Seven Tiny Desk Concerts Featuring Berklee Alumni

NPRs Tiny Desk concert series has spotlighted hundreds of groups over the past decade, performing original material at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen. Listen to a sampling of Tiny Desk performances by Berklee alumni.

Watch Esperanza Spaldings Tiny Desk set

Esperanza Spalding Bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding B.M. 05 18H is known for her fresh blend of jazz, rock, funk, soul, and R&B. She and her fellow performers played several tunes from her third album, Chamber Music Society, in their 2010 Tiny Desk performance.

Watch Big Thiefs Tiny Desk set

Big Thief Indie rock band Big Thief is composed of Berklee alumni Adrianne Lenker, Buck Meek, James Krivchenia, and Mark Oleartchik. They began playing together after graduation in Brooklyn, where theyre still based. Big Thief performed a Tiny Desk set soon after releasing their debut album, Masterpiece, in 2016, with several songs from the record, including the title track.

Watch Lalah Hathaways Tiny Desk set

Lalah Hathaway Soul singer Lalah Hathaway B.M. 94 paid tribute to Boston, which became her second home during her years at Berklee, in her Tiny Desk set. She also sang about modern-day romance in Change Ya Life and drew on the complicated legacy of the Civil Rights Movement in Honestly.

Watch Lucius Tiny Desk set

Lucius All five original members of Lucius are Berklee alumni, but the group came together in Brooklyn after college. Their 2012 Tiny Desk concert featured songs from their self-titled debut EP, which swings from sixties girl-group pop to soulful folk and back again.

Watch Usman Riazs Tiny Desk set

Usman Riaz Pakistani musician and TED senior fellow Usman Riaz learned classical guitar at a young age, but taught himself to play other instruments and compose music using the internet. His 2014 Tiny Desk set featured percussive guitar, piano, and harmonica.

Watch Aimee Manns Tiny Desk set

Aimee Mann Prolific singer-songwriter Aimee Mann B.M. 80 performed songs from her latest album, Mental Illness, at a Tiny Desk concert in 2017. She joked about the songs depressing feel, but the audience responded to her honesty and warmth.

Watch Nick Hakims Tiny Desk set

Nick Hakim Queens-based neo-soul musician Nick Hakim came back home to D.C. for a Tiny Desk set in early 2018. He performed several songs from his 2017 record, Green Twins.

Related categories:

News

Related Reading

Behind the Mic of NPRs Tiny Desk Concert Series Tiny Desk audio director Josh Rogosin talked about the human side of sound engineering at a Cafe 939 event.

Nile Rodgers, Rosanne Cash, Esperanza Spalding Honored at Berklee College of Music Commencement More than 1,000 graduates from 72 countries and 38 U.S. states received degrees today at Berklee's 2018 commencement.

Five Berklee Women Pushing the Limits of Electronic Performance From live loop alchemists to synth mavens, here are five women artists carving out new sonic territory.

More from Berklee Now

Most Popular

Student Spent Summer Helping People Walk, Talk Eighth-semester student Megan Griffith worked at a highly sought-after internship in neurologic music therapy.

Latest

Seven Tiny Desk Concerts Featuring Berklee Alumni NPRs popular Tiny Desk concert series has featured many artists with Berklee connections.

Two Berklee Alumni Take Home Emmy Awards Ramin Djawadi B.M. '98 and Elmo Ponsdomenech '83 received Emmy Awards for their outstanding contributions to two acclaimed television programs this year.

Kathryn Bostic Named Berklee Film Scoring Artist in Residence The composers residency is made possible through a grant from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Read All

Subscribe The latest sounds, stories, and ideas, sent to your inbox weekly.

Berklee Blogs

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

Instagram

Snapchat

Soundcloud

Spotify

LINK:	https://www.berklee.edu/news/berklee-now/seven-tiny-desk-concerts-feat...
	See more stories from berklee

Most recent headlines