Tom Misch: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

June 1, 2018 | Bobby Carter -- I learned a few things while watching Tom Misch perform at the Tiny Desk that should've been obvious to a longtime fan like me: He produces beats with a live audience in mind. As much as his drums slap, guitar is the foundation for most of his songs and he showcases a burgeoning talent on the instrument throughout his set.

I first caught wind of this UK wunderkind in 2014. Crafting his own instrumental projects and remixing tracks by artists ranging from Busta Rhymes to Lianne La Havas, Misch steadily garnered a dedicated following on SoundCloud. From there, he collaborated with other London artists and released EPs of original music on the platform. Misch's style doesn't revel in what's going on in pop music today; like a handful of other artists from the UK, his interpretation of hip-hop and R&B is a continuation of what the greats who came before him started. A healthy dose of that inspiration is drawn from the late J. Dilla, while Misch's up-tempo dance numbers align him with the Kaytranadas of the world. In 2016, Misch — still just 21 years old at the time — decided to dabble more in songwriting and explore that soothing timbre of his voice on Reverie, and all of a sudden, his potential rose exponentially.

Misch and the band arrived bright and early to get situated behind the Tiny Desk and rehearse. Misch has said before that he isn't a jazz purist intrinsically, but the way he opens up a guitar solo or jams with saxophonist Braxton Cook, jazz music certainly runs through him.

If you haven't heard of Tom Misch before this performance, now's a good time to catch up. Check out his breakthrough album, Geography, as well as his earlier collaborations, then come back and watch his Tiny Desk again for a true appreciation of his growth as an artist.

SET LIST
"It Runs Through Me"
"I Wish"
"Movie"

MUSICIANS
Tom Misch (guitar/vocals), Tobias Tripp (guitar/violin/vocals), James Creswick (bass), Jamie Houghton (drums), Joseph Price (keys), Braxton Cook (saxophone)

CREDITS
Producers: Sidney Madden, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, CJ Riculan, Beck Harlan; Production Assistant: Stefanie Fernández; Photo: Claire Harbage/NPR.

[nprmusic]

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[cakredi]

*The most soulful soccer coach in Tiny Desk's history.*

[DaousTommy]

Tom Misch : I want the whole band to look kinda like me but not too much.

[sirius]

Tom Misch's Voice is what a Saturday morning sounds like!

[lenmusic]

Who is still listening to this in mid-2023 and still being completely blown away by Tom Misch stepping into Tiny Desk during a break from his footie session?

[CouchEconomyTX]

There’s a crucial issue with discovering bands through NPR concerts. The NPR recordings are always way better than the studio recordings

[geekychick]

My man Tom just slayed Tiny Desk in soccer shorts and a windbreaker.

[gulllll]

I love his singing. It's like he's just talking in normal conversation but with a heavenly voice.

[grannyty]

I’m a older black woman and this young man takes me back to the old lounges in the past. I play this video over and over again because it soothes my mind and spirit❤️❤️

[Officialtendymusic]

The sound engineer for tiny desk has a great ear

[TheBlaugrano]

tom misch is one of the best discoveries i've ever had

[ifsydwk]

That guitar lick at 9:25 is now my ringtone. Thanks Tom Misch!. The most soulful soccer coach in Tiny Desk's history..

[Cwe]

Hunter Ka’imi sent me here in 2024 to find 9:25 and I just sat in awe through the whole thing and just restarted it

[sschmidtevalue]

I'm 60 and the fact that music this cool and sophisticated is made by young people gives me hope. I hope they have long careers ahead of them.

[tiffanylafayette]

My 8 year old daughter introduced me to Tom Misch. Her teacher plays his music in class and she felt her mommy would love it! Boy was she right!! ❤

[Azand]

To the girl who introduced me to Tom. Wherever you are right now. Thank you, you saved my life

[Erectus.Enormous]

Trackvest and shorts, that’s how you recognize true artists. They always got something unusual to them. Gotta love this man!

[bronzeandbase]

Love how he brought down the house looking like he’s just gone on a light jog

[jordantandiary]

Imagine a band with Thundercat as bassist, Tom Misch as guitarist, Anderson Paak as drummer and PJ Morton as keyboardist

[zolanib]

what a beautiful piece of magic. Replaying all the way from South Africa