The Japanese House: Tiny Desk Concert

Stephen Thompson | January 18, 2024
The Japanese House, a.k.a. the recording project of U.K. singer-songwriter Amber Bain, put out my favorite album of 2023: In the End It Always Does is an irresistible electro-pop record full of warmly relatable songs about desire, regret and the fear that no one will ever love you as much as the dog nestled in your lap. It's a wonderful record that's buoyed by impeccably chosen guests — MUNA's Katie Gavin, Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, two members of The 1975 — and a pervasive mood of low-key dreaminess.

At the Tiny Desk, Bain recasts four of In the End It Always Does' songs in fresh arrangements that swap out the synths while highlighting the more organic sounds of brushed drums, a violin, a spare piano and the occasional baritone sax. And, though she closes with the album's effervescent lead single "Boyhood," Bain also uses her set to center the album's softer material — particularly the lush gem "Baby Goes Again," which has no business languishing as a deep cut.

SET LIST
"Sunshine Baby"
"Baby Goes Again"
"Over There"
"Boyhood"

MUSICIANS
Amber Bain: guitar, piano, lead vocals
Cicely Cotton: piano, saxophone, vocals
Kamran Khan: guitar, vocals
Dominic Potts: bass, vocals
Myles Sargent: drums
Chloe Kraemer: violin

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Stephen Thompson
Director/Editor: Maia Stern
Audio Technical Director: Josh Rogosin
Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Mitra I. Arthur
Audio Engineer: Neil Tevault
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Hazel Cills
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#thejapanesehouse #nprmusic #tinydesk

[nprmusic]

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[markandrewhoran]

I love the fact that she can create these lush, expansive sounds on her albums and then take those songs in a totally different direction live - these are essentially folk songs. She's such a great writer and I love hearing these songs with a different arrangement. Great music!

[Zooga_Boy]

If this is your first time hearing the Japanese House, I am truly jealous of you. I wish I could rediscover all of her music again!

[luntiwl]

literally gasped. video's 3 hours old and it showed up on my recommended feed. i've been waiting for them to be on tinydesk! i love them so much <33

[alexalvesbezerra]

0:01 "Sunshine Baby"
3:45 "Baby Goes Again"
7:47 "Over There"
12:44 "Boyhood"

[mqksim___]

Kinda sad they didn’t play “Touching Yourself“ but thank you for finally giving Japanese House a tiny desk performance

[alis_books-]

Chloe Kraemer (the violinist) also co-produced the new album, 'In the end it always does'. There's a great interview with her, Amber, and George on the Tapenotes podcast about it's creation.

[joegreen]

I saw them perform in Bristol late last year, unbelievably good - Amber was incredible live. Wonderful seeing them here, great work TinyDesk 🙌 x

[jukeboxjoseph]

I’ve loved this band for such a long time!!! So glad to see them on here. Amber Bain you are so amazing and inspirational 🫶🏼 See you guys on tour sometime

[katiesikes]

been such a fan of Amber for years. one of the kindest and most humble artists i’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing in person!

[scarlettamelie]

amber singing boyhood is so important to me.

[mitchmccune]

One of my favorite artists and sunshine baby is an incredible song that's been at the top of my rotation since I heard it

[alexticoso]

Amber Bain's songs are so moving! I can't count how many times I cried to The Japanese House. This performance gives me chills. I think I heard "Leon" for the first time in 2016 and I instantly became a fan. It's been beautiful to witness her growth and evolution.
I'm really thankful for everything Amber has been giving us throughout all of these years.

[unnys]

i’m Japanese. they're music is like a sunlight in spring. i can see beautiful landscape when listening this music. thank you!

[NateRidderman]

This is great. Super happy for her to get the recognition. I do think Amber's albums have an energy that's hard to replicate in an acoustic set. They have an awesome production quality, auto-tuning, synth, etc. So if you think this is decent, go listen to the albums!!!

[GengmeiJ]

0:02 Sunshine Baby
3:52 Baby Goes Again
7:51 Over There
12:46 Boyhood

[kirstenglae]

Love them so much, just wanted Amber’s voice to be a little bit louder. Her voice is AMAZING to me. I listen to them so much when I go out running, which may seem weird. But it puts me in the mood I like most of all.

[pennyaldente]

this album has been on repeat for me these past few weeks. they keep coming out with music that resonates with me so deeply. thank you for this!

[HARE]

A very nice set.
I’m totally impressed by the singer who just picked up a right-handed acoustic guitar, and flipped it around to play it left handed & up side down, with no adjustments at all.
Y’all should always try to get a good shot of the guitar headstocks, for us guitar nerds who want to see what instruments they’re playing.
So, it looks like two Guild acoustics, and a Fender Precision bass. Very nice.
I also really liked the violin, piano, drums, and the saxophone. They really enhanced the sound.
Rock On

[milovc]

So great. Tiny desk always picks such great artists