Summer Walker: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
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Published 2019-10-25
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Oct. 21, 2019 | Rodney Carmichael -- Seconds before the cameras started to roll, Summer Walker showed just how much she was willing to sacrifice for her day at the Tiny Desk: She clipped her nails. It wasn't an aesthetic choice but a pragmatic one. Not even her love for a fresh set of bedazzled acrylics would get in the way of her strumming the soul out of her six-string Fender electric. The guitar wasn't the only thing she'd brought with her from Atlanta. In her lap sat "Friend," the pink stuffed animal who no doubt provided a bit of emotional support during a five-song set that forced the shy enigma out of her creative shell.
"Look, I'm really freaking excited to be here but I have social anxiety like a mother******," Walker told the NPR crowd at the end of her set, barely mumbling the expletive in an attempt to censor herself. "I'm freaked the hell out, I'm sweating, but this is so exciting for me."
A 23-year old singer-songwriter with an uncensored pen and brown-liquor vocals, Walker has become something of a patron saint for colored girls who've considered bossing up when heartbreak is too much. With the release of her official studio debut Over It, she made history last week by racking up the biggest streaming week of any female R&B artist ever. Meanwhile, the first lady of upstart label Love Renaissance (LVRN) is lowkey leading a sonic revolution in Atlanta that's turning the trap capital back into an R&B town. Her team was equally insistent on tricking out the Tiny Desk space by hanging lights that brought a diffuse glow to Walker's creative set.
For an artist who rarely grants interviews and admittedly dreads the public spotlight — despite an Instagram feed that clearly shows off her humorous, exhibitionist flair — Walker's Tiny Desk is revealing. In the span of 15 minutes, she performs fan favorites ("Session 32," "Wasted," "Riot") and the song that made Drake hop in her DMs, "Girls Need Love," before ending with current single "Playing Games." Even behind the bright lights and oversized eyeglass frames, her unadorned soul shines through.
SET LIST
"Session 32"
"Wasted"
"Girls Need Love"
"Riot"
"Playing Games"
MUSICIANS
Summer Walker: vocals, guitar; Elijah Whittingham: guitar; Angel White: vocals; Autumn Tuesdae: vocals; Slim.wav: keys; Stox: bass; Remey Williams: drums
CREDITS
Producers: Rodney Carmichael, Bobby Carter, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineers: Josh Rogosin, Patrick Boyd; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Niki Walker, Maia Stern, Beck Harlan, Jack Corbett; Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey; Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann; Photo: Laura Beltran Villamizar/NPR
All Comments (21)
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Want to play your own Tiny Desk concert? Unsigned musicians, enter the 2024 Tiny Desk Contest between Jan. 23 and Feb. 21. Learn more: npr.org/tinydeskcontest.
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Yo, she’s an introverted 23 year old who just happens to be a mad talented singer. Not her fault she makes it look easy.
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And y’all complaining about her sound but her voice sounds exactly like the recordings!
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Who’s Listening in 2024 😂❤❤❤❤
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She need to come back and do another show, she’s grown so much!!!
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I need an entire acoustic Summer Walker album.
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She’s singing effortlessly, like it’s a Saturday morning chillin in bed.....lol
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Summer is a young artist but her pen has an old soul. She writes songs like a women who has had experience with relationships far past her years. This sounds like 70's r&b with new energy. Dope young artist nice to see soul music still alive.
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She has a natural gift. She doesn’t strain when she sings it’s a straight melodic flow that so sultry and soulful at the same time.
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We need to protect artist like her
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She’s so adorable with this look, and knowing she’s pushing through crazy social anxiety while performing makes me hope she’s getting enough genuine embraces in her day-to-day
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3 years later still gives chills
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imagine her and syd from the internet on a song together...chills
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She ain't even trying to sing it's a serious gift
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Black singers will never go out of style. Even if the masses don’t want to give the credit this is NATURAL, UNSTUDIED, UNIMITATED, SOUL… no fake raspy voice or accent! I love it
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Summer Walker has the type of music that will make you close your eyes and just take a deep breath for real ❤
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knowing how she doesnt really feel comfortable performing live i appreciate even more that she came through with tiny desk! she has an angelic voice bless you npr for continuously serving us this smooth rnb for the soul
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My sis just wanna sing and make music without having to deal with the industry! Let her live...love u summer
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Bring her back for another one, she’s less shy and got even more great songs!!!!
