Kehlani: Tiny Desk Concert
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- 14:55
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- Music
Alanté Serene | July 31, 2024
When I first heard Kehlani’s debut mixtape, it was a comfort that reminded me of home. The proud Oakland, Calif. native was 19 years old when that project dropped, and so was I. The tracklist was exactly what I needed as a new Washington, D.C. transplant, thousands of miles away from all of my loved ones in the Bay Area. Over the past decade I’ve followed Kehlani along their journey, growing with them as we both experienced young adulthood. Vulnerability is their superpower, and that power was put to the test at the Tiny Desk, where Kehlani succeeds with flying colors.
“It’s been a long time coming. I definitely know I’m overdue for doing this [Tiny Desk],” Kehlani says in their set. The journey starts with “Nights Like This,” the heartbreak single from their 2019 mixtape, While We Wait. Then, Kehlani switches gears into “Distraction,” from their debut album SweetSexySavage, followed by an effortless merge into “The Way,” from the 2015 project, You Should Be Here.
After the sultry sounds of “Can I,” Kehlani parks their performance for a moment. “I want to take a second to say: Free Palestine. Free Congo. Free Sudan. Free Yemen. Free Hawaii. Free Guam,” they say. “It’s deeper than this. I need everybody that’s here right now, everybody that’s watching, to step up, to use their voices.” The set then accelerates into “After Hours,” the groovy, summertime anthem from their latest album, CRASH. Kehlani conquers the Desk with raw and real talent, setting them up for a future in music that is full of possibilities. I’m eager to see their next destination.
SET LIST
“Nights Like This”
“Distraction”
“The Way”
“Can I”
“After Hours”
MUSICIANS
Kehlani: lead vocals
Freaky Rob: guitar, musical direction
Doctor O: keys
Simba: bass
Jermaine Poindexter: drums
Karyn Porter: vocals
Chelsea West: vocals
Jasmine Patton: vocals
TINY DESK TEAM
Producers: Alanté Serene, Bobby Carter
Director/Editor: Maia Stern
Audio Technical Director: Hannah Gluvna
Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Grace Raver
Audio Engineer: Phil Edfors
Production Assistant: Elle Mannion
Photographer: Keren Carrión
Tiny Desk Team: Kara Frame, Ashley Pointer, Hazel Cills
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
#kehlani #nprmusic #tinydesk
When I first heard Kehlani’s debut mixtape, it was a comfort that reminded me of home. The proud Oakland, Calif. native was 19 years old when that project dropped, and so was I. The tracklist was exactly what I needed as a new Washington, D.C. transplant, thousands of miles away from all of my loved ones in the Bay Area. Over the past decade I’ve followed Kehlani along their journey, growing with them as we both experienced young adulthood. Vulnerability is their superpower, and that power was put to the test at the Tiny Desk, where Kehlani succeeds with flying colors.
“It’s been a long time coming. I definitely know I’m overdue for doing this [Tiny Desk],” Kehlani says in their set. The journey starts with “Nights Like This,” the heartbreak single from their 2019 mixtape, While We Wait. Then, Kehlani switches gears into “Distraction,” from their debut album SweetSexySavage, followed by an effortless merge into “The Way,” from the 2015 project, You Should Be Here.
After the sultry sounds of “Can I,” Kehlani parks their performance for a moment. “I want to take a second to say: Free Palestine. Free Congo. Free Sudan. Free Yemen. Free Hawaii. Free Guam,” they say. “It’s deeper than this. I need everybody that’s here right now, everybody that’s watching, to step up, to use their voices.” The set then accelerates into “After Hours,” the groovy, summertime anthem from their latest album, CRASH. Kehlani conquers the Desk with raw and real talent, setting them up for a future in music that is full of possibilities. I’m eager to see their next destination.
SET LIST
“Nights Like This”
“Distraction”
“The Way”
“Can I”
“After Hours”
MUSICIANS
Kehlani: lead vocals
Freaky Rob: guitar, musical direction
Doctor O: keys
Simba: bass
Jermaine Poindexter: drums
Karyn Porter: vocals
Chelsea West: vocals
Jasmine Patton: vocals
TINY DESK TEAM
Producers: Alanté Serene, Bobby Carter
Director/Editor: Maia Stern
Audio Technical Director: Hannah Gluvna
Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Grace Raver
Audio Engineer: Phil Edfors
Production Assistant: Elle Mannion
Photographer: Keren Carrión
Tiny Desk Team: Kara Frame, Ashley Pointer, Hazel Cills
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
#kehlani #nprmusic #tinydesk
@nprmusic
Help us help you: Take the Tiny Desk survey. npr.org/tinydesksurvey
36 likes
@deangelabriggs6413
15 minutes for Kehlani is crazy but I’m gone be grateful 😢
11K likes
@vuyolwethu_m26
Kehlani said they hadn't done a Tiny Desk because they didn't have Tiny Desk worthy music before this album.... then proceeded to perform all the old songs and only one song from this album ❤❤❤
6.8K likes
@cammigreen
The back up singers ATE THIS UP ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
1.1K likes
@nasatheinfluence
The entire band and backup singers were so engaged and you can tell they REALLY enjoyed this
509 likes
@wontoo333
THIS TINY DESK SHOULD’VE BEEN LONGER. Kehlani is a WHOLE VIBE
3.8K likes
@SIYIIII
Kehlani mentioned that she was nervous because she didn’t have in-ear monitor and she has hearing loss, so she was afraid that she couldn’t control her tone properly 🥺 this made me respect her even more and she really gave her best for her tiny desk performance!! She is the only few artistes who would use their voice for a greater purpose 💖 not to forget, the band is really sick and the chemistry and harmony between everyone is insane !!!
3.4K likes
@jhnnybear7573
she's never afraid to use her voice for the people and that's what I love about her. Thank you Tiny Desk for being apart of the movement and letting her use this platform for good.
1.7K likes
@ilaiantala
I love Kehlani for using her voice here, she's amazing. Free Palestine, Congo, Sudan, etc!
258 likes
@adreeanaalmirakamal7809
Even in tiny desk, she still speak up about how we shouldn't ignore what happened to our brother and sister in Palestine, Sudan, Yemen, Congo, Hawaii and Guam... She always be an angel..😭😭😭💖
1.6K likes
@boombadaadaboss
I’m still mad Kehlani didn’t get not one Grammy nomination for “It was good until I wasn’t” I STILL play that album down
1.1K likes
@lanapurdy7376
You can tell they were nervous at the beginning but they did so well!! I’ve been a fan since 2015 so this is so surreal😭😭
5K likes
@Rayvibe_boy
Who's here in 2026😊
147 likes
@AriaandAliya
Something so simple yet so big that I noticed…when she introduced the band, she introduced the singers as “singers” and not background singers. She has such a big heart ❤
2.4K likes
@oliviahsna
that mic is ONNNN omg she’s so freakin good live… she sounds even better than the records, I can’t
2.9K likes
@Erocksawesome
The Aunties as backup singers with their matching nails 🥰🫶🏼 this was so great! Whole crew is 🤌🏼🤌🏼
2.9K likes
@learnwitheri
Short but powerful, she took her one moment to speak to turn up for a free palestine, congo, sudan, guam and hawaii. Keffiyeh, nails, and watermelon noted. We need more like her <3
32 likes
@ashleytaylor7876
The way she gave her guitarists a minute and even moved out the wayyyy. QUEEN BEHAVIOR
2K likes
@arlyxo
her support for Palestine 🇵🇸 never goes unnoticed 🫶🏽
3.2K likes
@tal2004een
time stamps <3
0:00 Nights like this
2:50 Distraction
4:55 The way
6:28 Can I
9:54 After hours
+ love kehlani & her keffiyeh !!!
free palestine 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸
2.9K likes