Stephen Thompson | September 29, 2023
What you've got here is a perfect 20-minute distillation of The Sam Smith Experience: The Grammy-winning 2014 ballad that kicked off the singer's career ("Stay With Me"), a sleek dance-pop banger ("How Do You Sleep") and a chart-topping dollop of debauched hedonism ("Unholy") bundled together with "Lay Me Down," in which Smith performed a gorgeous duet with LaDonna Harley-Peters. From the stately to the louche and bawdy — Smith even introduced "Unholy" with a perfect summation of their recent artistic direction: "Let's get saucy!" — it's all here.

Performing with an 11-person choir and two instrumentalists — sadly, Kim Petras wasn't there to emerge from between Smith's legs as if she were being birthed — Smith brought an overflowing bag of tricks to the proceedings. But what really shone through was a sense of movement: Each song swayed and played effervescently, centering Smith while also elevating every other magnificent voice in support. This set may not serve as anyone's introduction to the music of Sam Smith, but it's still a hell of a gateway — and a joy to behold.

SET LIST
"Stay With Me"
"How Do You Sleep"
"Lay Me Down (feat. LaDonna Harley-Peters)"
"Unholy"

MUSICIANS
Sam Smith: vocals
Ruth O'Mahony Brady: piano, effects
Ben Totten: guitar
LaDonna Harley-Peters: vocals
Patrick Linton: choir
Lucita Jules: choir
Megan Thomaston: choir
Brandon Payne: choir
Christian King: choir
Troi Lauren: choir
Roy Dyshon Warren: choir
Carmen Kirvy: choir
Shalisha Smith: choir
Safa Alston: choir
Ant Clemons: choir conductor

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bobby Carter
Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Creative Director: Bob Boilen
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Sofia Seidel, Catie Dull
Audio Assistant: Hannah Gluvna
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Michael Zamora
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Maia Stern, Hazel Cills
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#nprmusic #tinydesk #samsmith