Daniel Caesar: Tiny Desk Concert

Video Overview & Insights

Bobby Carter | January 5, 2026

I never expected to see Daniel Caesar at the Tiny Desk again. Caesar's 2018 performance is nearly untouchable: currently in the top 15 most viewed Tiny Desk concerts on YouTube, showcasing his best work at that point in his career. But reflecting on the vulnerability and intimacy of 2025's Son of Spergy, I felt like my arm was twisted, knowing he had to come back. This album, our space, along with the shared vision for how it would unfold, gave the green light for part two.

In the eight years since we last saw the Canadian singer-songwriter, he's remained consistently brilliant, yet he seemed to be searching. Throughout that search, spirituality has been a constant — from his debut, Freudian, to the two albums that followed, CASE STUDY 01 and NEVER ENOUGH. Son of Spergy feels like the completion of a pilgrimage and a newfound sense of acceptance.

Here at the Desk, the presentation is simple: an upright piano, a guitar and Caesar, lifted by a 12-piece choir. From note number one, I, along with the audience of NPR staffers, was instantly stunned by the power of the choir and how Caesar effortlessly led them. At the conclusion, there's a pause before applause. There may have been others in the crowd who felt what I felt: This is one of the most transcendent moments at the Tiny Desk.

SET LIST

"Rain Down"

"Emily's Song"

"Moon"

"Who Knows"

"Sins of the Father"

MUSICIANS

Daniel Caesar: vocals, guitar, piano

Aver Ray: piano, music director, background vocals

Tiana Kruškić: choir director, background vocals

Yanina: background vocals

Carmi Harris: background vocals

Alanna Ysabel: background vocals

Mia Taylor: background vocals

Myranda Pagan: background vocals

Joshua Taylor Brown: background vocals

Wayne Wilson: background vocals

Malik Spence: background vocals

Cmaze: background vocals

Chris Jackson: background vocals

Daron Lameek: background vocals

TINY DESK TEAM

Producers: Bobby Carter, Dhanika Pineda

Director/Editor: Maia Stern

Audio Technical Director: Josh Newell

Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame

Audio Engineer: Josephine Nyounai

Production Assistants: Dora Levite, Ashley Pointer

Photographer: Virginia Lozano

Series Editor: Lars Gotrich

Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed

Executive Director: Sonali Mehta

Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson, Robin Hilton

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