From Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, Tiny Desk is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with an "El Tiny" takeover of the (home) concert series, featuring J Balvin, Camila Cabello and several more musicians from all corners of Latinidad.

Reanna Cruz | October 13, 2021
Sitting next to rapper Nicki Nicole, on a stack of books, you'll see an old Sony camcorder – throughout this six-song performance we cut back to its footage every now and again, the rough texture breaking from the pristine, offering a nostalgic sense of intimacy. It's a production choice that completely works and, in a way, reflects Nicki Nicole at large, as an artist born in 2000 and with a connection to sounds and styles beyond her years.

At multiple points throughout the performance, Nicki points and beckons to the audience, inviting them into her world, her lyrics, her sound. Every track carries a certain brand of swagger whether it be the intensity of her second song "Mala Vida" or her effortless, confident freestyle. Even when she slows it down, on "Parte de Mi," strings and piano create an arresting connection between us and her – and her final song, "Baby," is a bombastic head-bopper, enhanced by her deeply groove-oriented band, which includes everything from an accordion to a mandolin.

Fittingly, Nicki Nicole has a tattoo on her neck which, in English, reads "bulls***." She has said before that the tattoo represents her need to break free of the labels applied by both her culture and industry as a young, Argentine female R&B artist. If her concert is any indication, Nicki Nicole is here to stay, while moving ever further away from any preconceived notions of her artistry – the "bulls***."

SET LIST
"Colocao"
"Mala Vida"
"Wapo Traketero"
"Parte de Mi"
Freestyle
"Baby"

MUSICIANS
Nicki Nicole: vocals
Andres Cortes: electric guitar, mandolin, guitar
Ayelen Zucker: vocals, percussion
Camila Ibarra: vocals, percussion
Flor Iribarne: piano
Jeremias Segall: drums
Juan Gimenez Kuj: bass, double bass
Lautaro Greco: bandoneón
Alma Quiroga: I violín
Natalia Cabello: II violín
Carla Regio: viola
Jacqueline Oroc: cello

CREDITS
Producer: Federico Lauria
Executive Producer: Matias Santoro, Tito Leconte / Dale Play Records
Video Director: Jess “La Polaca” Praznik AD: Mariana Point
Art Director: Juli Duich
Director of Photography: Patricio Deart
ST: Cucchi Pagani, Inés Pizarro, Mae Ludueña
Color: Guttcolor
Production and Musical Direction: Juan Gimenez Kuj, Pedro Pasquale
Arrangement for strings and piano "Part of me": Damian Mahler
Master and Mix Recording Engineer: Mariano Bilinkis
Recording and Editing Assistant: Manuel Cano
Technical Production: Martín JR Ranea
Monitor Engineer: Francisco Trillini

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Anamaria Sayre
Video Producer: Kara Frame
Audio Mastering: Josh Rogosin
Alt.Latino 'El Tiny' Team: Felix Contreras, Reanna Cruz, Anaïs Laurent, Stefanie Fernandez
Tiny Production Team: Bob Boilen, Bobby Carter, Maia Stern, Sofie Hernandez-Simeonidis
Executive Producer: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#eltiny #tinydesk #nickynicole #nprmusic