In a call before the Tiny Desk taping, WILLOW told me she "just wants to feel it and be in the mood." Many artists worry about having to adapt their music to the space, but if it's done right, a great synergy can be achieved. With boundless energy and a magnetic stage presence, the artist's exceptional vocal range and musicality left the audience spellbound.
Although he's only 23 years old, singer-songwriter and musician Willow Smith is a veteran when it comes to music. She has been constantly making music and on a journey of sonic exploration since she was just 9 years old and is set to release her sixth album, empathogen, in just a few days. Zach Tenorio on upright piano kicks off the show, reprising the opening bars of the odd jazz-infused vibes of /"Symptom of Life/" from the new album, later complemented by trippy Ebow effects courtesy of Liso Lee at the guitar. .
Next, some throwbacks: a stripped-down arrangement of /"Split/" from 2022's album and fan favorite /"Wait a Minute!/" from his 2015 album ARDIPITHECUS, which undergoes stunning bass riffs from Mohini Dey. Dey continues with a stern stink face during a world premiere of the funky and heavy /"Run!/" from the upcoming album, segueing tastefully into The Pocket Queen on drums. Closing out the set with /"Big Feelings/", the band gets busy as WILLOW's vocals soar, effortlessly oscillating between emotional highs and lows, leaving us all wanting more.
DEFINE LIST
/"Life symptom/"
/"Divide/"
/"Wait a minute!/"
/"Run!/"
/"Great feelings/"
THE MUSICIANS
Willow Smith: vocals
Liso Lee: guitar, vocals
Zach Tenorio: keys
Mohini Dey: bass
Taylor /"The Pocket Queen/" Gordon: drums
SMALL OFFICE TEAM
Producers: Ashley Pointer, Bobby Carter
Director/Editor: Maia Stern
Audio technical director: Joséphine Nyounai
Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Alanté Serene
Sound engineer: Hannah Gluvna
Production Assistant: Elle Mannion
Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez
Tiny Desk Copy Editor: Hazel Cills
Executive producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
Vice President, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
#willow #tinydesk #nprmusic
0:02 – 3:31 Life symptom
3:34 p.m. – 7:02 p.m.
7:24 – 11:11 Wait a minute!
11:18 a.m. – 2:33 p.m. Run!
3:02 p.m. – 7:10 p.m. Great feelings
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