Chvrches: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

For a brief moment, I imagined hearing Chvrches perform "Recover" or "Gun" with a couple of acoustic guitars and perhaps a shaker or two. And, though these songs would surely stand up well when broken down and bared, I'm thrilled that Chvrches came with a small arsenal of synthesizers to perform a few highlights from last year's album The Bones of What You Believe.
Seeing these now-familiar earworms executed up close was nearly as much a campfire moment as an acoustic set might have been, except the flames burned brighter. Lauren Mayberry's voice felt powerful and vulnerable, while Iain Cook and Martin Doherty kept those memorable synth lines bubbling underneath. The result works as a perfect introduction to the Glasgow trio, but also a reaffirmation of talent and longevity for those already love with the band. --BOB BOILEN
Set List
"Recover"
"Gun"
"The Mother We Share"
Credits
Producers: Bob Boilen, Denise DeBelius; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Denise DeBelius, Olivia Merrion, Stephen Thompson; photo by Meredith Rizzo/NPR

[@wilaustu]

We need an updated tiny desk for them. They've realesed two new albums!

[@eds.4815]

It’s very rare for a band to be invited back. Particular musicians generally only have repeat appearances if they’re in a new, different band.

[@wilaustu]

​@@eds.4815 So what

[@tonymorris4335]

​@@RichardMillard That seems to be your opinion of what the tiny desk was made for... But think of it like this, without the big names coming on occasion to bring audiences TO Tiny Desk, how many viewers would it really even have for the new and up and coming people? It wouldn't have 4.5M subs if it was only unknown people coming on. From what I can tell Tiny Desk Concerts was only made to be an intimate and stripped down mini concert to take things to their basics. "INTIMATE VIDEO PERFORMANCES, RECORDED LIVE AT THE DESK OF ALL SONGS CONSIDERED HOST BOB BOILEN" is what the NPR site says, not "UNKNOWN ARTISTS PLAY MUSIC AT A DESK". Can you show me somewhere where Bob or someone else says it was only meant to be for unknowns?

[@victorkm2]

But even then, Bob would have to be so substantially into their newer stuff that he would want to have them back.

[@andre3st311]

You have to be wilco to get that treatment

[@davidwalker6510]

Just watched this today 15/03/24. Thank you, 3 talanted, beautiful, people. Love the way you asked if you could swear, respect that.

[@lauriem6352]

0:04 Recover 4:36 Gun 9:37 The Mother We Share

[@rumdonkey7826]

To all the idiots arguing below: It doesn't matter what you use to make music, music is about how it sounds and how it makes you feel. Chvrches invokes an emotional response with their music, it's all that matters.

[@juliusseizure4983]

@Luke It's cheating and doesn't take as much talent to press a button when there's a self-correcting metronome feature.

[@johnfogarty1240]

@@juliusseizure4983 I don’t think using instruments and tools that are available for everyone is considered cheating. It’s about how it’s used. I don’t think this discredits them in anyway. And the band seems to be doing a lot of concentrating during the performance so I don’t think it’s as easy as it seems.

[@juliusseizure4983]

@@johnfogarty1240 you right you right

[@StructureofStories]

@@johnfogarty1240 agreed. and even if it was "cheating" or "easier" what difference does it make? The music they make still accomplish the goal. Still invoke emotions like OP said. And isn't that the point? An advice my sound design teacher gave the class, that I really like: "It doesn't matter what you do or how you do it or what program or technique you use, what matters is how it sounds. If it sounds good, it sounds good. End of discussion."

[@zachsteward3355]

From Rush's Spirit of Radio: "All this machinery making modern music can still be open-hearted. Not so fully charted, it's really just a question of your honesty." That line has stuck with me and really changed my perspective on pop music.

[@FrancisBarton]

Love the fact that this band can just take their songs and basically do completely different arrangements of them, giving a whole new sense to them. Beautifully done here.

[@wyganter]

It’s called “chords”

[@FrancisBarton]

@@wyganter ?

[@jfukura]

Gonna have to agree. They are fun, but this isn't a mind-blowing performance

[@lasagnahog7695]

@@jfukura Who said mind-blowing? The parent comment said they love it and that it was beautiful. Stop clawing for the youtube comment highground and take comments for what they are.

[@jeremysmith9694]

I don't know what it was but she seems so intensely sincere. It's like she's singing from the inside out. Completely emotionally transparent. Like you can see into her soul and she's bearing everything. She's beautiful. During that last song I nearly teared up. She's touching.

[@MrDudewiththeshoes]

To me the coolest thing about this session is that they still nail those studio precise dynamics. Cook and Doherty really execute amazing control of their synths and the sound is perfect. Not to mention Mayberry's skill is undeniable, sounds just like the record.

[@PPno9]

I love the way she says "proud".

[@khalliddo1385]

Frail hair from falling.

[@abbywoodcock8493]

her voice is just so pure.

[@catalinamarin5216]

but she's not that good either

[@Jesse-vr1tq]

@@catalinamarin5216 better then you for sure.

[@Wiley_Coyote]

It always reminds me of Susanna Hoffs. She even looks a bit like her.

[@ashdjones]

A little heavy on the electrons.

[@freddie3lo753]

I don't know what is NPR doing, but every tiny concert is awesome

[@fookthefrench]

The bands always freaking kill it and the mixing is fantastic. Tiny Desk is consistently one of the best live renditions of any given song.

[@Montanagoat13]

Joey McLaughlin Thanks to NPRs music director I've found modern music that does not suck, Thanks NPR!!

[@joker9494949494]

This performance was the beginning of my synthesizer obsession. Now I own everything in this video and more. Once you catch that bug you'll have it for life!

[@TransistorBased]

None of this gear is terribly exciting. I'm sorry this was your start

[@TransistorBased]

@Muhamad Nur Arifin Something like a microKORG, Minilogue, or even one of the newer Behringer synths. Something pretty hands-on

[@alicaramba7680]

@Muhamad Nur Arifin The one you can't outgrow easily. First check free Crystal, Tal-BassLine, Synth1, Dexed software synths.

[@MyriadDubstep]

What do you mean, the Dave smith mopho x4 is sick and has amazing vintage sounds

[@HotStrange]

ApolloSynths Lol ok troll

[@mandymouse1879]

I love hearing her voice all raw in person. It's earthy and dreamy at the same time.

[@jakegodfrey9490]

You can tell they wanna smile every time they hear the applause. They are very talented and even more humble.

[@jackgraziano5159]

I am here in 2023 I can’t stop listening to this

[@Deerful]

basically 'CHVRCHES doing Tiny Desk Concert' is the musical aesthetic I will be aiming for for the rest of my life

[@Deerful]

seriously this is so fantastic everything sounds so crisp and warm and perfect, my goddddd

[@Deerful]

someone buy me a Tempest and also stop me monologuing at myself on youtube

[@Deerful]

and a minitaur, fuck this is so amazing I can't catch my breath

[@mcride1677]

I don’t think it’s possible to reproduce this masterpiece but that is a good venture to spend the rest of your life on you have my full support

[@JasperKloek]

@@Deerful What's a minitaur?

[@CraigDirty]

I think recover will always be my favorite Chvrches song. That song has something the other songs don't.

[@kaidms]

2 choruses. How they thought of that? I don't know

[@scarfdestroyer]

I really like CHVRCHES and understand the work it takes to make all of these samples and play them at the right time. With that said, some of these minuscule volume adjustments accompanied by head bobbing is cracking me up... lol.

[@cuadradoalreves]

they're not just "playing samples", they're actually playing with the sounds they've adjusted on those keyboards and -yes- here and there triggering some programmed drums. It's just like playing any other instrument.

[@scarfdestroyer]

My main point was the volume adjustments that would seem to be more at home in mixing of a final recording than a live show in the NPR office. The whole first sentence of my original comment was to avoid electronic music people with a chip on their shoulder getting mad at me for 'questioning' their music abilities. Main point is they don't look very busy at certain parts in the recording and it seems silly to barely adjust volume/eq/fade knobs to make it look like you're doing something. Thanks for condescendingly quoting me as if I knew nothing though, appreciate it.

[@cuadradoalreves]

Brady Rudesill well if you can't listen what they're doing when they move those knobs (and still call "samples" what they play), i must assume that you don't know as much as you think. I mean, it's that or you need better headphones.

[@scarfdestroyer]

First off i have Denon AHD-2000s, second the drums are sampled, third how is 1:20 not EXACTLY what i said... stop making a joke about volume adjustment into me having to choose my words exactly in order to avoid a argument about the intricacies/logistics of electronic music. its really unbearable.

[@norwegianchill2886]

Would you prefer they read a book during the performance?

[@scrub_jay]

She is adorable.

[@Shoofyou10]

The way that she bites her lip at 1:45 is just too adorable for words

[@matrix72961]

They're terrific!. She has an outlandish voice. She also seems really sweet, unlike many artists these days. I want to listen to much more from this band.

[@miyokanvideos3254]

Lauren is sweet, cute, great singer, humble, funny and talented. what else can you ask for a woman.

[@TeighMart]

12:50 Holy shit, they're such awkward people, I love it!

[@nibblynobbler7064]

There's a group of people standing 4 feet away staring. It's different from a stage. Any artist would tell you that.

[@rubatscho]

Nibbly Nobbler iOS ich i

[@chaszkiey]

Lauren: should we stay Iain: probably lol if i read their lips right haha

[@seccat]

Try getting 2 1/2 full sized adults into your office cubical. PS: Lauren is so tiny.... I want to put her in my pocket and take her home (in a non-objective way).

[@balortegaiii8710]

12:50 had my eyes on lauren the whole timee she's so cuuute

[@MultiSupporter]

well i think i just fell in love.

[@DeadAndroSaurus]

Well done Ser Davos Seaworth

[@Amiral_Tertho]

Love this band! They look so humble and passionated by their music (which is so soul-filling) it’s too cute to see them being awkward in the end after the session. Also crazy how her voice is pitch perfect while she makes it look effortless. Wishing them all the best ❤️

[@bengtssonmorgan]

Great band of course, also props to the sound engineers at NPR. Exquisite mix.

[@iancorcoran380]

Thanks! Ace! My 13 yr old Daughter loves it, we loved your last show in melbourne...

[@rashmika9742]

She looks just as adorable as her voice sounds

[@HiiiiSunil]

Example of extra ordinary TALENT.

[@the.mayberries]

Love the fact that Lauren starts very soft and a bit shy and then she gets more confident and it is just awesome 😍

[@imaloserdude7227]

Very cool, small set, seeing the trio create the music with books in the background. Lauren has such mesmerizing and thoughtful eyes, and the guys seem like such music geeks, totally focused and creative and brimming full of talent.

[@happyriezky6114]

the mother we share gave me chills

[@reguluspastor]

Love when they do this stripped-down, D-minor version of Recover. Also saw a livestream of them performing it at SXSW.

[@sophiepizzo4610]

their stripped back performances are always just as amazing as the normal versions!

[@happydancergurl]

Lauren Mayberry reminds me of Natalie Portman in "The Professional." Great sound, love her clear vocals.

[@ashdjones]

Nah I think it's just miscalculation of expecting larger stages.

[@F115Stealth]

Oh my gosh, Lauren was so young ;) I like her clear high voice. Thx for sharing this.

[@user-tz1vq3mw4g]

You 3 are magical together!

[@meredithdaniels5497]

She's so good at singing "Gun" live, sounds like the audio version. Love his group! 😃❤️

[@ashdjones]

Good point.

[@kiramclaughlin1831]

i've loved chvrches for years and the bones of what you believe is probably one of my favorite albums of all time and this is such a refreshing take on three amazing singles. sucks that i'm just now discovering this video! ps: lauren mayberry has such nice skin girl drop a routine please

[@peterredden8188]

It's amazing to see Lauren's beautiful growth into the lead vox of today.

[@L0veepanicc]

how can someone be so darn cute tho

[@flyingcheff]

Too beautiful for that much [face] make-up. love this.

[@ChrisMontgomery-xtrmagamr]

Looks like you pulled it off

[@NOWtheband]

* though

[@krepler]

@@NOWtheband 🤦‍♂️

[@NOWtheband]

@@krepler - Yes? I asked "Yes?" because you called upon us & all I see next to your placement of our name is two small squares, which doesn't mean anything to me, unless it is saying that we are squares, which I won't argue with, ha ha ha ha ha! (* ha ha ha ha ha = looool = laugh out out out out out loud)

[@techzzRP]

Thanks Lauren !

[@techzzRP]

ANd NPR "tiny" desk !

[@techzzRP]

Breathe of fresh Air , from a lot of auto tuned stuff that is always played, and REAL , synth OG as well , CHVRCHES , well done !

[@JesPulido]

I love this! I agree with everyone else about still having an "unplugged" or "acoustic" feel. This band is so talented and lovable and unpretentious. I've many a time found myself with Chvrches stuck in my head. I hope they keep doing what they're doing for years to come.

[@Seapatico]

The guy with the black hat seems like he'd be a good friend.

[@claudiakadow8463]

Love ❤to everyone listening in 2023. Love seeing these magicians working their techniques in real time. Only complaint…it’s too short 🎉 Tiny desk, we love your work too!

[@tomharton2769]

Lauren Mayberry voice is so pleasing to my ear. i love the way her voice makes me feel

[@Ryanide07]

Saw Chvrches live earlier this year at Laneway SG, and when Lauren was explaining that she lost her train of thought during Under The Tide was absolutely adorable! Man I love these guys.

[@ultraviolet1975]

Love this group. Had the pleasure of seeing them many times. This is a wonderful performance. Lauren is super talented.

[@baleau77]

She looks like a beautiful elf : D

[@minah2480]

Wow, I've never seen her before. She's shockingly beautiful!

[@void-were-prohibitive]

ive liked and followed on every phone that aren't kept eyes on. this band is brilliant!

[@RileyKohler]

I love her voice aaaaa

[@JasperKloek]

Watching Chvrches vids on KZbin. Forgetting to go to work.

[@Gumbo72203]

This set is so fucking brilliant. These songs work SOOO much better in this stripped down setting; they're much more unique and powerful. I connect with this so much deeper than their regular, over-produced live set and studio work. Brilliant stuff here. Super deep. Lauren is the real article. I love how just authentic and cute and innocent she is.

[@maximpekarsky7266]

Agreed; I bought the album after hearing this concert, and I definitely like it - but I like these arrangements better.

[@Kingrizla-fm2rr]

I completely agree. I hate the way their records sound but I love this. They should play this way all the time...

[@90mh11]

Just wow. I was entirely not ready for that. astounding.

[@bloomwithjessika4960]

Excellent Tiny Desk Concert! I love their music, her voice is beautiful!! And she has face to match! Gorgeous skin!

[@seccat]

Lauren is so sweet. She worried about the cursing @11:20 of “The Mother We Share”. It’s adorable.

[@matthewclark5564]

They are all so practiced! What a great performance! No telling how many hours they put in getting ready for all of this.

[@asyrafzakri7898]

Her voice, her face. Perfect.

[@SHIELDSYYYYY]

A lot of negativity about this session and towards Chvrches in general. A shame to see considering they're an extremely talented group and producing some seriously great stuff.

[@speakwhale]

i've been waiting my whole life since discovering tiny desk life for this to upload.

[@KiyoshiDaichi]

Measuring beauty and talent level..... Booom. OVERFLOW ERROR!!

[@kennethoyler5533]

NPR keep doing what you're doing guys.

[@Dallehable]

I love this so much. Thank you for sharing NPR. I've listened to this a hundred times or so in the past 24 hours, jesus.

[@kimceyoumse1462]

Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful.

[@theodorehui4939]

you guys know what perfection is? She is.

[@greytimberwolfpup]

I love this. these three songs are very awesome.

[@lSeKToRl]

6 years later she finally looks 15 :D

[@tiktak9827]

geny to potęga

[@triborogigolo]

Love this group. Dope performance.

[@projectz975]

i wish their albums sounded like this. so raw and not overly dense

[@agatheinfinite3526]

Amazed by their talent.. So much perfection in a live !

[@mayzqsimon5326]

I really love her voice and songs!

[@JiggyWig]

Fabulous session.

[@seanzawko09]

This is so perfect. Thank you for making this. This band is so right for my mind right now in 2019.

[@zaldyriovalderama]

finally they are performing in NPR tiny desk concert, awesome!!!

[@Proudmule1]

VERY COOL arrangements of these songs.

[@thinkingjack]

This is so awesome, this is what made me a fan of theirs, I love their music!

[@vincenzospezzano6912]

Beautiful and emotiional. Compliments. To repeat with new songs.

[@seedywaters]

lovely re-works. still has the vibe of an unplugged session

[@susanstorm4450]

I love their music ♥️

[@michaelp0819]

My favorite versions of these songs. Superb!!

[@Kris-jh7tk]

This is just perfect....

[@eyeyamI]

I can't believe this only has 480k views. I thought it had millions by now, but I guess I was thinking of the like a version vid.

[@nathanasshantti]

Awesome performance, thanks!

[@Starkitten2002]

CHVRCHES did an amazing concert here. I love it so much.

[@ScreenSpidah]

Aw, how precious. What a beautiful voice and talent! Made me smile :)

[@ravenimagery]

Her voice is just incredible, and so beautiful. Absolutely love this Tiny Desk!

[@kermmi8782]

You guys are my new favorite band! I Love your music please keep writing more!

[@mcride1677]

such a beautiful performance from amazing people, love the end when they finish and all look so awkward and ready to leave lol adorable i love this band and this session

[@cmsmc2]

Love them so much... I WISH THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE OF THIS WITH SOME OF THE NEW SONGS

[@ewandickson79]

I love them, seen them live @thevic and lolla. They are amazing.

[@2jaket]

stunning - SO good live (seen them several times) but great here

[@chrisb470]

Good group of people putting art into music. Love it.

[@davidmckesey7119]

wow this music is hypnotic

[@Jeffbambam]

I love this band !" Do you wanna know* really showcases their strength!

[@rudyg323]

They are great and she is such an Angel when she sings.

[@floriankberger]

Hadn't heard you folks before seeing your talk at my offices. This was a really pleasant Monday morning surprise, I like the stripped-down feel of this!

[@PhilLeitch]

Brilliant!

[@SPDLST]

LOVE THIS GROUP.

[@SPDLST]

And love npr.

[@aidakrgin744]

Love Chvrches! Lauren is fabulous!

[@justinjones9028]

This band never ceases to amaze me. Her voice, as much as I love it, prior to listening to this I would have assumed couldn't hold up in this environment. I don't think I would be alone in that impression either. However, I was wholly impressed. She has some solid chops. Well done Chvrches!