NPR Music’s Tiny Desk x globalFEST series returns for a fourth year.

NPR Music and New York’s globalFEST announces the return of the fourth edition of NPR Music’s Tiny Desk x globalFEST taking place Monday April 1st, Wednesday April 3rd and Friday 5th via the NPR Music YouTube channel and npr.org. The festival will feature three artists from around the world, including South Africa’s Thandiswa Mazwai, Spain’s Tarta Relena and Puerto Rico’s Laberinto del Coco.

“We are thrilled to continue our decade plus partnership with NPR music, and – for the first time – bring globalFEST artists directly to the iconic Tiny Desk,” said globalFEST co-directors Isabel Soffer, Bill Bragin, and Shanta Thake. “While this particular partnership was borne of the pandemic, it is rooted in long-standing collaboration and mutual admiration. The reach that these concerts provide our artists is incalculable, and we’re grateful that this partnership expands globalFEST’s mission of platforming global and American regional music traditions and bringing artists to new audiences.”

The Tiny Desk x globalFEST series was born in order to bring globalFEST’s international music discovery into people’s homes in Tiny Desk fashion in 2021. In past years the artists would perform from their respective countries via a special series Tiny Desk “Home” concerts introduced by NPR Music. For the first time this year, the artists recorded their concerts at the Tiny Desk in NPR’s headquarters.

Tiny Desk x globalFEST 2024 Live Lineup:

Thandiswa Mazwai

South Africa

April 1st - Influential singer incorporating traditional xhosa rhythms,

Thandiswa Mazwai is one of South Africa’s most influential contemporary musicians. She began her career in 1995 with Bongo Maffin, one of the pioneering bands of the Kwaito era. After 6 award-winning albums with Bongo Maffin she ventured onto a solo career. Her first project Zabalaza (2004), reached double platinum status and won numerous awards, including a Kora award for Best African Female and four South African Music Awards. Her sophomore release Ibokwe (2009) and third album Belede (2016) reached gold status within a few weeks of release. Her 4th Album, Sankofa, is due for release in early 2024 produced by Meshell Ndegeocello (building on her appearance on Meshell’s Grammy winning The Omnichord Real Book) and South African pianist Nduduzo Mahlathini. Thandiswa has performed all over the world at venues including: the FIFA 2010 World Cup Opening Ceremony, the Apollo Theatre, Radio City Hall, The Cannes Film Festival, Africa Express, BBC World Music Awards, TED, Afropunk, Carnegie Hall Citywide Festival, among others. She has shared the stage with artists like Hugh Masekela, Busi Mhlongo, Paul Simon, Meshell Ndegeocello, DJ Black Coffee and many others.
Website, Instagram, Twitter, Spotify

Tarta Relena

Spain

April 3rd - Borderless Catalan electro folk duo

Tarta Relena was born in 2016 as a project of two singers to explore a cappella and the sonorities of different styles of vocal music. Far from wanting to create a stamp of the traditional and to define the Mediterranean, Tarta Relena wants to make its own repertoire that goes from music of oral tradition to songs of authors that in one way or another are related to the geographical area of the Mediterranean.

Tarta Relena sings from the perspective that what we call folklore is a living and moving repertoire. Therefore, this reality is moldable and can be reinterpreted with the instruments and sounds that we now have within our reach. A key tool is the electronics with which they re-signify the melodies without leaving aside their origins. The study and knowledge of the path and the contexts that have given rise to these musics opens the doors of experimentation towards new meanings. In Tarta Relena’s work there is also a desire to blur the concept of authorship, bringing together anonymous traditional melodies and newly created songs under the same umbrella, treating them in the same way and placing oral transmission, the central element of tradition, at the center. Instagram, Spotify

Laberinto del Coco

Puerto Rico

April 5th - Puerto Rican Bomba Fusionismo

El Laberinto del Coco is a captivating Puerto Rican Bomba contemporary band that effortlessly blends the rich traditions of Bomba music with contemporary influences, creating a unique and vibrant musical experience. Their performances are a mesmerizing journey through the rhythmic heart of Puerto Rico, fusing the ancestral beats of Bomba with elements of jazz, funk, and world music. With their infectious energy and innovative sound, El Laberinto del Coco has carved a distinct niche in the music scene, captivating audiences worldwide and preserving the island’s cultural heritage while pushing its boundaries. Instagram, Spotify, Bandcamp

Find full bios and photos of individual artists here

About globalfest:

globalFEST is one of the world’s most dynamic global music platforms, growing from an acclaimed festival/showcase into a catalytic non-profit service organization for curators, artists, and the performing arts field. The programs have evolved to include the curation of notable stages and festivals, the creation and distribution of urgent grants, the reinvigoration of the North American Presenters groups, a partnership with NPR Music’s All Songs Considered and its Tiny Desk series, and Wavelengths, an industry-focused music conference. Through its work, the not-for-profit 501(3)C globalFEST (gF) encourages networking and cultural diplomacy; deepens cultural understanding among its constituents; builds audiences for international music and creates new opportunities for artists leading to a more robust and sustainable ecosystem for world music in the United States. For more information, including lineup, event news, and updates, please visit globalfest.org and follow globalFEST on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

About NPR Music:

For more than a decade, NPR Music’s robust music journalism has engaged millions of music fans from all genres with feature stories, live performances, cultural analysis, and interviews. Projects include the Tiny Desk concert series, the cross-platform Turning the Tables project, the podcasts All Songs Considered, Alt.Latino, and radio shows like Jazz Night in America. NPR Music collaborates with NPR’s news programs, public radio Member stations and a passionate listener community to celebrate exceptional music and discover emerging artists.

Visit NPRMusic.org and connect with NPR Music on Facebook and Instagram.