20 unforgettable NPR Tiny Desk concerts by Canadian musicians

In 2008, NPR producers Bob Boilen and Stephen Thompson were attending a South by Southwest festival performance by Portland folk artist Laura Gibson. Frustrated by how loud the audience was, the two joked that Gibson should just play at Boilen's desk at their Washington, D.C. offices. That joke quickly turned into a reality, as Boilen soon booked Gibson to play a 15-minute, stripped-down set for him and his colleagues, tucked in a corner with shelves of books, CDs and records behind her. 

More than 1,000 performances later, NPR's Tiny Desk concert series has become one of the most important stages for live music, albeit one of the smallest. It has introduced music fans to incredible emerging artists and hosted some of the world's biggest stars in equal measure. It has also welcomed many Canadian artists over the years, from Grammy-winning stars to the cast of a popular Broadway musical. 

Below, CBC Music has selected 20 of the most memorable Tiny Desk performances by Canadian artists. 

Basia Bulat (2011) 

Bulat appeared in one of the earlier iterations of Tiny Desk when you could still feel its claustrophobic settings — including, at one point, an actual employee on his laptop behind the singer-songwriter as she performed the opening song "The Shore."

Highlight: "In the Night" (11:55)

Patrick Watson (2012) 

Ever the experimentalist, Watson impressed Tiny Desk viewers with his use of microphone technology that amplified his and his bandmates' voices to sound like they were telecasting beyond NPR's offices into outer space. Also: maybe the only Tiny Desk session to ever feature a singing saw?

Highlight: "Adventures in Your Own Backyard" (0:10) 

Weaves (2016) 

Toronto band Weaves was hot off the heels of its debut album when it made its Tiny Desk appearance, bringing a frenetic, off-kilter performance that was as bright and colourful as singer Jasmyn Burke's flowy dress.

Highlight: "One More" (7:40) 

Tegan and Sara (2016) 

After the twin duo's pivot to big, glossy pop anthems, it was nice to hear those stadium-sized songs stripped down for this intimate session. Their Tiny Desk performance also marked a significant time in the U.S.: it was the eve of the 2016 presidential election, as Tegan and Sara noted in the video, with Sara declaring that, "We're excited; we're going to be here tomorrow — we're going to watch history be made."

Highlight: "Boyfriend" (4:05) 

BadBadNotGood (2016) 

The Toronto jazz act's set felt effortless, showing off the tight arrangements of tracks off BadBadNotGood's fourth studio album, IV, including "In Your Eyes," featuring a guest appearance from friend and collaborator Charlotte Day Wilson.  

Highlight: "In Your Eyes" featuring Charlotte Day Wilson (6:40)

Daniel Caesar (2018) 

Backed by a drummer, pianist, guitarist and heavenly trio of backup singers, Caesar wooed the Tiny Desk crowd with his smooth blend of gospel and R&B.

Highlight: "Best Part" featuring H.E.R. (11:00)

Chromeo (2018) 

Montreal's self-proclaimed "funklordz" were joined by a backing band for the first time as they turned the Tiny Desk office into a daytime dance party. 

Highlight: "Don't Sleep" (8:45)

Dvsn (2018) 

The Toronto R&B artists brought a full band, candles and dramatic colour-changing lighting to set the mood for their sensual, falsetto-led melodies. 

Highlight: "Mood" (7:49)

Kaia Kater (2019) 

Kater's banjo-led set celebrated her Grenadian roots as she opened up to the Tiny Desk crowd about her father, who came to Canada as a refugee when he was 16 — a story that inspired the songs on her 2018 album, Grenades.  

Highlight: "Canyonland" (6:20)

Jeremy Dutcher (2019) 

The Polaris Music Prize winner knows how to engage a room, whether it's tiny or big. Here, he brings NPR staffers in by turning the mic on them for his final number, bringing everyone together to sing a love song. "We're going to create a drone," he said, "and raise our voices as one."

Highlight: "Koselwintuwakon" (16:20)

Cast of Come From Away (2019) 

From Gander, N.L., to Washington, D.C., members of this hit Broadway musical brought their heartfelt songs off the stage and into the Tiny Desk offices, condensing their two-hour show about planes that were grounded on Canada's East Coast in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks into a rousing, 17-minute performance. 

Highlight: "Something's Missing" (10:40)

Carly Rae Jepsen (2019)

The star brought the shimmering pop anthems of her 2019 album, Dedicated, to Tiny Desk with a more understated arrangement, which made her confessions of love feel even more personal. 

Highlight: "The Sound" (6:50)

Elisapie (2020) 

The Salluit, Quebec-born artist brought her music, her language (Inuktitut) and her story to Tiny Desk as she shared the inspiration behind her 2018 album, The Ballad of the Runaway Girl, between songs. 

Highlight: "Arnaq" (0:10)

Lido Pimienta (2020) 

To adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Tiny Desk transformed into an at-home series with artists performing remotely. Decorated in a pastel quinceañera theme, Pimienta's set is a feast for the eyes, perfectly paired with the gorgeous tunes from her third album, Miss Colombia. She's backed by an 11-piece band, which includes Afro-Cuban duo Okan (who recently performed their own Tiny Desk concert). 

Highlight: "Eso Que Tu Haces" (0:20) 

Justin Bieber (2021) 

This rare, stripped-down performance from Bieber is the seventh most-watched Tiny Desk concert of all time, with more than 40 million views, beating out other pop stars including Adele and Taylor Swift. 

Highlight: "Peaches" (3:20)

Men I Trust (2021) 

This Montreal band's dreamy indie-pop would've been a great fit for the tight confines of NPR's office space, but the members were able to replicate intimacy in a living room set in their at-home performance.  

Highlight: "Show Me How" (0:05) 

Maylee Todd (2022) 

Toronto musician Maylee Todd's session boasts one of the most technical setups, with cords and wires strewn across the remote space as she performs using a digital avatar projected next to her — a first for Tiny Desk. 

Highlight: "Grab Your Guts" (4:35) 

Jessie Reyez (2022) 

Jessie Reyez elevated her R&B/pop songs by inviting an orchestral sextet, two trumpeters and three backup singers who danced from one side of the room to the other.

Highlight: "Mutual Friend"/"Figures" (1:43)

Nelly Furtado (2024) 

The pop star's 11-song set was an energetic run of her greatest hits, from "I'm Like a Bird" and her early guest verse on Missy Elliott's "Get Ur Freak On" remix to more recent singles "Love Bites" and "Eat Your Man."

Highlight: "Maneater" (17:45) 

Feist (2024) 

Leslie Feist made her long-awaited Tiny Desk debut with a stunning, heartfelt performance of songs from her latest album, 2023's Multitudes, and 2011's Polaris Music Prize winner, Metals. 

Highlight: "In Lightning" (0:05)