Tiny Desk Concerts - Audio
Tiny Desk Concerts from NPR Music feature your favorite musicians performing at All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen's desk in the NPR office. Hear Wilco, Adele, Passion Pit, Tinariwen, Miguel, The xx and many more. This is the audio version of the podcast. A video version is also available.
Episodes
The Lumineers
Ho hey! Look who turned up at the Tiny Desk. Watch The Lumineers play a four-song set for the smallest crowd in ages.
08/04/2024m 51s
Allen Stone
The soul singer demonstrated a commitment to the Tiny Desk that we rarely, if ever, see.
30/03/2020m 27s
The Black Crowes
Chris and Rich Robinson revisit songs from their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker.
23/03/2018m 43s
Rex Orange County
Watch the low-key British pop star perform "Sunflower," "Loving Is Easy" and more at the Tiny Desk.
18/03/2018m 40s
Harry Styles
The former One Direction singer gave a charming performance of "Watermelon Sugar," "Adore You" and other cuts from his latest album, Fine Line.
16/03/2019m 23s
Chika
The 23-year old rapper from Alabama went for a stripped-down set anchored by a Peruvian cajón.
13/03/2019m 42s
Kirill Gerstein
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.
12/03/2016m 54s
Taimane
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.
06/03/2017m 19s
Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science
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.
04/03/2017m 54s
Mellotron Variations
Robby Grant, Pat Sansone (Wilco), Jonathan Kirkscey and John Medeski (Medeski, Martin & Wood) give an all-Mellotron performance, making music of magic and mystery.
03/03/2017m 20s
Mellotron Variations
Robby Grant, Pat Sansone (Wilco), Jonathan Kirkscey and John Medeski (Medeski, Martin & Wood) give an all-Mellotron performance, making music of magic and mystery.
03/03/20
Bob Weir And Wolf Bros
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."
02/03/20
Cimafunk
The band from Havana brings its intoxicating mix of Afro-Cuban dance music and 1970s funk-and-soul to the Tiny Desk.
28/02/20
Indigo Sparke
The Australian singer transforms the NPR Music offices with a voice that, at moments, comes as a whisper.
26/02/20
Jenny Lewis
A consummate storyteller, going as far back to her days with her band Rilo Kiley, the words of Jenny Lewis comfort and inspire.
24/02/20
Chris Dave And The Drumhedz
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.
24/02/20
Elisapie
The Canadian singer-songwriter gives a deep, soulful performance against a sometimes moody backdrop of bass saxophone and bowed guitars.
24/02/20
Snoh Aalegra
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.
18/02/20
Laura Stevenson
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.
14/02/20
Mount Eerie With Julie Doiron
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.
12/02/20
Baby Rose
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.
10/02/20
Jonathan Scales Fourchestra
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.
07/02/20
Another Sky
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.
05/02/20
SiR
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.
04/02/20
Rising Appalachia
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.
04/02/20
Jimmy Eat World
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."
29/01/20
Koffee
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.
27/01/2015m 16s
J.S. Ondara
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.
27/01/20
Max Richter
The eclectic composer joins members of the ACME ensemble for some of his most affecting music, which moves the audience to tears.
23/01/20
Yola
The singer who once sang backup for Massive Attack, Iggy Azalea and The Chemical Brothers, is front-and-center at the Tiny Desk.
17/01/20
Joyce DiDonato
Watch the celebrated opera star deconstruct old Italian love songs with her signature flair, backed by a crack jazz ensemble.
15/01/20
Jordan Rakei
Despite some unexpected gear problems, the soulful R&B artist and his band locked-in and played a phenomenal set behind the Tiny Desk.
15/01/20
Brownout
The Austin, Texas band brought old-school R&B horns, bongos and deep grooves to the Tiny Desk.
10/01/20
Bridget Kibbey
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.
08/01/20
Jon Batiste
The New Orleans artist, known for his work on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, brought a whole new band to the Tiny Desk, performing together for the first time.
06/01/20
Daniel Norgren
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.
03/01/20
Spanglish Fly
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.
31/12/19
Balún
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.
30/12/19
Los Lobos Holiday
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.
18/12/19
Moonchild
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.
16/12/19
The Comet Is Coming
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.
13/12/19
Weyes Blood
Watch the band perform a blissed-out, gently sweeping set featuring three songs from its latest album, Titanic Rising.
11/12/19
Raveena
"I just want you to know," Raveena told the NPR office, "that in this space that we're in, you're extremely, extremely loved."
09/12/19
Freddie Gibbs And Madlib
The enigmatic and reclusive producer Madlib joins hard-hitting emcee Freddie Gibbs for one of the most memorable Tiny Desks of the year.
06/12/19
Black Uhuru
The influential reggae group, whose name means "black freedom," brought songs of solidarity and love to the Tiny Desk.
02/12/19
Mereba
A nomadic storyteller with a cross-genre style ranging from folk to rap, Mereba slays the devil in her solo set behind the Desk.
02/12/19
Carly Rae Jepsen
The singer brought a sparkling, pop-disco vibe and a lot of swagger to the sun-filled Tiny Desk.
25/11/19
Igor Levit
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.
22/11/19
Burna Boy
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.
18/11/19
KOKOKO!
KOKOKO! are sonic warriors. They seized control of the Tiny Desk, shouting their arrival through a megaphone, while electronic sirens begin to blare.
18/11/19
Sunny War
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.
13/11/19
Dave
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.
08/11/19
BJ The Chicago Kid
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.
06/11/1917m 23s
Rio Mira
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!
25/10/19
Chai
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.
23/10/19
Jovino Santos Neto Trio
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.
21/10/19
Summer Walker
One week after releasing a record-shattering studio debut, the Atlanta native brings a glowing R&B set to the Tiny Desk.
21/10/19
Taylor Swift
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."
16/10/1929m 6s
Brittany Howard
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.
15/10/19
Charly Bliss
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.
23/10/19
Charly Bliss
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.
09/10/19
Charly Bliss
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.
09/10/19
Sharon Van Etten
Nearly a decade after her first appearance at the Tiny Desk, Sharon Van Etten returns with a full band and a bigger, bolder sound.
07/10/19
Molly Sarlé
After performing at the Tiny Desk as one third of the group Mountain Man, Molly Sarlé returns for a soul-stirring solo performance.
04/10/1917m 26s
Jonas Brothers
The brothers and their backing band gave a playful performance of three tracks from their latest album, Happiness Begins.
30/09/1914m 4s
Josh Ritter With Amanda Shires And Jason Isbell
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."
30/09/1918m 30s
Ari Lennox
The R&B singer performed songs from her debut full-length, Shea Butter Baby.
25/09/1915m 0s
Y La Bamba
Y La Bamba returns for its second Tiny Desk performance with a revised musical vision.
23/09/1916m 22s
Nilüfer Yanya
There's a hush to the music of Nilüfer Yanya that made the Tiny Desk the perfect stage for her sound.
18/09/1912m 11s
Rhiannon Giddens
Giddens shares songs from her latest album, There is No Other, in an emotional and transfixing performance at the Tiny Desk.
16/09/1918m 33s
Come From Away
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.
11/09/1918m 8s
Damian 'Jr. Gong' Marley
With eyes shut, Marley dug deep into the healing power of music with songs from his 2017 album Stony Hill.
09/09/19
The Tallest Man On Earth
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.
09/09/19
A-WA
The three Israeli sisters in A-WA mix Yemenite and Arabic traditions with splashes of reggae and hip-hop.
03/09/1914m 57s
The-Dream
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.
30/08/1914m 4s
Dan Tepfer
The pianist and programmer has transformed the acoustic piano into his duet partner.
29/08/1918m 36s
47SOUL
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.
26/08/1914m 5s
Mandolin Orange
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.
23/08/1914m 44s
Nicole Bus
Nicole Bus' sound is reminiscent of vintage R&B, yet still feels current and capable of transcending age and demographics.
21/08/1913m 19s
Tobe Nwigwe
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.
19/08/1916m 17s
Kian Soltani
Watch a young cellist on the rise, offering music of virtuosity, sweet lyricism and a little fire from his Persian roots.
16/08/19
half•alive
How does half•alive, known for funky earworms and synchronized dancing, translate to such a cozy space? Have the dancers sit.
12/08/1911m 5s
Among Authors
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.
12/08/1922m 26s
David Crosby & The Lighthouse Band
David Crosby, Becca Stevens, Michelle Willis and Michael League are The Lighthouse Band, and together they harmonized the heck out of the Tiny Desk.
07/08/1915m 4s
Bas
Bas came to the Tiny Desk to get it, and — in a breathless four-song set — he did exactly that.
05/08/1914m 17s
iLe
The Calle 13 veteran, fresh off her appearance at demonstrations in Puerto Rico, performs three songs that rage with revolutionary intensity.
05/08/1912m 35s
Calexico And Iron & Wine
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.
01/08/1912m 55s
Tamino
Tamino possesses one of the most remarkable and memorable voices to ever grace the Tiny Desk.
29/07/19
Lizzo
Backed by a band assembled just for this occasion, the breakthrough pop icon performs three joyfully showy songs from Cuz I Love You.
29/07/1917m 8s
Masego
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.
24/07/1920m 39s
Jacob Collier
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.
23/07/19
Priests
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.
23/07/19
Erin Rae
Every time she performs live, Erin Rae transforms her quiet storms into different hues of squalling introspection.
12/07/1914m 15s
Sting And Shaggy
The two musical legends brought plenty of joy to the Tiny Desk, with an unexpected collaboration that works surprisingly well.
10/07/1914m 43s
Miya Folick
Miya Folick was raised a Buddhist in Santa Ana, Calif., and is of Ukrainian and Japanese descent. She sings of conviction, not fiction.
08/07/1913m 31s
American Football
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?
08/07/1918m 30s
Saint Sister
The group from Ireland makes music that mixes the organic with the electronic, starting with a large, 34-string lever harp.
03/07/1913m 31s
Be More Chill
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.
01/07/19
Sesame Street
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.
26/06/1915m 56s
Betty Who
Betty Who brings Roséwave, sun's-out pop to the Tiny Desk with all the usual studio production stripped away.
26/06/1919m 29s
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
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.
24/06/1917m 6s
Imogen Heap
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.
20/06/1918m 52s
Idles
The British madmen brought fury, cathartic rage and deep thoughts to the Tiny Desk for one of the loudest, most raucous performances in memory.
19/06/1913m 20s
Foxing
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.
12/06/1912m 28s
Tomberlin
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.
07/06/1912m 32s
Quinn Christopherson: Tiny Desk Contest Winner 2019
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.
04/06/1917m 31s
LADAMA
The group unites sounds from Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela, with a dash of New York City thrown in.
30/05/1918m 23s
Lucky Daye
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.
28/05/1913m 57s
Jeremy Dutcher
There is no one making music like this 27-year-old, classically trained opera tenor and pianist. Watch and see why.
22/05/1923m 35s
Ensemble Signal Plays Jonny Greenwood
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.
20/05/1922m 7s
Magos Herrera and Brooklyn Rider
Watch what happens when the smoky-voiced jazz singer from Mexico conspires with an adventuresome string quartet for songs steeped in Latin American traditions.
16/05/1920m 5s
Ohmme
These classically trained artists fill the NPR Music offices with shrieking, rhythmic noise that redefines what an electric guitar can do.
13/05/1916m 48s
Thou
This is probably the quietest you'll ever hear the first metal band to play the Tiny Desk.
07/05/1915m 28s
Laraaji
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.
03/05/1915m 47s
Toro y Moi
Toro y Moi loses the voice processing, synths and other heavy effects for a stripped-down acoustic set at the Tiny Desk.
03/05/1914m 0s
Better Oblivion Community Center
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.
03/05/1911m 48s
The Calidore String Quartet
The Calidore String Quartet confirms that the centuries-old formula – two violins, a viola and a cello – is still very much alive and evolving.
03/05/1919m 6s
Theodore
The music of Theodore is dark and transformative, with the kind of spare elegance you can hear in Sigur Rós or Pink Floyd.
03/05/1918m 35s
Gary Clark Jr.
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.
03/05/1915m 33s
Karine Polwart Trio
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.
03/05/1918m 2s
Georgia Anne Muldrow
The R&B singer from Los Angeles is all about showing and spreading love.
03/05/1916m 18s
Courtney Marie Andrews
It was a day when sunlight drenched the office and the songs of heart from Courtney Marie Andrews felt right at home.
03/05/1913m 39s
Weezer
Performing unplugged, the band forgoes its usual meticulousness in favor of a shaggy, entirely acoustic mix of new songs and '90s-era deep cuts.
03/05/1916m 5s
Andrea Cruz
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.
03/05/1915m 21s
&More (Chill Moody & Donn T)
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.
03/05/1918m 34s
Alejandro Escovedo
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.
03/05/1912m 5s
Nao
The U.K.-based singer-songwriter takes the Tiny Desk on a cosmic journey through her Saturn return.
03/05/1912m 5s
Kaia Kater
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.
03/05/1917m 6s
Leikeli47
The artist came to the Tiny Desk masked up, as always, the better to catch a glimpse of her soul.
03/05/1917m 4s
Meg Myers
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."
03/05/1913m 19s
Phony Ppl
The Brooklynites stand out for their inventive and seamless blend of jazz, R&B and hip-hop.
03/05/1919m 56s
Zaytoven
The Atlanta trap super-producer and son of a preacher man saved the day with a soulful Tiny Desk.
03/05/1911m 37s
Natalie Prass
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.
03/05/1912m 32s
The Pedrito Martinez Group
The Afro-Cuban percussionist mesmerizes with his almost otherworldly talent on congas.
03/05/1915m 16s
Scott Mulvahill
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.
03/05/1914m 51s
Mountain Man
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.
03/05/1910m 45s
Lau Noah
There's a magical aura that surrounds Lau Noah as she sits behind the Tiny Desk and unspools thought-provoking story-songs.
03/05/1915m 40s
Kurt Vile
Kurt Vile and his musical mate, Rob Laakso casually lose themselves in complex guitar lines that are effortlessly beautiful and lyrical.
03/05/1915m 31s
Cat Power
Chan Marshall and her band perform a brisk and beautifully orchestrated medley of Cat Power songs: "Wanderer," "Woman" and 2006's "The Moon."
03/05/199m 40s
Blood Orange
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.
03/05/19
Stella Donnelly
Watch the Australian singer-songwriter perform three new songs from her upcoming full-length debut, Beware of the Dogs.
03/05/1910m 30s
Nate Wood - fOUR
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.
03/05/1915m 58s
Aaron Lee Tasjan
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.
03/05/1914m 41s
Carolina Eyck and Clarice Jensen
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.
03/05/1915m 52s
Buddy
The preacher's son from Compton brought his flair for the dramatic, and an air of rebellion, to the Tiny Desk.
03/05/1912m 0s
Miguel Zenón feat. Spektral Quartet
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.
03/05/1920m 47s
Harold López-Nussa Trio
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.
03/05/1916m 59s
Amy Grant
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."
03/05/1913m 11s
H.E.R.
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.
03/05/1918m 57s
Wu-Tang Clan
The Clan celebrates its 25th anniversary with an old-school cipher at the Tiny Desk.
03/05/1920m 48s
Dirty Projectors
The band takes its quirks of production, rhythm and rhyme and brilliantly arranges them to work behind the Tiny Desk.
03/05/1912m 30s
Joey Alexander
No one in the NPR offices could have imagined how remarkable this 15-year old pianist would be at the Tiny Desk.
03/05/1925m 56s
The Innocence Mission
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.
03/05/1912m 40s
dvsn
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.
03/05/1912m 14s
boygenius
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.
03/05/1912m 23s
Bernie And The Believers Feat. Essence: Tiny Desk Concert
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.
03/05/1924m 3s
Half Waif
The band's songs, stripped here to their essence, are particularly peaceful and calm — and sometimes chilling.
03/05/1913m 14s
Pedro The Lion
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.
03/05/1914m 16s
Nicholas Payton Trio: Tiny Desk Concert
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.
03/05/1923m 53s
Liniker e os Caramelows
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.
03/05/1918m 46s
Jim James
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.
03/05/1911m 30s
Cautious Clay
The charismatic singer and saxophonist brought a group of longtime friends to play a warm, thoughtful and chill set at the Tiny Desk.
03/05/1913m 37s
Chromeo
The self-proclaimed "Funklordz" normally perform as a duo, but played with a live band for the first time at the Tiny Desk.
03/05/1917m 40s
Alfredo Rodríguez
The Cuban pianist thrilled the NPR office with an intense performance that was as melodic as it was rhythmic.
03/05/1918m 53s
Florence + the Machine
"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."
03/05/1914m 16s
Café Tacvba
The pioneering Mexican band recreates the adventurous musical energy of their massive stadium shows behind Bob Boilen's desk.
03/05/1920m 43s
Big Boi
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.
03/05/1912m 50s
Cory Henry
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.
03/05/1923m 29s
Saba
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.
03/05/1915m 27s
Cécile McLorin Salvant
The jazz singer, who used to be into radical feminist punk, now composes and sings beautiful jazz ballads.
03/05/1918m 22s
Anthony Roth Costanzo
Watch the ambitious countertenor sing music that spans more than 250 years, connecting the dots between David Byrne, George Frideric Handel and Philip Glass.
03/05/1917m 33s
Julie Byrne
Julie Byrne's transporting music can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.
03/05/1914m 41s
Smif-N-Wessun
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.
03/05/1914m 7s
GoGo Penguin
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.
03/05/1918m 10s
Hobo Johnson and The Lovemakers
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.
03/05/1915m 26s
Jupiter & Okwess
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.
03/05/1912m 36s
Kalbells
The band makes life-affirming music that singer Kalmia Traver created over the past few years, filled with the triumph of being cancer free.
03/05/1914m 27s
George Li
Watch the young Harvard grad dispatch some of the most "knuckle-busting" piano repertoire with uncommon panache and precision.
03/05/1915m 28s
Tech N9ne Feat. Krizz Kaliko: Tiny Desk Concert
Two of Kansas City's finest — and indie hip-hop's trailblazers — deliver a dose of Strange Music.
03/05/1914m 25s
T.I.
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.
03/05/198m 42s
Dermot Kennedy
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.
03/05/1913m 42s
Camp Cope
The Australian band uses tiny moments of introspection to illuminate life's bewildering, terrifying, isolating aspects — especially as they apply to women.
03/05/1913m 37s
Yo-Yo Ma
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.
03/05/1912m 22s
Erykah Badu
The singer's performance at the Tiny Desk was an almost spiritual experience, leaving many at the NPR Music offices in awe.
03/05/1915m 17s
Tower Of Power
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.
03/05/1918m 56s
DAWN
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.
03/05/1911m 22s
Mac Miller
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?"
03/05/1917m 18s
The Del McCoury Band
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.
03/05/1919m 26s
Flasher
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.
03/05/1910m 36s
Lalah Hathaway
The veteran singer showcases her soaring powerfully expressive voice in a performance that bridges several generations of classic soul.
03/05/1911m 11s
The King's Singers
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.
03/05/1917m 52s
Ólafur Arnalds
The Icelandic composer is joined by two "ghost" pianists, making mysterious and memorable music at the Tiny Desk.
03/05/1916m 5s
The Midnight Hour
A Tribe Called Quest's Ali Shaheed Muhammad and composer Adrian Younge brought their Luke Cage-inspired collaboration to the Tiny Desk.
03/05/1914m 53s
Mumu Fresh Feat. Black Thought & DJ Dummy
Occasionally a new voice emerges so rich in experience that the only way to describe it is old soul.
03/05/1923m 29s
Rev. Sekou And The Seal Breakers
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?"
03/05/1920m 18s
Frédéric Yonnet With Special Guest Dave Chappelle
Come for the jokes, stay for the French harmonica player who's toured with Stevie Wonder, Prince and Ed Sheeran.
03/05/1916m 54s
PJ Morton
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.
03/05/1911m 37s
Golden Dawn Arkestra
Join the "Children of the Sun" - or sit back and enjoy the spectacle - in this Tiny Desk experience.
03/05/19
Dave Matthews
The star sheds his band for a warm, winning, utterly game, happily overstuffed five-song performance of songs from across his long career.
03/05/19
Rakim
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.
03/05/19
From The Top
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.
03/05/19
The Messthetics
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.
03/05/1916m 54s
Khalid
Watch the 20-year-old star perform acoustic versions of "Location," "Saved" and "Young Dumb & Broke."
03/05/19
Yissy García & Bandancha
Come for one of Havana's most talented acts. Stay for García's incredible mohawk.
03/05/19
Jorja Smith
Watch the rising U.K. star perform intimate renditions of "Blue Lights," "On My Mind" and "Teenage Fantasy" with a full band.
03/05/19
MILCK
The one-woman riot who made headlines during the inaugural Women's March On Washington visits the Tiny Desk.
03/05/19
Grace VanderWaal
The 14-year-old singer who signed to Columbia after winning America's Got Talent, dazzles the Tiny Desk with her breathtaking voice.
03/05/19
Daniel Caesar
Watch the R&B star-in-the-making perform three songs, including a guest appearance by H.E.R.
03/05/19
Third Coast Percussion
Watch the Chicago-based ensemble conjure otherworldly sounds from steel pipes, tuned cowbells and a bowl that sings.
03/05/19
Ill Camille
The Los Angeles rapper and Kendrick Lamar collaborator performed four songs from her excellent album, Heirloom.
03/05/19
Juanes & Mon Laferte
The Colombian pop star and Chilean rising star brought their duet tour to the Tiny Desk.
03/05/19
The Band's Visit
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.
03/05/19
Khruangbin
This trio from Houston, Texas makes trance-inducing music heavily inspired by 1960s and '70s funk and soul from, of all places, Thailand.
03/05/19
Naia Izumi
The winner of this year's Tiny Desk Concert Contest makes his official debut performance behind the desk.
03/05/19
Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn
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.
03/05/19
Gordi
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.
03/05/19
Darlingside
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.
03/05/19
GZA & The Soul Rebels
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.
03/05/19
Bedouine
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.
03/05/19
ÌFÉ
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.
03/05/19
Superorganism
The multinational band of theatrically fun and talented musicians in Superorganism mix melody and mischievous with almost Seussian folly.
03/05/19
Logan Richardson
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.
03/05/19
John Moreland
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.
03/05/19
O.C.
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.
03/05/19
The Breeders
The Breeders' dreamy scuzz sounds more wizened and frazzled at the Tiny Desk, featuring the same lineup behind the band's breakout, 1993 album Last Splash.
03/05/19
Jorge Drexler
The Uruguayan singer-songwriter is one of the finest lyricists operating today. Watch his stunning performance behind the Tiny Desk.
03/05/19
Tyler Childers
Tyler Childers writes songs about hard lives and hard love with direct heart and a soulful Kentucky drawl.
03/05/199m 44s
Lara Bello
Flamenco, jazz and classical share the stage in this Tiny Desk from one of our favorite Spanish composers.
03/05/1916m 14s
Rhye
See the band perform a rare evening Tiny Desk concert, illuminated by flickering lights
03/05/1918m 51s
Dan Auerbach
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.
03/05/19
Dee Dee Bridgewater
Bridgewater connects with her roots, her birthplace and the town she's loved all her life, with a set of songs from Memphis.
03/05/1914m 59s
Masta Ace
The Juice Crew legend brought his biggest hit, "Born To Roll," and a heartfelt recollection of his personal journey to the Tiny Desk.
03/05/1917m 26s
I'm With Her
Aoife O'Donovan, Sarah Jarosz and Sara Watkins are bound by a love for bluegrass, chamber music, jazz, storytelling and singing.
03/05/1914m 14s
Jenny and the Mexicats
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.
03/05/1914m 14s
Väsen
The Swedish trio brought a 30-string sonic blast to the Tiny Desk, performing on 12-string guitar, vioala and the nyckelharpa (a fiddle with keys — think 15th century keytar).
03/05/1915m 18s
Cornelius
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.
03/05/1915m 45s
Raul Midón
Raul Midón brought nothing but a guitar and his voice to an extended Tiny Desk set of dense, breathtaking jazz and soul textures.
03/05/1923m 30s
John Prine
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.
03/05/1915m 41s
Kuinka
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.
03/05/1912m 30s
Alex Clare
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.
03/05/1918m 42s
Big K.R.I.T.
The Mississippi rapper paid homage to his grandmother and performed songs from his new album 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time.
03/05/1916m 27s
Anna Meredith
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.
03/05/1919m 12s
Roy Ayers
Watch the 77-year-old jazz-funk icon perform "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" (and more) at the Tiny Desk.
03/05/1924m 34s
Lee Ann Womack
The Nashville star brought some good old country music stories to the Tiny Desk.
03/05/1914m 28s
Vagabon
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.
03/05/199m 45s
August Greene
August Greene, Common's new trio with Robert Glasper and Karriem Riggins, brought some special guest vocalists to the Tiny Desk.
03/05/1936m 57s
Big Daddy Kane
One of the greatest to ever bless the mic treated the Tiny Desk audience to an office block party.
03/05/1919m 11s
Betsayda Machado and Parranda El Clavo
The Afro-Venezuelan collective brings the boisterous parranda sound to the Tiny Desk.
03/05/1914m 11s
Nick Hakim
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.
03/05/1914m 27s
Marlon Williams
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.
03/05/1917m 33s
The Crossrhodes
The Crossrhodes showed up to the Tiny Desk with game faces on, bringing with it a locally cultivated, globally appreciated energy.
03/05/1919m 30s
Ibeyi
Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi Díaz never fail to mesmerize. Watch the twin sisters perform a four-song set at the Tiny Desk.
03/05/1917m 13s
Hurray For The Riff Raff
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.
03/05/1918m 53s
Vicente García
This under-the-radar singer from the Dominican Republic is starting to turn some heads. You'll see why in this Tiny Desk performance.
03/05/1911m 51s
Alice Smith
The beloved singer-songwriter premiered three new songs while turning NPR's headquarters into a Harlem speakeasy.
03/05/1914m 52s
Jamila Woods
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.
03/05/1912m 21s
Barbara Hannigan
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.
03/05/1917m 1s
George Clinton & The P-Funk All Stars
George Clinton brought his family, both immediate and extended, to the Tiny Desk for a set of classic cosmic slop.
03/05/1913m 21s
St. Vincent
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.
03/05/1912m 17s
Amadou and Mariam
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.
03/05/1911m 17s
The Lemon Twigs
Brothers Brian and Michael D'Addario seem like they beamed into the Tiny Desk from the year 1971, untouched by the 21st century.
03/05/1910m 57s
AHI
The Ontario-based singer has a gruff but sweet voice with openly honest words behind soulful tunes of hope.
03/05/1911m 43s
The Artists from the "Take Me to the River" Tour
More than a dozen artists gather behind the Tiny Desk to celebrate Memphis soul in a joyful, triumphant performance.
03/05/1915m 41s
Julien Baker
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.
03/05/1915m 37s
The Weather Station
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.
03/05/1913m 6s
Lo Moon
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.
03/05/1915m 40s
Open Mike Eagle
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.
03/05/1912m 51s
Hanson Holiday Tiny Desk Concert
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.
03/05/1913m 26s
This is the Kit
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.
03/05/1912m 17s
Cigarettes After Sex
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.
03/05/1915m 7s
Tyler, The Creator
Tyler, The Creator performs songs from his latest album Flower Boy.
03/05/1919m 33s
Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile
The two singers, songwriters and guitarists bring out the adolescence in each other, poking jabs, goofing around and having fun at the Tiny Desk.
03/05/1920m 16s
King Krule
King Krule, the musical project of English singer, songwriter and rapper, Archy Marshall, brings its twisted, woozy tones to the Tiny Desk.
03/05/1917m 12s
Ted Leo
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.
03/05/1913m 45s
Walter Martin
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.
03/05/1916m 3s
Moses Sumney
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.
03/05/1920m 39s
Phoebe Bridgers
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.
03/05/1912m 43s
Ledisi
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.
03/05/1919m 31s
David Greilsammer
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.
03/05/1913m 44s
Billy Corgan
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.
03/05/1912m 21s
Benjamin Booker
Benjamin Booker has a deeply tender voice that, at times, can feel like a whisper But it always cuts to the heart.
03/05/1911m 59s
Now, Now
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.
03/05/1912m 38s
Aminé
The Portland artist with the most mispronounced name in hip-hop puts on an unforgettable performance.
03/05/1912m 39s
The Mynabirds
Singer Laura Burhenn is joined by Jessica Lea Mayfield and the Umoja Choir for songs inspired by the political and cultural upheaval of 2016.
03/05/1919m 45s
Ani DiFranco
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.
03/05/1919m 47s
Nate Smith + KINFOLK
The drums take center stage at this Tiny Desk. Watch veteran jazz percussionist Nate Smith dazzle the NPR audience in a transfixing performance.
03/05/1917m 45s
Wyclef Jean
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.
03/05/1925m 27s
Gracie and Rachel
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.
03/05/1912m 46s
The Roots feat. Bilal
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."
03/05/1912m 12s
Natalia Lafourcade
The Grammy-nominated singer's Tiny Desk is an ode to a magical time in Mexican popular music.
03/05/1915m 33s
Japanese Breakfast
For this Tiny Desk concert, Japanese Breakfast's Michelle Zauner replaced her gauzy synths with a string quartet. The result is something to behold.
03/05/1911m 15s
Shabazz Palaces
Hip-hop's otherworldly lot touches down on Bob Boilen's desk for some Afrofuturistic mind travel.
03/05/1911m 32s
The Perceptionists
Watch hip-hop veterans Mr. Lif and Akrobatik team up behind the Tiny Desk.
03/05/1921m 7s
Thundercat
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.
03/05/1910m 50s
Hanson
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.
03/05/1914m 29s
Landlady
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.
03/05/1918m 42s
Paramore
Paramore captures the moment between rapture and its comedown. Watch the band rearrange songs from its sparkling pop album After Laughter.
03/05/1912m 54s
Dawg Yawp
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.
03/05/1918m 34s
Chronixx
The Jamaican reggae star proudly carries the torch of his country's roots reggae legends.
03/05/1914m 49s
Steve Martin And The Steep Canyon Rangers
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.
03/05/1916m 17s
Bomba Estereo
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.
03/05/199m 14s
Ssingssing
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.
03/05/1915m 15s
Snail Mail
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.
03/05/1915m 13s
L.A. Salami
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.
03/05/1920m 13s
Bleachers
Jack Antonoff re-arranged three songs from his band's latest album, Gone Now, for the Tiny Desk.
03/05/1915m 18s
Jidenna
The Nigerian-American MC and his band perform three reworked selections from Jidenna's impeccable debut album, The Chief.
03/05/1912m 8s
Jason Isbell
The Alabama singer-songwriter and his band perform three songs from The Nashville Sound, but their set includes a few surprises, too.
03/05/1920m 38s
DJ Premier & The Badder Band
One of hip-hop's most revered producers brings his songs to life behind the Tiny Desk, with the help of an 4-piece band.
03/05/1924m 38s
ALA.NI
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.
03/05/1918m 48s
Maggie Rogers
The Maryland singer-songwriter and viral star performs three of her best-known songs, including a sweet solo take on her career-making "Alaska."
03/05/1914m 47s
Diet Cig
Diet Cig's songs crackle like Pop Rocks, but with a confrontational honesty and striking gravity — and on top of Bob Boilen's desk.
03/05/1910m 3s
Aldous Harding
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.
03/05/1913m 8s
The Shins
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.
03/05/1910m 30s
Albin Lee Meldau
Albin Lee Meldau possesses a thunderous, deeply affecting voice, which he uses to tell some utterly dark, but demonstrably cathartic, tales.
03/05/1913m 11s
Rare Essence
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.
03/05/1916m 18s
Tuxedo
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.
03/05/1912m 19s
Fragile Rock
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.
03/05/1913m 6s
Jay Som
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.
03/05/1916m 46s
Chance The Rapper
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.
03/05/1913m 6s
Helado Negro
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.
03/05/1915m 7s
Ravi Coltrane Quartet
Artistic legacy, evolution and studied ease coalesced at this Tiny Desk Concert, with Coltrane offering four interpretations of his and others' works.
03/05/1926m 20s
Holly Macve
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.
03/05/1916m 39s
Tigers Jaw
The duo strips down to acoustic guitar and keyboard for a strikingly intimate set, illuminating their close harmonies that tangle like garlands.
03/05/1911m 8s
Penguin Cafe
Penguin Cafe folds in sounds from around the world and throughout music history — Africa, Kraftwerk, Brazil and Franz Schubert.
03/05/1916m 8s
Perfume Genius
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.
03/05/199m 43s
Violents & Monica Marten
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.
03/05/1915m 7s
Nick Grant
The Atlanta-based MC came through with the flu and coolly earned our praise. How sick is that?
03/05/1912m 33s
Royal Thunder
What happens when you ask a hard-rock band to unplug its thunder? It draws power from a raw, desperate vulnerability.
03/05/1914m 42s
Gabriel Garzón-Montano
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.
03/05/1911m 24s
Julia Jacklin
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.
03/05/1915m 34s
Troker
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.
03/05/1921m 44s
Tim Darcy
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."
03/05/1913m 25s
Danilo Brito
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.
03/05/1917m 45s
Aimee Mann
"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.
03/05/1915m 32s
Peter Silberman
A strange condition hushed the life of Peter Silberman, resulting in what may be the quietest Tiny Desk Concert ever.
03/05/1924m 1s
Avery*Sunshine
The gospel-trained singer showcased why she counts Aretha Franklin and Smokey Robinson as fans.
03/05/1917m 23s
Antonio Lizana
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.
03/05/1918m 9s
alt-J
I have 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.
03/05/1917m 19s
Chicano Batman
Chicano Batman comes with a sound that perfectly captures dark lounges, quinceñera dances, car shows and backyard parties.
03/05/1912m 35s
Ljova and the Kontraband
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.
03/05/1923m 50s
Sinkane
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.
03/05/1914m 49s
Tash Sultana
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.
03/05/1925m 51s
Noname
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.
03/05/1915m 17s
Overcoats
Hana Elion and JJ Mitchell's vibrant vocal harmonies are set against an electronic backdrop that feels spacious and refreshing.
03/05/1912m 1s
Delicate Steve
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.
03/05/1914m 53s
Sampha
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.
03/05/1915m 47s
Red Baraat
Red Baraat come to the Tiny Desk in celebration of holi, the Hindu festival of color and love that welcomes the coming of spring.
03/05/1917m 28s
Tank And The Bangas
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.
03/05/1924m 3s
Maren Morris
One of the newest Grammy winners stops by the Tiny Desk to share her winking, sometimes tongue-in-cheek songs.
03/05/1912m 10s
Ninet
One of Israel's very popular artists maybe be walking a similar path to early-career Joan Jett — she brought that same intensity to the Tiny Desk.
03/05/1912m 28s
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
To celebrate Fat Tuesday, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band brought their euphoric horns to the Tiny Desk for a raucous, joyous set.
03/05/1922m 39s
Little Simz
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.
03/05/1912m 4s
Agnes Obel
Agnes Obel manipulated the Tiny Desk to better suit the deeply alluring and powerful music she brought to us.
03/05/1913m 27s
Esmé Patterson
Esmé Patterson has dropped the banjos and folk from her previous project Paper Bird — in their place, electric guitars and a backing band worth getting behind.
03/05/1911m 46s
Run The Jewels
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.
03/05/1911m 51s
D.R.A.M.
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."
03/05/1920m 55s
Gallant
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.
03/05/1912m 25s
Miramar
Watch the Virginia band sweep the NPR crowd off its feet with a collection of exquisite boleros by Puerto Rican composer Sylvia Rexach.
03/05/1916m 22s
BADBADNOTGOOD
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.
03/05/1921m 42s
Brent Cobb
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.
03/05/1918m 7s
Lila Downs
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.
03/05/1922m 3s
Donny McCaslin
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."
03/05/1926m 41s
Declan McKenna
Hear the spirited young singer-songwriter take on religion, poverty and politics, armed with just a guitar and some unrelenting hooks.
03/05/1911m 41s
The Oh Hellos: Holiday Tiny Desk Concert
The nine-piece, family-centered band returns to the NPR Music offices to fill the air with fake snow and real joy.
03/05/1914m 45s
Derek Gripper
Inspired by Toumani Diabate, the classically trained South African guitarist performs songs originally written for the kora.
03/05/1915m 3s
Gucci Mane
The rapper has spent the year on an extended victory tour. Here are the spoils, recorded in a stripped-down set with a minimal backing track and longtime producer Zaytoven on keys.
03/05/199m 50s
Alsarah & The Nubatones
In the band's hands, East African music pulses, breathes and comes alive in a mix of tradition and contemporary sounds.
03/05/1911m 36s
Ro James
Bringing the heat to the NPR Music offices, the R&B singer performs three funky, sexy, stripped-down songs from his debut album, Eldorado.
03/05/1912m 39s
Pinegrove
There's a confessional quality to the songs of Pinegrove that feels reassuring. Watch the New Jersey band squeeze four songs into a scrappy, warmhearted 13-minute set.
03/05/1912m 54s
Margo Price
On the morning after Election Day, the Nashville musician and her band visited the Tiny Desk to play three cathartic country songs loaded with new political meaning.
03/05/1914m 25s
Tegan And Sara
Appearing in the NPR Music offices on the eve of the 2016 elections, the Canadian pop duo crafts acoustic versions of pop anthems like "Closer and "Boyfriend."
03/05/1917m 48s
Attacca Quartet
Watch the resourceful young string quartet navigate its way through smoke rings, alligators at Macy's, and the stormy fluctuations of the 18th century.
03/05/1917m 6s
John Paul White
Formerly half of The Civil Wars, the singer-songwriter returns to perform three rearranged songs from his solo debut, Beulah.
03/05/1913m 45s
Adam Torres
The Austin singer-songwriter showcases his high, lonesome voice and atmospheric storytelling in three songs — one unreleased and one from his gorgeous new album, Pearls To Swine.
03/05/1917m 6s
Ta-ku & Wafia
The chemistry between the two Australian singers becomes apparent the instant you hear their intertwined voices floating together above low-end rumbles and resonant keys.
03/05/1911m 35s
The Westerlies
The self-described "accidental brass quartet" swims comfortably in jazz, classical and pop music. Watch the band evoke a rollicking Parisian street scene and the calm beauty of the San Juan Islands.
03/05/1911m 7s
Joseph
The trio's sound has grown to include elements beyond sisterly harmonies and acoustic guitar. But here, Joseph strips down to its original setup, playing newer songs the way they could have been.
03/05/1911m 28s
Drive-By Truckers
The long-running rock band holds a mirror to the hard realities of America right now on American Band. Watch Drive-By Truckers' emotional performance at the NPR Music office.
03/05/1916m 36s
Blind Pilot
The band's shimmery folk-pop sound, with its vibraphone and overarching vibrancy, is perfectly suited to the space behind Bob Boilen's desk.
03/05/1917m 38s
Billy Bragg & Joe Henry
Performing songs they recorded on a recent train journey across the U.S., the two songwriters celebrate the romance and vitality of the modern railroad.
03/05/1913m 13s
RDGLDGRN
The D.C.-area band crafts a striking mix of rock, hip-hop, funk, go-go and Brazilian sounds, fused with energy and humor.
03/05/1912m 9s
Haley Bonar
In a performance of three songs from Impossible Dream, the Minnesota singer-songwriter achieves a nifty balance of stripped-down intimacy and impeccable polish.
03/05/1910m 52s
Common At The White House
It was an offer we couldn't pass up: The veteran rapper fronting an all-star band at the White House, for the very first Tiny Desk Concert to take place outside NPR's offices.
03/05/1921m 16s
Joshua Bell & Jeremy Denk
Two A-list classical artists work up a sweat as they revel in the tender and turbulent music of Brahms and Schumann.
03/05/1915m 33s
Blue Man Group
The world-famous entertainers retrofitted their custom-made instruments, confetti cannons, and streamers to fit our Tiny Desk.
03/05/1912m 14s
Corinne Bailey Rae
There's real joy in this genre-defying performance by the English singer-songwriter, who performs material from her first album in six years.
03/05/1916m 10s
Saul Williams
In this intense performance, you can feel the singer and poet's passion in every sharp, thoughtful, powerful, provocative word.
03/05/1920m 10s
The Secret Sisters
The Alabama sibling duo's music can be hymn-like: plain but powerful, heartsick and hopeful. Watch The Secret Sisters perform a river ballad, a hymn and a song capturing some old-fashioned loneliness.
03/05/1912m 27s
William Bell
The 77-year-old soul hitmaker, known for co-writing songs like the blues standard "Born Under A Bad Sign," returns to the spotlight with the aid of a 12-piece band.
03/05/1918m 9s
Big Thief
The band's songs exude muscular warmth, with lyrics that are both memorable and meaningful. Watch Big Thief perform three songs from Masterpiece, recorded live in the NPR Music offices.
03/05/199m 29s
Nina Diaz
As a solo artist on leave from Girl In A Coma, the singer finds new ways to sound ferocious. Here, she performs three songs from an album due out in the fall.
03/05/1915m 7s
Margaret Glaspy
Everything serves the songs here: There's no overplaying, no frills, just great music and a tremendous new artist who sounds thrilled to be playing it.
03/05/1913m 7s
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