NPR Tiny Desk Concerts

He should be a name everyone knows by now. Instead, troubadour David Dondero returned to NPR having slept the night before in his car. Dondero travels from club to club, singing his well-crafted songs — songs that have his signature lyrics at their core. His lyrics can make you smile with their wit and hurt with their bite, all at the same time.

A glorious four-song set that's at once pristine and ramshackle — equal parts clarity and clatter — not to mention one of our best Tiny Desk Concerts yet.

Jim White is a storyteller first and a musician second. It's a kind of storytelling rooted in his own unusual history: He grew up in Florida in a deeply Pentecostal community and fell in love with the white gospel music he heard. But from there, White took a surprising path to becoming a full-time musician. He was a professional surfer, a boxer, a fashion model in Milan and a cab driver in New York City. White's travels recently took him to Washington, D.C., where he stopped by the offices of NPR Music for this live performance.

Dr. Dog isn't an obvious choice for one of NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concerts. For one thing, it's a pretty big group, at least for the small space behind Bob Boilen's desk. The band's music can be pretty chaotic — loud and rumbling, with multiple instruments fighting to be heard. And singer Toby Leaman likes to belt out his vocals in a window-rattling, raspy growl.

Kurt Wagner writes and sings beautiful songs with Lambchop, a hefty Nashville ensemble with a calm, restrained sound. When Kurt Wagner came by the office to play a Tiny Desk Concert, he came alone, with just an acoustic guitar, a stack of lyrics and his humble, good-natured sense of humor.

Thao Nguyen makes captivating music. Her songs are raw and infectious, her voice has a distinctive swagger, and she's a remarkably nimble guitarist.

Sera Cahoone got her start playing drums for a few widely adored bands in the Pacific Northwest, most notably Band of Horses and the spell-checker-defying Carissa's Wierd. But her self-titled, self-released 2006 album marked her as a fully formed talent — a warm and inviting singer whose songs convey world-weariness and homespun grace.

The music of Sam Phillips unfolds like perfect, miniature pop dramas. Of all her incarnations as a performer — first as a Christian singer, then as a pop singer — the current Sam Phillips is one of the most alluring. Phillips performs four songs from “Don't Do Anything.”

When Athens, Ga., songwriter Vic Chesnutt was on tour in support of his album, “North Star Deserter,” he stopped by NPR to perform live at All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen's desk. Chesnutt played five songs, including two entirely new ones.

Laura Gibson works through a handful of tenderhearted songs: two of them unreleased and two of them from her full-length debut, If You Come to Greet Me.

Members of the adventurous ensemble play music by Ravel and an original piece, Egyptian-style.

The charming London indie-folk band performs a holiday-themed set in the NPR Music offices.

Lightning Dust specializes in quiet moments, whether in a shared glance or a finely knit harmony.

The fearless party-rocker stands in NPR Music's offices and performs four songs alone at the piano.

Avi sings three hushed lullabies, including her signature cover of Morrissey's "First of the Gang."

Bowerbirds' handcrafted songs creak and swell like wooden floorboards in an old house.

The rapper's set exuded shimmery grace while incorporating the sounds of soul, pop and reggae.

The Norwegian-born singer-songwriter performs three liltingly sweet songs in the NPR Music offices.

At 10 members, this is the biggest band ever to play a Tiny Desk Concert in the NPR Music offices.

See and hear the legendary bluegrass and old-time gospel singer give an a cappella performance.

The duo's new album pays tribute to the pair's heroes, such as Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana.

Vanderslice shares acoustic versions of songs from his most recent album, Romanian Names.

The Grammy-nominated R&B artist performed three acoustic interpretations of his soul-inspired tunes.

Reduced to a duo for this charming session in the NPR Music offices, Telekinesis is all heart.

The young Swedish folksinger is passionate, gruff, a great guitar picker and a damn good poet.

Dark Meat has as many as 20 members. We fit as many as we could behind Bob Boilen's desk.

Hear Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, stars of the movie Once, playing six new songs and an encore.

In this video shot at the NPR Music offices, Siskind showcases a voice that's both honeyed and raw.

Or, the day a trumpet, trombone, French horn and tuba played us a soulful Rufus Wainwright cover.

Watch the artist formerly known as Smog play a three-song set that's almost eerily transfixing.

After a few restarts, the singer played a bare, stark, memorable solo set in the NPR Music offices.

Hear the singer-songwriter's tender, winsome music, performed live in the NPR Music offices.

Hear the harmony-drenched roots-rock band perform a kinetic, frenetic set in the NPR Music offices.

The classical guitarist plays with a clear, lyrical technique in music from the baroque and beyond.

Singer Tony Dekker performs three songs at the desk of All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen.

Ferree has enough charisma to draw you into his odd world. Watch him perform in the NPR offices.

See the band perform live at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen.

Hear the legendary singer perform at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen.

Hear the singer give an intimate acoustic performance at the desk of NPR Music's Bob Boilen.

David Eugene Edwards performs his fiery Americana and covers a rare Bob Dylan song.

The Brazilian singer floats and sprinkles notes onto just the right places at the NPR Music offices.

Though heavy on puns, the extraordinary jazz drummer's merry band isn't light on musicianship.

What better way to celebrate our 100th Tiny Desk Concert than by discovering an artist worth loving?

Watch the 10-member band squeeze behind the Tiny Desk for an elegant, stripped-down performance.

Watch the harpist give a powerful and intimate performance at the NPR Music offices.

Watch the inventive and unpredictable duo play a joyfully pummeling set from the NPR Music offices.

Watch Mali's queen of desert rock unveil her stunning vocal chops at the NPR Music offices.

Watch the Icelandic singer perform a lovely, folk-flavored set from the NPR Music offices.

Watch Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl perform songs from Acoustic Sessions in the NPR offices.

In this lovely Tiny Desk performance, Van Etten plays beguiling songs from her latest album, Epic.

This set from the NPR Music office has something new, something old and something to dance to.

In an intimate four-song set, Daniel Lanois and Trixie Whitley sound warm, vulnerable and ferocious.

In honor of the Day of the Dead, Santacruz performs at the NPR offices in traditional mariachi garb.

At 61, Lowe is part crooner, part country and a little crotchety, but with a heart of pure pop.

The 12-person ensemble performs from the NPR Music offices.

It doesn't take more than four minutes to fall in love with this utterly charming seven-piece band.

Watch Jana Hunter bring her delicate, haunting voice and hypnotic sound to the Tiny Desk.

The legendary group performs its pop hits in a rare acoustic set at the NPR Music offices.

The band showcases its cinematic blend of storytelling and strings at the NPR Music offices.

Barzelay, maybe the most underrated songwriter in the business, performs at the NPR Music offices.

The young cellist plays Bach with elegance and a new piece by Golijov with Technicolor brilliance.

The singer and his band feed off the audience's live energy in a concert at the NPR Music offices.

The ever-adaptable guitarist creates challenging and expressive music in the NPR Music offices.

With these intimate songs, the French-born Chilean rapper proves that hip-hop has no boundaries.

The gospel singer sounds like somebody you know — somebody you know with stage presence for days.

The New Zealand band plays four songs from its album Chant Darling at the NPR Music offices.

The Minneapolis duo performs songs from its stormy debut album, Inter-Be.

The singer came to NPR Music with just her guitar to play four beautiful tunes from Obadiah.

The soul icon performs songs from her latest album, You Are Not Alone, at the NPR Music offices.

Hear the band play inspired soul from its latest album, Feed My Soul, at the NPR Music offices.

The three demonstrate the way musical mastery can become an exercise in wordless communication.

Villagers' Conor O'Brien performs a beautiful and memorable solo set in the NPR Music offices.

The reggae icon performs classics from the film The Harder They Come in this acoustic performance.

The whip-smart sometimes bawdy U.K. band performs a clamorous ruckus in this Tiny Desk Concert.

The frenetic gypsy punk band performs the most rollicking and insane Tiny Desk Concert of all time.

The venerable, multimillion-selling pop parodist plays three acoustic originals in the NPR offices.

Laura Burhenn's new band performs a soulful Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR Music offices.

Hear the acclaimed musician play Bach on his amazingly resonant cello, built in 1693.

Seven authors (Roy Blount Jr., Scott Turow and others) perform with a big-time ringer.

The veteran soul singer blew into the NPR Music office and conquered it before she'd sung a note.

Hear instantly recognizable hits such as "1901" and "Lisztomania," stripped down and reassembled.

The singer performs three harmony-drenched reggae songs with Dean Fraser and a guitarist.

Moby gives a live performance of his Project Song creation, "Gone to Sleep," at NPR's offices.

Fredrik's lush harmonies are stripped to guitar, snare drum and maraca in this intimate performance.

The unusual jazz guitarist and his drummer perform at the NPR offices, literally with bells on.

The classical guitarist showcases his warm, lyrical tone in three staples of the repertoire.

The violinist plays traditional African melodies, re-imagined through her own jazz sensibilities.

Jakob Dylan, Neko Case and Kelly Hogan perform a mesmerizing set at the Tiny Desk.

The talented Baltimore duo didn't have to travel far to liven up a day at the NPR Music offices.

The Brooklyn-based trio strips down its wall of noise for an intimate performance at NPR Music.

The Argentine singer blends tango, Latin blues and the traditional music of Brazil and Peru.

The Elephant 6 alum plays a holiday set compete with bowed banjos, singing saws and tape machines.

Maybe you couldn't hear a pin drop when Gem Club played, but you could hear the click of a keyboard.

As the cameras rolled, the reggae star came to life, showcasing his smooth voice and vibrant energy.

tUnE-yArDs sings of rage and inequality, but also celebrates the joy of letting out a wild sound.

Hear the agile musician's rigorously crafted songs, which fall somewhere between classical and pop.

Hospital Ships' beautiful, crushing songs pack an emotional punch in this performance at NPR Music.

Asking the fearless, easygoing singer to perform in a crowded office never felt like an imposition.

The genre-bending cellist heads a dream team of string players who borrow from bluegrass.

At the NPR Music offices, Irglova mixes the exotic and the familiar; sweetness and longing.

The Swedish singer shows off his humor and charm in this intimate set at the NPR Music offices.

Watch the charismatic Colombian superstar give an intimate performance at the NPR Music offices.

Exuding both musical and personal warmth, the Irish singer mesmerized at the NPR Music offices.

The jazz star and his band perform two songs from their album State of Art at the NPR Music offices.

The classical violinist blends Bach and Charles Ives with flair, then tops it off with a fedora.

Armed with tiny amps and a ton of grace, Wilco plays new songs and an old favorite at the Tiny Desk.

The Michigan native's deliberately paced music is too rustic and pretty to be a true downer.

The upstart band brings youthful, infectious energy to the NPR Music offices.

Of course, the power-punk duo took off their shirts at the NPR Music offices, because why not?

These songs showcase a band with tremendous narrative gifts and a flair for subtle beauty.

The band's performance in the NPR Music offices creates a vibe of ragged, awkward intimacy.

The New Orleans native achieved stardom with his voice and his horn. But he just wants you to dance.

Ring in Rosh Hashanah with three globe-trotting tunes from one of the world's greatest Jewish bands.

The pianist usually plays eight-foot Steinways. See what she does on an electronic keyboard.

Beirut performs worldly, inspired songs from its new album The Rip Tide at the NPR Music offices.

The Twin Cities singer is a pop genius, with creative ambition to match his considerable charm.

Rowe brings his booming voice and ever-louder acoustic-guitar set-ups to the NPR Music offices.

Watch the former Elefant frontman perform songs from his album Laura at the NPR Music offices.

Armed with the summer song of 2011, the band brings "Pumped Up Kicks" and more to NPR Music.

Diamond Mine's unassuming creators lose little of their charm and mystique in the NPR Music office.

Watch Matthew Houck play a stirring, road-ragged solo Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR Music offices.

Watch the synth-pop musician perform a hauntingly beautiful set at the NPR Music offices.

The Irishman has one of the most arresting voices of any young singer you're likely to hear.

The Oklahoma band brings its spacious minor-key hymns to the NPR Music offices.

Watch the Guatemalan singer's breathtaking and passionate set at the NPR Music offices.

Watch the miraculous hands (and feet) of the Grammy-winning organist in an all-Bach performance.

The London band plugs in its drum machine, but sweet simplicity still reigns in the NPR offices.

The singer plays a charming set featuring songs from Carrying Lightning at the Tiny Desk.

Watch the band perform two of its brand-new songs, as well as "Fingertips," a classic 1992 chestnut.

At the NPR offices, the band plays a sunny, exuberant set, suitable for dancing and bobbing along.

Watch Luzelena Mendoza and Y La Bamba craft joyfully rich vocal harmonies in the NPR Music offices.

Boyd reads from White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s, while Hitchcock plays songs from the era.

The genre-bending cellist and songwriter has created a unique take on folk music.

The guitarist, 23, was once called a prodigy. But he's maturing into a distinctive bandleader, too.

Hear the gospel greats' mix of polished blues, swinging soul and from-the-gut expressions of faith.

Watch the newcomer from Montenegro play Spanish standards and a passionate ode to his homeland.

Watch Joy Williams and John Paul White's swooning chemistry and stirring harmonies at NPR Music.

Watch the electro-pop band's striking and infectious performance at the NPR Music offices.

With Chris Funk and Sara Watkins, Colin Meloy plays three sparkling songs from The King Is Dead.

Watch the stylish young violinist pull out a bag of tricks in music by Paganini.

Performing at the NPR Music offices, Miguel strips his highly produced hits down to their bones.

The sprawling group, 17 strong, squeezes behind Bob Boilen's desk for a special holiday performance.

The Mercury Prize-winning band plays angular, poetic, inventive music that takes unexpected turns.

Lovett gives a loose, engaging performance that feels like both an introduction and a victory lap.

Once the acoustic guitarist zeroes in on the center of a song, it's easy to get lost in it yourself.

The singer-songwriter performs three of Young Man in America's most bracingly beautiful songs.

The Seattle duo literally shakes the dust off the ceiling tiles at the NPR Music offices.

Victoria Bergsman's songs seem to come from a place somewhere between a dream state and waking life.

Wainwright roughs up life's smooth spots, then digs her fingertips into the cracks that form.

For Tiny Desk Concert No. 250, the Death Cab for Cutie and Postal Service singer performs solo.

The conjunto icon spins magic, and stays true to tradition, with his trademark button accordion.

The longtime frontman for Grandaddy goes it alone with acoustic solo songs from his latest record.

Michael Angelakos makes electro-pop with monster hooks. But his songs are sturdy, versatile things.

The band's rich harmonies are welcoming, its lyrics relatable and its live performances thrilling.

Like any great blues singer, Cray makes heartache and dysfunction sound engaging and relatable.

The band unleashes a gorgeous flurry of shambolic rumbling, prolific hairiness and dramatic yelling.

The group plays fiddle, banjo, guitar and washboard, all gathered around a single microphone.

It's one thing for 11 musicians to make a big sound, but what stands out is Antibalas' subtlety.

Hearing the 29-year-old singer makes it virtually impossible to do anything but stop and listen.

Watch Las Vegass bring a punk aesthetic to Venezuelan folk music with a cuatro at the NPR offices.

These songs' fervor is the product of a singer armed with intensity and musicians who can match it.

Avital's mandolin sings with the sounds of Ernest Bloch and a raucous Bulgarian folk tune.

Watch the renowned double bassist thump, strum and loop his way through three mesmerizing songs.

By the middle of Wainwright's final song, "Montauk," few dry eyes remained in the NPR offices.

Two surviving members of the band still have the same chemistry here in a stripped-down performance.

Known for mixing folk and electronics, Orton unveils three new songs with just an acoustic guitar.

The band makes the Tiny Desk accommodate its booming sound rather than the other way around.

Feder marries classical and folk techniques with otherworldly guitar textures and sounds.

Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale sing sweet but intricate folk-pop songs in the NPR offices.

A soulful yet steely singer-songwriter from Algeria charts her own course in these four songs.

Two songs from A Creature I Don't Know bookend a gorgeous new, unreleased song called "Once."

At the NPR offices, Carlile and her band sing from-the-gut songs about messy lives, loudly lived.

The band plays a beautifully buzzing, nuanced set, marked by gorgeous grace and stirring melodies.

The comedian and musician performs spontaneous improvisations full of killer grooves and humor.

The band plays with just the right mixture of passion and pathos in a fun set at the NPR offices.

Hansard flexes his neck muscles a bit as he performs new songs and deep cuts at the NPR offices.

Watch three songs by a troubled soul with a talent for writing honest, disarmingly direct music.

The drummer dedicates tunes to her friends, including her first teacher — a "sometimes great guy."

The unflappable singer performs three songs with seeming effortlessness and easygoing charm.

Watson has a lovely voice and a gift for wringing evocative sounds out of everything he touches.

The venerable brass quintet sports virtuosic, fresh-faced players in tried-and-true repertoire.

Tiersen's rich, liltingly eccentric pop music is constructed from lots of sweet, intricate pieces.

Rooted in acoustic traditions, the music of Arborea stands out for its calm beauty and rough edges.

The Godfather of Go-Go died Wednesday. In 2010, he brought his full band to the NPR Music office.

The improvisational music of the father-son, guitar-cello duo functions as a beautiful conversation.

K Ishibashi is a master at building songs from live violin loops, layered singing and beatboxing.

The jazz quartet draws from post-bop, 20th-century chromaticism and New Orleans funeral marches.

The guitarist displays intricate fingerpicking in two songs inspired by Kentucky Derby racehorses.

The group doesn't overwhelm so much as it wears listeners down with a subtle charm offensive.

The venerable band sounds as poignant and tender as ever in this performance at the NPR offices.

The hot and historic New Orleans band brings a tuba-wielding Santa and some original holiday cheer.

The video here provides just a hint of the L.A. band's dynamic live shows, albeit a spectacular one.

Salem sings work songs and chants from the maloya tradition on Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean.

The whip-smart rapper, singer, poet and songwriter performs three tracks from Parts of Speech.

Jarosz and her small backing band craft a careful mix of technical proficiency and poppy warmth.

The band exudes playfulness and wry charm throughout these three songs from Uncanney Valley.

The intrepid champions of new music bring a lullaby, rare blues and a work by Bryce Dessner to NPR.

This is Katie Crutchfield as Waxahatchee, playing intimate music for an intimate setting.

The soul singer retains the easygoing grace of a performer fit for any stage — even a tiny one.

Bhattacharya draws on North Indian classical music, but blues also pours out of his stunning work.

The jazz vibraphone pioneer is 70 now, but that hasn't slowed his flying four-mallet technique.

This three-song set in the NPR Music offices captures a nice cross-section of Monroe's appeal.

Watch a Halloween Tiny Desk Concert in which Case performs with Kelly Hogan and Eric Bachmann.

The orchestral folk-pop band's little song-worlds burst with ambition, talent and extreme joy.

The dozen members of this Portland, Ore. band crammed behind the Tiny Desk for a transcendent set.

Pretty and melancholy, the Londoners' music conjures a perfect mix of gloom, desire and hostility.

The bassist composes beautiful, unpretentious music for an unusual jazz band with accordion.

The band performs three songs from a record inspired by the childhood of singer Will Sheff.

Short of seeing her live and in person, this is the best way to encounter June's heartfelt sound.

Watch the venerable band translate its electric sound to acoustic instruments in an intimate way.

The operatic tenor, acclaimed for his Rossini, circles back to his roots as a singer of spirituals.

The Zimbabwean legend performs songs from the mournful but celebratory Sarawoga for NPR Music.

Hem makes a homey, fireside kind of music, with songs that feel as if they've always been there.

A Galician bagpiper and her trio take Celtic sounds in an entirely wild and wonderful direction.

The husband-and-wife duo mixes rowdy folk-rock and rootsy ballads, with the help of a canine friend.

With an eye on both the past and the future, O'Farrill has jazz and Afro-Cuban music in his DNA.

Performing solo, singer Matthew Healy doesn't hesitate to transform both his songs and himself.

For our 300th Tiny Desk Concert, we showcase a Tuareg guitarist's fierce, hypnotic, alluring jams.

Watch Baths' Will Wiesenfeld perform mysterious, textured electronic music in the NPR offices.

Watch Gunn's trio perform a set of hypnotic long-form jams that are perfect for taking it easy.

Concha Buika's voice comes from Africa and the past. Watch her perform in the NPR Music offices.

The community that's formed around The Front Bottoms speaks to the band's passion and compassion.

The 17-member chamber-rock collective uses its size in the service of great, snappy, stirring songs.

The Australian sextet crafts busily impeccable, harmony-intensive pop music with a danceable sway.

Guthrie and his band drove 18 hours round-trip from Ontario to perform three songs for NPR Music.

Henson's voice is so fragile and hushed, if you were 10 feet away from him you'd barely hear a peep.

Watch Falconberry and five bandmates perform three delicate songs from her recent album Leelanau.

Hear the "classically trained garage band" perform with staggering technique and contagious energy.

Hear three sturdy pop songs from In Guards We Trust, performed live at the NPR Music offices.

The singer, instrumentalist and music therapist plays slinky, forceful songs at NPR Music.

When the British singer performs, her emotionally fiery music just gets hotter and grittier.

Two men with unplugged instruments convey the bawdy rowdiness of a full band.

The rowdy English folk-punk band brings its barely controlled mayhem to the NPR Music offices.

The Malian musician and his band craft melodies and rhythms that cut across age and ethnicity.

The U.K. singer performs some of her most intimate material in a short set at the NPR Music offices.

A brilliant cellist with a stunning command of her instrument, Beiser performs at the NPR offices.

Watch the singer-songwriter and her band perform three songs from her fine new album, American Kid.

One of the world's finest folksingers channels the spirit of Woody Guthrie at the NPR Music offices.

An 11-piece brass band turns up the funk and flies the flag high for its native Richmond, Va.

Watch the band perform acoustic arrangements of four songs from its new album, Trouble Will Find Me.

Watch our favorite hamsters play their twee-as-all-get-out holiday pop-punk song, "Snow Day."

She came to the desk a little unsure, and left singing "West Memphis" with intensity and passion.

The singer performs two new songs, as well as "The First Cut Is the Deepest" and "Father and Son."

The band's got heart and soul and flair, with a well-worn sound buoyed by strong, fresh songwriting.

Hear the Irish ensemble's fresh take on Philip Glass' propulsive yet intimate string quartets.

Amidon weaves his compositions into traditional music, while Frisell adds atmospheric guitar.

Benatar and Giraldo play three classics: "We Live For Love," "We Belong" and "Promises In The Dark."

The Dinosaur Jr. frontman, one of the world's loudest musicians, performs unplugged and acoustic.

The Austin singer-songwriter joins his stunning voice with that of touring partner Gaby Moreno.

Watch the group sing new music with yelps, yodels and a few fine harmonies.

A rousing band from Kansas City, Making Movies mixes languages and eras with infectious energy.

With costumes inspired by Egyptian symbolism and sci-fi, Ra's band plays a special Halloween set.

Known for lavish electronic productions, Banks serves notice as a powerful singer in her own right.

We asked the King of Auto-Tune to grace the Tiny Desk without any embellishment or effects.

Watch the young, versatile ensemble play folk music from around Denmark and beyond.

D'Amato's music can feel Motown-y, garage-y and Springsteen-y, but he sounds sparer here.

The Icelandic singer's voice is angelic and yearning, his songs simple and universal.

The band plays with a great rock-duo punch that recalls The White Stripes or JEFF The Brotherhood.

Sofia has spent most of her career 20 feet from stardom as a backup singer for Juanes and Shakira.

Browne still writes songs with conviction, craftsmanship and careful attention to detail.

The trombonist's working band established some nifty swing, assisted in absentia by Sufjan Stevens.

The 10-piece salsa band built its career on dance floors, where it never fails to make people move.

With his drummer son Spencer, Wilco's Jeff Tweedy performs songs from their new album, Sukierae.

Graceful singing and storytelling meet guitars and textures that help create an unforgettable aura.

In advance of his new album Single Mothers, the singer performs two new songs and an old favorite.

Mayfield's music has gotten more beguiling as she explores the many contrasts in her hypnotic sound.

Known for the speed of their playing, the Minnesotans are about more than just blistering bluegrass.

The Kentucky native writes country songs about loneliness, failed dreams, drinking and drugs.

The band was made to sing and play around one microphone, so a Tiny Desk Concert seemed inevitable.

A veteran of Little Joy and Los Hermanos, Amarante makes warm, tender music as a solo artist.

Watch the group play selections from Shostakovich's cycle of introspective string quartets.

Watch a talented, charming guitar legend make magic as his band Avila holds down the beat.

The former Hüsker Dü and Sugar frontman plugs in for a characteristically loud four-song set.

With Carolyn Cardoza, Diaz conjures a place where emotions run deep and beauty is unmistakable.

The band's seven players are trained in classical and jazz, led by Liam McCormick's powerful voice.

The veteran East L.A. band's music penetrates the intellect even as it makes your hips sway.

In the NPR offices, the Ohio band plays three alternately brooding and stomping songs from Dark Arc.

Watch an atmospheric Norwegian band with a yearning sound. Also: See a flugabone!

In this three-song set, the Walkmen singer demonstrates that he's lost none of his vocal power.

The guitarist kicks up some dirt with a Rev. Gary Davis deconstruction and a Stratocaster hoedown.

The singer has a magnificent way with phrasing, not to mention a remarkable country-music lineage.

Grant's songs don't mess around, with lyrics that function as darts of retort and thought.

They call what they make "cave music" — but it's just as powerful at the Tiny Desk.

Watch the Tiny Desk turn into a church, comedy club and neo-soul spot.

The 23-year-old singer-guitarist performs gritty, countrified blues-rock in the NPR Music offices.

See the innovative player create waves of sound with a six-string violin.

The Bright Eyes singer performs songs from Upside Down Mountain with help from members of Dawes.

The singer-songwriter and musician performs with unabashed positivity and an uplifting spirit.

The country singer-songwriter performs with the ease and swagger of a man comfortable in his ways.

A classical virtuoso and an equally captivating flamenco player combine for a set of duets.

Watch the soul star perform "Silent Night" and two originals — one for Christmas, one for Hanukkah.

A modernistic bluesman with a taste for electronics appears with just his acoustic guitar.

When the singer breaks out his guitar and suitcase drum, a rush of adrenaline hits the room.

The Denver band's mysteriously swirling music is singular, new and adventurous.

The nine-piece band bursts with anthemic joy, even as its songs convey darkness and loneliness.

The Detroit band's loud, screeching, grousing rock can be profound, poetic and bewildering.

Hear a young conductor, composer and pianist play Beethoven and his own jazzy pieces.

Trevor Powers' new songs are expansive and self-assured, a transition reflected in this performance.

Great singers aren't easy to come by, so finding three in one band is something special.

At the Tiny Desk, Rateliff's body-shaking Southern-style soul takes on a more laid-back sound.

The oud player's wordless music tells powerful stories about life's blessedness and fragility.

At 19 and on the cusp of her first album, the Norwegian singer performs with a sense of discovery.

My bubba is a duo of women whose quirky, delicate, sweetly sung folk songs are a delight.

With his wife Morgane, the country singer-songwriter sings patient, detailed songs of devotion.

Conjuring David Bowie, Diane Coffee's Shaun Fleming swaggered and shimmied behind the Tiny Desk.

The 10-piece band can barely fit all its horns, guitars, percussion and energy behind one desk.

In Beauty Pill, life whirs with plunderphonic glee and riffs are funky from the inside out.

The Sardinian guitarist has a whole toy shop aboard his instrument.

The band's clever, thoughtful music fits in everywhere from Nashville to its hometown of Melbourne.

Day's songs feel candid and vulnerable, but not understated.

The trumpeter presents his emotionally charged, jazz-hybridized "stretch music" in performance.

She came so close to winning NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concert Contest, we just had to see her play.

The singer is soulful yet playful, raw and vulnerable in a commanding kind of way.

The R&B band might just be the oddest thing to come from the hip-hop collective Odd Future.

As technology rules the day, here's a reminder that a single voice can carry deep emotion.

The Austin singer-songwriter performs with intense openness, directness and warmth.

With help from Fiona Apple, two Nickel Creek alums gather a band to perform old and new songs.

The singer found his voice by finding and preserving old British, Irish and Scottish folk songs.

Bridges is easy to love and hard to resist, with purity in his voice that's untouched by modern pop.

If you're a fan of dark, incredibly dry, wry humor, you've just found Happyness.

Mitski's music is dark and even scary, but glimmers of beauty peek through.

There's lighthearted, almost childlike beauty in the way Gabrielle Smith puts words to song.

Rose plays music as if she's just met her new best friend: It's fresh, fun and enthusiastic.

The trio blows up its sound by adding off-duty, civilian horn players from the U.S. Marine Band.

The country singer plays four songs from Pageant Material, plus the set-closing "Follow Your Arrow."

The Philly rock band's big-hearted songs are stripped down to a few guitars and a MiniKorg.

Mackenzie Scott's music channels Patti Smith and PJ Harvey while hinting at further growth.

The New Orleans trumpeter's funky new band creates dance music to ward off despair.

Irish singer-songwriter Bridie Monds-Watson makes the most of a single voice and an acoustic guitar.

The singer's disco-infused funk and soul gets stripped down to a lone voice with a guitar.

See the beloved Britpop veteran perform songs from his new album, Saturns Pattern.

A celebrated English playwright and rapper deploys storytelling and poetry.

See a Malian band that fuses African music with Western rock.

The charming duo performs three of the simple, direct songs from Before The World Was Big.

Best witnessed live, Stelling's music is steeped in tradition yet filled with vitality and soul.

The trio's music is full of life, with dissonant sounds that still feel suited for singalongs.

The charismatic Brooklyn-via-D.C.-area rapper creates just the right amount of space in his music.

Frances Quinlan's raspy voice whispers one moment, then lets loose a gut-punching howl the next.

Timothy Showalter's music is filled with bite and sometimes regret, but also a good deal of warmth.

The clever trio shares its love of everything from Law & Order to old-school girl groups.

The nine-piece band returns to the Tiny Desk to fill the air with fake snow and real joy.

The classically trained guitarist performs songs originally written for the kora.

The rapper has spent the year on an extended victory tour. Here are the spoils.

In the band's hands, East African music comes alive in a mix of tradition and contemporary sounds.

The R&B singer performs three funky, sexy, stripped-down songs from his debut album, Eldorado.

Watch the New Jersey band squeeze four songs into a scrappy, warmhearted 13-minute set.

On the morning after Election Day, Price sang three cathartic country songs loaded with new meaning.

The Canadian pop duo crafts acoustic versions of pop anthems like "Closer and "Boyfriend."

The young quartet navigates smoke rings, alligators and the stormy fluctuations of the 18th century.

Formerly half of The Civil Wars, White returns to perform three songs from his solo debut, Beulah.

The Austin singer-songwriter showcases his high, lonesome voice and atmospheric storytelling.

The two Australians' chemistry is apparent the instant you hear their voices intertwined in song.

The self-described "accidental brass quartet" swims comfortably in jazz, classical and pop music.

The trio strips anthemic songs down to the essentials: just sisterly harmonies and acoustic guitar.

The long-running rock band holds a mirror to the hard realities of America right now.

The folk-pop band performs four songs from its shimmery new album, And Then Like Lions.

The two songwriters celebrate the romance and vitality of the modern railroad.

A striking mix of rock, hip-hop, funk, go-go and Brazilian sounds, fused with energy and humor.

The Minnesota singer-songwriter achieves a nifty balance of intimacy and impeccable polish.

The veteran rapper fronts an all-star band at the White House.

Two A-list classical artists work up a sweat as they revel in the turbulent, tender music of Brahms.

The world-famous entertainers retrofitted their instruments and confetti cannons to fit the desk.

The genre-defying English singer-songwriter performs material from her first album in six years.

You can feel the singer and poet's passion in every sharp, thoughtful, powerful, provocative word.

The Alabama sibling duo's music can be hymn-like: plain but powerful, heartsick and hopeful.

The 77-year-old blues and soul hitmaker returns to the spotlight with the aid of a 12-piece band.

The band's songs exude muscular warmth, with lyrics that are both memorable and meaningful.

As a solo artist on leave from Girl In A Coma, the singer finds new ways to sound ferocious.

No overplaying, no frills, just great music and an artist who sounds thrilled to be playing it.

An icon for modern and Latin jazz, the veteran performer continues to break tradition and innovate.

Watch the invigorating, genre-busting bandleader, drummer, singer and rapper perform four songs.

Joined by her Experiment In Truth band, the jazz singer performs songs from Sound Of Red.

The beloved band displays its signature country-tinged rock and close harmonies in four new songs.

Watch the genial violinist commune with nearly 300-year-old music for solo violin by J.S. Bach.

The singer, known for Woods and The Babies, performs carefully crafted songs with powerful lyrics.

The Virginia musician writes songs that can be thoughtful, playful and powerful.

Rubinos uses her Afro-Caribbean roots as a jumping-off point for inventive, provocative songs.

The decorated producer seizes the spotlight with songs about how extraordinary it is to be ordinary.

Porter's music can be serious and heartwarming, but it never loses its sense of wonder and delight.

There's a point when a jam is just a jam, but when a jam becomes a journey... man.

The Canadian jazz multi-instrumentalist performs with some of the top young women musicians in Cuba.

Valley Queen plays with nuance and depth, rooted in a California country sound.

Los Hacheros' members tap into the deep groove of Afro-Caribbean music that inspires modern salsa.

Performing at the NPR Music offices, Adia Victoria's voice is powerful and direct, with no artifice.

The saxophonist and pianist play three tunes that draw from their past while looking to the future.

A rock band from Beirut performs songs that mix hedonism and hyper-literate lyrics.

The country singer-songwriter has a rare gift for making any room feel warmly human.

For Father's Day, watch the pianist play lullabies to his daughter, who nearly steals the show.

The two highly decorated jazz legends could barely fit their instruments behind the Tiny Desk.

The band's music is playful and quirky — sometimes loud, sometimes gentle and always a trip.

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.

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.

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.

Tyler, The Creator performs three songs from his latest album Flower Boy -- and pulls off (at least) two Tiny Desk firsts in the process, while maturing beyond his class-clown image (mostly).

The two singers, songwriters and guitarists bring out the adolescence in each other, poking jabs, goofing around and having fun at the Tiny Desk.

King Krule, the musical project of English singer, songwriter and rapper, Archy Marshall, brings its twisted, woozy tones to the Tiny Desk.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Benjamin Booker has a deeply tender voice that, at times, can feel like a whisper But it always cuts to the heart.

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.

The Portland artist with the most mispronounced name in hip-hop puts on an unforgettable performance.

Singer Laura Burhenn is joined by Jessica Lea Mayfield and the Umoja Choir for songs inspired by the political and cultural upheaval of 2016.

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.

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.

The drums take center stage at this Tiny Desk. Watch veteran jazz percussionist Nate Smith dazzle the NPR audience in a transfixing performance.

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.

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.”

The Grammy-nominated singer's Tiny Desk is an ode to a magical time in Mexican popular music.

For this Tiny Desk concert, Japanese Breakfast's Michelle Zauner replaced her gauzy synths with a string quartet. The result is something to behold.

Hip-hop's otherworldly lot touches down on Bob Boilen's desk for some Afrofuturistic mind travel.

Watch hip-hop veterans Mr. Lif and Akrobatik team up behind the Tiny Desk.

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.

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.

Watch the six-time Grammy winner go solo behind the Tiny Desk.

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.

Paramore captures the moment between rapture and its comedown. Watch the band rearrange songs from its sparkling pop album After Laughter.

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.

The Jamaican reggae star proudly carries the torch of his country's roots reggae legends.

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.

Bomba Estereo is not known as a hushed band. Member Simon Mejia said this Tiny Desk performance was the group's quietest, a stripped-down treatment that illustrates the inherent quality of the music.

It's safe to say this Korean, cross-dressing rock band looks and sounds like no one who's ever performed at the Tiny Desk.

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.

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.

Jack Antonoff re-arranged three songs from his band's latest album, Gone Now, for the Tiny Desk.

The Brooklyn-based band crafts infectious pop music that builds dramatically before giving way to a quiet calm.

The Nigerian-American MC and his band perform three reworked selections from Jidenna's impeccable debut album, The Chief.

The Alabama singer-songwriter and his band perform three songs from The Nashville Sound, but their set includes a few surprises, too.

One of hip-hop's most revered producers brings his songs to life behind the Tiny Desk, with the help of a four-piece band.

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.

The rising pop star performs three of her best-known songs, including a sweet solo take on her career-making “Alaska.”

Diet Cig's songs crackle like Pop Rocks, but with a confrontational honesty and striking gravity — and on top of Bob Boilen's desk.

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.

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.

Albin Lee Meldau possesses a thunderous, deeply affecting voice, which he uses to tell some utterly dark, but demonstrably cathartic, tales.

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.

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."

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.

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.

The Clan celebrates its 25th anniversary with an old-school cipher at the Tiny Desk.

The band takes its quirks of production, rhythm and rhyme and brilliantly arranges them to work behind the Tiny Desk.

No one in the NPR offices could have imagined how remarkable this 15-year old pianist would be at the Tiny Desk.

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.

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.

Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus and Phoebe Bridgers are all Tiny Desk alumae, but here they play together at NPR for the first time as boygenius, one of this year's best surprises.

The 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.

The band's songs, stripped here to their essence, are particularly peaceful and calm — and sometimes chilling.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The charismatic singer and saxophonist brought a group of longtime friends to play a warm, thoughtful and chill set at the Tiny Desk.

The self-proclaimed "Funklordz" normally perform as a duo, but played with a live band for the first time at the Tiny Desk.

The Cuban pianist thrilled the NPR office with an intense performance that was as melodic as it was rhythmic.

"I'm sorry I'm shy," Florence Welch told the crowd of NPR family and friends gathered for her Tiny Desk performance. "If this was a big gig, I'd probably be climbing all over here and running around."

The pioneering Mexican band recreates the adventurous musical energy of their massive stadium shows behind Bob Boilen's desk.

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.

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.

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.

The jazz singer, who used to be into radical feminist punk, now composes and sings beautiful jazz ballads.

Watch the ambitious countertenor sing music that spans more than 250 years, connecting the dots between David Byrne, George Frideric Handel and Philip Glass.

Julie Byrne's transporting music can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The band makes life-affirming music that singer Kalmia Traver created over the past few years, filled with the triumph of being cancer free.

Watch the young Harvard grad dispatch some of the most "knuckle-busting" piano repertoire with uncommon panache and precision.

Two of Kansas City's finest — and indie hip-hop's trailblazers — deliver a dose of Strange Music.

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.

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.

The Australian band uses tiny moments of introspection to illuminate life's bewildering, terrifying, isolating aspects — especially as they apply to women.

Watch the 19-time Grammy winner return to his lifelong passion for J.S. Bach, playing music from the Cello Suites and offering advice on the art of incremental learning.

The singer's performance at the Tiny Desk was an almost spiritual experience, leaving many at the NPR Music offices in awe.

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.

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.

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?"

One of our favorite new artists of 2018 visits the Tiny Desk.

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.

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.

The veteran singer showcases her soaring powerfully expressive voice in a performance that bridges several generations of classic soul.

The storied vocal ensemble brings close harmony singing to a diverse set list that includes a Beatles tune and a bawdy madrigal from the 1500s.

The Icelandic composer is joined by two "ghost" pianists, making mysterious and memorable music at the Tiny Desk.

A Tribe Called Quest's Ali Shaheed Muhammad and composer Adrian Younge brought their Luke Cage-inspired collaboration to the Tiny Desk.

Occasionally a new voice emerges so rich in experience that the only way to describe it is old soul.

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?"

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Watch the band perform a blissed-out, gently sweeping set featuring three songs from its latest album, Titanic Rising.

"I just want you to know," Raveena told the NPR office, "that in this space that we're in, you're extremely, extremely loved."

The enigmatic and reclusive producer Madlib joins hard-hitting emcee Freddie Gibbs for one of the most memorable Tiny Desks of the year.

The influential reggae group, whose name means "black freedom," brought songs of solidarity and love to the Tiny Desk.

A nomadic storyteller with a cross-genre style ranging from folk to rap, Mereba slays the devil in her solo set behind the Desk.

The singer brought a sparkling pop-disco vibe and a lot of swagger to the sun-filled Tiny Desk.

The insightful pianist offers a Beethoven bonanza, ranging from the mesmerizing pulse of the popular "Moonlight" Sonata to flashes of wry humor and tender beauty.

The jazz, funk and gospel improv group brought jams and joy to the Tiny Desk.

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.

KOKOKO! are sonic warriors. They seized control of the Tiny Desk, shouting their arrival through a megaphone, while electronic sirens begin to blare.

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.

The Tony- and Grammy-winning singer, actor, author and Hamilton star performs three songs from Mr, his genre-bending new solo album.

The British rapper made a trip all the way from the UK just for this Tiny Desk performance and powered through a set that made the personal political.

The 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.

Rio Mira's music celebrates life along the river that separates Ecuador and Colombia: soft breezes, loving friends, the embrace of Africa and lots of festejando!

The 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.

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.

One week after releasing a record-shattering studio debut, the Atlanta native brings a glowing R&B set to the Tiny Desk.

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."

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.

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.

Nearly a decade after her first appearance at the Tiny Desk, Sharon Van Etten returns with a full band and a bigger, bolder sound.

After performing at the Tiny Desk as one third of the group Mountain Man, Molly Sarlé returns for a soul-stirring solo performance.

The brothers and their backing band gave a playful performance of three tracks from their latest album, Happiness Begins.

In his second visit to the Tiny Desk, Josh Ritter had America on his mind. "We all have to fight against this notion that we're not all human beings."

The R&B singer performed songs from her debut full-length, Shea Butter Baby.

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.

Y La Bamba returns for its second Tiny Desk performance with a revised musical vision.

There's a hush to the music of Nilüfer Yanya that made the Tiny Desk the perfect stage for her sound.

Giddens shares songs from her latest album, There is No Other, in an emotional and transfixing performance at the Tiny Desk.

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.

With eyes shut, Marley dug deep into the healing power of music with songs from his 2017 album Stony Hill.

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.

The three Israeli sisters in A-WA mix Yemenite and Arabic traditions with splashes of reggae and hip-hop.

The singer and mega-hit songwriter showcases three of his own tracks, including "I Luv Your Girl" and two songs from Ménage à Trois: Sextape Vol. 1, 2, 3.

The pianist and programmer has transformed the acoustic piano into his duet partner.

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.

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.

Nicole Bus' sound is reminiscent of vintage R&B, yet still feels current and capable of transcending age and demographics.

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.

Watch a young cellist on the rise, offering music of virtuosity, sweet lyricism and a little fire from his Persian roots.

How does half•alive, known for funky earworms and synchronized dancing, translate to such a cozy space? Have the dancers sit.

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.

David Crosby, Becca Stevens, Michelle Willis and Michael League are The Lighthouse Band, and together they harmonized the heck out of the Tiny Desk.

Bas came to the Tiny Desk to get it, and — in a breathless four-song set — he did exactly that.

The former Snarky Puppy keyboardist and bandleader performs a special holiday Tiny Desk for our quarantine series.

Join cellist Jan Vogler and pianist Alessio Bax at the "doctor's office," where they make the case for Beethoven as the liberator of the cello by playing music from his cello sonatas.

Members of the celebrated Borromeo String Quartet – playing it safe with masks – unlock the sillier side of Beethoven in music he wrote late in life.

To mark the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth, pianist Jonathan Biss explores the solitary side of the composer in extraordinary music written after Beethoven became deaf.

The Nashville singer-songwriter performs music from her celebrated album, Pauline, for Tiny Desk's quarantine series.

From the moment we pan out of a literal tiny desk diorama, a jolt of energy leaps from Paramore's Hayley Williams. Her home band includes Julien Baker and Becca Mancari.

The most exciting sister act in contemporary pop performs five songs for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.

The Austin-based rock band is nominated for the album and record of the year at next year's Grammys. See why in this Tiny Desk quarantine concert.

The defining disco diva of 2020 performs four songs from her album Future Nostalgia for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.

Watch the Grammy-nominated artist perform three songs from his album The Gospel According To PJ.

From her home in Germany, the provocative American soprano delivers songs of introspection and freedom from Franz Schubert's mountaintop epiphany to Billy Taylor's wish for equality and justice.

The Long Island R&B singer premieres a new song during his Tiny Desk quarantine concert.

The Rap Game champion and self-proclaimed "Queen Of Da Souf" performs three songs for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.

The soul legend isn't letting quarantine slow him down.

The R&B veteran performs three songs from his latest album for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.

The leader of Big Thief performs five songs from a camper in Joshua Tree for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.

The talented Canadian composer and songwriter creates an ensemble in their bedroom for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.

The 2020 Mercury Prize winner performs five songs in a London flat for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.

A trio of musicians gather at Aaron Copland's longtime home. Watch them play the iconic American composer's music at his own piano and beside his own writing desk.

The award-winning pianist performs three solo songs from his home in Armenia.

British folk singer Shirley Collins is a living legend. Watch her perform five songs for her Tiny Desk quarantine concert.

Country music's breakout star of 2020 performs three songs for her Tiny Desk quarantine concert, including "Black Like Me."

The ascending R&B talent brings us into her South London home for a four-song quarantine concert.

The platinum-certified Chicago-born emcee performs three songs on a basketball court for his Tiny Desk quarantine concert.

Dressed as devils from their own homes, Sadie Dupuis and her virtual band explore the wild textures of her sweet-and-sour pop songs.

The R&B superstar assembled some frequent collaborators — including Skrillex — for a six-song quarantine concert.

Gregory Porter, Brad Mehldau and Chris Potter all appear in this 18-musician Tiny Desk quarantine concert, organized by Snarky Puppy's Michael League.

The Nashville singer-songwriter delivers an empowering performance in this Tiny Desk quarantine concert.

Let the Atlanta hip-hop collective take you to church in its Tiny Desk quarantine video.

Phish bassist Mike Gordon and guitarist Leo Kottke perform a magical Tiny Desk quarantine show, with a little help from Phish drummer Jon Fishman.

The blues prodigy performs a special Tiny Desk show at the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Miss.

The pop-meet-classical duo perform a quarantine concert from their New York City apartment.

Global superstar Ozuna performs five songs in quarantine for Tiny Desk.

Two members of Brazilian musical royalty unite for a special Tiny Desk quarantine performance (and a heck of a view).

Colombian actor and singer Carlos Vives has been performing Latin American hits for almost 30 years. His Tiny Desk (home) concert is part of our Hispanic Heritage Month extravaganza.

The Polaris Music Prize winner kicks off our week-long Tiny Desk celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Wayne Coyne has been preparing for this era of social distancing for 10 years. Watch The Flaming Lips perform in bubbles for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.

The singer-songwriter performs four songs on her porch in Asheville, N.C., for Tiny Desk's quarantine series.

Little Big Town, one of the biggest bands in country music, perform a Tiny Desk quarantine show, and they bring the hits.

Watch Linda Diaz's Tiny Desk concert, recorded atop New York City's Javits Center.

One of R&B's biggest stars performs an eight-song medley for her Tiny Desk quarantine concert.

Americana's most famous couple perform a Tiny Desk quarantine set in their barn, backed by gorgeous stain-glassed windows.

The Rwandan duo perform a concert from a hilltop farm for one of our tiniest Tiny Desks.

Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott perform songs from their latest album, Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was, for our quarantine series.

The Nashville songwriter performs four songs from her picturesque loft apartment, including fan favorite "Hold My Hand."

The Griselda MC takes over a Queens diner to perform a quarantine concert for Tiny Desk.

The rapper convened a live band for his five-song Tiny Desk quarantine concert.

The most popular band in the world performs three songs with a live band for Tiny Desk's quarantine series.

One of the British jazz scene's rising stars performs a quarantine concert on the River Thames.

Watch the young London pop artist perform four songs for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.

The two Grammy Award-winning gospel artists come together for an unapologetic expression of faith and gratefulness in this holiday Tiny Desk home concert.

From Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen in Inglewood, California, our second and final Insecure Tiny Desk takeover is a total Los Angeles affair. The spot where B.K. Habermehl, Nnena, and TeaMarrr gather is also co-owned by series creator and star, Issa Rae. Our first collaboration with Insecure was an experiment just a few weeks into the Tiny Desk (home) experiment last year. We took what we learned and decided to run it back. Hilltop was featured on the show and the addition of L.A.'s own 1500 or Nothin' as the backing band made the refinement complete.

14 years after their last collaboration, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss are back at Sound Emporium, where they recorded their new album Raise The Roof.

Backed by a four-piece band, the Chicago-bred MC plays a Tiny Desk home concert that simmers with soul.

Watch the Pakistan-born singer and her masterful band perform songs of love and loss in a decrepit, yet generously resonant, convent in Brooklyn.

From the DMV, the pop star and her band take on new arrangements of songs from her debut album, SOUR.

Rhian Teasdale, Hester Chambers, and their band perform a playfully wistful Tiny Desk (home) concert from a creative arts space on the Isle of Wight.

The 11-piece band crammed into a coffee shop in Queens, New York, to play three of the most tangible songs from their album, Madison.

After a 20-month hiatus, the cast of the musical comedy celebrates its return with a Tiny Desk (home) concert.

The Akimel Oʼotham folk singer performs four songs for her Tiny Desk (home) concert.

From the Sheet'ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi community house, the Southeast Alaskan artist uses a combination of electronic and acoustic elements to fuel his Tiny Desk home concert.

From his home in Winnipeg, the folk singer emanates thoughtful messages of redemption and love.

Adorning hues that recall the title of her latest EP, If Orange Was a Place, the Nigerian singer performs a Tiny Desk home concert from an elegant performance space in Lagos.

The torchbearer for Mexican Regional music plays a Tiny Desk home concert from his ranch in Sinaloa.

In their Tiny Desk (home) concert, The War On Drugs gather in their packed studio in Burbank, CA to let us in on the fun and intricate inner workings of their craft.

It felt good to be at the Tiny Desk, if only for one night. Tiny Desk Contest winner Neffy plays her winning song, "Wait Up," plus three more in the first Tiny Desk concert since March 2020.

Ed Sheeran performs a Tiny Desk (home) concert surrounded by bookshelves and a host of world-class musicians.

In Circuit des Yeux's Tiny Desk (home) concert — recorded at Chicago's historic May Chapel — Haley Fohr's operatic, four-octave vibrato contains a wondrous terror, but also an illumination of being.

The cast of Jagged Little Pill celebrates their return to Broadway with a Tiny Desk (home) performance of songs from the iconic Alanis Morissette album of the same name.

For her Tiny Desk (home) concert, Yasmin Williams keeps the background sparse to foreground her inventive playing.

From Preservation Hall in New Orleans, the rhythmically fueled group broadcasts a powerful performance for a not-so Tiny crowd.

Pop sensation Camila Cabello brings her famous hits back home, backing powerful vocals with Cuban congueros and Mexican mariachi.

Nicki Nicole's Tiny Desk home concert is representative of her artistry writ large, as an artist born in 2000 but with a connection to sounds and styles beyond her years.

The Dominican-Italian singer performs an "El Tiny" concert from Soho Beach House in Miami.

The Dominican-American superstar plays his "El Tiny" concert from a barbershop in The Bronx.

The Panamanian singer celebrates reggaetón with an El Tiny performance set in a library.

The Cuban vocalist and her parents perform a three-song set from Havana for this stop of our "El Tiny" tour of Latin music.

The Mexican singer returns to the instrument workshop that started it all, performing a stunning set from her parent's home in Veracruz, Mexico.

The pop singer premieres new music with family and friends for her "El Tiny" home concert.

The Colombian indie rock band performs a colorful and funky four-song set from their home country's capital, Bogotá.

The reggaetón superstar kicks off our "El Tiny" takeover of the Tiny Desk (home) concert series.

The formidable lyricist celebrates eight years of sobriety with this Tiny Desk home concert from his studio near Detroit.

Pastor T.L. Barrett comes to this Tiny Desk (home) concert from his spiritual home, the Chicago church he has pastored for over 40 years.

The Memphis singer-songwriter reworks songs from her debut album, Dawn, from a room inside Electric Lady Studios

One of the DMV's most formidable forces bounces around her varied discography for her Tiny Desk home concert.

The three sisters play songs from their latest album, Good Woman, from the house they grew up in.

The London rapper performs songs from her new album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert from a living room dropped inside a void.

The trap superstars perform three songs at Gallery Dept. in Los Angeles for this pandemic edition of Tiny Desk.

Watch the folk-soul singer-songwriter perform four songs from her new album, in defense of my own happiness.

Ronald and Ernie Isley broadcast from their St. Louis, Mo. studio to share four classics from the Isley Brothers' legendary catalog.

Backed by members of Sylvan Esso, Mountain Man, Bon Iver and more, Flock of Dimes' Jenn Wasner performs three songs from her new album, Head of Roses.

Watch Ben Howard play songs from his latest album, Collections from the Whiteout as well as the premiere of a new tune.

Very chill aliens, chickens and monsters join the Australian R&B group during its Tiny Desk set from Melbourne.

From an empty Shea Theater in Turners Falls, Mass., the trio plays songs from their new album, Sweep It Into Space, along with two towering classics.

The South London band, backed by a compendium of violins, horns and more, plays songs from its latest album, Drunk Tank Pink.

Alone amidst the mist and moss near her new home on Ireland's western coast, Savage performs three songs that cohere around the theme of emerging from the darkness of a toxic relationship.

From the lush gardens of The Houdini estate in Los Angeles, the influential Atlanta rapper premiers songs from his forthcoming album, Punk.

Vince Staples brings the sound of his new self-titled album to life for his Tiny Desk (home) concert.

The Australian singer-songwriter performs four songs from her album To Enjoy Is the Only Thing.

The Canadian band led by Tamara Lindeman plays four songs from their latest album, Ignorance somewhere in the woods of Mulmur in Southern Ontario.

The Compton poet's vulnerable music required minimal adjustment to fit into our space.

The band is beloved for its live shows and masterful at bringing new fans into its fold — and its Tiny Desk gives us all a good idea of how it weaves that magic.

One of the most respected names in Latin jazz gives a commanding performance behind the Tiny Desk.

The cult-beloved Philly singer-songwriter plays a handful of stripped-down songs from across his vast discography, including songs from this year's God Save The Animals.

The Belgian superstar's Tiny Desk is a portrait of a world-class showman at the height of his powers.

The K-pop superstar and BTS member performs a set of solo material in front of a very impressive replica of the Tiny Desk.

The duo, featuring Sylvan Esso's Amelia Meath and Daughter of Swords' Alexandra Sauser-Monnig, gives a playful, fun-filled performance of sublime songs.

The songwriter's grungy dream-pop sound and sweet, sincere voice are perfectly suited to the Tiny Desk.

Santigold performs her genre-straddling R&B and electro-pop in a set that returns to her DIY, punk roots.

Horace Andy performs in his signature raspy, gruff tenor from the living room of producer Adrian Sherwood.

Watch the rising young cellist transform a Bob Marley classic, explore brand new preludes and unspool a weepy Welsh ballad.