Hiatus Kaiyote came onto the scene with their debut album, Tawk Tomahawk, back in 2012 and created a groundswell of buzz among global music heads. On 'Rose Water,' the tightness of the band (comprised of Paul Bender, Simon Mavin and Perrin Moss, and joined by their longtime backing vocalists) is on full display. Launching into this brilliant performance with 'Sip Into Something Soft,' Hiatus takes us on a sweet and sultry journey through a host of selections from their new album, Mood Valiant. 'I'm a treasure hunter at heart,' she said, 'and the beautiful thing about dressing a set with sentimental artifacts from my house is that I feel super comfy to perform.' Every intricate detail of this Tiny Desk (home) concert evokes feelings of coziness, psychedelia and joyful performance art. Frontwoman Nai Palm shared with me the impetus behind the design.

Melbourne alt-soul collective Hiatus Kaiyote tricked out its avant-garde recording studio, The Villa, and lathered it with props: a miniature desk, alien costumes, and loads of furry friends. It's the same spirit - stripped-down sets, an intimate setting - just a different space. Introducing NPR Music's Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. No one understands this more than the staff at NPR Music: Here are just a handful of some of their favorite Tiny Desk (home) performances of 2021.The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. The range of artists and locations in the nearly 200 Tiny Desk (home) concerts published this year, as well as the sneak peak of life back in the office with Tiny Desk Contest winner Neffy, gives the series as a whole a new life, a new meaning and new outlook on the world of music. From a high school in Virginia to an avant-garde studio in Melbourne to a performance space in Lagos to a room full of family in Madrid, the Tiny Desk has never been more regionally expansive as it was this year.

It's hard to think of a place where so many people once gathered to celebrate and dance and sing along to their favorite artists as being lonesome - but in spirit, the Tiny Desk has been all over the world. (Renee Klahr/NPR)Īs we inch towards the end of year two of the pandemic, the literal Tiny Desk - the one that belongs to Bob Boilen himself - remains empty in the NPR HQ. Tangana were a few of our favorite Tiny Desk (home) concerts of 2021.

Hiatus kaiyote tiny desk