From Artists’ Homes To Yours: Introducing Tiny Desk (Home) Concerts

Plus, new music from Bob Dylan and Brian Eno.

by Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna Margo Price/Courtesy of the artist In the past few weeks, a lot of people have transitioned to working from home — and that includes us. If you’re like us, it’s been a bit of an adjustment: We’re perfecting our video conference etiquette and testing the limits of our home WiFi, all while we share our home workspaces with roommates, partners, children and pets. All distractions aside, we’re grateful to be working, and while it’s easy to get sidetracked at home, there’s one workplace diversion we really, really miss: Tiny Desk concerts. Since most NPR employees are working remotely, we’ve had to postpone many Tiny Desk tapings. But this week, we found a new way to continue the spirit of the Tiny Desk — stripped-down sets in an intimate setting — by asking artists to film themselves performing at their homes (or wherever they’re quarantining). We’re calling them Tiny Desk (home) concerts. This week, we shared two performances from Nashville — songwriter Sophie Allison, aka Soccer Mommy, and Margo Price (along with her husband, Jeremy Ivey) — and one from New Orleans, courtesy of Tarriona “Tank” Ball of the Tiny Desk Contest-winning group Tank and the Bangas. And we’ve got plenty more planned. We’ll be rolling out a few each week, and sharing some of the regular Tiny Desk concerts we recorded before going remote. In the meantime, we want you to weigh in: Let us know using the email button at the bottom of this newsletter who you’d like to see perform from home.  Stay tiny (and socially distant), Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna Newsletter continues after sponsor message New Music Bob Dylan surprised fans late Thursday night with an epic, previously-unreleased song called "Murder Most Foul” about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It includes a roll call of pop culture references — so we’ve compiled a playlist of all the songs Dylan references in the song. If you’re looking for some tranquil, calm new music, All Songs Considered has you covered. This week, Bob Boilen spoke to his musical hero, Brian Eno, about the new ambient album he made with his brother Roger, and how their relationship as brothers shapes their work as musical collaborators.  This week, Bright Eyes released its first new song in nine years. While the band’s world tour is on hold, the Conor Oberst-led project is still releasing new music — starting with the anxious, melancholic "Persona Non Grata.” Featuring Manu Dibango, one of the pioneers of Afro-funk music, died this week of COVID-19. The saxophonist’s 1972 song "Soul Makossa" became the first track by an African artist to make it on the American charts as a Top 40 tune. Bobi Wine, a pop star who became an opposition leader in Uganda, is fighting the spread of coronavirus in a signature Bobi Wine way: with a music video, set to an Afrobeat backdrop with a reggae touch. It’s full of practical advice like washing your hands and keeping your distance from other people. Every year, the National Recording Registry picks 25 songs to be preserved for posterity. Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden called this year’s selections "the ultimate stay at home playlist.” It includes Tina Turner's 1984 pop hit "Private Dancer," the disco classic "Y.M.C.A." and more. This year marks the 100th birthday of the mysterious theremin, an otherworldly instrument that makes the player look like a magician. (Need proof? See this Tiny Desk concert.) For Armen Ra, one little white lie – that he was studying the instrument – provided the ticket to moving into an entirely new phase of life. Calming Diversions This week, we continued to share new editions of Our Daily Breather: a series where we ask writers and artists to recommend one thing that's helping them get through the days of isolation during the coronavirus pandemic. This week, Thundercat recommended crying and watching anime, Vanessa Carlton shared her love for Liz Phair’s memoir, and Jason Isbell wrote about a documentary about Siberian fur trappers. For more recommendations, check out the whole series.   Tiny Desk Claire Harbage/NPR Escape the pajamas and loungewear of late with a playlist of the best-dressed Tiny Desk performers. Also: We announced an extension to the Tiny Desk Contest deadline this week. You now have until April 27 to send us a video of you performing behind a desk for a chance to play at ours. One More Thing And now for a face-melting moment of catharsis from the internet's favorite kid drummer. What do you think of today's email? 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