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Miguel Returns to Tiny Desk With String-Backed Set Bridging 'Caos' and Hits

The intimate NPR set doubles as a statement of renewed focus following his first album in eight years.

Overview

  • He mixed Caos cuts “New Martyrs (Ride 4 U)” and “CAOS” with staples “Sure Thing,” “Sky Walker,” “How Many Drinks?,” “Do You…,” and “Quickie.”
  • He told the audience he had been “putting [his] value in the wrong places” before affirming “we back,” framing the performance as personal renewal.
  • A string section elevated the arrangements, with Paul Cartwright, Jess McJunkins, Johnny Dinklage, and Rahel Lulseged joining guitarist/music director Ray Brady, bassist Julio Tavarez, drummer Lenny “The Ox” Reece, and vocalists Erika Nicole and Ro James.
  • Performing “CAOS” in Spanish, he highlighted his Mexican roots within the stripped-back setting.
  • The appearance follows October’s release of Caos—his first studio album since 2017—featuring 12 tracks and a single guest, George Clinton, and comes after his initial Tiny Desk in 2012.