Haley Heynderickx: Tiny Desk Concert

NPR Music
NPR Music
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Published 2018-08-10
Aug. 3, 2018 | Bob Boilen -- It's fitting for Haley Heynderickx to be singing at the Tiny Desk. The Portland singer entered our Tiny Desk Contest three years in a row with strong, though often frail songs. And she'd be among the first to tell you how entering that Tiny Desk Contest changed her life.

Unlike her solo acoustic contest entries, which are quiet, mostly solemn affairs, Haley Heynderickx came to NPR's Tiny Desk with her band: Denzel Mendoza on trombone, Lily Breshears on Moog bass, and Phil Rogers on drums. They opened with the song that is most out of character for Haley, a song she wrote as part of a song challenge and she challenged the crowd here at NPR to a sing-a-long. We didn't do so well, it was early in the day — but this song about self-doubt and searching for life's meaning with its cathartic phrase "I need to start a garden" (which is also the title to her 2018 debut) is a potent reminder to take action when life gets bewildering.

The second song, "No Face," is a reminder to love people as kindly as you can; otherwise you'll wind up like the character No Face from the Hayao Miyazaki film Spirited Away. In introducing the final song, "Worth It," Haley Heynderickx told the Tiny Desk crowd that it was written in a basement with the belief that it would never leave that basement. With this performance now behind her and the chance for hundreds of thousands of people to hear these personal but universal songs, there will be many of us, myself included, thrilled that her songs are out in the open, ready to be heard.

Set List
"Oom Sha La La"
"No Face"
"Worth It"

Musicians
Haley Heynderickx (vocals, guitar), Denzel Mendoza (trombone), Lily Breshears (Moog bass), Phil Rogers (drums)

Credits
Producers: Bob Boilen, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, CJ Riculan, Maia Stern; Production Assistants: Catherine Zhang, Téa Mottolese; Photo: Eric Lee/NPR.
All Comments (20)
  • @emmafitz5177
    I can't believe Hayley Hendrickx invented music
  • @adeline-music
    her music feels like going out into the spring air and taking a deep breath after being trapped indoors all winter
  • @SwitcherooU
    "I Need to Start a Garden" is one of the most impressive debut LPs in recent memory. She has the raw songwriting talent of a young Leonard Cohen. I just love her to death.
  • @jamesharvey5530
    when they zoomed out during the intimate eye contact we were robbed
  • @ronkb
    Holy shit. That version of No Face is incredible.
  • @35mmonica
    anyway can we acknowledge how intricate and difficult her simultaneous fingerstyle playing and vocal performances are?? so talented
  • @reggievideos
    i am literally always thinking about this video
  • @LionMister
    Musicians are undoubtedly the coolest people capable of existing.
  • @Pedrofiliac
    the looks between haley and the synth player are giving me life
  • @ronnie4085
    ok these are literally the cutest people ive ever seen theyre adorable
  • @superdeluxesmell
    I feel like Haley's world is a rich and lovely place to be. I'm glad to get a little glimpse into it.
  • @samfinnorchard9838
    ngl her album got me into gardening. it helped me see the beauty and the importance of patiently cultivating things with love
  • @jamesaburke7
    Am I the only one who cried during Haley's performance of No Face? With a voice like Angel Olsen and guitar llcks like Shakey Graves, I expect more from her in her future.
  • @audreybrazell4288
    This is the most positive comment section I’ve ever witnessed on YouTube. Haley Heynderickx brings out the best in all of us.