Since its inception in 2008, NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts have been a stalwart marker of success for stars of the past and the future. Each sub-15-minute instalment features a different artist performing a stripped-back set in a cluttered, unassuming studio that probably resembles the cupboard under your stairs. The simple concept has proven to be an unlikely success, racking up over one thousand episodes and clearing one billion total views. The series is back on everyone’s minds – and Instagram feeds – thanks to PinkPantheress’ viral performance, which saw her sing live without autotune for the first time. If Pink’s set left you wanting more Tiny Desk action, you’re in luck; we’re looking back at ten essential performances that show why the format still matters.
Laura Gibson – April 22, 2008
Back where it all began: the first-ever Tiny Desk Concert featured Oregon folk singer Laura Gibson. The idea was devised after NPR’s Stephen Thompson and Bob Boilen struggled to hear Gibson’s gentle croon at her gig in Texas, so invited her to play a private set at Boilen’s desk instead – to the bemusement of several NPR employees. Little did they know the unpretentious blog post would become the cultural phenomenon we know today.
Set List:
- ‘Hands In Pockets’
- ‘A Good Word, An Honest Man’
- ‘Come By Storm’
- ‘Night Watch’
Tom Tom Club – October 12, 2010
Led by ex-Talking Heads members Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz, Tom Tom Club’s unplugged set encapsulates everything Tiny Desk Concerts are about. The wacky ensemble pile into the studio with a folksy string section, accordion, bongo drums, and Weymouth’s psychedelic lyrical wit.
Set List:
‘Only The Strong Survive’
‘Wordy Rappinghood’
‘Genius Of Love’
The Cranberries – February 23, 2012
If you want to witness the spectacle that is Dolores O’Riordan’s voice in its rawest form, look no further than The Cranberries’ 2012 Tiny Desk concert. The late singer’s lilting vocals cut through the pared-back arrangements, offering a rare chance to hear their anthems without the gloss of studio production.
Set List:
- ‘Linger’
- ‘Tomorrow’
- ‘Ode To My Family’
- ‘Raining In My Heart’
Laura Mvula – July 8, 2013
Angelic vocalist Laura Mvula brings a movingly peaceful moment to the Tiny Desk. Her blend of neo-soul and gospel tones, backed by her siblings on strings, transforms the desk into a sanctuary.
Set List:
- ‘Father, Father’
- ‘Diamonds’
- ‘She’
Kae Tempest – July 21, 2015
Tempest’s Tiny Desk concert is far from the usual feel-good jam session. The spoken word artist’s performance is crushing in its intensity. Their performance is intense, urgent, and unlike anything the series had seen before. Opening piece ‘Ballad of a Hero’ protests against war with gut-wrenching eloquence, and when Kwake Bass joins to rework tracks live, it underlines Tiny Desk’s role as a space for experimentation.
Set List:
- ‘Ballad Of A Hero’
- ‘The Beigeness’
- ‘The Truth’
Little Simz – February 21, 2017
Rapper Little Simz’ first stint behind the Tiny Desk proves that her unique cadence and rhythmic inflections work just as well over a simple backing band as they do with the high production value of her usual stage shows. She also gives us a flavour of R&B vocals as she casually strums on a guitar.
Set List:
- ‘Poison Ivy’
- ‘No More Wonderland’
- ‘Picture Perfect’
boygenius – November 16, 2018
Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker are regulars in the Tiny Desk world. All three members featured as a solo artist before being invited back as a trio in 2018 in their then-newly-formed band boygenius. Characterised by angelic harmonies, gentle strings, and Baker’s haunting piano-playing, their folk music is the perfect fit for the no-frills setting.
Set List:
- ‘Souvenir’
- ‘Me & My Dog
- ‘Ketchum, ID’
HAIM – June 17, 2020
Sibling trio Este, Danielle and Alana took on the challenge of the Tiny Desk Home Concert, a concept launched in 2020 that allowed NPR to continue providing us with our Tiny Desk fix despite the restrictions of lockdown. Impressively, the three sisters each tuned in separately from their individual homes – with Henry Solomon joining them on saxophone for ‘Summer Girl’ – showing that neither distance nor global disaster can cramp their musical style. We also shot this socially distanced cover of The Forty-Five with the sisters that same year, proving they weren’t going to let a little thing like a global pandemic slow them down.
Set List:
- ‘The Steps’
- ‘I Know Alone’
- ‘Summer Girl’
Ravyn Lenae – June 22, 2022
This is a Tiny Desk success story for the ages. NPR once again proves itself to be several steps ahead of the curve; Chicagoan soul singer Ravyn Lenae’s appearance preceded her first viral hit ‘Love Me Not’ by over two years. Lenae blows the roof off the studio with her jaw-dropping vocal range and control.
Set List:
- ‘Venom’
- ‘Skin Tight’
- ‘Inside Out’
- ‘Sticky’
Doechii – December 6, 2024
Lauded for bringing classic hiphop techniques back into the mainstream, Doechii transformed the Tiny Desk into a party at the end of last year with her massive nine-piece, all-female backing band. Doechii crammed a whopping eight tracks into her 23-minute set, with each track blending seamlessly into the next to emphasise her inimitable flow.
Set List:
‘Black Girl Memoir’
‘Boom Bap’
‘Boiled Peanuts’
‘Denial Is A River’
‘Catfish’
‘Nissan Altima’
‘Bullfrog’
‘Hide N Seek’
