Considering the current trends in mainstream music, many listeners look for an artistic refuge from high-gloss, studio-produced music. This isn’t to say that high value music production is bad; many critically acclaimed albums of the past decade include just this type of production. But it’s important to consider the alternatives to this, and why they matter.  

The ultimate version of these alternatives is the NPR Tiny Desk Concert. The NPR Tiny Desk Concerts  offer an intricate and sometimes even heartfelt perspective on some of the most loved modern music artists. While there are a great many performances that stand out, some are simply a cut above the rest. My personal favorite performance comes from modern hip-hop’s quadruple threat, Big K.R.I.T. 

 A man who grew up in the heart of Mississippi, Big K.R.I.T. Is a rapper, singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. 

Mainly known for classy, rich, lavish, but conscious music, he takes influence from a multitude of southern music legends, such as T.I, Ceelo Green, and Andre 3000, to name a few. And not surprisingly, K.R.I.T’s performance is everything you could ever want in a Tiny Desk performance. 

The minimal instrumentals perfectly accompany the low-key, soulful singing and rapping that K.R.I.T delivers on 3 of his most notable and impressive tracks. The vocals delivered on the toned down version of “Bury Me In Gold” are peaceful and thoughtful, as K.R.I.T. sings and raps about the importance of his family and loved ones in his upbringing. The smooth bass and contemplative delivery are a sight to behold, along with how well the somber instrumentation fits the rapping.

That’s not all though. In between the first and second song, K.R.I.T plays a recording of him singing with his grandmother in church, then talking about his childhood and how important music was to him, and that gospel music was an important element in the bond he shared with his grandmother.

So overall, Big K.R.I.T.’s Tiny Desk performance is a perfect example of what the stripped-back, low-key environment can do to enhance the emotional qualities of an artist’s music. 

K.R.I.T. is not the only example of a stellar performance though, as artists like The Alabama Shakes and Shovels and Rope delivered equally impressive and high caliber concerts. 

However, the effect doesn’t apply to all performers.  There are some musical guests who bring a lackluster energy, or dry vocal performances. Considering all of these factors, Taylor Swift’s concert comes to mind. Taylor Swift is known for her quaint ballads and folk-heavy influences within her music as of late, as well as her emotionally charged vocal delivery. But for whatever reason, any trace of these qualities seemed gone on her Tiny Desk performance. She seemed to struggle in the close and personal environment, often shooting for a vocal key that didn’t fit her voice. 

Comparatively, Big K.R.I.T recognized his weaknesses as a singer and kept a low-key and somber tone throughout the performance. It just shows that the setup plays to the strengths of some artists, but not to all musicians.  

It’s a shame that the personal nature of the concerts knock some artists off their A-game. This is perhaps due to the entertainment world often frowning upon authenticity.   

It’s clear to me the purpose NPR Tiny Desk concerts serve in the current music landscape. It is reassuring to see an artist that I hold in high regard hold up so well in an environment that is so musically focused. In the current music industry, image and presentation often serve a greater purpose than the core artistic vision, so it’s an odd form of confirmation to see the artist, and their music and their raw talent and ambition on display. Nothing else matters at that moment.