K'Naan NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Hay HIP-HOP mas alla de Eminem... y el resto de "habitantes del cielo musical de los discos de platino..."
Though his appearance at the NPR Music office qualifies as the first-ever hip-hop Tiny Desk Concert, Somali-born rapper K'naan isn't one to adhere to a single genre. Given that he released a song called "If Rap Gets Jealous" earlier this year, it's no surprise that this show found him infusing his music with the sounds of soul, pop and reggae. With the help of a crack backing band, his three-song set — all drawing from this spring's marvelous Troubadour, proves what we've been saying for months, K'naan has the makings of a global superstar who's as inspiring as his songs are infectious.

Setlist:
"Fatima," "Wavin' Flag," and "Take a Minute."

Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeroes NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Uno no puede evitar sonreir y recordar con esa sonrisa la última concion de "La vida de Brian" al escucharlos...y tambien recordar el espíritu de Woodstoke...la alegria de vivir...vale la pena perder un ratito de tiempo en escuchar este acustico coral...
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros can't exactly slip into an office building unnoticed: Clad in the same clothes they'd worn at a concert the night before, the L.A. band's 10 ragtag misfits would have fit in far more seamlessly at, say, Burning Man. Seeming to exist in a blissed-out alternate universe — during the wonderful "Home," singer Jade Castrinos exclaims, "Good morning, everybody!" as the clock behind her reads 2:10 p.m. — this is a band whose performances beg to be seen as well as heard, not to mention shot through a wide-angle lens.

The biggest band to play a Tiny Desk Concert - the 10 members of The Magnetic Zeroes played three songs from their debut album (Up From Below).

The set included:
- Janglin
- Home
- 40 Day Daydream

NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert: The Heligoats

The Heligoats' Chris Otepka is the star of NPR Music's 100th Tiny Desk Concert. In many ways, he's the perfect act to mark that milestone: His music is best heard in an intimate setting, where his words can unfurl clearly and he can hold a small room rapt -- which he does here, to say the least.

Set List:
"Goodness Gracious"
"I'm Pretty Sure I Can See Molecules"
"A Guide to the Outdoors"
"Fish Sticks"
I remember...Bob Dylan while I see...

NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert: Gyptian

Gyptian, who'd already conquered radio from Kingston to French Guyana and London with his song "Hold You," won hearts at NPR Music's Washington, D.C., office within moments of walking in the door.

Set List:
"Hold You"
"Beautiful Lady"
"Nah Let Go"

NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert: Khaira Arby

Khaira Arby, the queen of desert rock, arrived like international royalty to perform selections from her new album, Timbuktu Tarab. Watch the Malian singer unveil her stunning vocal chops with her seven-piece band at the NPR Music offices.

Set List:
"Salou"
"Cinquantenaire"
"Goumou"

NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert: Olof Arnalds

The Icelandic singer usually warbles her folk-flavored tunes in her native Nordic tongue. But her new record, Innundir Skinni, is her first to include songs sung in English. Watch Arnalds perform a lovely Tiny Desk Concert from the NPR Music office

Set List:
"Innundir Skinni"
"Surrender"
"Crazy Car"

NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert: Black Dub

At the NPR Music offices, Trixie Whitley and Daniel Lanois brought a variety of instrumental backing, including an electronic bed for the single "I Believe in You," only to ditch many of the accoutrements on the fly. The result is a gripping and revealing performance.

Set List:
"Surely"
"Silverado"
"I Believe In You"
"I'd Rather Go Blind"

NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert: Esperanza Spalding

The bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding conceived of Chamber Music Society as an intimate experience, a close musical exchange between a small group of friends. If it was intimacy she wanted, she got her wish: Performing three songs in the constraints of Bob Boilen's workspace ensures that all of her supporting players were nice and cozy.

Set List:

"Little Fly"
"Midnight Sun"
"Apple Blossom"