Lewis Capaldi: Tiny Desk Concert

Jill Britton | May 17, 2023
“I just wanted to take a moment before we start to say — lower your expectations,” Lewis Capaldi told the audience before his Tiny Desk performance. He then immediately launched into a beautifully crafted, vocally stunning four piece set.

Beginning with a special arrangement of “Before You Go,” Capaldi was flanked by a full band, including two horns — something new for the Scottish singer. His second song, “Wish You the Best,” is the latest, Capaldi-style heartbreaking single from his upcoming album Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent. Capaldi joked that he didn’t have much to say about the exclusive premiere of his next song, “Heavenly Kind of State of Mind,” describing it solely as simply being three minutes long.

If you didn’t know anything about Capaldi before watching his Tiny Desk, the self-deprecating humor mixed in between gut-wrenching vocal ballads will quickly catch you up to speed. Capaldi had NPR’s audience in tears, both from laughing at sexually suggestive jokes about the size of the Desk and lyrics about the complexities of moving on after a relationship ends. “What happens now?” Capaldi asked the Tiny Desk team as he wrapped up “Someone You Loved,” the final song of his set. Time to put the video on repeat and grab a tissue box.

SET LIST
“Before You Go”
“Wish You The Best”
“Heavenly Kind of State of Mind”
“Someone You Loved”

MUSICIANS
Lewis Capaldi: vocals, guitar
Aiden Halliday: piano
Freddy Sheed: drums
Aidan Beattie: bass, keys
Andy Black: guitar
Matt Owens: trumpet, keys
Reginald Chapman: trombone

CREDITS
Producer: Jill Britton
Director/Editor: Sofia Seidel
Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Creative Director: Bob Boilen
Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Sofia Seidel, Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Zayrha Rodriguez
Audio Assistant: Brian Jarboe
Production Assistant: Pilar Galván
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Maia Stern, Hazel Cills, Marissa Lorusso, Ashley Pointer, Pilar Galván
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#tinydesk #nprmusic #lewiscapaldi

[nprmusic]

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[falafelbleuh]

Tiny desk is the best thing on the Internet. Period.

[beav]

This is the first time I've ever heard Lewis Capaldi. I'm blown away.

His accent is incredible, he's hilarious, his singing voice is pristine and his song writing is unreal.

This is a great introduction to him, thank you NPR

[JavanLapp]

Every Tiny Desk becomes my favorite version of each artists songs.

[ChadWorthman]

Hats off to the audio engineer(s). Balancing soft playing with the brass. Sounds great.

[fukuwota]

How he’s able to write and perform those heart wrenching songs and proceed to tell jokes is beyond me

[DirkJongen]

Really didn’t see this one coming! Tiny desk never disappoints.

[benjohnstonmentoring]

There should be awards for best sound technicians of the internet for the NPR team. It’s always brilliantly mixed and sounds phenomenal!

[emmlovelife]

I miss him so much, I hope he is doing well on his break from social media🖤 he deserves everything and more.

[PikkaBite]

"What can I say about the next song? Well... it's three minutes long."
I love him.

[jhunt]

Ive heard some of Lewis's hits on the radio but haven't really sat down and listened to a lot of his stuff. He's a real talent, jeez.

[LW]

Good lord he sounds even better “live” than on the actual recordings. This man is scary talented!

[alexisgasnier]

He can go from cracking jokes and acting like a fool to singing like an absolute angel in a second ! Now that's talent right there ! 💯

[tylerkohler]

Our Tiny Desk. My god, what a performance! ❤

[patrickmccabe]

As a Scot I’m bursting with pride our Lewis is some man the patter and the tears just brilliant. Not my usual music but man’s a national treasure here in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💚

[tyleru]

Lewis Capaldi is a global treasure and must be protected at all costs.

[АндрейЧегодаев-пц]

The transition from the 'f**k yeah' guy to one of the most emotional singers I've ever heard was nothing short of stunning

[kevinbrennen]

Can we just talk about the production here. Such great sounds and with musicians on top of each other and especially the way he sings from super quiet to almost screaming and pushing, his voice is completely clear and balanced. Kudos to the production team for sure.

[shaneburry]

Is it normal to cry during every one of Lewis’s songs? This is beyond incredible. 💙💙💙

[jesper]

Piano player plays with so much soul and feel! 🔥