Julieta Venegas: Tiny Desk Concert

It's hard to believe that Julieta Venegas released her first album more than 10 years ago — I still think of her as a newcomer. But just as I mark time by checking in on my best friends' kids ("They're how old now?!"), so too do we see and hear Venegas maturing as a performer and songwriter who still defies expectations.

After six albums, including last year's Otra Cosa, Venegas' songwriting remains perfectly suited to her voice, while the songs reflect the experiences she's gathered from a life living with two cultures.

Venegas was equally engaging in person, perched behind the Tiny Desk, and her songs stand on their own — even without studio musicians and backup singers to fill out the arrangements of her recordings. Here, it was just her distinctive voice, a guitar and one other musician to re-create three memorable, personal songs. I don't doubt that you'll want to hear more, seek out her records, and join her fans as we mark the passage of time listening to her grow and evolve as a performer.

Set List

• "Si Tú No Estas"
• "Debajo De Mi Lengual"
• "Bien O Mal"

Credits

Filmed and edited by Michael Katzif; audio by Kevin Wait; photo by Erin Schwartz