Tag Archives: NPR Music

Maluma Performs NPR Tiny Desk Concert, Confirms He’ll Soon Be a Dad

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Maluma is celebrating a tiny moment…

The 29-year-old Colombian singer is the latest artist to visit the NPR Tiny Desk for a concert full of his hits and even a tease of his girlfriend’s recent pregnancy announcement.

MalumaMaluma performed songs ranging from “Hawái” and “COCO LOCO” to “Felices los 4” and “Según Quién.” Before singing “ADMV,” Maluma shared that he wrote the song for a cryptic “someone,” and immediately began tearing up.

Maluma revealed that he and his girlfriend, Susana Gomez, are expecting their first child together via a new music video on Friday, October 20.

Titled “Procura,” the song’s clip documents the couple’s relationship with never-before-seen clips, the heartfelt moment they found out they were going to be parents and the lavish sex reveal, when they found out they will be having a girl. The couple also revealed she will be named Paris.

“Music is the only way I can talk to my fans and I wanted to let them know that I’m having a baby,” he said in an interview with NPR Music‘s Alt.Latino. “It’s perfect timing with all of the things that I’m living. I’m looking for more personal experiences too […] I also want to grow as a human being, not only as an artist. This makes me feel so human, but at the same time, the more human I feel, the more artist I get.”

J Balvin Kicks Off NPR’s “El Tiny” Home Concert Series in Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month

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Size doesn’t matter for J Balvin…

The 36-year-old Colombian singer has kicked off NPR‘s “El Tiny” series in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

J Balvin

Balvin’s performance on September 16 was the first of 10 “El Tiny” concerts that will feature Latin artists like Camila Cabello, Prince Royce, Sech, Nicki Nicole and Silvana Estrada. The series will run through October 15, the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Backed by the Brooklyn Bridge in the middle of the East River, the chart-topping artist kicks off his 15-minute mini concert, singing new tracks off his latest and most personal album yet, Jose. He kicks off the set with “Vestido” and goes on to perform “Que Locura,” “OTRO FILI,” “F40” and closes with fan favorite “In Da Getto.”

“Even though we have some of the biggest names in Latin music scheduled, our ‘El Tiny’ takeover of the Tiny Desk (home) concerts is more than just entertainment,” Felix Contreras, host of NPR Music‘s Alt.Latino, said in a statement. “I firmly believe that music has always been an accurate barometer of what’s going on in the Latin communities here in this country. Reggaetón hip-hop, soul, Afro Latino, jazz — it’s all reflected in our lineup and shows how diverse our listening habits, and our community, is.”

 

The nine-time finalist at the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards recently spoke to Billboard about his 24-track set released on September 10. “The album was made thinking about myself and what I like to do,” Balvin said. “When I realized I didn’t have to box myself into a concept, like I did with Colores, I said, ‘The concept is me.'”

Demi Lovato Makes Tiny Desk Debut with Powerhouse Performance

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It’s a not-so-Tiny moment for Demi Lovato…

The 28-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress has made her Tiny Desk debut on with a stripped-down, three-song set from her backyard.

Demi Lovato

Backed by only a keyboardist, Lovato allowed her powerhouse vocals to shine through performances of her 2017 single “Tell Me You Love Me,” along with two cuts — “The Art Of Starting Over” and “Dancing With The Devil” — from her new album, Dancing with the Devil… the Art of Starting Over.

“I’m super excited to be filming this outside, because I’m really, really excited about the weather changing. Spring is my second favorite, and summer is my absolute favorite season, so I’m really happy to be out in the bright, sunny California sun,” Lovato shared between songs.

The singer-songwriter performed against a backdrop of an adorable kitchen set, which included a very small desk, as is appropriate.

Tiny Desk is a video series of live concerts hosted by NPR Music. They’re typically held at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen in Washington, D.C., but are being filmed at offsite due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Carlos Vives Performs 21-Minute Set as Part of NPR Music’s Tiny Desk At-Home Concerts

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Carlos Vives is putting his desk foot forward…

The 59-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter is the latest artist to appear as part of NPR Music’s Tiny Desk at-home concerts, bringing his Colombian flavors to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Carlos Vives

During his 21-minute set earlier this week, during which he was joined by a seven-member band, including his longtime backup vocalist and gaita player, Mayte Montero, Vives kicked off things off with his 1995 hit “Pa’ Mayte,” showcasing the spirited champeta dance.

He then performed one of his newer records, “Cumbiana,” dedicated to the diverse community of Colombia, his Shakira-assisted bop “La Bicicleta,” and the infectious “No Te Vayas,” released earlier this year — all while dancing barefoot in the comfort of his own home.

“On this Tiny Desk during this quarantine, we have written most of the songs for our new album, Cumbiana Vol. 2, next to our producer Andres Leal and Martin Velilla,” says the six-time 2020 Latin Grammy nominee during his performance.

Vives is confirmed to speak at the 2020 Billboard Latin Music Week taking place October 20 to October 23. He’ll be joined by internationally renowned Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, music and artistic director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, in an enlightening conversation on the power of music and the arts as a global agent of change for a better society.

 

The new Tiny Desk (home) concerts, which have featured special guests like Billie Eilish and BTS, are “the same spirit — stripped-down sets, an intimate setting — just a different space.”

Café Tacvba Performs Four Original Songs at the NPR Music Tiny Desk Stage

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Café Tacvba doesn’t need a large stage to make an impact…

The five-piece Mexican band brightened the NPR Music Tiny Desk stage with four original songs in a performance released on Friday.

Café Tacvba 

Café Tacvba brought an arsenal of instruments into the cozy space, including ukuleles, guitars, drums, a bass and a melodica.

They opened with the lively “Olita del Altamar,” with singer Rubén Ortega, donning a blue kimono and two top knots, hopping around the setup centered behind a desk in a book-filled office during the song as he joyfully sang in his signature ragged voice.

The group followed with the noticeably more relaxed “Diente de León,” during which Ortega closed his eyes and raised his hands, getting lost in the gentle guitar strumming and warm drum beats.

“Las Flores” flipped the script with an energetic tempo, which inspired the whole room to clap along to the fun ska groove. The band closed their set with “Que No,” an easygoing ballad about love and moving on.