Alessia Cara is making the most of being told “no.”
The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter unveiled her own live performance series, dubbed Giant Desk, on Wednesday (June 10), after revealing that NPR’s popular Tiny Desk Concert series had passed on featuring her multiple times.
“Well Tiny Desk said no to me a couple times so I exercised free will and built my own!” Cara wrote on X and Instagram while announcing the performance.
Filmed at Universal Music Canada, the session puts a playful spin on NPR’s beloved concert format, with Cara and her band performing in front of an oversized desk in an office setting. The six-song set features live renditions of tracks connected to her 2026 live album, Love or Lack Thereof.
The performance showcases Cara’s longtime strengths as a live vocalist, backed by a full band featuring Jon Levine on keys, Marc Rogers on bass, Robb Cappelleto on guitar, Chino De Villa on drums, Kae Murphy on trumpet and backing vocalists Vanessa Legacy and Shanaya Patel. Audio for the session was handled by 80A Studio, while Dario Caracciolo directed the video.
The set opens with “Middle Ground” before moving through “I’m In Trouble,” “Garden At Nighttime,” “Shapeshifter,” “Stay” and a closing performance of her breakthrough hit “Here.”
Tiny Desk Concerts have become one of the music industry’s most coveted performance platforms, known for their stripped-down arrangements and live, one-take format. Rather than dwelling on the rejection, Cara leaned into the moment by creating a tongue-in-cheek alternative that highlights the same intimate, musician-focused atmosphere while literally making the desk bigger.
Fans quickly embraced the concept across social media, praising both the humor behind the project and the quality of the performances. Several viewers singled out “Stay” and “Here” as standout moments, while others applauded Cara for turning a setback into a creative opportunity.
The Giant Desk concert is available now on Cara’s official YouTube channel.
The release arrives as Cara continues to support Love or Lack Thereof, adding another chapter to a career that has often balanced vulnerability, self-awareness and a willingness to chart her own course.
Watch Alessia Cara’s Giant Desk concert below.
