Son Lux: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

August 21, 2015 by ROBIN HILTON
Most of the bands that play the Tiny Desk strip down their sound to accommodate the limited space and unconventional acoustics of an office. But Son Lux chose to do the exact opposite. Normally a trio of guitar, drums and keys based out of New York, the band blew up its sound for this performance, adding off-duty, civilian horn players from the United States Marine Band.
In spite of the more elaborate production - and extra decibels - Son Lux still made the performance intimate, in part by peeling back the otherwise-complex layers of each song and drawing out the most essential elements, particularly frontman Ryan Lott's voice. Known in part for his fragile falsetto, Lott belts out the vocals here like he's delivering power ballads.
At the Tiny Desk, the group focused entirely on Son Lux's latest album, Bones, opening with "You Don't Know Me" and following with "Now I Want." It closed with the gorgeous and moving "Your Day Will Come." Throughout the performance, Lott intermittently conducts the group as it dissects simple four-four time signatures into ever smaller slices, intentionally landing on the off beats. It's one of Son Lux's trademark devices for live sets, and it helps keep the audience from getting too comfortable.
Bones was released earlier this summer on Glassnote. It's Son Lux's fourth full-length album. The band is currently on a European tour through the fall.
Set List
"You Don't Know Me"
"Now I Want"
"Your Day Will Come"
Credits
Producers: Robin Hilton, Morgan Walker; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Walker, Nick Michael, Lani Milton; Assistant Producer: Elena Saavedra Buckley; photo by Lani Milton/NPR

[@user-cl6fr7mq7l]

I still don’t get how can they sound really experimental and weird and still have this clean pop qualities.

[@MauriceChavez353]

only experimental music i found that oozes purpose

[@jamndunk]

Hipster skillz.

[@Michiganders]

Tragically underrated. Absolutely brilliant. Good God!

[@jadenann4350]

i absolutely love when artists get so into the music that they look like they're on crazy drugs! makes me know that when i dance like this to their music, that i'm not insane.

[@dustindegagner8523]

Ya. Aha you can really tell who's in the band and who's just standing in. xD

[@sniffcats]

Five years later I’m here to leave this comment saying I am SO GLAD I’m not the only one. It actually makes me teary eyed when I see artists get so into what they’re singing. It shows it means just as much to them as it does to us as the listener. 💗

[@allivega8926]

Awww man same! You can literally see the passion and the music flowing through them. Love every second of it!

[@mricardo96]

Once the soul is in, the delivery gets better all the time

[@puppenbuhnebauchkribbeln1183]

WORD...!!!

[@BluesmaNeedham]

God I just love how freaking backbeat Ian's drumming is... It's FILTHY. Gosh! So freaking good! I've seen them 2 times this year in Houston and both shows have been spectacular

[@professorpancakes6545]

what backbeat mean?

[@zimmeh3026]

its about Ian drumming just a bit later than the actual beat. You can hear it at 2:15 . Its so epic, because he manages to be a bit behind but still hold the beat, and oh my does it sound good ^^.

[@professorpancakes6545]

Grzegorz Wierzbicki I see what you mean, it's super lazy. Sounds good

[@erri4433]

Saw them in San Diego! Incredible.

[@maxmeier532]

Somewhere Ringo Starr is pissed why he got so much shit for being off and this asian kid gets none at all.

[@minyoongi878]

His passion and emotion in you don't know me is amazing 😍❤️

[@Olivo1000]

I love it too because they show that they are playing with their feelings when they perform and ai louv iittttt

[@rorsabest]

such a fucking cool concept for an electro band to do something like this! Musicianship is not dead!!

[@marijanalukic4003]

well they are composers actually😉

[@elliespohr]

They're one of the most impressive mainstream-ish bands out there these days. Definitely my favorite aside from Radiohead.

[@_srgsh]

I want to experience Son Lux live so bad... They sound amazing in every live video I've seen and it's always memorable and different.

[@displayname7351]

I hope by now you have already seen them. I saw them a couple of months ago in phx and theyre flawless.

[@erinoquindo8211]

I'm in love with Ian Chang. Thank you Son Lux for this amazing sound

[@abaranihei2608]

To play instruments like this fairly silent but still getting consistent good sounds out of it is a true accomplishment

[@wilhelmpaulm]

My boi is now Oscar nominated! They better effin win that gold baby! Otherwise we pick up all the weapons.

[@JohnSmith-zf1lq]

Love Son Lux. Fantastic, unconventional artist. I love what he's done with the instruments and sound of this.

[@mrofnoctonod]

What an amazing composer, writer and singer. They're a recent find for me, and glad I did.

[@miah6414]

God, I love then so much!! UGH their sound and instrumentation and the way they use silences and lulls in their arrangements, and the lead singer's lyrics and his VOICE! I dunno, every part of this is just a masterpiece to me ❤

[@samaraserralheiro9436]

Son Lux never disappoints me!! NEVER!!

[@TheHanna42]

my ears have been blessed

[@ashleyross9139]

this is my favorite tiny desk concert

[@sandern8028]

I was struck by this tiny desk concert from the first moment! The emotion felt from the singer, the tight arrangement and the tension the drummer builds up by dragging (perfect) behind the beat just blew me away. Love it!

[@Stevenphaneuf9]

Simple yet layered, fresh yet nostalgic, esoteric yet engaging. What a performance!

[@kathleendrayton]

I love this version of You Don't Know Me so much. Thank you Son Lux and your amazing band with its incredible brass section & thank you Tiny Desk for getting it out there for us all to see and hear ❤️

[@abbyooooo]

I got chills when he first started singing, I love that song so much and this version is amazing!

[@billyjayne7276]

I discovered son lux about 15 years ago from a show called skins. And they have been my number 1 artist every year since then. Every listen brings new depth. Please come to Vancouver bc!!!

[@OfficialJacksonFox]

So much emotion in his voice. Pretty amazing.

[@ax3ll3best]

Love people that involves themselfs into the music like that

[@robertdizon2801]

How very very special to have added the layer of brass on already amazing songs, beautifully conceived and executed, would have loved to have been there!

[@Devonsmiles25]

This gave me chills! I just stumbled upon them recently and I am so obsessed. He's a musical genius in my opinion and more people should know about them! ❤️

[@rotflolextreme]

People so disappointed by his voice, but the man is so passionate, this is his music, original af and beautiful.

[@omninuss6847]

But how?! He sounds amazing and has such a unique timbre

[@user-cl6fr7mq7l]

Love how he acts out every word

[@Watthexe0815]

His voice is so beautiful 😍

[@ondore]

If you are dissapointed by his voice you literally have no musical earing

[@Watthexe0815]

Ryan’s voice is absolutely brilliant 😍😍 What do these people hear ???

[@sarahfrench9336]

I like how "stumbling " is common in their music. I dont have another word for it but it's beautiful. So grateful for hearing easy on a road trip and stalking the bend for the next three years with curiosity.

[@adrianhardt7493]

How has this been online for almost 3 years, AND I HAVEN'T KNOWN ABOUT IT??!?!?

[@danielvallecillo92]

5 years old for me

[@Elissa66]

One of my absolute favourite Tiny Desk concerts. Magnificent. 🖤

[@mathewmontanari8632]

is incredible hat Ian Chang can do with such a small kit, his creativity is mesmerizing. And it's not all, is a fucking good piano player too!

[@derroysan]

in a long list of amazing performances another outstanding one. Excellent pick.

[@EliGamesOfficial]

I love Son Lux. How did I miss this. Pure brilliance.

[@majesounds]

The vocal expression is extremely striking. Damn edit: It seems to me that I don't have to mention the unique musical composition that Son Lux represents, come on. I'm a big fan big up from Poland!

[@paytergyr]

One of the best tiny desk concert episode!

[@cyanidebutterfliesx]

the clarity the skill the mix the playing the composition the DRUMMING my god

[@MsNanceePants]

I was blessed to see them at Jazz and Lincoln Center a couple of years ago and they just floored me. Extraordinary musicianship. Hands down the best live show I've ever heard.

[@EleniEliades_]

I LOVE this music-- so much passion in the singers voice. He's going to BURST, as his entire body is literally trembling with every word he sings ~ beautiful. ❤💥🔥🌟❗

[@iverikekenadzegustafsson5541]

still listening, hoping my day will come

[@neaituppi7306]

This is the first time I have seen or heard them, that I know of. But I guess they are usually an electro band? I like this version.

[@aleciakorkowski8714]

+Heki Kahni They're kind of everything :P Bones is a fantastic album and they're old stuff is really great, creepy, effecting, cool and experimental as well :)

[@neaituppi7306]

Alecia Korkowski Yeah I found some of it. They are definitely musicians and experimental, something I would like to buy. When I hear someone described as electro-music, I think of sampled mixers. Club music.

[@aleciakorkowski8714]

Yeah they're breaking out of all kinds of molds. They're great. So glad you like em :)

[@Fjolde]

+Heki Kahni I felt the same way about Kishi Bashi but over time I came to love his album work too.

[@aleciakorkowski8714]

Never herd of him. Just listened to a couple, I really dig em. Subtle yet lovely. I love sharing music :')

[@STR4nG3boy]

You can see he feels it, the music he plays flushes through his whole body

[@fannymartinez5445]

The kind of "drama" and intensity that I love

[@Buerinni]

originality overload and loving every second! thx for the numerous introductions to new artists. keep up the great work tiny desk!!!

[@alberthole3696]

This is what I call ART. Beauty.

[@lukasbolus]

This drummer! Love Son Lux such a great performer

[@magicmarker8421]

Keep coming back here. Amazed every time. Genius magic.

[@nicorainlu9219]

It blows my mind that this video does not yet have a million views!

[@GrayShadowOfNight]

Don't get me wrong, their studio music is fantastic and I blast it with my headphones on full volume. But. They are a band that is even _better_ live. And the tiny desk just takes the cake.

[@purpledaze8961]

Absolutely amazing. Over a year of loving your music and finally having a face to put to the magic

[@minah2480]

So much yes. Intro reminds me of Moon Hooch, I was just craving Moon Hooch!

[@puppenbuhnebauchkribbeln1183]

😌👌🏼🎶 BRILLIANT...how I love it when awwwmazing artists take their music to the next level by performing it live... 🙏🏼

[@Simonskistunts]

love it. but "easy" is still my favourite track

[@catalinabarraza2416]

Mainstream Sun Lux Fan .😂😂😂

[@YY-cl8hr]

+Catalina Barraza Nice song to listen to whilst on the bus to school👍🏻👍🏻

[@eke6375]

@@GarbagePerson578 Absolutely. Great performance in every aspect.

[@arturfronc3145]

@@GarbagePerson578 it's Woodkid not Ironkid ;D you've mixed up the materials. "Iron" is one of his songs title.

[@GarbagePerson578]

@@arturfronc3145 lol thanks for the correction. Since that comment I've come to enjoy much of his music as well.

[@juanmanuelmendozalopez8610]

Is son lux still active? Theyre one of those rare and authentic bands that every time they go live, they tend to sound better than the recorded versions, and also every time they create a bold New different song. As said, tragically underrated and absolutely brilliant!

[@jvdasz]

overactive! check out the soundtrack from everything everywhere at once

[@ecleticemmie]

they did the soundtrack for everything everywhere all at once.

[@k-leb4671]

Of course they're still active! A quick Google search would've easily answered that. They're touring Europe.

[@gapr84]

A couple of weeks ago they released a new video

[@lottrocky]

I'm an Americana artist but I'm also a general music enthusiast, this is some amazing music. I love how far out there it is...

[@magicdoors]

I once had to go shake the hand of drummer Ian Chang after a concert in Copenhagen, just to make sure he was not some kind of drumming robot ;)! He was indeed human! Love his playing and love the band!

[@sennapuenta]

second 49 iphone calling.. im so obsessed with this music, after watching 1000x times still not having enough of it *.*

[@antioch325]

Now THAT was performance art 🔥

[@jennamarie2481]

Ugh, chills

[@snoozyq9576]

Wow I didn't expect him to go from singing to piano to then conducting. He does many things!

[@enelram8430]

God, it was so unexpected, so diferent from the original version, each and every version is so freacking gorgeus.

[@drewbert83]

Thats a pretty big desk

[@S.S.Gabriel]

drewbert83 big desk concert

[@chiejavier5468]

it’s been years and i always come back to this

[@zataradeluged]

How did they get the sounds so clear and clean? I find myself seeking this version out more than their recorded stuff!

[@elliespohr]

I'm amazed at how good that upright sounded. The uprights I've heard usually sound like garbage.

[@59michaelash]

The mixing engineer for Tiny Desk does an insanely good job.

[@Luckyjasondrum]

The engineer for Tiny Desk is a surgeon when it come to sound. Low ceilings and the bookshelf behind them pull most of the additional noise out of the mix. The bookshelf is doing most of the absorption and diffusion. The rest of it is perfectly configured gates and compression by a seasoned engineer.

[@thebakeddonut2038]

Sounds pretty funky man

[@amandafeliciano542]

It's a problem with most of the tiny desk songs for any artist....they always sound better here lol

[@pawandeepkohli3486]

Even their bows were delightful

[@AdventuresWithRosy]

This video deserves alot more views! Such an epic set!

[@Canaandudolar]

Listen from Brazil, it's totally awesome 😍😍😍😍😍

[@Imokevs]

❤

[@lovmovement8477]

Best Tiny Desk Performance I’ve ever seen

[@CobaltLobo]

absolutely love Son Lux, absolutely no one like them!

[@Angelo.Partemi]

this is amazing! saw them in phx in July, and they killed it then as well. so powerful.

[@dclarkmusic]

That stuff the guitarist is playing is all kinds of cool

[@trinkettrance9361]

These are outstanding interpretations.

[@terieseful]

Everything Everywhere All At Once brought me here. Wonderful work guys. Kuddos!

[@keegancurry2593]

This is amazing. A lot of songs I wish they would've played but I blame them for having such a great catalogue!

[@errringrrr4579]

Love the songs with the addition of horns/wind instruments. These are three of my favorite Son Lux songs. And I want to have Ian Chang's babies, he's amazing ;)

[@KrazyKat1211]

they're otherworldly

[@konradzymula3848]

best npr concert !!

[@samuelbortel]

You see my face in the stars You don't know me You write my name on your walls But you don't know me I feel you tracing my scars But you don't know me You don't know me at all I see you down on your knees But you don't own me You don't know me at all You drank your wine from my heart You don't know me You don't know me at all I see you down on your knees But you dont, you don't, you don't know me at all You see my face in the stars You write my name on the walls I feel you tracing my scars I see you down on your knees You don't know me at all X3 You don't know

[@rafaelbrammer2808]

one of the best tiny desk concert for sure

[@jordi0m]

I saw them at Fusion. It was my first time in the festival and they were the only artist I knew beforehand. Sound system was top notch, too. It was incredible and I hope I'll get to see them again at some point.

[@DUTCHswift]

Loving the marching snare.

[@DUTCHswift]

piccolo*

[@polton00]

deserves so many more views

[@mpesseg]

What about Everything Everything? They just have released a new album and would fit in great, I guess.

[@TreavorUnion]

mpesseg I would love to hear that

[@jonhalo]

mpesseg That would be fantastic, their new album is really really great.

[@RayyanKhanRayyanKhan]

One of the best bands of the 2010s for sure

[@darkwaterblue]

Sounds a little like Brandon Flowers. Really interesting stuff!

[@TreavorUnion]

darkwaterblue Yeah, the vibrato is similar.

[@willwhitman717]

darkwaterblue good call

[@_winter7745]

darkwaterblue This was my first thought as well, really helping me jive with this guy!

[@ФантаЄва]

That’s crazy! Magnificent, fascinating, stunning!

[@000MrJwright]

4:31 Wow. I know that the band wouldn't have been able to pull off that last part without the conducting. Phew!

[@eke6375]

Sarcasm does not hurt.

[@skayodev]

isn't it crazy how these guys are now oscar nominated, just 8 years later 😅

[@mariadelaf2189]

They sound good in live omg

[@RolandStrykala]

extraordanaey great, good vibration voice

[@YY-cl8hr]

Spelling on point👌

[@johnheffner298]

Yay! Thanks for singing along so beautifully with the heavens.

[@RaeRaeRawrrr]

i am in love.

[@giza4479]

Oh my God! What a voice!

[@TheAnotherMusic]

I love this sound, just amazing!

[@ziyedhamrouni886]

beyond any words...

[@eugenejackson9628]

Who would dare put a thumbs down on this?!

[@snoozyq9576]

Some idiot lol

[@celsojunior4224]

his voice....makes me feel things...

[@Mjollnir1234]

Who on earth wouldn't love this w/in the first, oh, 5 notes? 41 assholes out on a fence.

[@CamiloGTavira]

Absolutly like this music. This band offer a lot.

[@lovelust3334]

Beautiful

[@meowanderson2189]

I would love to hear them write and record like this

[@gavin2489]

same

[@9volt24]

You're in luck: Stranger Forms

[@catalogodefantasmas]

Yes! This is a true performance!

[@joannajones5752]

I'm crying i love them SO MUCH THEY CHANGED MY LIFE MUSICALLY ❤