The Best Tiny Desks by Berklee Artists (an Incomplete List) From Big Thief and Lizzy McAlpine to DOMi & JD Beck, Kenny Beats, Arooj Aftab, and more, Berklee acts have always owned the Tiny Desk stage.
By
Keerthana Sudarshan
November 14, 2024
Lizzy McAlpine '20 performs with Tiny Habits at NPRs Tiny Desk. Left to right: Judah Mayowa, Maya Rae, Lizzy McAlpine, Cinya Khan.
Image by Bob Boilen/NPR
Since its debut in 2008, many emerging and established talents have graced the Tiny Desk stage, sharing their artistry in an unexpectedly intimate office setting. Vulture, the purveyors of all things music culture, recently dropped their compilation of the 50 Best NPR Tiny Desks, featuring several Berklee alumni, including Kenny Beats BM '13 and Jo Palmer '10 (performing with Yaya Bey). The mentions were another nod to Berklee's contributions to contemporary culture, but these Tiny Desk moments only scratch the surface. For instance, what about those unforgettable performances by Lalah Hathaway BM '90 '22H, esperanza spalding BM '05, and Arooj Aftab BM '10?
Or, how about this round-up of Berklee students and alumni who have been rocking the desk recently-whether supporting their own projects or accompanying other artists:
Noname (feat. Cisco Swank BM '22)Noname is a Chicago-based rapper, poet, and activist known for her distinctive blend of lyrical prowess and social consciousness. She often reflects on her activism, addressing topics such as police brutality and mental health, while emphasizing the importance of community and self-love. Berklee alum Cisco Swank, whose debut solo album More Better, released in May 2023, revolves around similar themes, accompanies Noname on keys and vocals in her standout Tiny Desk concert.
Big Thief (feat. Adrianne Lenker BM '12, Buck Meek BM '10, James Krivchenia BM '14)Adrianne Lenker, the raw and unapologetic songwriter and vocalist, makes her glorious third appearance on the Tiny Desk series with her indie-folk band, Big Thief. The band formed when Lenker and her Berklee alumni bandmates-Buck Meek, Max Oleartchik (who parted ways with the band in 2024), and James Krivchenia-reconnected in New York City. Theyve earned critical acclaim for their heartfelt music and rich soundscapes over the years, releasing five albums in the span of just seven years. Check out their 2022 Tiny Desk at Home video for tender tales and playful lyrics.
Big Thief Return to Its Roots
The indie-folk superstars share practical songwriting tips and rare wisdom on pursuing sustainable success and maintaining artistic integrity.
DOMi & JD Beck (Domi Louna BM '20)Virtuosic duo DOMi & JD Beck deliver a master class in musicianship during their Tiny Desk concert, leaving both seasoned and casual listeners reeling. Domi Louna, originally from France and a Berklee Presidential Scholar, met JD Beck at a trade show, sparking their dynamic partnership. Their debut album, Not Tight, earned them two Grammy nominations: Best New Artist and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. The duo has collaborated with iconic artists including Thundercat, Anderson Paak, Herbie Hancock, and Bruno Mars.
Lizzy McAlpine '20Lizzy McAlpine, who has risen to stardom recently, invited the compelling trio Tiny Habits to create a stripped-down version of her music featuring just an acoustic guitar and their four voices. The trio-which features current student Judah Mayowa, Cinya Khan BM '23, and Maya Rae BM '24-first met in their Berklee dorms and have since become inseparable, both in friendship and in harmony. Theyve toured the US, UK, and Europe, supporting artists such as Ingrid Michaelson, Clairo, and Gracie Abrams, while receiving accolades from industry legends like Elton John. Here, Tiny Habits adds a lush backdrop that beautifully complements McAlpine's seasoned storytelling .
RijahOne standout from the recent wave of talent is Berklee student Rijah, an up-and-coming R&B artist hailing from Jersey City, New Jersey. She made waves in 2023 with her appearance in NPR's Tiny Desk Top Shelf series-not technically a Tiny Desk concert, but a showcase of the best submissions from that year's Tiny Desk Contest. Her 2023 Tiny Desk submission which includes other Berklee students Zeke Sacaridiz on drums, Owen Reinders on bass, Lex Kolody on guitar and Ian Michael on keys, caught the eye of R&B sensation Baby Rose and received high praise from Sudan Archives for her amazing and unique voice. It was also featured on WBUR.org as a favorite Massachusetts Tiny Desk entry. Rijahs 2022 EP, the only one I know, showcases her distinctive blend of jazz and R&B, diving into themes of growth and human experience. Her latest project, Motion Pictures, promises to take listeners on a journey of self-discovery and musical innovation.
Even More Berklee Tiny Desk ConcertsSome other notable alumni performances that we've been loving include Little Moon (feat. Chris Shemwell BM 20), Nick Hakim BM '13, Usman Riaz '17, Aimee Mann '80, Hiromi Uehara '03, and Fabiola M ndez BM '18. Happy listening!
Related Categories
Live Performances
News
Most Popular
Jim Lucchese
Image by Kelly Davidson
Jim Lucchese Named Berklee's Fifth President A 20-year music industry veteran and a committed artist advocate with deep Berklee roots, Lucchese sets the tone for a new era at the institution.
Latest
John Hollenbeck
Image by Mercedes Jelinek
John Hollenbeck and Miguel Zen n Named the 2024-2025 Ken Pullig Visiting Scholars in Jazz Studies The internationally renowned artists will instruct jazz composition students, lead ensembles, and teach master classes.
Gustav S derstr m on stage at Spotifys Now Playing event in Los Angeles on November 13, 2024.
Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Spotify
Spotifys New Creator Progra
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
30/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/05/2026
Zero in on one that says yes (and no)
Andy Marken May 29, 2026
0 Comments
Hero image courtesy of Deposit Photos
For content creators the most difficu...
29/05/2026
With InfoComm 2026 just weeks away, NDI is giving attendees plenty of reasons to...
29/05/2026
Reaffirming a partnership that has defined Canadian sports broadcasting since 19...
29/05/2026
Mobile/tablet is No. 2 device for watching TV, suggesting that the sports-production industry needs to take another look at the format
Ring Digital's Sprin...
29/05/2026
Berliner Ensemble, one of Berlin's five major theater companies, has expande...
29/05/2026
Solid State Logic will showcase its new compact, fly-away TCA Tour audio product...
29/05/2026
Gerald (Jerry) Pierce, a pioneering technologist who helped shape the digital transformation of the motion picture industry, passed away last month on April 12 ...
29/05/2026
Paramount+ will be the English-language U.S. home for Barclays Women's Super...
29/05/2026
Further strengthening its virtualisation strategy to fully support broadcasters ...
29/05/2026
Swiss broadcaster Canal Alpha has deployed Harmonic's award-winning, software-based XOS Advanced Media Processor to modernize playout operations across cant...
29/05/2026
PTZOptics will showcase a new generation of intelligent video workflows at InfoComm 2026, June 17-19, Las Vegas. Visitors to booth N8227 will see how PTZOptics ...
29/05/2026
Arizona's Family has launched the Arizona's Family Sports (AZFS) streaming app, a new direct-to-consumer destination for live, local sports. The app is ...
29/05/2026
Starting in 2027, DAZN will be the exclusive home of The Canadian Football Leagu...
29/05/2026
Comcast Business has detailed the advanced network infrastructure it has deploye...
29/05/2026
In two-day event, leaders from academia and industry explored solutions to chall...
29/05/2026
The Basketball Tournament (TBT), now entering their 13th year of competition, ha...
29/05/2026
Roku has launched FOX One as a Premium Subscription on The Roku Channel in the U.S. Roku customers can now subscribe to FOX One using their Roku account for liv...
29/05/2026
In its sixth year, the broadcaster's coverage has become a global brand and ...
29/05/2026
Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent ratings news and is derived from press re...
29/05/2026
The days are getting longer, the temperatures are rising, and playlists are filling up for the season. With summer around the corner, Spotify's global edito...
29/05/2026
New retro-inspired MPC announced
There are few devices that have gained the status held by Akai Pro's MPC range, and in recent years, the company have s...
29/05/2026
Save up to 30 on acclaimed titles
Following a successful launch at Superbooth 2026, Bjooks have revealed that they will be continuing the Kickstarter campa...
29/05/2026
Binaural monitoring application improved
Genelec have just released an update that brings some powerful new features to their HRTF-based binaural headphone ...
29/05/2026
6 June 2026 at SAE Institute, London, UK
IMSTA FESTA 2026 is almost upon us, with some of the biggest names in pro-audio set to descend upon SAE Institute i...
29/05/2026
Gerald (Jerry) Pierce, a pioneering technologist who helped shape the digital transformation of the motion picture industry, died April 12, 2026, at his home in...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Comparing 5 AI Video Enhancers for Restoring Old Video Quality
Kate Luvis May 29, 2026
0 Comments
Digitizing VHS, MiniDV, and other legacy formats doe...
29/05/2026
Studio Hamburg Builds New Post Pipeline with DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton May 29, 2026
0 Comments
Workflow replaces a patchwork of legacy tools...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
At the Intersection of Music and Dance, an Epic Collaboration Boston Conservatory musicians and dancers found creative parallels in their recent performance o...
29/05/2026
Back to All News
Latino Film Institute Fellows Screen Their Short Films at the Egyptian Theatre
The Inclusion Fellowship and Spark Animation Grant uplifts 15 ...
29/05/2026
GLOOKAST LAUNCHES CINNAFILM TACHYON PLUGIN FOR MEDIA PRODUCER AND MEDIA SERVICES
This release first appeared here.
Visit our Tachyon product page or contact...
29/05/2026
May 29 2026, 09:00 (PDT) Dolby and rednote Bring More Immersive Storytelling to...
29/05/2026
Something fundamental has shifted in how people consume media. Audiences aren't abandoning television or radio content; they're just expanding how, wher...
29/05/2026
Youtube exclusive special drops today
Watch now
UKTV today announces another e...
29/05/2026
Back to All News
The Official Trailer of Physical 100 Italy, on Netflix From Se...
The Best Tiny Desks by Berklee Artists (an Incomplete List) From Big Thief and Lizzy McAlpine to DOMi & JD Beck, Kenny Beats, Arooj Aftab, and more, Berklee acts have always owned the Tiny Desk stage.
