What you’ve got bought right here is an ideal 20-minute distillation of The Sam Smith Expertise: The Grammy-winning 2014 ballad that kicked off the singer’s profession (“Keep With Me”), a glossy dance-pop banger (“How Do You Sleep”) and a chart-topping dollop of debauched hedonism (“Unholy”) bundled along with “Lay Me Down,” by which Smith carried out a beautiful duet with LaDonna Harley-Peters. From the stately to the louche and bawdy — Smith even launched “Unholy” with an ideal summation of their current inventive route: “Let’s get saucy!” — it is all right here.
Performing with an 11-person choir and two instrumentalists — sadly, Kim Petras wasn’t there to emerge from between Smith’s legs as if she have been being birthed — Smith introduced an overflowing bag of methods to the proceedings. However what actually shone via was a way of motion: Every tune swayed and performed effervescently, centering Smith whereas additionally elevating each different magnificent voice in help. This set might not function anybody’s introduction to the music of Sam Smith, however it’s nonetheless a hell of a gateway — and a pleasure to behold.
SET LIST
- “Keep With Me”
- “How Do You Sleep”
- “Lay Me Down (feat. LaDonna Harley-Peters)”
- “Unholy”
MUSICIANS
- Sam Smith: vocals
- Ruth O’Mahony Brady: piano, results
- Ben Totten: guitar
- LaDonna Marie: vocals
- Patrick Linton: choir
- Lucita Jules: choir
- Megan Thomaston: choir
- Brandon Payne: choir
- Christian King: choir
- Troi Lauren: choir
- Roy Dyshon Warren: choir
- Carmen Kirvy: choir
- Shalisha Smith: choir
- Safa Alston: choir
- Ant Clemons: choir conductor
TINY DESK TEAM
- Producer: Bobby Carter
- Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
- Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
- Artistic Director: Bob Boilen
- Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Kara Body, Sofia Seidel, Catie Uninteresting
- Audio Assistant: Hannah Gluvna
- Manufacturing Assistant: Ashley Pointer
- Photographer: Michael Zamora
- Tiny Desk Staff: Suraya Mohamed, Maia Stern, Hazel Cills
- VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
- Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann
