While each Tiny Desk concert is special in its own way, we only publish one annually from a Tiny Desk Contest winner. This year, 鈥� an up-and-coming multi-genre artist from Sacramento, Calif. 鈥� whose entry rose to the top of nearly 7,000 entries submitted by independent artists.
In that entry, singer Christian Gates and his band proved they knew how to make a song shine behind a desk, performing in an office setting in business casual attire. They keep up the act at the Tiny Desk, with Gates cosplaying as the team's boss; he showcases his expressive stage presence and expansive musical range all while sitting in a swiveling office chair.
The group kicks off its celebratory set with its winning song, "What's It All Mean?" Then, Gates shifts to the upright piano to perform "Drugs," a theatrical song he says "is for all of those who have thought about doing alternative things because the paycheck was not enough." He returns to the keyboard for "颁丑补蝉颈苍驳鈥�" before flexing his rap abilities on "Colors." The Philharmonik closes with the catchy "Pay Me," a song I'm sure plenty of disgruntled workers will want to sing to their bosses after watching this concert.
Although Gates' life has , he stays humble throughout his set, continually crediting his team's hard work. "This office is a group effort, and this is just another day at the office," he says.
SET LIST
- "What's It All Mean?"
- "Drugs"
- "颁丑补蝉颈苍驳鈥�"
- "Colors"
- "Pay Me"
MUSICIANS
- Christian Gates: keys, lead vocals
- Courtney Miller: drums
- Connor Chavez: electric guitar, vocals
- Jimmy Toor: flute
- Sam Phelps: bass
- Moriah Wenzel: vocals
- Alicia Huff: vocals
- Darius Upshaw: electric guitar
- Jeffery Archie: keys, synth
TINY DESK TEAM
- Producers: Elle Mannion, Bobby Carter
- Director/Editor: Kara Frame
- Audio Technical Director: Neil Tevault
- Videographers: Kara Frame, Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Alant茅 Serene
- Audio Engineer: Carleigh Strange
- Photographer: Michael Zamora
- Tiny Desk Team: Hazel Cills, Ashley Pointer
- Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
- Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
- VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
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