Kehlani: Tiny Desk Concert

Video Overview & Insights

Alanté Serene | July 31, 2024

When I first heard Kehlani’s debut mixtape, it was a comfort that reminded me of home. The proud Oakland, Calif. native was 19 years old when that project dropped, and so was I. The tracklist was exactly what I needed as a new Washington, D.C. transplant, thousands of miles away from all of my loved ones in the Bay Area. Over the past decade I’ve followed Kehlani along their journey, growing with them as we both experienced young adulthood. Vulnerability is their superpower, and that power was put to the test at the Tiny Desk, where Kehlani succeeds with flying colors.

“It’s been a long time coming. I definitely know I’m overdue for doing this [Tiny Desk],” Kehlani says in their set. The journey starts with “Nights Like This,” the heartbreak single from their 2019 mixtape, While We Wait. Then, Kehlani switches gears into “Distraction,” from their debut album SweetSexySavage, followed by an effortless merge into “The Way,” from the 2015 project, You Should Be Here.

After the sultry sounds of “Can I,” Kehlani parks their performance for a moment. “I want to take a second to say: Free Palestine. Free Congo. Free Sudan. Free Yemen. Free Hawaii. Free Guam,” they say. “It’s deeper than this. I need everybody that’s here right now, everybody that’s watching, to step up, to use their voices.” The set then accelerates into “After Hours,” the groovy, summertime anthem from their latest album, CRASH. Kehlani conquers the Desk with raw and real talent, setting them up for a future in music that is full of possibilities. I’m eager to see their next destination.

SET LIST

“Nights Like This”

“Distraction”

“The Way”

“Can I”

“After Hours”

MUSICIANS

Kehlani: lead vocals

Freaky Rob: guitar, musical direction

Doctor O: keys

Simba: bass

Jermaine Poindexter: drums

Karyn Porter: vocals

Chelsea West: vocals

Jasmine Patton: vocals

TINY DESK TEAM

Producers: Alanté Serene, Bobby Carter

Director/Editor: Maia Stern

Audio Technical Director: Hannah Gluvna

Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Grace Raver

Audio Engineer: Phil Edfors

Production Assistant: Elle Mannion

Photographer: Keren Carrión

Tiny Desk Team: Kara Frame, Ashley Pointer, Hazel Cills

Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed

Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson

VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins

#kehlani #nprmusic #tinydesk