz pianist Kibrom Birhane and members of the Ethio Cali band.
Tinashe's Tiny Desk performance proves her artistry has never been one-dimensional.
The California-raised, Ireland-based songwriter performs a set of folk songs that wind around the passage of time.
The free jazz band with a punk ethos runs through six songs without breaks.
The Atlanta superstar focuses on the early chapters of his career in his Tiny Desk.
The artist brings a distinctive, creative vision to her Tiny Desk performance.
The Richmond, Va. band brings its signature hot and funky "solar music" to the Desk.
"I learned how to play guitar watching Tiny Desk concerts," lead singer Karly Hartzman says. The Asheville rock band translates its noisy, country-influenced sound to a quieter setting.
The Chicago-based indie rocker plays stripped back versions of her thundering rock songs.
What better way to spend March 11 than with 311 bringing love and nostalgia to the Tiny Desk.
Two adventurous musicians trace the history of their fruitful collaboration in a set of pieces both ferocious and beautiful.
The artist, who just dropped his new album Everything I Thought It Was, comes to the Tiny Desk with a set that leans heavily on his early solo catalog.
The utterly commanding artist takes the Tiny Desk stage with a magnetic performance and a towering wig.
For the first time, a hardcore punk band graces the Tiny Desk — and ignites a mosh pit in the office.
The respected lyricist and hip-hop hitmaker comes to the Desk for one of the longest set lists in Tiny Desk history.
The thoughtful pianist from Iceland plays a set of gentle pieces — from Bach to Bartók — evoking nostalgic memories of his childhood.
One of post-apartheid South Africa's most influential musicians comes to the Tiny Desk.
The Spanish duo's timeless, poetic songs evoke images of lyricists and vocalists from centuries past.
A five-song set from a genre-bending collective built around the folklore and rhythmic styles of bomba.
In this Tiny Desk, Oh presents a mix of cuts from her 2023 release, The Glass Hours, and new works.
The New York-bred singer-songwriter creates a sense of closeness with her audience in this soul-stirring set.
NPR unveils the very first performance for Tiny Desk Concerts JAPAN, featuring talented Japanese singer and pianist Fujii Kaze.
At the Desk, Sleater-Kinney was all business — as wiry and vital as ever.
It's hard to spot everything Hauschka deployed for this mostly improvised set, from pink putty to strings stuffed with tin foil.
The Norwegian soprano, with plenty of horsepower, unleashes a high C, and much subtle singing, in a thrilling set.
The electro-pop group performs some of its enduring classics at the Tiny Desk.
Forever the showman, the R&B star and songwriter brings some of his biggest hits to the Tiny Desk.
The country and bluegrass music legend performs an excellent set with a finale fit for church.
The artist plays new songs from her forthcoming album, empathogen, as well as throwback hits at the Tiny Desk.
The outrageously fun Japanese punk band speeds and screams through its catalog.
With decades clocked behind the piano and a strong catalog, Kiefer Shackelford is primed for this moment.
The gifted guitarist combines traditional Dominican music with jazz and rock in his performance.
The Brazilian jazz singer and Trio Corrente perform selections from their Grammy-nominated album Cometa.
The 83-year-old NEA Jazz Master turns the Tiny Desk into a place of musical worship.
At the Tiny Desk, the French-born Chilean rapper features tracks from across her catalog rich with cultural commentary and political critique.
The Tiny Desk setting perfectly illuminates the power of The Staves' sisterly harmonies.
The jazz pianist performs a decades-spanning set, including a new, improvised version of "Nautilus" with DJ Jazzy Jeff and Talib Kweli.
Nelly Furtado's Tiny Desk performance felt like a victory lap — a greatest-hits reel and a homecoming all at once.
The 2024 Tiny Desk Contest winner — the multi-genre artist The Philharmonik — performs a celebratory set.
The Jamaican superstar Sean Paul’s Tiny Desk set is all gas and no breaks.
The Nigerian singer-songwriter performs standout songs from her forthcoming album, Born in the Wild.
The alto saxophonist burst into her Tiny Desk Concert like a meteor breaching the atmosphere.
The Philly rapper gave playful, grade school shenanigans in her Tiny Desk featuring a surprise guest.
The “Queen of Funk” graces the Tiny Desk with a set list to groove to.
The Gospel singer brings her faith to the Tiny Desk with a stirring medley of her greatest hits.
The Grammy-winning artist brings powerful cuts from her forthcoming album, No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin, as well as fan favorites, to this performance.
The boundary-pushing singer-songwriter brings her country sensibility to the Tiny Desk.
The Tiny Desk has humbled many artists, but Flo Milli strutted into NPR HQ for this set with the unwavering confidence of an OG.
We conclude 2024’s Black Music Month celebration at the Tiny Desk with the catalyst for the all-female lineup.
The Spanish singer performs her brilliantly distinct songs at the Tiny Desk.
The artist crams more than two decades of music, from solo material to Against Me! cuts, into her performance.
Llergo's performance brings the spirit of a Spanish music scene built on tradition but exploding with new energy to the Tiny Desk.
The New York-bred and Los Angeles- based pianist and multi-instrumentalist has been regarded as a young master in the jazz world.
The cast of the newest Broadway revival turns NPR headquarters into Emerald City.
The Spanish artist brought all of her genre-bending, vocal powerhouse energy to her Tiny Desk concert.
The beloved jam band plays a handful of classics and new tracks at the Desk.
The Puerto Rican rapper brought a relaxed energy and community feel to his performance.
The singer-songwriter makes her long-awaited appearance at the Tiny Desk with a collection of light, breezy tracks.
The singer-songwriter showcases new and old material in her long-awaited Tiny Desk debut.
The singer-songwriter and entrepreneur adapts his big, synth-heavy sound for his performance.
Shae Universe takes us on a journey of love in all its forms in this concert: lust, romance and self-love.
Kehlani’s Tiny Desk invites viewers on a ride through several of their biggest hits.
After 30 years in the game, the rap trio brings a fresh, new sound to the Desk.
Springsteen showed up ready to make it count, with a carefully arranged set list and an incredible band.
The musical icons perform new songs from their forthcoming album, Milton + esperanza, in a rare video performance.
The group brings its playfully subversive style to the Tiny Desk.
The Cuban pianist brings his legendary blend of jazz, classical and Cuban tradition.
Sierra Ferrell is the May Queen of American roots music — no matter what month it is.
The artist brings his musical family together across jazz, R&B and hip-hop to the Tiny Desk.
The singer-songwriter’s clear voice and distinctive lyrical imagery shine in this dynamic performance.
The soul singer seduces the Tiny Desk audience with his tender songs of love and heartbreak.
The whole deeply charming set announced Wilson as a star with staying power.
This Tiny Desk is the atmospheric folk band’s first live performance in seven years.
There’s a righteous fury to Mdou Moctar’s music, but also a reminder the good fight is always worth fighting.
Remi Wolf may be a superhero who isn’t entirely aware of her powers.
The Colombian superstar brought his intensely personal songs, which didn’t lose their power of speaking to heart.
The Venezuelan artist’s performance reflects his ability to make universal music about love without losing sight of larger human struggles.
The Mexican band brings its signature “Boleroglam” to the Tiny Desk.
The group’s Afro-Cuban sounds honor tradition while stretching the boundaries of how it's expressed.
Whether in a stadium of 75,000 or behind a desk in an office building, Ivan Cornejo sings two notes and the heart quiets.
The Puerto Rican artist brings joy to the Tiny Desk with her signature cuatro.
The artist performs a variety of Spanish jazz that’s contemporary and nimble in its delivery, yet leans heavily on tradition.
Argentina is a country notorious for unabashed expression and Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso take nothing for granted when it comes to showing up as they are.
The Kansas-born, Puerto Rico-raised artist blends English language hip-hop and Latin trap seamlessly in this performance.
The indie band brings its authenticity and bedroom pop style to the Tiny Desk’s slightly bigger space.
One of the world’s most recognized drummers glides easily from genre to genre in this performance.
The countertenor’s sparkling personality shines brightly in a wide ranging set that includes jazz, classical and spirituals.
The artist’s setlist perfectly encapsulates how much musical ground she’s able to cover.
The Grammy-nominated saxophonist brought the house down with his reflective, danceable ballads.
The musical and life partners’ playfulness and love for each other is on full display in this performance.
The pop superstar finally graced the actual Tiny Desk with joyous music, at a time when we could all use it.
The Toronto-based R&B artist’s voice is light and airy, but cozy. In reimaginations of his songs, Sylo reflects his quick growth as an artist.
Wolfe strips down her colossal sound to its barest, most intimate elements, revealing the profound beauty within.
The Philly band, a force for good in rock and roll, runs through a career-spanning set with a little help from some bagpipes.
The Vallejo, Calif., rapper brings his famous backyard vibes to the Tiny Desk.
The British singer-songwriter performs his charismatic, '90s R&B-inspired love songs.
The youngest ever winner of the Van Cliburn Piano Competition makes our trusty upright piano sound like a 9-foot grand in music by Liszt and Tchaikovsky.
The artist sings fervently of hope, joy and perseverance backed by a group of impressive gospel singers.
The band performs more than half a dozen songs across the beloved 69 Love Songs.
The young country artist solidifies himself as a rising star in this captivating performance.
The artist celebrates the 20th anniversary of her landmark debut album Complex Simplicity.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes, the band plays a breathtaking and career-spanning set.
The indie rocker brings their catchy songs full of big ideas to the Tiny Desk.
The band performs its revved-up take on roots music at the Tiny Desk.
The Grammy-nominated rapper moved throughout her Tiny Desk with purpose — knowing exactly what she wanted and how to achieve it.
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2019
The saxophonist is a big thinker whose mesmerizing compositions chronicle the music of his native Puerto Rico with the help of an adventurous jazz quartet.
The preacher's son from Compton brought his flair for the dramatic, and an air of rebellion, to the Tiny Desk.
Carolina Eyck, the first artist to bring a theremin to the Tiny Desk, plays the air with the kind of lyrical phrasing and "fingered" articulation that takes a special kind of virtuosity.
Aaron Lee Tasjan arrived in an ascot and mustard-colored shirt, sporting red, round sunglasses and mutton chops. It was a fashionable nod to the psych-pop and rock sound he brought to the Tiny Desk.
The multi-instrumentalist says he only wishes he had more limbs; but Wood still manages to simultaneously play a bass guitar, keys and drums, all while singing into a wearable microphone.
Watch the Australian singer-songwriter perform three new songs from her upcoming full-length debut, Beware of the Dogs.
This Blood Orange Tiny Desk is a beautifully conceived concert showing off the craft and care that has made Devonté Hynes a groundbreaking producer and songwriter.
Chan Marshall and her band perform a brisk and beautifully orchestrated medley of Cat Power songs: "Wanderer," "Woman" and 2006's "The Moon."
Kurt Vile and his musical mate, Rob Laakso casually lose themselves in complex guitar lines that are effortlessly beautiful and lyrical.
There's a magical aura that surrounds Lau Noah as she sits behind the Tiny Desk and unspools thought-provoking story-songs.
The voices of Amelia Meath, Molly Erin Sarlé and Alexandra Sauser-Monnig come together behind the Tiny Desk, with songs that conjure a simpler life: dogs, friends, moonlight or skinny dipping.
Scott Mulvahill has been trying to win the Tiny Desk Contest for each of its four years. And while he's never won, we all loved him so much we had to invite him to play.
The Afro-Cuban percussionist mesmerizes with his almost otherworldly talent on congas.
Decked out in matching, cobalt blue outfits, the singer and her band had a clear vision: If you want to overcome the times, find strength in numbers.
The Atlanta trap super-producer and son of a preacher man saved the day with a soulful Tiny Desk.
The Brooklynites stand out for their inventive and seamless blend of jazz, R&B and hip-hop.
Myers replaces her album's roaring electric guitars and electronics with a pulsing string quartet, piano and brushed drums — and uncorks a cover of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill."
The artist came to the Tiny Desk masked up, as always, the better to catch a glimpse of her soul.
Multi-hyphenate artist Kaia Kater uses the architecture of roots music, which she studied in West Virginia, to establish a simultaneous dialogue with both the present moment and her own past.
The U.K.-based singer-songwriter takes the Tiny Desk on a cosmic journey through her Saturn return.
The veteran rocker and a backup band from Italy play songs from their album The Crossing, chronicling an American Dream of rock and roll and Beat poetry.
Philadelphia Rapper Chill Moody and singer Donn T, along with their crew known as &More, were one of the standout entrants in last year's Tiny Desk Contest. They bring a message of hope and love.
The singer from Puerto Rico is part of a movement on the island that emphasizes largely acoustic instruments and a folk-based approach to interpreting life before and after the hurricane of 2017.
Performing unplugged, the band forgoes its usual meticulousness in favor of a shaggy, entirely acoustic mix of new songs and '90s-era deep cuts.
It was a day when sunlight drenched the office and the songs of heart from Courtney Marie Andrews felt right at home.
The R&B singer from Los Angeles is all about showing and spreading love.
Scottish singer, songwriter and essayist Karine Polwart seldom comes stateside, eschewing air travel to reduce her carbon footprint. But on a rare, recent visit, she stopped in D.C. for a Tiny Desk.
These three songs, from Clark's incendiary new album This Land, roar with the assurance and force of a showman at the top of his game.
The music of Theodore is dark and transformative, with the kind of spare elegance you can hear in Sigur Rós or Pink Floyd.
The Calidore String Quartet confirms that the centuries-old formula — two violins, a viola and a cello — is still very much alive and evolving.
Tiny Desk alums Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers surprised us all with their stunning collaboration this year as Better Oblivion Community Center. Together they radiate joy at the desk.
Toro y Moi loses the voice processing, synths and other heavy effects for a stripped-down acoustic set at the Tiny Desk.
Laraaji is best known to some for his ambient work with Brian Eno in the late '70s. He brings his meditative calm to the Tiny Desk in this hypnotic performance.
This is probably the quietest you'll ever hear the first metal band to play the Tiny Desk.
These classically trained artists fill the NPR Music offices with shrieking, rhythmic noise that redefines what an electric guitar can do.
Watch what happens when the smoky-voiced jazz singer from Mexico conspires with an adventuresome string quartet for songs steeped in Latin American traditions.
Watch members of the New York-based group give the world premiere video performances of two recent pieces by Radiohead guitarist and composer Jonny Greenwood.
There is no one making music like this 27-year-old, classically trained opera tenor and pianist. Watch and see why.
Hailing from New Orleans with a love of sticky, bass-bumping funk, Lucky brought along a 10-person band, including a quartet of horns, to capture the full flavor of his debut album Painted.
The group unites sounds from Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela, with a dash of New York City thrown in.
Quinn and his musical partner, guitarist and singer Nick Carpenter, arrived from the cool of Anchorage to the swelter of D.C. and performed with remarkable confidence and grace.
Tomberlin is the daughter of a Baptist pastor, grew up singing in the church and, since her teens, has questioned her own beliefs in God and faith. Her songs are delicate and vulnerable.
Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Elmo, Grover, Rosita, Count von Count, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster and other surprise guests gather at NPR's headquarters to celebrate 50 years of love, learning and joy.
Foxing is at the forefront of an emo revival, heavily influenced by late-'90s and early 2000s groups like Sunny Day Real Estate and American Football.
The British madmen brought fury, cathartic rage and deep thoughts to the Tiny Desk for one of the loudest, most raucous performances in memory.
Imogen Heap takes us through her many musical talents, from her Frou Frou musical partner, Guy Sigsworth — and their first new song in 17 years — to an extraordinary performance with musical gloves.
Tasha Cobbs Leonard is widely regarded as one of the best gospel singers performing today. Her set at the Tiny Desk moved many at the NPR offices to tears.
Betty Who brings Roséwave, sun's-out pop to the Tiny Desk with all the usual studio production stripped away.
On Broadway, Be More Chill is a playful burst of frenetic energy and silly, stealthy sweetness. At the Tiny Desk, it holds onto that rowdy, generous spirit while stripping down the arrangements.
The group from Ireland makes music that mixes the organic with the electronic, starting with a large, 34-string lever harp.
Miya Folick was raised a Buddhist in Santa Ana, Calif., and is of Ukrainian and Japanese descent. She sings of conviction, not fiction.
Who would've thought that American Football's fruitful reunion would not only include some of the emo band's best songs, but also a children's choir at the Tiny Desk?
The two musical legends brought plenty of joy to the Tiny Desk, with an unexpected collaboration that works surprisingly well.
Every time she performs live, Erin Rae transforms her quiet storms into different hues of squalling introspection.
The punk-infused art band from Washington, D.C. brings a kinder, gentler and sparer version of the group's music to the Tiny Desk.
As the NPR staff gathered to watch his performance, Jacob Collier sprinted full bore down the hallway for his set, hardly able to contain his creative energy or enthusiasm.
The spirit of Cab Calloway lives on in Masego, the singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist who surprised NPR's Tiny Desk audience with a zany sense of showmanship.
Tamino possesses one of the most remarkable and memorable voices to ever grace the Tiny Desk.
Backed by a band assembled just for this occasion, the breakthrough pop icon performs three joyfully showy songs from Cuz I Love You.
The two bands just released Years to Burn, their first album together since 2005. Now, they've performed three songs — two new, one old — for Calexico's Tiny Desk debut.
The Calle 13 veteran, fresh off her appearance at demonstrations in Puerto Rico, performs three songs that rage with revolutionary intensity.
Bas came to the Tiny Desk to get it, and — in a breathless four-song set — he did exactly that.
David Crosby, Becca Stevens, Michelle Willis and Michael League are The Lighthouse Band, and together they harmonized the heck out of the Tiny Desk.
Among Authors' music isn't casual; there are songs within these songs, and they're not always catchy. They'll take you on a journey worth following.
How does half•alive, known for funky earworms and synchronized dancing, translate to such a cozy space? Have the dancers sit.
Watch a young cellist on the rise, offering music of virtuosity, sweet lyricism and a little fire from his Persian roots.
The Houston-based rapper's mindful words are like a life hack for anyone seeking guidance, with pleas to look past inherent hardships and evil and to stay focused on life's ultimate prizes.
Nicole Bus' sound is reminiscent of vintage R&B, yet still feels current and capable of transcending age and demographics.
Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz made everything seem so easy, with just a few acoustic instruments and a single microphone behind the Tiny Desk, performing songs full of joy and thoughtfulness.
47SOUL's message of equality is meant for the world. It's music without borders, mixing old and new, acoustic and electronic from a band formed in Amman Jordan, singing in Arabic and English.
The pianist and programmer has transformed the acoustic piano into his duet partner.
The singer and mega-hit songwriter showcases three of his own tracks, including "I Luv Your Girl" and two songs from Ménage à Trois: Sextape Vol. 1, 2, 3.
The three Israeli sisters in A-WA mix Yemenite and Arabic traditions with splashes of reggae and hip-hop.
The Tallest Man On Earth's second appearance at the Tiny Desk comes almost 10 years to the day after his first. He returns with a touch of grey and a beard, but no less intense or moving.
With eyes shut, Marley dug deep into the healing power of music with songs from his 2017 album Stony Hill.
Sixteen performers from the Broadway cast crammed behind the Tiny Desk to sing songs and share stories about thousands of airline passengers who were stranded in Newfoundland after 9/11.
Giddens shares songs from her latest album, There is No Other, in an emotional and transfixing performance at the Tiny Desk.
There's a hush to the music of Nilüfer Yanya that made the Tiny Desk the perfect stage for her sound.
Y La Bamba returns for its second Tiny Desk performance with a revised musical vision.
Roseanne Cash has been making great records for forty years, but she's never played or written better music than she's doing right now.
The R&B singer performed songs from her debut full-length, Shea Butter Baby.
In his second visit to the Tiny Desk, Josh Ritter had America on his mind. "We all have to fight against this notion that we're not all human beings."
The brothers and their backing band gave a playful performance of three tracks from their latest album, Happiness Begins.
After performing at the Tiny Desk as one third of the group Mountain Man, Molly Sarlé returns for a soul-stirring solo performance.
Nearly a decade after her first appearance at the Tiny Desk, Sharon Van Etten returns with a full band and a bigger, bolder sound.
The vibrancy of the band can feel childlike and candy-coated. But the group's songs are more about the pain of entering adulthood and leaving some of that sweetness behind.
The Alabama Shakes singer and guitarist brought an eight-piece backing band to the Tiny Desk for a set of deeply personal and affecting songs.
As she settled in for this stripped-down set, Taylor Swift looked out over the office. "I just decided to take this as an opportunity to show you guys how the songs sounded when I first wrote them."
One week after releasing a record-shattering studio debut, the Atlanta native brings a glowing R&B set to the Tiny Desk.
Along with his trio, the pianist, multi-instrumentalist and composer cast a spell over the NPR Music offices in this joyful turn behind the Tiny Desk.
The group from Japan is on a mission to expand the conventional meaning of "cute." Their performance included synchronized dancing, pom-poms and matching pink uniforms, with a heavy, angular sound.
Rio Mira's music celebrates life along the river that separates Ecuador and Colombia: soft breezes, loving friends, the embrace of Africa and lots of festejando!
The 34-year old R&B mainstay used his moment at the desk to fit in as many of his most cherished songs as possible — Nine songs in 17 minutes to be exact.
The British rapper made a trip all the way from the UK just for this Tiny Desk performance and powered through a set that made the personal political.
The Tony- and Grammy-winning singer, actor, author and Hamilton star performs three songs from Mr, his genre-bending new solo album.
Sunny War has been homeless, busked on city streets and Venice Beach, left home feeling she was a burden to her mother, battled addiction and still found a way to bring joy to others thru her music.
KOKOKO! are sonic warriors. They seized control of the Tiny Desk, shouting their arrival through a megaphone, while electronic sirens begin to blare.
The Nigerian singer and songwriter is one of the biggest African artists in the world and a pioneer of Afro-fusion, an inescapable sound this year.
The jazz, funk and gospel improv group brought jams and joy to the Tiny Desk.
The insightful pianist offers a Beethoven bonanza, ranging from the mesmerizing pulse of the popular "Moonlight" Sonata to flashes of wry humor and tender beauty.
The singer brought a sparkling pop-disco vibe and a lot of swagger to the sun-filled Tiny Desk.
A nomadic storyteller with a cross-genre style ranging from folk to rap, Mereba slays the devil in her solo set behind the Desk.
The influential reggae group, whose name means "black freedom," brought songs of solidarity and love to the Tiny Desk.
The enigmatic and reclusive producer Madlib joins hard-hitting emcee Freddie Gibbs for one of the most memorable Tiny Desks of the year.
"I just want you to know," Raveena told the NPR office, "that in this space that we're in, you're extremely, extremely loved."
Watch the band perform a blissed-out, gently sweeping set featuring three songs from its latest album, Titanic Rising.
The Comet is Coming is a force of nature. The British trio makes the kind of instrumental jazz that takes music lovers out of their comfort zone and into a musical realm they may never have explored.
The LA-based trio makes an intricate blend of jazz, R&B and hip-hop. For their Tiny Desk set, they pulled out all the stops: flutes, flugelhorns, saxophones, keyboards, ukuleles and more.
When Los Lobos gathered behind the Tiny Desk, it felt like they were cramped in the back room of a family Christmas party, calling up tunes from the Latin holiday song book.
It's impossible to not be drawn in by the visual specter of Balún as the band mixes traditional instruments and electronics, set against a rich tapestry of voices.
Spanglish Fly is one of the pioneers of the boogaloo revival scene happening on the East Coast. For about sixteen minutes, they turned the NPR Music offices into the hottest Latin dance club in D.C.
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2011
Watch the singer-songwriter mix American bluegrass and Chinese folk from the NPR Music offices.
The reggae star performs his hit "Hold You" and more from the NPR Music offices in Washington, D.C.
The band brings a frenetic, infectious blend of American and Mexican folk to the NPR Music offices.
The masterful kora-and-cello duo performs a transfixing set combining African and European strings.
Sam Beam gives a fresh side of his new songs at NPR, and tops it off with a devastating 2004 gem.
The Canadian singer-songwriter sings highlights from her two albums, plus a surprise from Poland.
Watch the folk-rock legend perform songs from his 20th solo album, Dream Attic, at NPR Music.
Watch Amy Millan and Torquil Campbell transform three of Stars' songs into spare, pretty folk music.
The band showcases its Beatles-esque pop harmonies and sweet melodies from the NPR Music offices.
The jazz bassist, singer and Best New Artist Grammy winner performs in the NPR Music offices.
With an eclectic palette of sounds and styles, the Turtle Island Quartet swings at NPR Music.
In a three-song set at the NPR Music offices, the U.K. pop star showcases her brilliant voice.
The L.A. band brings its euphoric choruses and clattering Afrobeat rhythms to the NPR Music offices.
Hear Jurado's raw, time-worn, authentically graceful music, performed in the NPR Music office.
Watch the Grammy-nominated Cajun band play an upbeat yet bittersweet set from the NPR Music offices.
In this two-song set at the NPR Music offices, Wright channels the gospel and soul of her past.
McKay's bold, audacious personality shines in this set recorded at the NPR Music offices.
Hear the Refugee All Stars' upbeat reggae grooves, performed live at the NPR Music offices.
Ritter can't hide his enjoyment of a performance, even when his songs convey obsession or disaster.
Watch the banjo player perform his trademark trance-inducing blues at the NPR Music offices.
Watch the dubstep duo perform our first-ever electronic Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR offices.
Watch LaFarge play '20s- and '30s-inspired music with the help of his band, The South City Three.
A singer, author, actor and activist, Earle showcases many of his talents at the NPR Music offices.
Watch the world's reigning pipa virtuoso play ancient music from her Chinese homeland.
Jones' name is synonymous with the Hammond B3 organ. Watch him play one in the NPR Music offices.
After six albums, including last year's Otra Cosa, Venegas is still defying expectations.
Watch the Rutles alumnus play three of his classic satirical songs in the NPR Music offices.
Watch the band's short but intense and cathartic set, performed live in the NPR Music offices.
Singers Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker perform three songs from their gorgeous new album, C'mon.
Watch the 11-year-old perform Handel's "Ombra mai fu" at the NPR Music offices.
The Tennessee band's sweet, swollen folk-rock songs keep blooming into something irresistible.
Hear a bold and surprising mix of sensibilities — at once icy and rustic, cavernous and confined.
Watch Thile and Daves play traditional bluegrass with New York intensity at the NPR Music offices.
Watch the stylish young violinist pull out a bag of tricks in music by Paganini.
With Chris Funk and Sara Watkins, Colin Meloy plays three sparkling songs from The King Is Dead.
Watch the electro-pop band's striking and infectious performance at the NPR Music offices.
Watch Joy Williams and John Paul White's swooning chemistry and stirring harmonies at NPR Music.
Watch the newcomer from Montenegro play Spanish standards and a passionate ode to his homeland.
Hear the gospel greats' mix of polished blues, swinging soul and from-the-gut expressions of faith.
The guitarist, 23, was once called a prodigy. But he's maturing into a distinctive bandleader, too.
The genre-bending cellist and songwriter has created a unique take on folk music.
Boyd reads from White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s, while Hitchcock plays songs from the era.
Watch Luzelena Mendoza and Y La Bamba craft joyfully rich vocal harmonies in the NPR Music offices.
At the NPR offices, the band plays a sunny, exuberant set, suitable for dancing and bobbing along.
Watch the band perform two of its brand-new songs, as well as "Fingertips," a classic 1992 chestnut.
The singer plays a charming set featuring songs from Carrying Lightning at the Tiny Desk.
The London band plugs in its drum machine, but sweet simplicity still reigns in the NPR offices.
Watch the miraculous hands (and feet) of the Grammy-winning organist in an all-Bach performance.
Watch the Guatemalan singer's breathtaking and passionate set at the NPR Music offices.
The Oklahoma band brings its spacious minor-key hymns to the NPR Music offices.
The Irishman has one of the most arresting voices of any young singer you're likely to hear.
Watch the synth-pop musician perform a hauntingly beautiful set at the NPR Music offices.
Watch Matthew Houck play a stirring, road-ragged solo Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR Music offices.
Diamond Mine's unassuming creators lose little of their charm and mystique in the NPR Music office.
Armed with the summer song of 2011, the band brings "Pumped Up Kicks" and more to NPR Music.
Watch the former Elefant frontman perform songs from his album Laura at the NPR Music offices.
Rowe brings his booming voice and ever-louder acoustic-guitar set-ups to the NPR Music offices.
The Twin Cities singer is a pop genius, with creative ambition to match his considerable charm.
Beirut performs worldly, inspired songs from its new album The Rip Tide at the NPR Music offices.
The pianist usually plays eight-foot Steinways. See what she does on an electronic keyboard.
Ring in Rosh Hashanah with three globe-trotting tunes from one of the world's greatest Jewish bands.
The New Orleans native achieved stardom with his voice and his horn. But he just wants you to dance.
The band's performance in the NPR Music offices creates a vibe of ragged, awkward intimacy.
These songs showcase a band with tremendous narrative gifts and a flair for subtle beauty.
Of course, the power-punk duo took off their shirts at the NPR Music offices, because why not?
The upstart band brings youthful, infectious energy to the NPR Music offices.
The Michigan native's deliberately paced music is too rustic and pretty to be a true downer.
Armed with tiny amps and a ton of grace, Wilco plays new songs and an old favorite at the Tiny Desk.
The classical violinist blends Bach and Charles Ives with flair, then tops it off with a fedora.
The jazz star and his band perform two songs from their album State of Art at the NPR Music offices.
Exuding both musical and personal warmth, the Irish singer mesmerized at the NPR Music offices.
Watch the charismatic Colombian superstar give an intimate performance at the NPR Music offices.
The Swedish singer shows off his humor and charm in this intimate set at the NPR Music offices.
At the NPR Music offices, Irglova mixes the exotic and the familiar; sweetness and longing.
The genre-bending cellist heads a dream team of string players who borrow from bluegrass.
Asking the fearless, easygoing singer to perform in a crowded office never felt like an imposition.
Hospital Ships' beautiful, crushing songs pack an emotional punch in this performance at NPR Music.
Hear the agile musician's rigorously crafted songs, which fall somewhere between classical and pop.
tUnE-yArDs sings of rage and inequality, but also celebrates the joy of letting out a wild sound.
As the cameras rolled, the reggae star came to life, showcasing his smooth voice and vibrant energy.
Maybe you couldn't hear a pin drop when Gem Club played, but you could hear the click of a keyboard.
The Elephant 6 alum plays a holiday set compete with bowed banjos, singing saws and tape machines.
The Argentine singer blends tango, Latin blues and the traditional music of Brazil and Peru.
2018
The indie rap denizen behind one of 2017's most inventive albums came to the nation's capital to represent all the Brick Body Kids who Still Daydream.
The LA band's signature sound is intimate and demonstrative, haunting yet uplifting, an old-fashioned rock beat under glimmering guitar and keys. And at the Tiny Desk, it was at ease.
One of the joys of listening to The Weather station is the tension and release in the group's enchanting music. It's what made the band's most recent album one of Bob Boilen's favorite of 2017.
Julien Baker's Turn Out The Lights brought her much-deserved critical acclaim and wider attention in 2017. Before its release we asked her to make a rare return to the Tiny Desk for something special.
Watch the young Russian musician, who The Times of London calls “the most astounding pianist of our age,” play a smart, Chopin-focused concert on a grand piano, precisely wedged behind the Tiny Desk.
More than a dozen artists gather behind the Tiny Desk to celebrate Memphis soul in a joyful, triumphant performance.
The Ontario-based singer has a gruff but sweet voice with openly honest words behind soulful tunes of hope.
Brothers Brian and Michael D'Addario seem like they beamed into the Tiny Desk from the year 1971, untouched by the 21st century.
The Malian musicians, who've been playing together for nearly 40 years, bring some of the most lyrical melodies and joyful sounds we've ever had at the Tiny Desk.
The singer performed at the Tiny Desk without a warmup or soundcheck, with just her acoustic guitar and un-amplified voice, letting the wordplay in her songs shine through.
George Clinton brought his family, both immediate and extended, to the Tiny Desk for a set of classic cosmic slop.
Eavesdrop on a beautiful recital of German songs from fin de siècle Vienna, when music was transitioning from the swells of romanticism to the uncharted waters of modernism.
In three songs celebrating black ancestry and self-love, Woods demonstrated just how adept she is at creating songs rich with philosophical meaning that also move and groove.
The beloved singer-songwriter premiered three new songs while turning NPR's headquarters into a Harlem speakeasy.
This under-the-radar singer from the Dominican Republic is starting to turn some heads. You'll see why in this Tiny Desk performance.
The music of Hurray For The Riff Raff builds bridges, unites people and forms communities. It's a spirit singer Alynda Segarra and the rest of the band bring to this memorable Tiny Desk performance.
Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi Díaz never fail to mesmerize. Watch the twin sisters perform a four-song set at the Tiny Desk.
The Crossrhodes showed up to the Tiny Desk with game faces on, bringing with it a locally cultivated, globally appreciated energy.
Marlon Williams has a heart-stopping voice, is in love with a good, traditional blues or country tune, and writes songs about vampires and horror films.
The music of Nick Hakim occupies a space and time that feels out of this world, with songs that explore the quietude of inner thoughts.
The Afro-Venezuelan collective brings the boisterous parranda sound to the Tiny Desk.
One of the greatest to ever bless the mic treated the Tiny Desk audience to an office block party.
August Greene, Common's new trio with Robert Glasper and Karriem Riggins, brought some special guest vocalists to the Tiny Desk.
Laetitia Tamko, the artist known as Vagabon, is a 25-year-old, Cameroon-born musician with a big, tenor voice just bursting with new musical ideas.
The Nashville star brought some good old country music stories to the Tiny Desk.
Watch the 77-year-old jazz-funk icon perform “Everybody Loves The Sunshine” (and more) at the Tiny Desk.
Out of nearly 700 performances at the Tiny Desk over the past decade, this one by British composer Anna Meredith is one of the most exhilarating.
The Mississippi rapper paid homage to his grandmother and performed songs from his new album 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time.
Clare's songs ask listeners to probe their own emotions through the lens of life’s bigger pictures. His visit to Bob Boilen’s desk is the perfect setting to bask in the power of his voice.
Each year we get thousands of submissions for our annual Tiny Desk contest. Seattle's Kuinka was one of last year's entrants. While they didn't win, we loved them so much we invited them to come play.
For more than 45 years, the legendary John Prine has written some of the most powerful lyrics in the American music canon. He brings some of his best to this unforgettable Tiny Desk performance.
Raul Midón brought nothing but a guitar and his voice to an extended Tiny Desk set of dense, breathtaking jazz and soul textures.
Cornelius' Keigo Oyamada deconstructs and reassembles music like it's a neon cubist-pop sculpture. On a rare U.S. tour, the Japanese band brought its complex cool to the Tiny Desk.
The Swedish trio brought a 30-string sonic blast to the Tiny Desk, performing on 12-string guitar, viola and the nyckelharpa (a fiddle with keys — think 15th century keytar).
Sometimes frenetic, sometimes slow and luxurious, the grooves the band creates are the perfect cushion for Jenny Ball's impassioned singing and engaging stage presence.
Aoife O'Donovan, Sarah Jarosz and Sara Watkins are bound by a love for bluegrass, chamber music, jazz, storytelling and singing.
The Juice Crew legend brought his biggest hit, "Born To Roll," and a heartfelt recollection of his personal journey to the Tiny Desk.
Hear the elusive avant-garde pianist debut a new piece, etched in shimmering chords and dark, lamenting octaves.
Bridgewater connects with her roots, her birthplace and the town she's loved all her life, with a set of songs from Memphis.
The guitarist and singer for The Black Keys and The Arcs brings his Easy Eye Sound Revue to the Tiny Desk, recalling a time and sound from the '60s when southern R&B, including Nashville, was a force.
See the band perform a rare evening Tiny Desk concert, illuminated by flickering lights
Flamenco, jazz and classical share the stage in this Tiny Desk from one of our favorite Spanish composers.
Tyler Childers writes songs about hard lives and hard love with direct heart and a soulful Kentucky drawl.
The Uruguayan singer-songwriter is one of the finest lyricists operating today. Watch his stunning performance behind the Tiny Desk.
The Breeders' dreamy scuzz sounds wiser and more frazzled at the Tiny Desk, featuring the same lineup behind the band's breakout, 1993 album Last Splash.
The veteran Brooklyn rapper was an underground star during hip-hop's golden era. At the Tiny Desk, O.C. made it clear that he hasn't lost his edge.
When you hear John Moreland's sweet voice, it's hard to believe he spent years singing in punk, metal-core and hardcore bands. He plays acoustic guitar now, but his songs are still full of passion.
Hear a triumphant fusion of jazz, rock and blues that moves with momentum and fresh anticipation. Logan Richardson plays with a lyrical intensity that is both focused and free.
The multinational band of theatrically fun and talented musicians in Superorganism mix melody and mischievous with almost Seussian folly.
ÌFÉ isn't playing anything new. In fact, the band takes on something quite old: ritual Afro-Caribbean music that takes a lifetime to absorb and master.
Bedouine is Azniv Korkejian, a singer and guitarist who echoes sounds from the 1960's North American folk songwriters, but with vocal inflections closer to Leonard Cohen than to Joni Mitchell.
Most rap fans would name RZA as the head of the Wu-Tang Clan. But Wu purists know that GZA, or The Genius, is the crew's unspoken elder statesman.
Even if the world came to an end, there's still beauty and hope in all of us and in song. That about sums up the wistful mystery that is the music of Darlingside.
In three songs from Reservoir, Gordi keeps her voice both unadorned and centered within warm, cool arrangements that include piano, guitar, pedal steel, a harmonium named Barbara, and more.
Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn are two American musical treasures. This husband-and-wife banjo duo write original tunes steeped in the roots of folk music.
The winner of this year's Tiny Desk Contest makes his official debut behind the desk.
This trio from Houston, Texas makes trance-inducing music heavily inspired by 1960s and '70s funk and soul from, of all places, Thailand.
The dream of the '90s is alive in this Canadian rock band.
Tony Shalhoub, Katrina Lenk and the cast of the Tony-nominated play The Band's Visit marked the first Broadway performance at the Tiny Desk.
The Colombian pop star and Chilean rising star brought their duet tour to the Tiny Desk.
The Los Angeles rapper and Kendrick Lamar collaborator performed four songs from her excellent album, Heirloom.
Watch the Chicago-based ensemble conjure otherworldly sounds from steel pipes, tuned cowbells and a bowl that sings.
We squeezed 12 go-go musicians behind the Tiny Desk. Watch what ensued.
This 22-year-old Brit has soul for days.
Watch the R&B star-in-the-making perform three songs, including a guest appearance by H.E.R.
The 14-year-old singer who signed to Columbia after winning America's Got Talent, dazzles the Tiny Desk with her breathtaking voice.
The one-woman riot who made headlines during the inaugural Women's March On Washington visits the Tiny Desk.
Watch the rising U.K. star perform intimate renditions of "Blue Lights," "On My Mind" and "Teenage Fantasy" with a full band.
The D.C. rapper brought quite the crew to his Tiny Desk performance.
Come for one of Havana's most talented acts. Stay for García's incredible mohawk.
Watch the 20-year-old star perform acoustic versions of "Location," "Saved" and "Young Dumb & Broke."
The bassist and drummer from D.C.'s pioneering punk band Fugazi join guitarist Anthony Pirog for a set of thrilling, sometimes loud and frenetic instrumentals.
A handful of teenagers, and a 12-year-old violinist, from the radio show From the Top, give sparkling performances, proving there's a bright future for classical music.
Watch the New York rap icon perform "Paid In Full" and "Know The Ledge," as well as a new song for Marvel's Luke Cage, at the Tiny Desk.
The star sheds his band for a warm, winning, utterly game, happily overstuffed five-song performance of songs from across his long career.
Join the "Children of the Sun" - or sit back and enjoy the spectacle - in this Tiny Desk experience.
New Orleans' native son brought his musical Gumbo — and a 10-piece orchestra — to the Tiny Desk for some well-seasoned soul and a lesson in creative freedom.
Yonnet is a magician on the harmonica. You'll see why he's performed with Stevie Wonder, Prince and Ed Sheeran.
Rev. Sekou and the Seal Breakers gave one of the most rousing Tiny Desks we've ever had, opening with one question: "Do you want to get free?"
Occasionally a new voice emerges so rich in experience that the only way to describe it is old soul.
A Tribe Called Quest's Ali Shaheed Muhammad and composer Adrian Younge brought their Luke Cage-inspired collaboration to the Tiny Desk.
The Icelandic composer is joined by two "ghost" pianists, making mysterious and memorable music at the Tiny Desk.
The storied vocal ensemble brings close harmony singing to a diverse set list that includes a Beatles tune and a bawdy madrigal from the 1500s.
The veteran singer showcases her soaring powerfully expressive voice in a performance that bridges several generations of classic soul.
The precise serrations of Washington, D.C. band Flasher get softened for a visit to the Tiny Desk — their vocals, normally side-by-side rushing electric instruments, get the center stage treatment.
Del McCoury has been performing, and updating, his take on bluegrass for some 60 years. At the Tiny Desk, he brought three traveling songs and some good yarns to share from his ample time on the road.
One of our favorite new artists of 2018 visits the Tiny Desk.
Mac Miller reflects on his journey's peaks and valleys in a boisterous set of songs from Swimming, featuring special guest Thundercat on "What's the Use?"
DAWN has a breathless enthusiasm for shape-shifting pop music. She strips three songs to just the essentials, illuminating the impeccable songwriting behind her wild combination of sounds.
Even from its beginnings in late-'60s Oakland, the band has always stood out. Fifty years later, its devotion to classic horn-driven soul remains unmatched, its passion and precision unchanged.
The singer's performance at the Tiny Desk was an almost spiritual experience, leaving many at the NPR Music offices in awe.
Watch the 19-time Grammy winner return to his lifelong passion for J.S. Bach, playing music from the Cello Suites and offering advice on the art of incremental learning.
The Australian band uses tiny moments of introspection to illuminate life's bewildering, terrifying, isolating aspects — especially as they apply to women.
Backed for the first time ever by members of the Howard Gospel Choir, the Irish singer-songwriter shows off a voice built to fill stadiums in more ways than one.
In the fifteen years since he released Trap Muzik, Tip Harris has reinvented himself a thousand times over. But the stories he recounts from that era make his Tiny Desk a memorable one.
Two of Kansas City's finest — and indie hip-hop's trailblazers — deliver a dose of Strange Music.
Watch the young Harvard grad dispatch some of the most "knuckle-busting" piano repertoire with uncommon panache and precision.
The band makes life-affirming music that singer Kalmia Traver created over the past few years, filled with the triumph of being cancer free.
Jupiter Bokondji and his band Okwess play music that feels both African and American, with Jupiter's early musical tastes inspired by The Jackson 5, James Brown and the sounds of Motown.
While this Sacramento, Calif. band didn't win this year's Tiny Desk contest, their video entry, for the song "Peach Scones," was among the more memorable we've ever seen.
This trio has become a reference point of their own for new school instrumentalists, a coveted achievement for any jazz group, though their appeal stretches far outside the jazz ecosystem.
Brooklyn-bred hip-hop duo Smif-N-Wessun – consisting of partners in rhyme, Steele and Tek – illuminated the Tiny Desk with their signature, 80-proof poetry: straight, no chaser.
Julie Byrne's transporting music can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Watch the ambitious countertenor sing music that spans more than 250 years, connecting the dots between David Byrne, George Frideric Handel and Philip Glass.
The jazz singer, who used to be into radical feminist punk, now composes and sings beautiful jazz ballads.
Before embarking on a tour of Australia and Asia, the Chicago native brought the squad that helped make Care For Me one of 2018's best — along with a very special guest.
Henry and his band would have sounded right at home on Stax Records in the '70s — no small accomplishment. Watch them perform three funky, soulful jams.
The OutKast star performs "So Fresh, So Clean," "The Way You Move" and his solo single "All Night" with the help of singer Sleepy Brown and an eight-member backing band.
The pioneering Mexican band recreates the adventurous musical energy of their massive stadium shows behind Bob Boilen's desk.
"I'm sorry I'm shy," Florence Welch told the crowd of NPR family and friends gathered for her Tiny Desk performance. "If this was a big gig, I'd probably be climbing all over here and running around."
The Cuban pianist thrilled the NPR office with an intense performance that was as melodic as it was rhythmic.
The self-proclaimed "Funklordz" normally perform as a duo, but played with a live band for the first time at the Tiny Desk.
The charismatic singer and saxophonist brought a group of longtime friends to play a warm, thoughtful and chill set at the Tiny Desk.
A single voice can send a powerful message - and that's just what Jim James did at the Tiny Desk, with just his voice and an acoustic guitar.
Liniker e os Caramelows are from Brazil but steeped in the tradition of soul from here in the U.S. Watching this performance is to witness a spell being cast, note-by-note.
After back-to-back performances in South Africa, Argentina, Chile and New York, Payton hit the Tiny Desk, where he dazzled the audience, simultaneously playing his trumpet and a Fender Rhodes.
No matter how dark or disastrous, there's always been an undercurrent of grace to the music of David Bazan. He returns to his Pedro the Lion moniker for this memorable Tiny Desk performance.
The band's songs, stripped here to their essence, are particularly peaceful and calm — and sometimes chilling.
The story of Bernie and the Believers is the story of Bernie Dalton's diagnosis of Lou Gehrig's disease and compassionate friends making his dream come true and his songs come to life.
Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus and Phoebe Bridgers are all Tiny Desk alumae, but here they play together at NPR for the first time as boygenius, one of this year's best surprises.
The Toronto-based R&B duo bathed the Tiny Desk in vibrant blue, purple and orange light to make it feel more like a concert hall.
The Innocence Mission, ever the most careful cultivators of quiet, encouraged us to come closer, to discover the "thing beautiful enough" in the moment it's delivered.
No one in the NPR offices could have imagined how remarkable this 15-year old pianist would be at the Tiny Desk.
The band takes its quirks of production, rhythm and rhyme and brilliantly arranges them to work behind the Tiny Desk.
The Clan celebrates its 25th anniversary with an old-school cipher at the Tiny Desk.
The singer stuns in her second appearance at the Tiny Desk, showcasing not only her vocal mastery, but her skills as a captivating multi-instrumentalist.
Cuban pianist Harold López-Nussa, along with his brother Ruy on drums and bassist Gaston Joya, deliver a set of danceable jazz explorations rooted in Afro-Cuban musical traditions to the Tiny Desk.
Amy Grant maps her fabulous, four-decade career with some of her coziest and heartfelt Christmas songs, not to mention a delightful version of "Jingle Bells."
2016
Watch the rapper perform three songs from Beauty And The Beast live at the NPR Music offices.
While on tour with The Arcs, the powerhouse mariachi band performs live in the NPR Music offices.
The singer-songwriter gives a warmhearted performance of two new songs, an old favorite and a hymn.
The Dutch singer layers R&B, jazz and pop over hip-hop beats in his first-ever U.S. appearance.
The North Carolina band fills its rootsy music with unexpected instruments and clever ideas.
The band's music can be noisy and primal, but at the Tiny Desk it showed a different side.
It's our 500th show at the Tiny Desk, featuring The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach and his new band.
The National's Matt Berninger and Menomena's Brent Knopf team up in an intimate setting.
Will Toledo is a wordsmith with a vision, as well as a DIY sound that's still finely crafted.
Wolfe takes three songs from the metallic Abyss and makes them howl by their lonesome.
Performing solo, Folds performs three songs from his new album and two old favorites.
Bands don't typically get to play the Tiny Desk more than once, but Wilco is a natural exception.
The word-of-mouth star's sound is made by one big fat E-string and a rich, powerful voice.
Performed live at the Tiny Desk, the band's songs often tilt toward soul or rock danceably.
The Colombian band channels an unlikely inspiration: 1920s-era, guitar-driven jazz from the U.S.
The young Tennessee singer performs three of her spare, sad, simple songs at the NPR Music offices.
Watch the singer and violinist who stood out from 6,000-plus entries in NPR's Tiny Desk Contest.
In a short set that spans 50 years, the CSNY veteran's voice resonates and cuts to the core.
Singer-guitarist Susan Tedeschi and guitarist Derek Trucks celebrate the blues, jazz and much more.
Hear the soul star and his band perform "Amen," plus three songs that have defined his career.
Watch Brun play three new songs, each of which speaks to newfound freedom and fresh opportunities.
The duo has a keen sense of mischief and a gift for honest, punk-infused, tongue-in-cheek pop gems.
Mothers' members chose a few of their slowest, most languid songs to perform in the NPR offices.
Ellen Kempner and her band perform tense and evocative songs amid the silence of a rapt crowd.
The Louisiana band takes gospel into the garage, and what comes out is fiery rock 'n' roll.
There are intimate moments of revelation in Clementine's immersive, breathtaking performance.
The most minute details become a grandiose spectacle in Holter's cosmic cabaret.
The band's punchy horn section, bluesy vocals and harmonica solos instantly demand attention.
Frampton brought some classic songs to the Tiny Desk. We couldn't help but sing along.
Emily Sprague performs three delicate songs with help from members of New York's Epoch collective.
Watch the sextet perform new music by David Lang, Bryce Dessner and Robert Honstein.
When you hear Monika, life feels good: The singer's performances and presence are simply winning.
With her intrepid pianist in tow, the violinist performs rowdy tunes that will leave you breathless.
Arocena's voice combines Aretha Franklin's soul and the sabor of Cuban music queen Celia Cruz.
The veteran jam-rock guitarist's dedication to his instrument is matched only by his imagination.
The Saskatchewan singer-songwriter performs three quietly affecting songs in the NPR Music offices.
Ellis plays thoughtfully stripped-down arrangements from his ambitious country record.
Watch the singer, guitarist and fiddler play three songs that reflect her many cultural influences.
For this performance of three new songs, Bird comes with a stripped-down acoustic band.
Watch the award-winning Irish pianist play traditional songs from the homeland.
Iron & Wine's singer performs three songs with the charming, inventive singer Jesca Hoop.
The band's music is playful and quirky — sometimes loud, sometimes gentle and always a trip.
The two highly decorated jazz legends could barely fit their instruments behind the Tiny Desk.
For Father's Day, watch the pianist play lullabies to his daughter, who nearly steals the show.
The country singer-songwriter has a rare gift for making any room feel warmly human.
A rock band from Beirut performs songs that mix hedonism and hyper-literate lyrics.
The saxophonist and pianist play three tunes that draw from their past while looking to the future.
Performing at the NPR Music offices, Adia Victoria's voice is powerful and direct, with no artifice.
Los Hacheros' members tap into the deep groove of Afro-Caribbean music that inspires modern salsa.
Valley Queen plays with nuance and depth, rooted in a California country sound.
The Canadian jazz multi-instrumentalist performs with some of the top young women musicians in Cuba.
There's a point when a jam is just a jam, but when a jam becomes a journey... man.
Porter's music can be serious and heartwarming, but it never loses its sense of wonder and delight.
The decorated producer seizes the spotlight with songs about how extraordinary it is to be ordinary.
Rubinos uses her Afro-Caribbean roots as a jumping-off point for inventive, provocative songs.
The Virginia musician writes songs that can be thoughtful, playful and powerful.
The singer, known for Woods and The Babies, performs carefully crafted songs with powerful lyrics.
Watch the genial violinist commune with nearly 300-year-old music for solo violin by J.S. Bach.
The beloved band displays its signature country-tinged rock and close harmonies in four new songs.
Joined by her Experiment In Truth band, the jazz singer performs songs from Sound Of Red.
Watch the invigorating, genre-busting bandleader, drummer, singer and rapper perform four songs.
An icon for modern and Latin jazz, the veteran performer continues to break tradition and innovate.
No overplaying, no frills, just great music and an artist who sounds thrilled to be playing it.
As a solo artist on leave from Girl In A Coma, the singer finds new ways to sound ferocious.
The band's songs exude muscular warmth, with lyrics that are both memorable and meaningful.
The 77-year-old blues and soul hitmaker returns to the spotlight with the aid of a 12-piece band.
The Alabama sibling duo's music can be hymn-like: plain but powerful, heartsick and hopeful.
You can feel the singer and poet's passion in every sharp, thoughtful, powerful, provocative word.
The genre-defying English singer-songwriter performs material from her first album in six years.
The world-famous entertainers retrofitted their instruments and confetti cannons to fit the desk.
Two A-list classical artists work up a sweat as they revel in the turbulent, tender music of Brahms.
The veteran rapper fronts an all-star band at the White House.
The Minnesota singer-songwriter achieves a nifty balance of intimacy and impeccable polish.
A striking mix of rock, hip-hop, funk, go-go and Brazilian sounds, fused with energy and humor.
The two songwriters celebrate the romance and vitality of the modern railroad.
The folk-pop band performs four songs from its shimmery new album, And Then Like Lions.
The long-running rock band holds a mirror to the hard realities of America right now.
The trio strips anthemic songs down to the essentials: just sisterly harmonies and acoustic guitar.
The self-described "accidental brass quartet" swims comfortably in jazz, classical and pop music.
The two Australians' chemistry is apparent the instant you hear their voices intertwined in song.
The Austin singer-songwriter showcases his high, lonesome voice and atmospheric storytelling.
Formerly half of The Civil Wars, White returns to perform three songs from his solo debut, Beulah.
The young quartet navigates smoke rings, alligators and the stormy fluctuations of the 18th century.
The Canadian pop duo crafts acoustic versions of pop anthems like "Closer and "Boyfriend."
On the morning after Election Day, Price sang three cathartic country songs loaded with new meaning.
Watch the New Jersey band squeeze four songs into a scrappy, warmhearted 13-minute set.
The R&B singer performs three funky, sexy, stripped-down songs from his debut album, Eldorado.
In the band's hands, East African music comes alive in a mix of tradition and contemporary sounds.
The rapper has spent the year on an extended victory tour. Here are the spoils.
The classically trained guitarist performs songs originally written for the kora.
The nine-piece band returns to the Tiny Desk to fill the air with fake snow and real joy.
2021
The Iranian-Dutch singer and producer performs four songs during her Tiny Desk quarantine set.
Patrick Grossi's heavenly voice is backed by a stunning view of the San Gabriel mountains in this Tiny Desk quarantine video.
The R&B star celebrates her new album, Heaux Tales, with a Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
The YouTube star performs five songs in her Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
Pharoahe Monch's fed-up rock band performs four songs for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
An eight-piece backing band, dressed almost entirely in white, helps Garzón-Montano bring the music of his latest album, Agüita, to life.
The Canadian punk band might have generated a noise complaint with this Tiny Desk quarantine performance.
Watch the composer, in a bucolic southern England setting, play six of his most tranquil, yet probing pieces.
The Baltimore rock band became stars thanks to a stunning performance on The Late Show With David Letterman. Watch Sam Herring and co. perform four songs for Tiny Desk's quarantine series.
The rising Jamaican soul singer and Protoje co-sign performed four songs for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.
Watch the Congolese refugee's Tiny Desk quarantine concert, filmed in a Paris bar.
The provocative pop star covers Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You" and performs two cuts from Plastic Hearts for her Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
The rock group featuring Paul Banks of Interpol performed a Tiny Desk quarantine set from a theater in New York's Hudson Valley.
The political is personal for the nine-time Grammy winner. Watch him lead the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra Septet through three songs from his Democracy! Suite.
The jazz saxophonist and his quartet perform three songs that speak directly to the struggle and triumph of the Black experience for Tiny Desk's Black History Month celebration.
The rising jazz flutist blends Afrofuturistic jazz and Haitian folk in a transfixing Tiny Desk quarantine concert for our Black History Month celebration.
The rising R&B star performs three songs as part of Tiny Desk's celebration of Black History Month.
Filmed in stark black and white, Ndegeocello takes us on an intense trip across her catalog. Watch the R&B auteur's contribution to Tiny Desk's Black History Month celebration.
One of 2020's breakout artists performs four songs as part of Tiny Desk's Black History Month celebration.
Miami's biggest boss performs six songs with a live band in this Tiny Desk quarantine concert, part of our Black History Month celebration.
The Atlanta rap star brings us into his nail salon for a Tiny Desk quarantine concert, part of our Black History Month celebration.
The rapper, singer and songwriter performs four songs as part of Tiny Desk's Black History Month celebration.
The budding indie rock star performs four songs for his quarantined Tiny Desk, part of our Black History Month celebration.
The poet, rapper and singer-songwriter joins us from Zambia for a visually stunning quarantine concert, part of Tiny Desk's Black History Month celebration.
The Afrobeats star performs four songs from his home in Nigeria for Tiny Desk's Black History Month celebration.
The gospel trailblazer and his powerhouse choir close out Tiny Desk's Black History Month celebration with a moving performance from his studio in Arlington, Texas.
The rapper behind last year's hit "WHATS POPPIN" performs six songs from his debut album for Tiny Desk's quarantine series.
The Icelandic composer and pianist takes us inside his Reykjavik studio for his Tiny Desk quarantine set.
Watch Fleet Foxes singer Robin Pecknold perform alone at a very tiny desk.
Six artists representing four countries in Africa perform a megamix of selections from Rhythms of Zamunda: Music Inspired By Coming 2 America.
The South African house star brings three electronic tracks to life with the help of live percussion, keys and guest vocalists in this Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
Xavier Omär and his cohorts play a charismatic and vocally rich Tiny Desk home concert at a coffee shop in San Antonio.
Watch the pop superstar and his band perform four songs from the forthcoming Justice, including a world premiere of "Peaches."
The one and only Sting returns to Tiny Desk, and this time he's brought Beninese pop star Shirazee.
The British singer-songwriter performs three songs from his latest album, Ekundayo, in this Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
The Big Thief guitarist and vocalist performs a solo Tiny Desk home concert from the back of his Land Cruiser in Topanga Canyon, California.
Across hemispheres, despite a nearly 8,000-mile separation, the Saskatoon, Canada duo of cousins Kacy & Clayton and New Zealand's Marlon Williams manage to create harmony and intimacy.
In our first of four Tiny Desk Meets SXSW concerts, Dre Babinski delivers an absolutely charming performance.
Watch the Dominican-born guitarist get groovy with his band in this special Tiny Desk Meets SXSW performance.
The funky and flamboyant R&B singer debuts two new songs in this Tiny Desk Meets SXSW concert.
Daveed Diggs, William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes brought the tiniest desks possible to their SXSW video.
The Americana star performs a Tiny Desk from an empty Mercury Café in Denver.
Recorded on a sunny spring day in her Los Angeles backyard, Demi Lovato sings "Tell Me You Love Me" and two songs from Dancing With The Devil... The Art Of Starting Over.
The co-founder of yMusic and Bon Iver collaborator performs a quarantine concert from Eau Claire, Wisc.
The Japanese British pop star performs three tracks from her 2020 debut album, SAWAYAMA.
The Spanish superstar performed one of the most ambitious, and yet simple, Tiny Desks we've seen in quarantine.
The Richmond, Va., band floats between jazz, hip-hop, funk and soul. Watch the group's rooftop Tiny Desk performance.
The Colombian hip-hop trio was part of a four-act showcase that highlighted outstanding Afro-Latin and Afro-Caribbean musicians.
The artist formerly known as D.R.A.M. returns to the Tiny Desk with a new look, a vocally flawless performance, and the premiere of a brand new song.
The pop group took to the biggest little stage in New York City to record its Tiny Desk quarantine set.
The band is still quarantined in houses around the country, but you wouldn't know it from this video.
The ascending rap singer performs four songs, including "Street Runner" and "Rags2Riches," in his Tiny Desk quarantine set.
The 18-year-old Portuguese rapper and songwriter dazzles in this collaboration between Tiny Desk and AFROPUNK.
The Brazilian singer uses her Tiny Desk platform to discuss individual and systemic forms of anti-Blackness.
The Puerto Rican singer performed three songs for this special Tiny Desk collaboration with AFROPUNK.
The Argentine duo performs a haunting and captivating set of covers, including songs by Leonard Cohen and Feist.
The champions of sound collage and subverters of culture bring thoughtful fun to their Tiny Desk quarantine set.
The U.K. jazz drummer and producer helms a Tiny Desk from Church Studios in North London.
Ani DiFranco delivers a beautiful and powerful performance from her home and studio, Big Blue in New Orleans.
The Nickel Creek fiddler makes a magical return to Tiny Desk. Watch Sara Watkins and her band perform five songs in quarantine
The members of this indie rock trio all sing and play each other's instruments. Watch Palberta perform from a Philly basement in this quarantine concert.
The beloved songwriter performs tunes from her 2020 album, Total Freedom, in this quarantine set.
The avant-garde figurehead performs music from Big Science, including "O Superman," for her Tiny Desk quarantine set.
The African guitarist assembled a band in Niger for this special Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
The Twin Peaks red room is "home" for this critically acclaimed indie rock band's Tiny Desk quarantine concert.
John and T.J. Osborne turn up the intensity in a Tiny Desk quarantine set that features music from the duo's 2020 album, Skeletons.
The reggaeton superstar performs three songs during her quarantine concert, which features a guest appearance by fellow Colombiano Camilo.
The Latino hip-hop legend plays a medley of hits from his nearly 30-year catalog.
Sasha Spielberg, a.k.a. Buzzy Lee, performed a playful and passionate Tiny Desk (home) concert from her childhood bathroom.
For their first-ever full-band Tiny Desk appearance, The Hold Steady squeezed behind a cramped backstage corner of the Brooklyn Bowl.
Tom Jones performs songs from his new album, Surrounded By Time for the first time in his triumphant return to the Tiny Desk.
Rostam and his band perform acoustic-driven versions of two songs from Changephobia, plus "In a River."
One of rock's most important backup singers, Merry Clayton performs a relaxed but purposeful Tiny Desk home concert.
The classically trained singer, performance artist and writer turns his Tiny Desk (home) concert into a showcase of his dynamism as a performer.
Smooth vibes abound in this quarantine concert, recorded in a cottage near the Montreal band's home.
The prolific bassist and two-time Grammy-nominated producer and guitarist come together to distill the sonic creativity of their album, Notes With Attachments.
With chemistry and camaraderie in abundance, Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, and Jon Randall extend an honorary invitation into their world.
Watch Liz Phair perform songs from her new album, Soberish, as well as a classic from Exile In Guyville.
Tiny Desk heads to Easter Island in the South Pacific for sublime performances by pianist Mahani Teave and a heartwarming story.
To celebrate 50 years of NPR, we asked beatmakers Carrtoons, Kaelin Ellis, Kiefer, and The Kount to recreate some of the iconic themes from our news programs.
If young folks are our future, then classical music looks blazingly bright with these extraordinary performances by teenage musicians from across the country.
Watch Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker perform four songs with a full band.
The post-punk band recontextualizes its established robust sound for a relatively subdued Tiny Desk performance from World of Echo, a record store in East London.
The South African production duo's Tiny Desk (home) concert, recorded at the former residence of Nelson Mandela, feels like a spiritual sound bath.
Watch a larger-than-life Tiny Desk concert from this South Korean rock ensemble.
From a sun-drenched spot outside Electric Lady Studios, Jack Antonoff and company perform intimate revisions of songs from their forthcoming album, Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night.
From her alma mater in Richmond, Va., Lucy Dacus plays songs from her latest album, Home Video.
The Canadian band led by Tamara Lindeman plays four songs from their latest album, Ignorance somewhere in the woods of Mulmur in Southern Ontario.
The Australian singer-songwriter performs four songs from her album To Enjoy Is the Only Thing.
Vince Staples brings the sound of his new self-titled album to life for his Tiny Desk (home) concert.
From the lush gardens of The Houdini estate in Los Angeles, the influential Atlanta rapper premiers songs from his forthcoming album, Punk.
Alone amidst the mist and moss near her new home on Ireland's western coast, Savage performs three songs that cohere around the theme of emerging from the darkness of a toxic relationship.
The South London band, backed by a compendium of violins, horns and more, plays songs from its latest album, Drunk Tank Pink.
From an empty Shea Theater in Turners Falls, Mass., the trio plays songs from their new album, Sweep It Into Space, along with two towering classics.
Very chill aliens, chickens and monsters join the Australian R&B group during its Tiny Desk set from Melbourne.
Watch Ben Howard play songs from his latest album, Collections from the Whiteout as well as the premiere of a new tune.
Backed by members of Sylvan Esso, Mountain Man, Bon Iver and more, Flock of Dimes' Jenn Wasner performs three songs from her new album, Head of Roses.
Ronald and Ernie Isley broadcast from their St. Louis, Mo. studio to share four classics from the Isley Brothers' legendary catalog.
Watch the folk-soul singer-songwriter perform four songs from her new album, in defense of my own happiness.
The trap superstars perform three songs at Gallery Dept. in Los Angeles for this pandemic edition of Tiny Desk.
The London rapper performs songs from her new album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert from a living room dropped inside a void.
The three sisters play songs from their latest album, Good Woman, from the house they grew up in.
One of the DMV's most formidable forces bounces around her varied discography for her Tiny Desk home concert.
The Memphis singer-songwriter reworks songs from her debut album, Dawn, from a room inside Electric Lady Studios
Pastor T.L. Barrett comes to this Tiny Desk (home) concert from his spiritual home, the Chicago church he has pastored for over 40 years.
The formidable lyricist celebrates eight years of sobriety with this Tiny Desk home concert from his studio near Detroit.
The reggaetón superstar kicks off our "El Tiny" takeover of the Tiny Desk (home) concert series.
The Colombian indie rock band performs a colorful and funky four-song set from their home country's capital, Bogotá.
The pop singer premieres new music with family and friends for her "El Tiny" home concert.
The Mexican singer returns to the instrument workshop that started it all, performing a stunning set from her parent's home in Veracruz, Mexico.
The Cuban vocalist and her parents perform a three-song set from Havana for this stop of our "El Tiny" tour of Latin music.
The Panamanian singer celebrates reggaetón with an El Tiny performance set in a library.
The Dominican-American superstar plays his "El Tiny" concert from a barbershop in The Bronx.
The Dominican-Italian singer performs an "El Tiny" concert from Soho Beach House in Miami.
Nicki Nicole's Tiny Desk home concert is representative of her artistry writ large, as an artist born in 2000 but with a connection to sounds and styles beyond her years.
Pop sensation Camila Cabello brings her famous hits back home, backing powerful vocals with Cuban congueros and Mexican mariachi.
From Preservation Hall in New Orleans, the rhythmically fueled group broadcasts a powerful performance for a not-so Tiny crowd.
For her Tiny Desk (home) concert, Yasmin Williams keeps the background sparse to foreground her inventive playing.
The cast of Jagged Little Pill celebrates their return to Broadway with a Tiny Desk (home) performance of songs from the iconic Alanis Morissette album of the same name.
In Circuit des Yeux's Tiny Desk (home) concert — recorded at Chicago's historic May Chapel — Haley Fohr's operatic, four-octave vibrato contains a wondrous terror, but also an illumination of being.
Ed Sheeran performs a Tiny Desk (home) concert surrounded by bookshelves and a host of world-class musicians.
It felt good to be at the Tiny Desk, if only for one night. Tiny Desk Contest winner Neffy plays her winning song, "Wait Up," plus three more in the first Tiny Desk concert since March 2020.
In their Tiny Desk (home) concert, The War On Drugs gather in their packed studio in Burbank, CA to let us in on the fun and intricate inner workings of their craft.
The torchbearer for Mexican Regional music plays a Tiny Desk home concert from his ranch in Sinaloa.
Adorning hues that recall the title of her latest EP, If Orange Was a Place, the Nigerian singer performs a Tiny Desk home concert from an elegant performance space in Lagos.
From his home in Winnipeg, the folk singer emanates thoughtful messages of redemption and love.
From the Sheet'ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi community house, the Southeast Alaskan artist uses a combination of electronic and acoustic elements to fuel his Tiny Desk home concert.
The Akimel Oʼotham folk singer performs four songs for her Tiny Desk (home) concert.
After a 20-month hiatus, the cast of the musical comedy celebrates its return with a Tiny Desk (home) concert.
The 11-piece band crammed into a coffee shop in Queens, New York, to play three of the most tangible songs from their album, Madison.
Rhian Teasdale, Hester Chambers, and their band perform a playfully wistful Tiny Desk (home) concert from a creative arts space on the Isle of Wight.
From the DMV, the pop star and her band take on new arrangements of songs from her debut album, SOUR.
Watch the Pakistan-born singer and her masterful band perform songs of love and loss in a decrepit, yet generously resonant, convent in Brooklyn.
Backed by a four-piece band, the Chicago-bred MC plays a Tiny Desk home concert that simmers with soul.
14 years after their last collaboration, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss are back at Sound Emporium, where they recorded their new album Raise The Roof.
From Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen in Inglewood, California, our second and final Insecure Tiny Desk takeover is a total Los Angeles affair. The spot where B.K. Habermehl, Nnena, and TeaMarrr gather is also co-owned by series creator and star, Issa Rae. Our first collaboration with Insecure was an experiment just a few weeks into the Tiny Desk (home) experiment last year. We took what we learned and decided to run it back. Hilltop was featured on the show and the addition of L.A.'s own 1500 or Nothin' as the backing band made the refinement complete.
The two Grammy Award-winning gospel artists come together for an unapologetic expression of faith and gratefulness in this holiday Tiny Desk home concert.
2022
At the drummer's house in Baltimore, Turnstile's high-energy hardcore is surrounded by stuffed animals, presumably pogoing and windmilling in your imagination.
spalding and the Loving presences play a spirit-nourishing Tiny Desk home concert featuring selections from her Songwrights Apothecary Lab, (S.A.L.) project.
The Chilean vocalist and her orchestra's combination of Mexican folkloric and European chamber music make for a musical and visual treat.
The DMV-bred emcee's Tiny Desk home concert is a charismatic combo of fan favorites and cuts from his new album, From a Birds Eye View.
From a cozy home in Pittsboro, N.C., the singer and guitarist breathes new life into old, obscure folk songs.
What happens when a pop band takes inspiration from Korea's sacred, shamanic ritual music? Watch to find out.
The Middle Eastern duo's music marries traditional Arab sounds of magam, religious songs of ancient Syria, jazz, and slick pop hooks.
You simply have to watch this band to believe it — especially the transfixing accordion.
Skater vibes, literally. Watch the Mexico City band perform its blend of garage, marimba and cumbia.
The Canadian powwow and round dance act perform a meditative set for globalFEST.
Hailing from the first free Black town in the Americas, Kombilesa Mí fuses the traditional sounds of Colombia with urban pop.
Ever heard the elektro bağlama? You're about to, in this electronic update on Turkish folk music.
Indian tradition meets blues, rock and jazz in this brilliant globalFEST performance.
The Timbuktu group bring Tamasheq music from their living room to yours.
In celebration of her stunning debut album, Three Dimensions Deep, the singer-songwriter and producer plays a deeply intimate Tiny Desk home concert.
From her state-of-the-art home studio, the beloved singer-songwriter plays selections from her 2021 album, Ocean to Ocean, as well as a fan favorite.
The esteemed Malian singer, songwriter, and actress delivers a riveting performance of songs from her Grammy-nominated album, Fenfo.
The torchbearer for the DeBarge family plays a few of his R&B standards from a cozy home studio.
The celebrated jazz singer performs a selection of popular early jazz standards at the GB Juke Joint Studio.
Opera and cabaret comingle when two odd bedfellows bring music by Philip Glass, The Bangles, Peter Gabriel and Christoph Willibald Gluck to a "tiny apartment" in Manhattan.
The Oakland rapper delivers a dynamic, funk-laden performance that showcases his extensive contributions to West Coast hip-hop.
The blues singer plays a solo Tiny Desk home concert from a spare, dimly lit Austin office building.
From a backstage corner of a concert hall in Austin, Texas, the Godmother of Soul performs hits from across the many chapters of her fabulous career.
The "First Lady of Gospel Music" delivers a sampling of her vast music ministry in this Tiny Desk home Concert.
The Nigerian singer-songwriter delivers "Afro-life" in a three-song Tiny Desk home concert.
A fearless risk-taker who makes warhorses sound freshly minted, Kopatchinskaja, from her Vienna apartment, sets fire to Beethoven and offers rarely heard American music.
This performance by the celebrated South African pianist and NEA Jazz Master reflects on the past and helps clarify the present.
In this sweet performance, the Colombian singer-songwriter lets the world view his fairytale life in full bloom.
The artist and DJ performs a set that hits like a series of quietly arresting lullabies in a Nashville warehouse with a full band, featuring Jordan Rakei and Hundred Waters' Nicole Miglis.
Watch violinist Daniel Hope play Beethoven from the composer's own birth house in Bonn, Germany.
The Leeds band perform a wry and compelling five-song set from a club's green room.
The Chicago singer channels casita-born energy into a performance alongside a crew of close collaborators.
Led by Mia Berrin's bitterly romantic songwriting, the band performs songs that bring a much-needed dose of silliness to self-serious grunge and punk.
Backed by a live band, the Houston rapper performs a set that highlights the incredibly complex puzzle of his life.
In her Tiny Desk (home) concert, Madi Diaz's music has never sounded richer or more radiant.
The comedic Puerto Rican trio delivers a visual and lyrical treat of a performance.
In this four-song set, the country artist delivers her songs with clear-eyed passion.
Hear the award-winning pianist offer two sides of Mozart's genius from inside the composer's own home in Vienna.
After going viral just a year ago, the teen punk band returns to "blow the roof off" the library.
The Seattle musician and their hard-hitting band fuse rock, soul, hip-hop, pop and R&B for songs that teem with insights about identity, injustice and power.
Watch an intimate, stunning performance from the California singer-songwriter who embraces well-worn emotions with grace and beauty.
Samora Pinderhughes delivers a vulnerable and intimate performance from his exhibition "The Healing Project."
The New Orleans rapper gives a performance that features three key elements that make him who he is: cars, weed and, of course, music.
The artist performs four songs surrounded by household appliances and a handful of his closest collaborators.
The Colombian artist utilizes his full 15-minute set to depict an artistic and intentional musical image of his home and its rich sonic diversity.
The cast of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical cram into a booth at a New York institution for this whirlwind of a performance.
Gentle music from the bucolic English countryside pervades this tranquil Tiny Desk (home) concert by Roger Eno, with a special appearance by his two daughters.
The California band The Sinseers play a passionate and retro four-song set in this Tiny Desk (home) concert.
Watch the legendary jazz bassist and members of his trio perform from The Blue Note's prestigious stage.
Composer Alan Menken joins the cast of the off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors to celebrate the show's 40th anniversary.
The singer-songwriter assembled her band at a New Hampshire bookstore for a set of warm folk-pop songs.
Musicians from Canada's Royal Conservatory in Toronto introduce the spirited and overlooked music of Ukrainian composer Dmitri Klebanov.
Buffy Sainte-Marie has always been a wandering soul with a fierce sense of direction. Watch her and her touring band perform four songs from across her long, innovative career.
Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C. delivers a four-song set from Chicago's Irish American Heritage Center.
The rapper gives a captivating, cool performance from his Los Angeles home for an audience of neighbors and friends.
The Tiny Desk is celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month withperformances from pH-1, Mndsgn and Audrey Nuna.
In her Tiny Desk (home) concert, Ada Lea performs four sharply detailed and dreamy songs.
The Danish jazz duo perform an untraditional four-song set from the countryside in Djursland, Denmark.
This year's Tiny Desk Contest winner performed the first Tiny Desk concert with an audience in over 800 days. It was a joyful, moving set from a captivating artist.
AG is ready for takeoff. Watch a live set from the Nigerian singer-songwriter and his band inside a faux airport terminal in Los Angeles.
James Francies delivers a poignant and powerful Tiny Desk (home) concert.
The celebrated Afrobeat star performs an upbeat Tiny Desk (home) concert including several songs from his debut album.
In the hallowed halls of London's St. Matthias Church, the innovative musician performs a cathartic set, including her new song "killer."
Larry June is the indie-rap hustle personified. Though the Bay Area emcee has a prodigious output, his (home) concert reflects the comfortable, laid-back tone of his records.
The genre-melding R&B artist Ravyn Lenae brings a funky, futuristic set to the Tiny Desk.
The contemporary worship music collective performs behind the Tiny Desk, featuring a special appearance by gospel legend Kirk Franklin.
Monica delivers a vibrant vocal masterclass in this Tiny Desk (home) concert that spans decades.
The Grammy Award-winning opera singer performs a classical, jazz and gospel influenced set.
From the moment the versatile emcee arrived at the Tiny Desk, the vibes were right. Watch a six-song set from Curry and a 10-piece live band.
The R&B goliath caps off our Black Music Month celebration, highlighting a catalog chock-full of hits spanning 25 years.
Watch a world premiere performance of choral songs built on texts from important Washington women, from Kamala Harris and Condoleezza Rice to Eleanor Roosevelt, Elena Kagan and Abigail Adams.
Maylee Todd's sci-fi performance includes an appearance from the first digital avatar to perform a Tiny Desk concert.
This performance from the French producer and multi-instrumentalist has all the shivers of ASMR with all the emotive joy of a warehouse electronic fête.
The band from Glasgow gives a charming, magnificent performance of songs from its new album, plus a classic tune from If You're Feeling Sinister.
The band Animal Collective performs a transfixing, unpredictable concert at MASS MoCA.
The band, led by singer and songwriter Felix Bechtolsheimer, performs dark but beautiful songs from its evocative 2022 album People In Cars.
The Italian pianist and composer brings his emotional and reflective music to the Tiny Desk.
The Mivos Quartet offers a new, colorful piece by Henry Threadgill and music by Robert Honstein inspired by the shimmering light at the Arctic Circle.
The band plays a comfortable, playful set — including an unreleased song — from a house in Connecticut.
The folk-punk unit performs hopeful, shout-alongable songs about seeking freedom in the face of tyranny, exhaustion and everyday nonsense.
The singer-songwriter performs a selection of tracks from her forthcoming album, Revealer, that are alive with new sensations.
Spektor performs songs filled with truth and whimsy from her astonishing new record, plus some old favorites.
The jazz duo known for dazzling, brilliant live performances delivered at the Tiny Desk, with a set of songs from its debut album.
The talented cohort of jazz artists perform a selection of songs that reflect on isolation, social upheaval and hope.
The two Tiny Desk veterans bring a spirit of serious fun to each other's songs.
The nine-piece band filled the room with joy and a sound that's unique in Tiny Desk history, mixing shamanistic ritual sounds with Korean folk songs.
The bassist and her band The Cookout perform a joyful, head-bobbing set of masterful jazz.
Isaiah J. Thompson's compositions combine jazz's past and present to paint a beautiful portrait of its future.
The Queens of the musical SIX reign over the Tiny Desk, enrapturing the audience of NPR staffers assembled.
The ensemble, composed of current students in Juilliard's jazz studies program, gives a performance that embodies a spirit of community and collaboration.
The young rising violin star not only makes his instrument sing, he offers music by composers of color.
The East Atlanta emcee brings a serious attention to detail to this stripped-down performance of tracks from his new album plus some earlier career-defining songs.
The inspiring Angélique Kidjo graces the Tiny Desk for our 1,000th concert.
Russell and her talented band embody healing community; watch a performance of songs from her astounding, unclassifiable album Outside Child.
To kick off our Latinx Heritage Month celebration, Omar Apollo brings a mariachi band and a communal spirit to the Tiny Desk.
A four song performance from the Mexican Regional artist captures a society in transition.
The music of Mariana de Miguel is always changing — and her intimate, simmering El Tiny performance is an effortless flash of all she's capable of.
The Argentinian rapper performs a set that feels like a meditation on the music and communities that have shaped him.
The Colombian-Canadian singer rearranges tracks from her new album and performs them with the assuredness of a true reina harnessing her vulnerability on stage.
The Peruvian musician gives an intimate El Tiny performance befitting her status as a curator of folklore and culture of the highest order.
The Mexican singer-songwriter gives a mesmerizing and emotional El Tiny performance.
The Dominican musician reworks her songs in a melange of Latin American and Caribbean genres, subverting expectations and foregrounding unfiltered expression.
At his Tiny Desk concert, the rapper Farruko adapts his signature flow for a far more intimate setting.
Clad in white and backed by a six-piece band in all black, the effervescent R&B powerhouse delivered a set designed to make it difficult for anyone within earshot to keep still.
Drawing from her new album Breaking the Thermometer, Leyla McCalla and her band explore the weight of memory in songs deeply immersed in the rhythms, sounds and history of Haiti.
Hear what's been called "America's most astonishing choir" sing brand new music by Shara Nova that looks at how we handle difficult emotions.
In Goodman's songs, music is a route to both survival and transcendence. Watch her perform three powerful tracks that confront grief and stump for understanding.
The Bay Area rapper balances high-octane wordplay with crisp scene-setting in his Tiny Desk performance.
With her self-assuredness on full display, King Princess performs three stripped-down songs that mix love, lust and playful self-deprecation.
The former Tiny Desk Contest entrant performs three sentimental, compassionate songs from their debut album.
Lizzy McAlpine produces a quiet, cinematic set with just a few guitars and expressive vocal harmonies.
The London-based group brought intensity and energy to its long-awaited set behind the Tiny Desk.
The cast and musicians of The Lion King on Broadway spent their day off behind the Tiny Desk to celebrate the show's 25th anniversary.
Watch the rising young cellist transform a Bob Marley classic, explore brand new preludes and unspool a weepy Welsh ballad.
Horace Andy performs in his signature raspy, gruff tenor from the living room of producer Adrian Sherwood.
Santigold performs her genre-straddling R&B and electro-pop in a set that returns to her DIY, punk roots.
The songwriter's grungy dream-pop sound and sweet, sincere voice are perfectly suited to the Tiny Desk.
The duo, featuring Sylvan Esso's Amelia Meath and Daughter of Swords' Alexandra Sauser-Monnig, gives a playful, fun-filled performance of sublime songs.
The K-pop superstar and BTS member performs a set of solo material in front of a very impressive replica of the Tiny Desk.
The Belgian superstar's Tiny Desk is a portrait of a world-class showman at the height of his powers.
The cult-beloved Philly singer-songwriter plays a handful of stripped-down songs from across his vast discography, including songs from this year's God Save The Animals.
One of the most respected names in Latin jazz gives a commanding performance behind the Tiny Desk.
The band is beloved for its live shows and masterful at bringing new fans into its fold — and its Tiny Desk gives us all a good idea of how it weaves that magic.
The Compton poet's vulnerable music required minimal adjustment to fit into our space.
