Mitra Arthur

Jan 6, 2025 | ksut.org | Mitra Arthur

Legend is a word thrown around far too often. But if there was ever an artist the word "legend" applies to, it would be Smokey Robinson. The iconic songwriter, producer and vocalist was not only a key architect of the Motown sound, but also R&B and soul music as a whole. His uncanny ability to craft tender and catchy romantic tunes has served as a model for songwriters that followed in the decades since he began his career.

Jan 6, 2025 | ksut.org | Mitra Arthur

This Black Music Month, Tiny Desk is giving the ladies their flowers. We’re releasing nine Tiny Desk concerts from Black women artists, from veterans who’ve paved the way for what we hear today in Black music, to those who are carving out their own paths. When the “Queen of Funk,” Chaka Khan, began to sing her hit “Sweet Thing” at the Tiny Desk, she seemed surprised at how the audience enthusiastically joined in. It’s just one example of how ingrained her work is in the fabric of music history.

Jan 6, 2025 | ksut.org | Mitra Arthur

“I finally made it to Tiny Desk,” singer-songwriter Norah Jones excitedly declares during her performance. Her first Tiny Desk experience was a solo piano and vocal (home) concert, which reflected all the meditative, sonic hallmarks of performing in isolation. Since her juggernaut debut album, Come Away with Me, was released in 2002, she has crafted intimate songs that showcase her beguiling vocals.

Dec 23, 2024 | npr.org | Mitra Arthur

The Madi Diaz song "God Person" is just one of the tracks that hit us hard in 2024. Courtesy of the artist hide caption toggle caption Courtesy of the artist For the second year in a row, we asked listeners to tell us about a new song they obsessed about in 2024 — one they couldn't stop listening to because of how it made them feel. On this episode we share some of the picks and the stories listeners shared about why they were so moved. Enjoy the show?

Dec 9, 2024 | npr.org | Mitra Arthur

Stereophonic: Tiny Desk Concert The original Broadway cast performs music from the Tony award-winning stage play. Credit: Photo: Alanté Serene The process of artistic creation makes for perfect storytelling. There's the unsexy doubt and the exhilarating breakthroughs, the fortifying confirmations and the sticky pockets. It is a messy process. This whole creative affair gets stickier when the artist is a band full of complex personalities and fraught relationships.