Caroline Polachek: Tiny Desk Concert

Marissa Lorusso | October 10, 2023
Any good singer who gives half a thought to the health of her instrument knows that hydration is crucial for functioning vocal cords. But when Caroline Polachek — whose left-of-center pop music makes great use of her mellifluous voice — stops for a water break in the middle of her Tiny Desk concert, she doesn't pull out some crappy plastic bottle. No, she drinks from a chalice.

That seems like precisely the right vibe for a performance by Polachek. Her songs are filled with vivid, extravagant imagery — headless angels, smoke floating over volcanoes, fiery sunsets, mayflies in the swimming pool — and in their production you can hear everything from a children's choir to bagpipes to glitchy beats. At the Tiny Desk, she maintains that adventurous spirit but works with a live band to give her songs a more homespun feel. Together, they perform four tracks from Polachek's arresting, maximalist album Desire, I Want To Turn Into You: the propulsive "Pretty In Possible"; the romantic "Blood and Butter"; "Sunset," which gets a group clap-along from the assembled NPR staffers; and "I Believe," which Polachek and the band transform from a stuttering synth-driven track to an acoustic reverie.

Listening to Polachek's recent records, you might be tempted to think her vocals are drenched in pitch correction software. Haters may say it's AutoTune, but when she sings live and unamplified in the NPR Music offices, it's clear that the impressive range and control you're hearing is all her.

SET LIST
"Pretty In Possible"
"Blood And Butter"
"Sunset"
"I Believe"

MUSICIANS
Caroline Polachek: vocals
Matthew Horton: guitar
Izzy Bolivar: guitar
Maya Laner: bass, vocals
Mikey Enright: keys
Melody English: vocals
Russell Holzman: drums

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Robin Hilton
Director/Editor: Maia Stern
Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Creative Director: Bob Boilen
Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Maia Stern, Estefania Mitre, Kara Frame, Michael Zamora
Audio Assistant: Neil Tevault
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Elizabeth Gillis
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Joshua Bryant, Hazel Cills
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#nprmusic #tinydesk #carolinepolachek

[nprmusic]

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[alx.burgir]

Her voice control is insane. She sounds so clear, it's incredible!

[brentb_]

I usually skip artists I don't know but she actually made me sit and watch the full thing. Now I need to check out the rest of her music.

[embersept]

those are probably the best live vocals I've ever heard

[mochajoe]

her voice basically has its own FX board. wonderful performance

[TheEighthDwarf]

Her voice is so incredibly unique. Like she is singing and yodelling at the same time, it's honestly something I've never heard before, she is truly a unicorn

[BeyerEfendi]

So many 90s and early 2000s vocal influences in her voice: Alanis Morissette, Imogen Heap, Bjork. Good stuff.

[italomedeiros]

she's like a synthesizer if it slayed

[brookesmith]

If you are able to catch Caroline live, I recommend. She is a really captivating performer!

[D-Z]

Sound engineers for these sets are insane. Especially for a set like this, nuts.

[caitlinbarnard]

the keyboardist playing the bunny is a rider motif in sunset was such a special addition, it really shows the attention to detail that goes into every performance. also Caroline’s vocals are otherworldly, what an amazing tiny desk!!

[afanikurniawan]

an album that deserves grammy nomination

[WildWhiteNacho]

This is my favorite acid trip video of all time. Her falsetto, the swaying, the set and her band. It's so perfect

[me-zbqm]

She is what I imagine sirens sound like. Ethereal voice

[pauvrelolla]

0:00-3:30 Pretty in Possible
3:50-8:16 Blood And Butter
8:55-11:47 Sunset
13:01-17:24 I Believe

[Castawayjewels]

the bunny is a rider interlude in the middle of sunset is too good! Her mind, I'm obsessed

[cicekoglan]

captivating...she's never the same in any performance, but the one thing that never changes is her enchanting essence

[jmpjmp]

Not only was this performance INCREDIBLE, but she interpolated 'Smoke' into 'Pretty In Possible, ' 'Hey Big Eyes' into 'Blood and Butter, ' and 'Bunny Is A Rider' into 'Sunset' to give fans some Easter eggs? The level of detail with which Caroline approaches her craft is staggering.

[CreatureComfort]

I was fortunate enough to see this performance in person! I was blown away with how talented Caroline and her entire band were.

[reallycaughtnow]

The fact that they worked "Bunny Is A Rider" into Sunset is just one the many amazing reasons this is one of the top 5 tiny desk concerts of the year. Period.