Summer Walker: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
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Watch Summer Walker play"Session 32", "Wasted", "Girls Need Love", "Riot" and "Playing Games" at the Tiny Desk.
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Oct. 21, 2019 | Rodney Carmichael -- Seconds before the cameras started to roll, Summer Walker showed just how much she was willing to sacrifice for her day at the Tiny Desk: She clipped her nails. It wasn't an aesthetic choice but a pragmatic one. Not even her love for a fresh set of bedazzled acrylics would get in the way of her strumming the soul out of her six-string Fender electric. The guitar wasn't the only thing she'd brought with her from Atlanta. In her lap sat "Friend," the pink stuffed animal who no doubt provided a bit of emotional support during a five-song set that forced the shy enigma out of her creative shell.
"Look, I'm really freaking excited to be here but I have social anxiety like a mother******," Walker told the NPR crowd at the end of her set, barely mumbling the expletive in an attempt to censor herself. "I'm freaked the hell out, I'm sweating, but this is so exciting for me."
A 23-year old singer-songwriter with an uncensored pen and brown-liquor vocals, Walker has become something of a patron saint for colored girls who've considered bossing up when heartbreak is too much. With the release of her official studio debut Over It, she made history last week by racking up the biggest streaming week of any female R&B artist ever. Meanwhile, the first lady of upstart label Love Renaissance (LVRN) is lowkey leading a sonic revolution in Atlanta that's turning the trap capital back into an R&B town. Her team was equally insistent on tricking out the Tiny Desk space by hanging lights that brought a diffuse glow to Walker's creative set.
For an artist who rarely grants interviews and admittedly dreads the public spotlight — despite an Instagram feed that clearly shows off her humorous, exhibitionist flair — Walker's Tiny Desk is revealing. In the span of 15 minutes, she performs fan favorites ("Session 32," "Wasted," "Riot") and the song that made Drake hop in her DMs, "Girls Need Love," before ending with current single "Playing Games." Even behind the bright lights and oversized eyeglass frames, her unadorned soul shines through.
SET LIST
"Session 32"
"Wasted"
"Girls Need Love"
"Riot"
"Playing Games"
MUSICIANS
Summer Walker: vocals, guitar; Elijah Whittingham: guitar; Angel White: vocals; Autumn Tuesdae: vocals; Slim.wav: keys; Stox: bass; Remey Williams: drums
CREDITS
Producers: Rodney Carmichael, Bobby Carter, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineers: Josh Rogosin, Patrick Boyd; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Niki Walker, Maia Stern, Beck Harlan, Jack Corbett; Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey; Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann; Photo: Laura Beltran Villamizar/NPR
Watch Tiny Desk Concerts ONE WEEK before they go on YouTube at https://www.npr.org/tinydesk
More from NPR Music:
Tiny Desk Concerts: https://www.npr.org/tinydesk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nprmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nprmusic
Oct. 21, 2019 | Rodney Carmichael -- Seconds before the cameras started to roll, Summer Walker showed just how much she was willing to sacrifice for her day at the Tiny Desk: She clipped her nails. It wasn't an aesthetic choice but a pragmatic one. Not even her love for a fresh set of bedazzled acrylics would get in the way of her strumming the soul out of her six-string Fender electric. The guitar wasn't the only thing she'd brought with her from Atlanta. In her lap sat "Friend," the pink stuffed animal who no doubt provided a bit of emotional support during a five-song set that forced the shy enigma out of her creative shell.
"Look, I'm really freaking excited to be here but I have social anxiety like a mother******," Walker told the NPR crowd at the end of her set, barely mumbling the expletive in an attempt to censor herself. "I'm freaked the hell out, I'm sweating, but this is so exciting for me."
A 23-year old singer-songwriter with an uncensored pen and brown-liquor vocals, Walker has become something of a patron saint for colored girls who've considered bossing up when heartbreak is too much. With the release of her official studio debut Over It, she made history last week by racking up the biggest streaming week of any female R&B artist ever. Meanwhile, the first lady of upstart label Love Renaissance (LVRN) is lowkey leading a sonic revolution in Atlanta that's turning the trap capital back into an R&B town. Her team was equally insistent on tricking out the Tiny Desk space by hanging lights that brought a diffuse glow to Walker's creative set.
For an artist who rarely grants interviews and admittedly dreads the public spotlight — despite an Instagram feed that clearly shows off her humorous, exhibitionist flair — Walker's Tiny Desk is revealing. In the span of 15 minutes, she performs fan favorites ("Session 32," "Wasted," "Riot") and the song that made Drake hop in her DMs, "Girls Need Love," before ending with current single "Playing Games." Even behind the bright lights and oversized eyeglass frames, her unadorned soul shines through.
SET LIST
"Session 32"
"Wasted"
"Girls Need Love"
"Riot"
"Playing Games"
MUSICIANS
Summer Walker: vocals, guitar; Elijah Whittingham: guitar; Angel White: vocals; Autumn Tuesdae: vocals; Slim.wav: keys; Stox: bass; Remey Williams: drums
CREDITS
Producers: Rodney Carmichael, Bobby Carter, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineers: Josh Rogosin, Patrick Boyd; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Niki Walker, Maia Stern, Beck Harlan, Jack Corbett; Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey; Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann; Photo: Laura Beltran Villamizar/NPR
@nprmusic
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20 likes
@jimmyjay1995
She sounds just like the studio version. This is what today's music needs. And you can tell she's focused on the vocals. She cares about sounding good.
4.4K likes
@onlinedanielle
1. her having that stuffed animal for comfort? everything.
2. her speaking on her anxiety? amazing.
3. her following through with this performance despite the fact that her anxiety is eating her alive? courageous.
4. her effortless talent? unmatched.
5. we love you summer. never change who you are.
12K likes
@thami69
Yo, she’s an introverted 23 year old who just happens to be a mad talented singer. Not her fault she makes it look easy.
23K likes
@Lovely.virtue
Who else is here in 2026
26 likes
@Danilow86
The only problem with these songs is that they end
724 likes
@notlikeleee
you can tell she loves to sing. and she doesnt care for the fame that comes with it. the girl she wants to sing.
3.4K likes
@laurenvictorialpc
jesus look at all these amazing talented gorgeous black people coming together to bless us with beautiful music im so emotional 😭
920 likes
@MaeCurry-i5v
Anyone else listen to this daily?
16 likes
@ItsTitoEnt
She sings like she’s not even trying and it sounds amazing, just imagine her full potential
5K likes
@meicealways5842
My sis just wanna sing and make music without having to deal with the industry! Let her live...love u summer
4.5K likes
@matthewharris2991
Why is everyone trying to analyze her.
Introverts can have confidence, a normal childhood, positive influences etc but just get nervous around people. Social anxiety is a normal thing. Just take her as she is. She performed great
5.4K likes
@EvanCaviasco
this is the summer walker we asked for, simple, stripped down, soulful - not flashy, dramatic, plastic. i mourn her and she's not dead
201 likes
@CraigThePoet
The fact that she’s awkward in person makes me love her more 😩😩😩
5.2K likes
@NotAGrabbaghoul
She’s so adorable with this look, and knowing she’s pushing through crazy social anxiety while performing makes me hope she’s getting enough genuine embraces in her day-to-day
6K likes
@lelipeli123
knowing how she doesnt really feel comfortable performing live i appreciate even more that she came through with tiny desk! she has an angelic voice bless you npr for continuously serving us this smooth rnb for the soul
6.4K likes
@Misscarter86
Summer Walker has the type of music that will make you close your eyes and just take a deep breath for real ❤
397 likes
@emeiban776
And y’all complaining about her sound but her voice sounds exactly like the recordings!
8.1K likes
@BlakeL623
She just sings, no gimmicks, no tricks. Just pure undeniable talent 🙏🏾
873 likes
@twincousins760
She really out here conquering her fears ! Go summer walker
744 likes