When the world was on lockdown in 2020, NPR Music brought us some music therapy during those trying times with their Tiny Desk (Home) Concerts. One of the earlier performances back then was by Alex Isley, who soothed our souls with a one-woman show from her home office adorned with her daughter Isley-Rose Dixon’s artwork on the walls. Five years later, now that we’re back outside and NPR’s Washington, D.C. headquarters is wide open, they invited Alex to grace the place with an official Tiny Desk Concert as a part of their 2025 Black Music Month celebration.
The progeny of R&B and soul music legends, Alex Isley has a sound and style all her own, and she started her desk-side concert talking her ish with “Mic On.” The Kaytranada-produced cut from her new EP WHEN got a more laid-back live arrangement courtesy of her musical director and drummer DeShaun Allen. Alex’s mic was indeed on as she rode the groove with her dreamy vocals supported by Nelson Beato, our girl Muhsinah and Astyn Turr on backgrounds.
Isley brought a subtle sexiness to the performance with her shoulder-baring denim dress and coy glances directly into the camera. Subtly was out the window as she segued into her next selection, “Good & Plenty.” Alex practically floated on the song that we’re sure led to a few pandemic babies being conceived. She even had a surprise in store when she welcomed Masego to join her. Equipped with his trusty saxophone and his own tantalizing lyrics, he was greeted with raucous applause from the audience.
At this point in the show, Alex took a beat to introduce herself after Uncle Sego made his exit. She briefly mentioned that she would be performing more selections from WHEN, but she was also there to commemorate 10 years of her album L U X U R Y. That led right into her 2015 single “La Brea” from that project. She took us even further back into her catalog with her classic “Into Orbit” from her 2012 debut Love/Art Memoirs.
Alex then drifted into two more of her collaborations with Jack Dine. She sounded angelic singing “Love Again” from their excellent joint album Marigold and their heavenly single “Mine.” She even drew from her 2013 album Dreams In Analog to sing “About Him,” which was met with another round of applause.
As promised, Alex did return to her new EP as she wound her set down. She sang “Hands” as she had the audience in the palm of her hand and hanging onto her every seductive word. After thanking NPR and introducing the band, she ended with “Thank You For A Lovely Time,” turning the melancholy song into a beautiful moment.
It’s no surprise that Alex Isley’s Tiny Desk Concert was exquisite from start to finish. She mesmerized us with her beauty and her music, and somehow managed to make us fall deeper in love with her artistry. Allow yourself to fall under Alex Isley’s spell when you view her Tiny Desk Concert right here.
