The Tiny Desk of… Fred Again

Fred again.. Breaks Tiny Desk Tradition With a Striking, Stripped-Back Performance

Fred again.. – the British songwriter and producer who turns moments into electronic storytelling – recently stepped into NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series and delivered one of the most unexpected performances of the year. Tiny Desk rarely features electronic artists, but Fred made the exception feel natural, reshaping his work for one of music’s most intimate spaces.

Tracks like Kyle (I Found You) and Delilah (Pull Me Out of This) hit differently in this setting, carrying a warm, immediate energy as he rebuilt them for live instruments and close-up interpretation. To make it all work, Fred reinvented his entire approach: he learned marimba specifically for the session, built live loops on the spot, and brought a smaller version of the iPhone-shaped screen from his shows to “teleport” collaborators into the room.

The result was personal, inventive, and surprisingly delicate – proof that his production sensibility thrives even when stripped to its bones.

Tiny Desk producer Teresa Xie pointed out how Fred’s performance captures the best of what the series can offer. When artists step into that small room and push themselves into new territory, something honest usually surfaces. Fred leaned fully into the challenge, reworking familiar pieces and blending unexpected elements to craft an experience tailored to the moment.

In the end, Fred’s Tiny Desk appearance stands as a reminder of how live performance can reshape an artist’s relationship with their own music. Limited space, fewer tools, tighter focus – and he still delivered something emotionally sharp, deeply musical, and unmistakably his.

Watch Fred again..’s full Tiny Desk performance here:

Photo credit: djmag.com