Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music’s Tiny Desk (house) parties, bringing you shows from all over the country and the world. It’s the same spirit – abstract groups, intimate atmosphere – just a different space.
Step into the safe space of Esperanza spalding to heal through music and songs with a selection of Tiny Desk (home) Songwrights Apothecary LabProject (SAL). Constantly iterating evolutionary ideas, her songwriting workshop is a daring examination of human existence and resilience and a directed research collaboration with a group of musicians and researchers in the practices of neuroscience, psychology, and music therapy.
“All Formwelas (songs) from SAL are created through our research, divination, intuition, music, taste, inspiration, and collaborative efforts to design songs that enhance a particular beneficial effect” for each of the three Formwelas performed here, Spalding writes on her project site.
Formwela 3: “Re-organization with the vast and perpetual grace of the Sun as evidenced by the vitality of the individual and his ability to create within himself and society an incorruptible home planet.”
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“Formwela 4”: “expressing the needs of oxygen flowing through the vessel of your ancestors / the vein of infinite life”
“Formwela 8”: “a reassuring sound, with no impulse to move from this place of rest”
Spalding’s performance here is superb, and her band is top notch, the lovable presence (also known as the singers) and the magical presence of the dancer (also known as the dancer) add a creative dimension that amplifies the music’s message and nourishes the soul. The green walls explode to reveal an array of images that complete the flow of this alluring music. Make sure to watch to the end.
Make the list
- “Formwela 3”
- “Formwela 4”
- “Formwela 8”
- “Formwela 3”
musicians
- Spalding Esperanza: vocals, bass
- Vuyo (Vuyolwethu) Sutash: vocals
- Safaa Ismail Mohamed: vocals
- Corey King: vocals, guitar
- Matthew Stevens: guitar
- Leo Genovese: Piano, Farfisa, Rhodes
- Aaron Burnett: saxophone
- Francisco Milla: drums
lovable presence
- Donna Hope: vocals
- Jeff Tang: vocals
- Liliana Blaine Cruz: vocals
- Marisa Scotch: vocals
- Lisa Lamotte: vocals
- Diery Prudent: vocals
- Adobuere Ebiama: vocals
- Shamil Bates: Dancer and Choreographer
credits
- Director: Adrien GYSTERE Peskine
- Producer: Esperanza Spalding
- Recorded and mixed by Fernando Lodeiro
- Concept, Direction, Creative Direction, Collections, Editing, Foley, Choreography: Adrien GYSTERE Peskine
- Choreography: Shamil Bates
- Produced by: Héloïse Darcq
- Additional production, set design: Anthony Biscayne
- Additional cameras: Jessica Cochran, Daniel Santos, Meg Staker
- Assistant Sound Engineer: Quinn McCarthy
- Sudan pyramids footage: Alexis Biscayne
- Wardrobe: JOJO ABOT
- Registered at The Creamery Studio
small office team
- Producer: Soraya Mohamed
- Video Producer: Kara Frame
- Voice mastery: Andy Heather
- Small Production Team: Bob Boleyn, Bobby Carter, Maya Stern, Josh Rogosin, Joshua Bryant, Sophie Hernandez-Simonides
- Executive Producer: Keith Jenkins
- Senior Vice President, Programming: Anya Grundman
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