Back in 2012, Miguel was one of the very few R&B acts — including Raphael Saadiq, Bettye LaVette and Booker T. Jones — to play a Tiny Desk concert. And, much like the trajectory of this series, Miguel’s music has taken some explosive twists and turns.

After performing “Sure Thing,” his first song back at the Desk, Miguel says, “That one’s come a long way.” He reflects on that time in his life and what he’s been able to do with it: “There’s something about being able to wake up and do this every day, and then to come and perform it — to see the lyrics actually become a part of people’s time and memories and space in this experience. I have to say I’m tremendously grateful.” Miguel’s clearly been on a journey of self-discovery, which we see in a medley of his hits backed by a flawless string section. And on the Spanish-sung “CAOS,” he revisits his Mexican roots.

Between his 2017 album War & Leisure and last year’s CAOS, the Los Angeles singer-songwriter has been relatively quiet. “I was putting my value in the wrong places, and it made it really hard to do this consistently,” he says before the last song. “But, motherf*****, we back!”

SET LIST
“Sure Thing”
“New Martyrs (Ride 4 U)”
“Sky Walker”
“How Many Drinks?”
“Do You…”
“Quickie”
“CAOS”

MUSICIANS
Miguel: vocals
Ray Brady: guitar, music director
Julio Tavarez: bass
Lenny “The Ox” Reece: drums
Paul Cartwright: violin
Jess McJunkins: violin
Johnny Dinklage: viola
Rahel Lulseged: cello
Erika Nicole: background vocals
Ro James: background vocals