Top 10 NPR Tiny Desk Concerts of All Time
For more than a decade, NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts have offered a rare kind of musical magic that has found a distinct home in all of our musical hearts. Intimate, unfiltered performances that strip back the veneer of studio recording polish in favour of warm and close-knit sets. Whether you’re scouring the internet for a new late-night discovery or revisiting your favourite artist in an entirely new light, Tiny Desk has become the stage where music feels closest. We decided to compile a top ten list of some of the most unique, magical and all-around outstanding Tiny Desk performances, reminding ourselves why this remarkable stage rests unchallenged.
Mac Miller
Mac Miller was no stranger to lighting up a room, and this Tiny Desk serves as a masterclass in doing so. From the start, his charismatic character shines through the viewer’s screen; while bantering with the audience and the other performers, he’s seen smiling ear to ear. Despite this being his last ever performance, there is an uplifting energy that fills the entire room, part of what makes this Tiny Desk particularly unique. The crown jewel of this video is the performance of “2009” off the 2018 album Swimming. You feel the weight of the room, and as Miller progresses through the introspective and emotional lyrics of this song, one cannot help but shed a tear (or maybe a few). This Tiny Desk is a glaring reminder of what Miller was capable of and his wide range of interests and abilities. Rest easy, Mac Miller.
Doechii
What a year it has been for this powerhouse! Fresh off her drop of the Grammy award-winning album, Alligator Bites Don’t Heal, Doechii delivered one of the most creative and rhythmic performances to hit the Tiny Desk studio. It functioned like an ecosystem, with the transitions being absolutely flawless and each performer relying on the other, showcasing Doechii’s talent in a way we have not seen before. Important to note: Doechii managed to deliver all of her songs at a quicker pace, breezing through eight tracks within 23minutes. It is safe to say that this performance proved why Kendrick Lamar claimed that Doechii is “the hardest out there.” What an icon.
Tyler, The Creator
Starting with the lighting, Tyler, The Creator is one of the first artists to really incorporate the space around him into the mood, tone and vibe of his performance at Tiny Desk. The performance opens with a slow jazz version of his 2017 hit, “Boredom”, that slowly picks up and carries you on a fun and at times whimsical journey. The highlight of this performance, however, was the two extraordinary vocalists accompanying Tyler, Kaye Fox and Kiandra Richardson. They provide smoothness, grace and were the backbone of some of the songs with their beautiful voices. This performance takes the essence of a groovy jazz bar and manages to bottle it perfectly. Highly suggest slapping it on if you ever want to impress people at a dinner party.
Clipse
Coming off their reunion album, Let God Sort ‘Em Out, Clipse reminded us exactly what we were missing in their 15-year hiatus. From the start, you feel that there is something different about this performance. The rap duo kicked off the performance with their 2002 hit, “Virginia”, setting the tone perfectly. The energy of both Pusha T and Malice glows through the screen, as you can feel how much this reunion and performance mean to both of the rappers. Together, they delivered the type of performance that makes you physically unable to keep still, awakening something primal in each viewer. Once again, they reminded everyone exactly why this duo works so incredibly well.
Imogen Heap
This Tiny Desk is truly one of a kind, quite like Miss Imogen Heap herself. It’s out there, esoteric, and a little funny at times, but undeniably gorgeous. This performance starts out slowly, with Heap showing off her haunting yet gentle vocals in her songs. She begins with “Guitar Song” and “Speeding Cars”, then progresses into her well-known hit, “Hide and Seek.” This is where things get serious, as Heap brings out her trademark MiMU gloves, which can control her vocals as well as certain synths, with just the slightest movement of her hand. The audience is struck, watching Heap use these very gloves to harmonize with herself, commanding sound waves like an ancient entity. This performance is a tear-jerker in an unconventional way by absolutely wowing the viewer with what music has to offer.
Usher
On any Tiny Desk List you’ll encounter on the internet, 9 times out of 10, Usher’s iconic performance will be featured. This is no mistake, as Usher’s voice fills the whole room with his signature charm and smooth yet powerful voice. This was a special performance as part of NPR’s Black Music Month, which honours black musical icons and albums. This performance showcased a more mature and stripped-down version of his songs, which translated beautifully to the Tiny Desk stage. This performance absolutely cemented Usher as a timeless artist, not just in R&B but with all of music.
Erykah Badu
Nobody is cooler than Erykah Badu, and that is once again evident from the first 30 seconds of this Tiny Desk. She incorporates her discourse with the crowd and interweaves it with the beginning beats of her song “Rimshot,” even discussing her various aliases in the process. Not every artist can get away with this, proving her flow is absolutely unmatched. While the setlist is only two songs long, Badu makes up for it by gracefully stretching her songs into a beautiful arrangement, all while working with the crowd and performers beside her.
Angel Olsen
You may need to mentally prepare yourself before watching this Tiny Desk. While the rest of these performances are upbeat and mostly joyous, Olsen’s shows us the beauty of the exact opposite. For around 22 minutes, indie-folk star Angel Olsen strums on her guitar, singing some of the most haunting lyrics and melodies to hit the NPR building. The entire time she’s doing this, Olsen is staring at the ground and strumming, barely making eye contact with the camera or the audience. The entire room is stunned, and for a second, Olsen almost makes the whole world go silent. This truly is a masterpiece in its own haunting category; only a few artists can touch.
Sabrina Carpenter
One of the true showcases of talent is being able to take the temperature of a room and adjust to it effortlessly. Carpenter’s Tiny Desk performance is a class act example of doing so. Occasionally, when bigger and newer artists perform at the Tiny Desk studio without their bells and whistles, it can be translated weirdly or fall completely flat–sometimes even creating a forgettable performance. Carpenter steered clear of this completely and turned the Tiny Desk studio into an intimate, fun coffeehouse-like environment. Coming off her very big and vivacious tongue-in-cheek album, Short n Sweet, Carpenter slows down her upbeat pop tunes for an overall cool-off vibe.
Chaka Kahn
From the start, this performance grabs your attention. Whether you’re a fan of Chaka Khan or not, this Tiny Desk is by far one of the best to hit the NPR building. It is evident when the beginning beats of 1974’s “Tell Me Something Good” play that Kahn is not here to mess around. Guitarist Rob Bacon opened the talk box (vocal instrument), creating the perfect entrance for Miss Kahn to come in swinging. The energy is infectious, and the viewer cannot help but sway, jive and sing along in response. Khan doesn’t slow down after the first song; in fact, she kicks it into high gear with her other hit, “What Cha’ Gonna Do for Me”, where she belts and refuses to miss a single beat, delivering a flawless and timeless rendition. This performance proves once again that she truly is the Queen of Funk.
Where Intimacy Meets Iconic…
Tiny Desk has, over time, become more than just another performance series; it has seismically grown into a cultural stage where legacy musicians remind us of their timeless artistry and newcomers unveil the raw and explosive spark that propels them into fame and success. Stripped of the overbearing arena lights and spectacle, each set becomes its own moment of pure connection and vulnerability. In this welcoming space, music breathes differently and takes on a completely new form. Whether it’s Mac Miller’s poignant final notes, Doechii’s fearless rhythm, or Chaka Khan’s funk-drenched power, these performances remind us why the format will always endure. Great music, at its core, only needs honesty, presence, and a desk that is anything but small.
