Stephen Thompson | March 21, 2024
It’s become a Tiny Desk tradition for artists to leave a small offering on the shelves — a tchotchke, a toy, a signed album or piece of swag, a guitar pick, that sort of thing. Usually, those pieces get absorbed into the visual din, but sometimes, they change the look of the Tiny Desk permanently. All of which is to say that when Chappell Roan finished her magnetic performance, we immediately sought her out to sheepishly ask if we could keep her wig.
Roan’s marvelous debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, came out last September — just in time to fit into the window of eligibility for the 2025 Grammys, hint hint wink — and it finds the singer toying confidently with a persona inspired in part by drag performers. Flanked by a pink-clad band, she wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to serve up an absolute look, complete with white makeup and a towering wig (bolstered by a wadded-up trash bag tucked inside, as well as an assortment of stubbed-out cigarette butts), which now sits comfortably atop a skull Cypress Hill left us.
It’s only appropriate that Roan would forever alter the Tiny Desk. Because, at the risk of sounding hyperbolic, this is a stunning set: Performing five songs from Midwest Princess, Roan worked through songs of youthful heartache (“Casual”), queer liberation (“Pink Pony Club”), mournful alienation (“California”) and two decidedly different forms of chaotic seduction (“Picture You,” “Red Wine Supernova”). In every mood and every song, she’s utterly commanding — witty and whip-smart, vocally assured and charismatic beyond words.
She didn’t just leave her wig; she left a mark.
SET LIST
“Casual”
“Pink Pony Club”
“Picture You”
“California”
“Red Wine Supernova”
MUSICIANS
Chappell Roan: lead vocals
Eliza Petrosyan: guitar
Lucy Ritter: drums
Valeria Falcon: bass
Sarah Hinez: keys
Danica Pinner: cello
Mia Pfirrman: vocals
Emily Lenck: violin
TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Stephen Thompson
Director/Editor: Kara Frame
Audio Technical Director: Neil Tevault
Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Kara Frame, Joshua Bryant, Zayrha Rodriguez
Audio Engineer: Carleigh Strange
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Elizabeth Gillis
Tiny Desk Team: Maia Stern, Hazel Cills
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
#tinydesk #nprmusic #chappellroan
44 Comments
NOW THATS WHAT I CALL CAMP!
Her vocals slayy
I'm beyond excited to see her perform live in Kansas City next month, she is amazing!!! My new favorite tiny desk concert
She is so kickass, look out world, here comes the absolute next big thing!! 🤩❤️
❣️
Millennial mom here. My 3 year doesn’t like the music I listen to but I was playing this and my daughter stopped to watch and listen. She asked me, “Who is that princess?” Just letting you know that that’s the highest compliment coming from my kid. Glad to have finally found music I can enjoy with my daughter. 💖
please put these versions on spotify!! i need to listen to those vocal flips in california on repeat
Japanese Kabuki
They were all so great!!!! Best tiny desk ive seen in a while ❤
I've always heard about Tiny, but it was Chappell who brought me here. Thank you NPR for sharing this!
Amazing. So talented.
CHAPPELL ROAN IS A RISING STAR💫 SHE’S GOT “IT”
She is absolutely incredible
She's really so stunning gosh.
I love everything about this! The all female band, the outfits, the makeup, the lyrics! Brilliant. From a 55 year old mom 🙂
I seen this woman with white face and blue eyeshadow and I had to see what she was about and I'm glad I did as I read she writes her own music and her singing with her own words are pure beauty. She's awesome, and I wish nothing but the best for her.I like her a lot, and thank you very much for your rendition of Tiny Desks and you have my love for sure 💌
chappell i love you
the peoples princess
Chappal Roan with her unique type of writing and singing definitely got my respect even if I'm more of a type gospel country rock soul singing type of guy doesn't mean I don't notice other greatness from other genres of music Nice job
she's so good i loved the pink pony club song a couple years back and it's great to see her again
she is amazing
her voice is timeless oml
SHE WILL BE WINNING GRAMMYS.
allie X next
I can’t believe she’s real
NPR tiny desk introduced me to Chappell Roan three days ago.
To my Family: I am sorry but we live here now.
FINALLY, MY QUEEN IS BEING BROUGHT TO THE MASSES 😭🙏
BE BIMBOS LADIES !!!!!! exactly
Further proof that the government needs to quit funding NPR
I've been following Chappell for a few years and it's so cool seeing her get big like she really deserves, she's insanely talented
i love getting to watch her grow and get her flowers. chappell roan you will always be that girl
I saw chappell when I was 16 years old opening for Declan McKenna, she has come such a long way and she’s so talented omg! ❤
She is camp, she is a queen, she is the moment, and she will be at the top of my obsession list for the foreseeable future
10 years down the line people are gonna look at this and recall how the 2020’s were indeed a weird time of wild looking artists & album covers but the music was good.
Her performance on Colbert was the first I'd ever heard of her.. such an impressive vocalist
Chappelle is exactly one day older than me and I've never been more inspired
I need one more with my kink is karma!!! 🫶
All female band, so powerful 😮
Olivia Dean pls!!!!!❤
This is drag babyyyyyy
One of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard
Brilliant, fantastic ❤
My god her vocals are INCREDIBLE!
i wish the yodel-like quality she demonstrates were a vocal choice and not her default way of singing. with better technique chappell roan could be awesome, but i'm not seeing the hype over the vocalism here lol.