• Daniel Caesar returned to NPR’s Tiny Desk on Jan. 5, 2026, backed by a 12-piece choir.
  • The intimate session featured piano, guitar and songs from his 2025 album Son of Spergy.
  • The setlist included “Rain Down,” “Emily’s Song,” “Moon,” “Who Knows” and “Sins of the Father.”
  • Staff and listeners called the performance one of the most transcendent Tiny Desk moments.

Daniel Caesar’s Tiny Desk return

On Jan. 5, 2026, Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Caesar returned to NPR Music’s Tiny Desk series in a pared-back but powerful session. Eight years after his widely viewed 2018 Tiny Desk appearance, Caesar performed with an upright piano, a guitar and a 12-piece choir that lifted his songs into a deeply resonant space.

Simple setup, transcendent effect

The Tiny Desk stage is known for intimate arrangements; this time the setup was deliberately minimal. From the first note, the choir’s harmonies wrapped around Caesar’s voice, amplifying the spiritual current that runs through his work — from Freudian to his 2025 album, Son of Spergy. NPR staffers described a long pause before applause, a rare sign of a room collectively moved.

Setlist highlights

Caesar’s five-song set included selections that showcased both tenderness and sweep. The performance featured:

  • “Rain Down”
  • “Emily’s Song”
  • “Moon”
  • “Who Knows”
  • “Sins of the Father”

Each song was arranged for small ensemble and choir, balancing close, confessional moments with richer, communal swells. The result emphasized Caesar’s growth as a songwriter and his ongoing engagement with themes of faith and acceptance.

Musicians and production

Alongside Daniel Caesar on vocals, guitar and piano, the session included music director Aver Ray on piano and a choir led by director Tiana Kruškić. The 12-member vocal group provided the sweeping background that became the emotional backbone of the set.

  • Daniel Caesar — vocals, guitar, piano
  • Aver Ray — piano, music director
  • Tiana Kruškić — choir director
  • Background vocalists — Yanina, Carmi Harris, Alanna Ysabel, Mia Taylor, Myranda Pagan, Joshua Taylor Brown, Wayne Wilson, Malik Spence, Cmaze, Chris Jackson, Daron Lameek

Production credits included Tiny Desk producers, director/editors and audio engineers who captured the immediacy of the live performance while keeping the sound clear and intimate.

Why this Tiny Desk matters

Daniel Caesar’s return to Tiny Desk felt like a career milestone: a moment of quiet confidence where sparse instrumentation and a committed choir turned familiar songs into something monumental. For listeners following Caesar from his early work through Son of Spergy, the session reinforced his reputation for soulful songwriting and spiritual depth.

Watch the full Tiny Desk performance on NPR’s Tiny Desk channel to experience the set as recorded at NPR Music headquarters.

Image Referance: https://www.npr.org/2026/01/05/g-s1-104268/daniel-caesar-tiny-desk-concert