Lianne La Havas: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Watch Lianne LaHavas play at the Tiny Desk.

Follow NPR Music:

October 02, 2015 by SURAYA MOHAMED
In 2012, my kids introduced me to Lianne La Havas' debut album, Is Your Love Big Enough? One play and I was hooked; I've been a fan ever since. Her music works for any activity, any emotion.

The first time I saw La Havas live, I was unprepared for the experience: Her music touched my heart in a way I'd never experienced before. I cried through the entire performance. Her music was that powerful, with lyrics woven together with beautiful harmonies; it pulled emotions out of me I didn't even know existed.

La Havas is soulful yet playful, raw and vulnerable in a commanding kind of way, and her new second album, Blood, is as amazing as the first. In this Tiny Desk performance, she plays two new songs — "What You Don't Do" and "Unstoppable" — as well as "Forget," from her first album. She and her talented collaborators, James Wyatt on piano and Frida Mariama Touray on backing vocals, rehearsed this special arrangement during the sound check just moments before the performance. It's wonderfully intimate, with just guitar accompanied by vocals that embellish without getting in the way. If you're like me, you will never get enough.

Blood is available now.

Set List
"What You Don't Do" 00:00
"Unstoppable" 04:00
"Forget" 08:41

Credits
Producers: Suraya Mohomed, Morgan Walker; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Walker, Nick Michael, Julia Reihs; Production Assistant: Kate Drozynski; photo by Jun Tsuboike/NPR

For more Tiny Desk Concerts, subscribe to our podcast:

[DLAsmash]

Her voice sounds like a smile after an unexpected compliment.

[shwasey]

Her voice sounds like love, flowers, and, feminine energy, soul

[EricPerkinsMusic]

She has to be the prettiest woman I have ever seen.

[katherinedelrosario]

the backup singer's smile is too adorable

[rachelp]

petition for Lianne to release a record of entirely raw versions of literally every song she has ever written

[slidingcatch]

I don't know how they do it, but NPR music transcends the billboard charts. Lianne La Havas's tiny desk has more views than Taylor Swift's and Billie Eilish's COMBINED. That is incredible.
NPR is a space where the most talented artists get the recognition they deserve. Always.

[AmandaAlafita]

I love her backup singer as much as I love her

[WomanlyStateofMind]

She has one of those voices that just somehow escapes her mouth. What you hear is so much bigger than what you see.

[nbatravelguide]

So, my son is 2 years old now and he is crazy about Lianne since he was 11 month old... no cartoon or anything else can match her, he just stops anything he's doing to listen to her sing.. HER EVERY SONG!

[Bepeze]

She's the perfect example of just plain old powerful music and lyrics. No gimmicks. No add-ons. Just music please. Thanks.

[thvtsmvni]

4 years later and I still have to come back and watch this performance periodically.

[Bethany-or]

Lianne and Anderson Paak have the best smiles I've ever seen

[davidmojalefa]

To think that this was captured 8yrs ago and still hits the spot 😭😭🔥🔥🔥🔥

[Debbus]

One of the many, many things that amaze me about Lianna is her per-fect pronunciation of every word she sings. You can hear every consonant, every syllable and she uses the accents in her words to add a new layer of rhythm to her songs. It makes me appreciate language even more and it's a rare sound to hear in music these days.

[cakesmagic]

Damn Lianne is like that dreamy elementary music teacher you, always tried your best for, striving for perfection.

[Verkrustet]

Lord almighty, that voice would melt anyone's heart.

[MuriloHoltz]

I find these little npr concerts the best way to be introduced to an artist
I was scrolling down the videos and for some reasons I clicked on this one

now I'm probably in love.

[sudders]

Lianne started as a backing singer. I hope this backing vocalist releases her own music too, both incredible

[mjj]

The audio is so crisp and her voice is so warm and sweet.. it's like stuffing an apple crumble pie in my ears

[iamwhatiam]

Dear Tiny Desk Videographer,
Those close-ups... thank you.

Dear God,
Lianne's smile... thank you.

Dear Lianne,
Those tunes... thank you.