tiny desk

A little recommendation this week, emphasis on little.

I’d like to direct you to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert. You can see their YouTube playlist right here.

This is something I only found out about recently and have really got a lot of enjoyment from. They bring a band or artist into their studio and have them play three songs. It’s a small space behind a desk while a bunch of NPR workers crowd around to watch, and, in some cases join in.

The whole thing is low-fi and intimate, which brings a special appeal you don’t find in a normal recording studio or stage concert. My favorite part about it is getting to see a side of the artists you don’t normally witness, something very personal and real. 

I’ve discovered many new artists by watching these as well as enjoyed some great recordings from artists I already loved. There are even some breakout moments I’d go so far as to call magical, such as when Natalie Merchant gets the entire crew to sing an old hymn a cappella with her.

Amazingly, there are even some good comments (which I find remarkable for YouTube), such as these for Andrew Bird’s performance: 

“He always looks like a road-weary salesman who just came in from the rain.”

It’s surprisingly accurate and a bit whimsical. Oh, and there’s this:

“He whistles better than Edward Snowden”

Ha, what can I say, it’s true!

Anyhow, check out Tiny Desk, if you like music at all—you won’t be sorry you did.