PJ Sin Suela Makes History with Funky NPR Tiny Desk Concert

Posted on May 1, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

PJ Sin Suela has signed his way into the history books…

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican rapper made history on Thursday with the debut of his NPR Tiny Desk concert by incorporating a sign language interpreter.

Sin Suela, who brought conscious rap and funky energy to his set, became the first artist to incorporate a sign language interpreter as part of the performance that premiered on Thursday (May 1).

Clad in vibrant orange — a color aligning with his most recent album, Toda Época Tiene Su Encanto, which dropped September 2024 — the Puerto Rican wordsmith and his 12-member troupe brought a genre-bending set to the stage.

The 24-minute performance opened with the love rap “Tengo Una Nota” and the bilingual “Duolingo.” The artist showcased his versatility with “Mírame,” delivered in a spoken-word, conscious-rap style that highlighted his lyrical depth and storytelling ability. A blend of funk, rap and hip-hop defined the set’s eclectic sound, punctuated by a laid-back yet pulsating performance of “Amor Artificial” and the high-energy “Top.” He closed with the emotional anti-war song “Mambrú.”

“This is a dream come true for me,” said PJ Sin Suela in a press release. “I remember being in college playing Tiny Desk sessions and thinking, ‘One day I’ll be there,’ and it happened. To this day, if I’m cooking or having friends over, we put on a Tiny Desk. I have a deep respect and love for the platform, and I treated it that way. We prepared, rehearsed and gave it our all. I was able to bring my favorite musicians from Puerto Rico and people I admire and love dearly. I was able to represent what I do visually, musically, and socially.”

Accompanying PJ was a powerhouse ensemble of Puerto Rican musicians, including Jahaziel García on trumpet, Benson Pagán Jiménez on guitar, Gabo Lugo on percussion and Barba Blanca on piano.

Alexssa Hernández made Tiny Desk history as the series’ first sign language interpreter. Backing vocalists Verónica Rolón Acevedo and Yeidimar Ramos Colón added soulful harmonies to the show.

PJ Sin Suela also used his Tiny Desk debut as a platform for activism, placing stickers on the set that read “Puerto Rico is NOT for sale.” The message — which he carried as a sign during the 2022 Puerto Rican Day Parade — reflects his opposition to policies such as Act 22, which allows wealthy foreigners to exploit the island’s resources.

Grupo Frontera Makes Impressive NPR ‘Tiny Desk’ Debut

Posted on April 24, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Grupo Frontera is celebrating a small feat…

The Regional Mexican band visited the NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C., for their Tiny Desk debut, which premiered on Thursday, April 24.

Dressed in light blue denim and white shirts, the borderland band opened the set with its Billboard Hot 100 No. 5 hit “Un x100to.” Backed by a gospel-inspired choir, the group infused the upbeat norteño song with a touch of R&B, incorporating sparkling keys and slowing the tempo.

Midway through the performance, the band transitioned back to the its signature cumbia norteña rhythm.

Accompanied by two female backup singers wearing cowboy hats, a trumpet player and Grupo Frontera’s signature ensemble of accordion, keyboards and guitars, the band delivered a dynamic and cohesive performance.

“It’s a very special song for us, because we didn’t even know he was going to be on the song until we shot the video,” frontman Payo said about Bad Bunny’s feature in “Un x100to.” “The video came to us as a surprise, and [Benito] said, ‘Have you heard the song, the full version, with me in it?’ And we said, ‘What version?!’,”

The band’s collaborator, Bad Bunny, had also stopped by the NPR offices earlier in the month to perform a few songs himself.

Grupo Frontera continued the set with “Hecha Pa’ Mi,” during which the richness of the accordion shone.

The band followed up with the bachata-infused “Ángel,” originally recorded with Romeo Santos, and the laid-back reggae-bop “Por Qué Será,” which features Maluma in the original version, showcasing their skill in blending norteño music with diverse genres.

Grupo Frontera rounded out the set with “El Amor de Su Vida,” originally starring Grupo Firme.

Earlier this week,, the Texas-based group received a nomination for best group or band at the 2025 Heat Latin Music Awards.

Maluma Performs NPR Tiny Desk Concert, Confirms He’ll Soon Be a Dad

Posted on October 20, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Maluma is celebrating a tiny moment…

The 29-year-old Colombian singer is the latest artist to visit the NPR Tiny Desk for a concert full of his hits and even a tease of his girlfriend’s recent pregnancy announcement.

Maluma performed songs ranging from “Hawái” and “COCO LOCO” to “Felices los 4” and “Según Quién.” Before singing “ADMV,” Maluma shared that he wrote the song for a cryptic “someone,” and immediately began tearing up.

Maluma revealed that he and his girlfriend, Susana Gomez, are expecting their first child together via a new music video on Friday, October 20.

Titled “Procura,” the song’s clip documents the couple’s relationship with never-before-seen clips, the heartfelt moment they found out they were going to be parents and the lavish sex reveal, when they found out they will be having a girl. The couple also revealed she will be named Paris.

“Music is the only way I can talk to my fans and I wanted to let them know that I’m having a baby,” he said in an interview with NPR Music‘s Alt.Latino. “It’s perfect timing with all of the things that I’m living. I’m looking for more personal experiences too […] I also want to grow as a human being, not only as an artist. This makes me feel so human, but at the same time, the more human I feel, the more artist I get.”

Carin Leon Releases New Single “Primera Cita”

Posted on April 22, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Carin Leon is preparing for his first date…

The 33-year-old Mexican regional music singer, composer and guitarist has released his new single “Primera Cita.”

The single, the first track from his upcoming album Colmillo de Leche, spotlights his soul-deep raspy vocals and his ability to convey feelings through his songs and melodies with more traditional Mexican sounds

Leon conveys his passion for R&B and soul on the track.

“This song was a surprise for us since it was an experiment for our Tiny Desk recording — we made a little soul and fused it with regional Mexican to create something exciting,” he recently told Billboard.

In the track, he wistfully sings, “I saw you, and you looked at me/ At the beginning, it was a joke/ Then the truth comes out we exchange smiles/ Some time passed, just under an hour/ And under the table, your heel touched my boot.”

Farruko Performs Intimate Tiny Desk Concert as part of NPR’s Latinx Heritage Month Celebration

Posted on October 15, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Farruko is celebrating a tiny moment…

The 31-year-old Puerto Rican singer and rapper performed a Tiny Desk concert as part of NPR’s Latinx Heritage Month celebration.

During his 15-minute performance, Farruko performed reimagined takes on his hit singles like “Pepas” and “En La Mia (Remix),” as well as launched his new single “Viaje.”

Farruko, real name, Carlos Reyes has undergone a spiritual transformation, even renouncing the message of his smash “Pepas” and taking the time to focus on his family and his developing relationship with God.

His Tiny Desk concert reflected that new perspective.

The concert included the participation of Armando Sanchez (guitar), Keriel Quiroz (keys), Juan Diaz (drums, percussion), Franie Laracuente (vocals) and Aaron Gonzalez (vocals).

J Balvin Kicks Off NPR’s “El Tiny” Home Concert Series in Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month

Posted on September 18, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Size doesn’t matter for J Balvin…

The 36-year-old Colombian singer has kicked off NPR‘s “El Tiny” series in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Balvin’s performance on September 16 was the first of 10 “El Tiny” concerts that will feature Latin artists like Camila Cabello, Prince Royce, Sech, Nicki Nicole and Silvana Estrada. The series will run through October 15, the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Backed by the Brooklyn Bridge in the middle of the East River, the chart-topping artist kicks off his 15-minute mini concert, singing new tracks off his latest and most personal album yet, Jose. He kicks off the set with “Vestido” and goes on to perform “Que Locura,” “OTRO FILI,” “F40” and closes with fan favorite “In Da Getto.”

“Even though we have some of the biggest names in Latin music scheduled, our ‘El Tiny’ takeover of the Tiny Desk (home) concerts is more than just entertainment,” Felix Contreras, host of NPR Music‘s Alt.Latino, said in a statement. “I firmly believe that music has always been an accurate barometer of what’s going on in the Latin communities here in this country. Reggaetón hip-hop, soul, Afro Latino, jazz — it’s all reflected in our lineup and shows how diverse our listening habits, and our community, is.”

The nine-time finalist at the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards recently spoke to Billboard about his 24-track set released on September 10. “The album was made thinking about myself and what I like to do,” Balvin said. “When I realized I didn’t have to box myself into a concept, like I did with Colores, I said, ‘The concept is me.'”

Demi Lovato Makes Tiny Desk Debut with Powerhouse Performance

Posted on April 14, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a not-so-Tiny moment for Demi Lovato…

The 28-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress has made her Tiny Desk debut on with a stripped-down, three-song set from her backyard.

Backed by only a keyboardist, Lovato allowed her powerhouse vocals to shine through performances of her 2017 single “Tell Me You Love Me,” along with two cuts — “The Art Of Starting Over” and “Dancing With The Devil” — from her new album, Dancing with the Devil… the Art of Starting Over.

“I’m super excited to be filming this outside, because I’m really, really excited about the weather changing. Spring is my second favorite, and summer is my absolute favorite season, so I’m really happy to be out in the bright, sunny California sun,” Lovato shared between songs.

The singer-songwriter performed against a backdrop of an adorable kitchen set, which included a very small desk, as is appropriate.

Tiny Desk is a video series of live concerts hosted by NPR Music. They’re typically held at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen in Washington, D.C., but are being filmed at offsite due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Carlos Vives Performs 21-Minute Set as Part of NPR Music’s Tiny Desk At-Home Concerts

Posted on October 17, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Carlos Vives is putting his desk foot forward…

The 59-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter is the latest artist to appear as part of NPR Music’s Tiny Desk at-home concerts, bringing his Colombian flavors to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

During his 21-minute set earlier this week, during which he was joined by a seven-member band, including his longtime backup vocalist and gaita player, Mayte Montero, Vives kicked off things off with his 1995 hit “Pa’ Mayte,” showcasing the spirited champeta dance.

He then performed one of his newer records, “Cumbiana,” dedicated to the diverse community of Colombia, his Shakira-assisted bop “La Bicicleta,” and the infectious “No Te Vayas,” released earlier this year — all while dancing barefoot in the comfort of his own home.

“On this Tiny Desk during this quarantine, we have written most of the songs for our new album, Cumbiana Vol. 2, next to our producer Andres Leal and Martin Velilla,” says the six-time 2020 Latin Grammy nominee during his performance.

Vives is confirmed to speak at the 2020 Billboard Latin Music Week taking place October 20 to October 23. He’ll be joined by internationally renowned Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, music and artistic director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, in an enlightening conversation on the power of music and the arts as a global agent of change for a better society.

The new Tiny Desk (home) concerts, which have featured special guests like Billie Eilish and BTS, are “the same spirit — stripped-down sets, an intimate setting — just a different space.”

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Tiny Desk