Maia Stern
Director
NPR Tiny Desk Concerts (2008)
Season 2019
Intimate musical performances, recorded live at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen.
Released April 22, 2008
Episode 14 min
None+
Genres: Music
Keywords: tmdb.concert, imdb.concert, tmdb.music, tmdb.irreverent, tmdb.inspirational, tmdb.awestruck, tmdb.joyful
Production Companies: NPR Music
Network: NPR
Country: United States
Languages:
English
S12E1 - 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.
Jan. 4, 2019, midnight
S12E2 - Buddy
The preacher's son from Compton brought his flair for the dramatic, and an air of rebellion, to the Tiny Desk.
Jan. 9, 2019, midnight
S12E3 - 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.
Jan. 11, 2019, midnight
S12E4 - 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.
Jan. 15, 2019, midnight
S12E5 - 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.
Jan. 16, 2019, midnight
S12E6 - Stella Donnelly
Watch the Australian singer-songwriter perform three new songs from her upcoming full-length debut, Beware of the Dogs.
Jan. 22, 2019, midnight
S12E7 - 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.
Jan. 29, 2019, midnight
S12E8 - 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."
Feb. 4, 2019, midnight
S12E9 - Kurt Vile
Kurt Vile and his musical mate, Rob Laakso casually lose themselves in complex guitar lines that are effortlessly beautiful and lyrical.
Feb. 6, 2019, midnight
S12E10 - Lau Noah
There's a magical aura that surrounds Lau Noah as she sits behind the Tiny Desk and unspools thought-provoking story-songs.
Feb. 11, 2019, midnight
S12E11 - 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.
Feb. 13, 2019, midnight
S12E12 - 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.
Feb. 18, 2019, midnight
S12E13 - The Pedrito Martinez Group
The Afro-Cuban percussionist mesmerizes with his almost otherworldly talent on congas.
Feb. 20, 2019, midnight
S12E14 - 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.
Feb. 25, 2019, midnight
S12E15 - Zaytoven
The Atlanta trap super-producer and son of a preacher man saved the day with a soulful Tiny Desk.
Feb. 28, 2019, midnight
S12E16 - Phony Ppl
The Brooklynites stand out for their inventive and seamless blend of jazz, R&B and hip-hop.
March 4, 2019, midnight
S12E17 - 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."
March 6, 2019, midnight
S12E18 - Leikeli47
The artist came to the Tiny Desk masked up, as always, the better to catch a glimpse of her soul.
March 11, 2019, midnight
S12E19 - 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.
March 13, 2019, midnight
S12E20 - Nao
The U.K.-based singer-songwriter takes the Tiny Desk on a cosmic journey through her Saturn return.
March 18, 2019, midnight
S12E21 - 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.
March 20, 2019, midnight
S12E22 - &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.
March 25, 2019, midnight
S12E23 - 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.
March 27, 2019, midnight
S12E24 - 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.
April 1, 2019, midnight
S12E25 - 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.
April 3, 2019, midnight
S12E26 - Georgia Anne Muldrow
The R&B singer from Los Angeles is all about showing and spreading love.
April 8, 2019, midnight
S12E27 - 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.
April 10, 2019, midnight
S12E28 - 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.
April 16, 2019, midnight
S12E29 - Theodore
The music of Theodore is dark and transformative, with the kind of spare elegance you can hear in Sigur Rós or Pink Floyd.
April 17, 2019, midnight
S12E30 - 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.
April 22, 2019, midnight
S12E31 - 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.
April 24, 2019, midnight
S12E32 - 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.
April 29, 2019, midnight
S12E33 - 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.
May 2, 2019, midnight
S12E34 - Thou
This is probably the quietest you'll ever hear the first metal band to play the Tiny Desk.
May 6, 2019, midnight
S12E35 - Ohmme
These classically trained artists fill the NPR Music offices with shrieking, rhythmic noise that redefines what an electric guitar can do.
May 9, 2019, midnight
S12E36 - 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.
May 15, 2019, midnight
S12E37 - 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.
May 20, 2019, midnight
S12E38 - Jeremy Dutcher
There is no one making music like this 27-year-old, classically trained opera tenor and pianist. Watch and see why.
May 22, 2019, midnight
S12E39 - 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.
May 28, 2019, midnight
S12E40 - LADAMA
The group unites sounds from Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela, with a dash of New York City thrown in.
May 30, 2019, midnight
S12E41 - Quinn Christopherson
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.
June 3, 2019, midnight
S12E42 - 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.
June 6, 2019, midnight
S12E43 - 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.
June 10, 2019, midnight
S12E44 - 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.
June 12, 2019, midnight
S12E45 - 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.
June 18, 2019, midnight
S12E46 - 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.
June 20, 2019, midnight
S12E47 - 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.
June 24, 2019, midnight
S12E48 - Betty Who
Betty Who brings Roséwave, sun's-out pop to the Tiny Desk with all the usual studio production stripped away.
June 26, 2019, midnight
S12E49 - 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.
July 1, 2019, midnight
S12E50 - Saint Sister
The group from Ireland makes music that mixes the organic with the electronic, starting with a large, 34-string lever harp.
July 3, 2019, midnight
S12E51 - 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.
July 5, 2019, midnight
S12E52 - 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?
July 8, 2019, midnight
S12E53 - Sting And Shaggy
The two musical legends brought plenty of joy to the Tiny Desk, with an unexpected collaboration that works surprisingly well.
July 10, 2019, midnight
S12E54 - Erin Rae
Every time she performs live, Erin Rae transforms her quiet storms into different hues of squalling introspection.
July 12, 2019, midnight
S12E55 - 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.
July 19, 2019, midnight
S12E56 - 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.
July 22, 2019, midnight
S12E57 - 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.
July 24, 2019, midnight
S12E58 - Tamino
Tamino possesses one of the most remarkable and memorable voices to ever grace the Tiny Desk.
July 26, 2019, midnight
S12E59 - Lizzo
Backed by a band assembled just for this occasion, the breakthrough pop icon performs three joyfully showy songs from Cuz I Love You.
July 29, 2019, midnight
S12E60 - 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.
Aug. 1, 2019, midnight
S12E61 - iLe
The Calle 13 veteran, fresh off her appearance at demonstrations in Puerto Rico, performs three songs that rage with revolutionary intensity.
Aug. 3, 2019, midnight
S12E62 - Bas
Bas came to the Tiny Desk to get it, and — in a breathless four-song set — he did exactly that.
Aug. 5, 2019, midnight
S12E63 - 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.
Aug. 7, 2019, midnight
S12E64 - 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.
Aug. 9, 2019, midnight
S12E65 - half•alive
How does half•alive, known for funky earworms and synchronized dancing, translate to such a cozy space? Have the dancers sit.
Aug. 12, 2019, midnight
S12E66 - Kian Soltani
Watch a young cellist on the rise, offering music of virtuosity, sweet lyricism and a little fire from his Persian roots.
Aug. 16, 2019, midnight
S12E67 - 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.
Aug. 19, 2019, midnight
S12E68 - Nicole Bus
Nicole Bus' sound is reminiscent of vintage R&B, yet still feels current and capable of transcending age and demographics.
Aug. 21, 2019, midnight
S12E69 - 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.
Aug. 23, 2019, midnight
S12E70 - 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.
Aug. 26, 2019, midnight
S12E71 - Dan Tepfer
The pianist and programmer has transformed the acoustic piano into his duet partner.
Aug. 29, 2019, midnight
S12E72 - 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.
Aug. 30, 2019, midnight
S12E73 - A-WA
The three Israeli sisters in A-WA mix Yemenite and Arabic traditions with splashes of reggae and hip-hop.
Sept. 3, 2019, midnight
S12E74 - The Tallest Man On Earth (2019)
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.
Sept. 6, 2019, midnight
S12E75 - Damian 'Jr. Gong' Marley
With eyes shut, Marley dug deep into the healing power of music with songs from his 2017 album Stony Hill.
Sept. 9, 2019, midnight
S12E76 - 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.
Sept. 11, 2019, midnight
S12E77 - Rhiannon Giddens
Giddens shares songs from her latest album, There is No Other, in an emotional and transfixing performance at the Tiny Desk.
Sept. 16, 2019, midnight
S12E78 - Nilüfer Yanya
There's a hush to the music of Nilüfer Yanya that made the Tiny Desk the perfect stage for her sound.
Sept. 18, 2019, midnight
S12E79 - Y La Bamba
Y La Bamba returns for its second Tiny Desk performance with a revised musical vision.
Sept. 20, 2019, midnight
S12E80 - Rosanne Cash
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.
Sept. 23, 2019, midnight
S12E81 - Ari Lennox
The R&B singer performed songs from her debut full-length, Shea Butter Baby.
Sept. 25, 2019, midnight
S12E82 - 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."
Sept. 27, 2019, midnight
S12E83 - Jonas Brothers
The brothers and their backing band gave a playful performance of three tracks from their latest album, Happiness Begins.
Sept. 30, 2019, midnight
S12E84 - 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.
Oct. 4, 2019, midnight
S12E85 - 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.
Oct. 7, 2019, midnight
S12E86 - 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.
Oct. 9, 2019, midnight
S12E87 - 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.
Oct. 15, 2019, midnight
S12E88 - 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."
Oct. 16, 2019, midnight
S12E89 - Summer Walker
One week after releasing a record-shattering studio debut, the Atlanta native brings a glowing R&B set to the Tiny Desk.
Oct. 18, 2019, midnight
S12E90 - 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.
Oct. 21, 2019, midnight
S12E91 - 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.
Oct. 23, 2019, midnight
S12E92 - 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!
Oct. 25, 2019, midnight
S12E93 - 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.
Nov. 6, 2019, midnight
S12E94 - 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.
Nov. 8, 2019, midnight
S12E95 - Leslie Odom Jr.
The Tony- and Grammy-winning singer, actor, author and Hamilton star performs three songs from Mr, his genre-bending new solo album.
Nov. 12, 2019, midnight
S12E96 - 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.
Nov. 13, 2019, midnight
S12E97 - KOKOKO!
KOKOKO! are sonic warriors. They seized control of the Tiny Desk, shouting their arrival through a megaphone, while electronic sirens begin to blare.
Nov. 15, 2019, midnight
S12E98 - 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.
Nov. 18, 2019, midnight
S12E99 - Snarky Puppy
The jazz, funk and gospel improv group brought jams and joy to the Tiny Desk.
Nov. 20, 2019, midnight
S12E100 - 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.
Nov. 22, 2019, midnight
S12E101 - Carly Rae Jepsen
The singer brought a sparkling pop-disco vibe and a lot of swagger to the sun-filled Tiny Desk.
Nov. 25, 2019, midnight
S12E102 - 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.
Nov. 27, 2019, midnight
S12E103 - Black Uhuru
The influential reggae group, whose name means "black freedom," brought songs of solidarity and love to the Tiny Desk.
Nov. 29, 2019, midnight
S12E104 - 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.
Dec. 6, 2019, midnight
S12E105 - 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."
Dec. 9, 2019, midnight
S12E106 - Weyes Blood
Watch the band perform a blissed-out, gently sweeping set featuring three songs from its latest album, Titanic Rising.
Dec. 11, 2019, midnight
S12E107 - 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.
Dec. 13, 2019, midnight
S12E108 - 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.
Dec. 16, 2019, midnight
S12E109 - Los Lobos
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.
Dec. 18, 2019, midnight
S12E110 - 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.
Dec. 20, 2019, midnight
S12E111 - 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.
Dec. 31, 2019, midnight
Network: NPR
Episode Runtime: 14 min.
Season Runtime: 20 min.
Released: April 22, 2008
Last Air Date: June 2, 2025, midnight
Status: Returning Series
Certification: NR
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