Silvia Pérez Cruz: Tiny Desk Concert

Anamaria Sayre | July 9, 2024
Spanish singer Silvia Pérez Cruz grew up in the cradle of magnificent extremes. Her hometown Palafrugell on the Costa Brava of the Mediterranean sea is renowned as much for its stunning turquoise waters and dazzling summer sun as it is for biting bitter winds and unforgiving winter nights.

Amidst that chaos her songs were born: brilliantly distinct little capsules of human experience. Whether singing about joy, pain, grief or curiosity, that duality between sunshine and gray skies is present in her work.

“Yo soy inescrutable (I am inscrutable),” she cries on “Salir distinto.” Her emotive, jazz-tinged voice and ’54 acoustic guitar (she picked it up at a vintage shop some years ago in New York) transcends time and physical space. “Yo prefiero el desastre / Y escucharte sin perjuicio (I prefer disaster / And to listen to you without prejudice),” she coos. And in this moment, she’s impossible to turn away from — a vessel for eons of melancholic Mediterranean secrets at the Tiny Desk.

SET LIST
“Salir distinto”
“La flor”
“Man of the Trees”
“Mañana”

MUSICIANS
Sílvia Pérez Cruz: vocals, guitar
Marta Roma Tort: cello
Agapit Llibori Albero Tapias: double bass

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Anamaria Sayre
Director: Joshua Bryant
Audio Technical Director: Hannah Gluvna
Editor: James Hughes
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Sofia Seidel
Audio Engineer: Josephine Nyounai
Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Production Assistant: Elle Mannion
Photographer: Alanté Serene
Tiny Desk Team: Maia Stern, Ashley Pointer, Hazel Cills
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins

#tinydesk #nprmusic #silviaperezcruz

[BailelaVida]

The presence of Silvia Perez Cruz at Tiny Desk heralds two things: The maturity of this special program, and the rightful recognition of one of the greatest singers alive in our world and of our generation. Thanks for your enduring and always endearing musical voyages, uncovering so much lovely music -- and love -- to the world.
My sincerest gratitude and congrats, folks!

[juanfoot]

Pero esto qué es? I'm going to die happily right now, drowned by so much tenderness. Maria José Llergo ayer y ahora Silvia!!

[fliprim]

Silvia is so important culturally. Sensational actor and musician, it is no wonder she won an award for the greatest contribution to Spanish culture in 2022. The point is, as a composer, she enlarges the home in which she lives, making essential aesthetic adjustments to its values and humanity, new and rediscovered truths posited on beauty.

She sits among an astonishingly rich Iberian Renaissance of folk music, especially centred on Barcelona. Her music is scooped up and lives in other versions. Only yesterday I was enjoying a marvellous version by Marina Morles of La Flor also on youtube. Silvia the performer graces her culture. Silvia the composer carries it into a sweeter tomorrow.

[thomasdaluz]

What an ethereal voice. Tiny Desk platforming absolute gems

[rossanamanosalvas]

What a beautiful voice and what a beautiful human being. Tiny desk as a an altar..that´s what she felt---I embrace her voice and words.

[narkxis]

Mi musa.
Su trabajo con gente como Salvador Sobral, Maro, Rita Payés, Natalia LaFourcade, Toti Soler, entre los demás, solo demuestra que los artistas de primer nivel se elevan entre sí.
La quiero más que el aire que respiro.

Por dios, Silvia, te ruego que pases por Portugal para un espectáculo o tres en un futuro cercano.
Te deseo todo el bien de este mundo y todos los demás.

[pokipoki]

Lo único malo de Silvia es no saber decidir si es una garganta con corazón o un corazón con garganta.

[aislingcullenful]

I've been learning Spanish for the last year and watching this is my first intro to Silvia... you can really feel the beautiful nuance of the language, the way that she sings and describes the energy of the tiny desk is just so so stunning. It makes me want to keep going until I can get to that fluency to really appreciate her music.

[daria]

Finally, this gifted goddess graces the tiny desk. Silvia is pure genius 👏

[natalyortega]

She opened for Damien Rice at his LA dates and she was incredible! The crowd loved her. She emotes sooo well 🥹

[lauratimares]

I was completely transported to another world, almost nostalgic. Sylvia is mesmerizing. I didn't need to know the language, she moves you.

[fs]

Una artista con mayúsculas, hace años que la sigo y no hay nada igual. Puro arte, puro sentimiento, pura música. Un regalo de los dioses, un amor...

[julialago]

Thanks Tiny desk for bringing her !!!! From a fellow catalan to another Moltes gracies SILVIA!!!!

[michaelkutulas]

I can only imagine that Sylvia's voice is what the Sirens sounded like to Odysseus! So incredibly captivating! Excellent musicianship all the way around too... the Cello and Bass really complement the songs. Thank you Tiny Desk for another stellar concert!

[joanahc]

Tu voz, que bella forma de celebrar el milagro de estar vivos! tanta honestidad en tu arte! ❤

[Fatcapr]

Espectacular, talento puro. Derroche de simpatía. Escucharla mejora la vida

[LouG]

so fresh! and so old! Just a humane diamond.

[sergiodelbarrioalvarellos]

what a couple of gifts for this week so far from Tiny Desk! Yesterday it was María José Llergó and today Silvia Pérez Cruz. Thanks, thanks and thanks!

[joey]

Silvia Pérez Cruz. I love this woman - her singing - she is such a treasure.

[veronicaalbaescorihuela]

Esta mujer me hace creer que existen los ángeles caídos del cielo💜💜💜