Whether you’re a notification-receiving superfan or a casual viewer, I can say with confidence that most of you have probably stumbled upon NPR’s Tiny Desk before. Tiny Desk concerts are an ongoing YouTube series where artists perform brief, live and stripped-down sets of their recently released music. I’ve been a Tiny Desk lover since middle school, when my interest in music first began developing. The series has come a long way since then, and today serves as a fun outlet for artists to showcase not only their purely technical skills with live vocals and instrumentation but also their passion and creativity.
Tiny Desk has always been a more hidden corner of pop culture, but I’ve noticed that the series has grown in recent years to become a potential career launcher for lesser-known artists. An example of this shift that comes to mind immediately is Chappell Roan’s now iconic episode from March 2024. I have a rather biased personal connection to this performance, as it was the catalyst for my diehard love for Roan’s music and artistry. We’re all aware at this point of Roan’s powerhouse vocals and creative muscles, but this performance in particular was many people’s first exposure to her sheer power. Roan is at her absolute best on the Tiny Desk stage — her smile shines through as she dances with her band, belts her highest notes and holds up her massively teased wig with her acrylics. My dad is a massive “Pink Pony Club” fan, but he had never been fully convinced that Roan was more than a one-hit wonder (his words, not mine). However, I was proud to see his eyes light up when I made him watch the episode with me.
Another incredibly recent Tiny Desk obsession of mine is Doechii’s episode, released on Dec. 6. I couldn’t name a single Doechii song two days ago, and now I’ve proudly and fully hopped onto the train of people convinced that she is the future of hip-hop. I could write another page on just how phenomenally talented Doechii is as an artist, but what stuck out to me the most in this performance was the sheer joy of those on stage creating the art. Doechii and her band are absolutely electric, in complete communication with one another as they work together. If you take anything I say seriously, please stop reading right now and go watch this performance.
While these two episodes are clearly my favorites, I also want to recommend Tiny Desk (Home) Concerts, the series that began during COVID-19 when performing in the titular office desk set was no longer possible. In my opinion, this specific series gives artists an even more creative edge to their performances. Lucy Dacus tears up the acoustic guitar in a classroom in her Virginia high school while Olivia Rodrigo dazzles from the DMV.
In case I haven’t made it clear, I am a huge proponent of the power of NPR’s Tiny Desk. Don’t just take my recommendations as facts, though; I urge you to explore the YouTube channel and find your own favorites.
