tiny desk concerts JAPAN (2024- )

Fusing a rich array of musical roots such as soul, funk, jazz, blues, rock, and world music, Original Love has carved a singular path through Japanese pop music, and now they make their first-ever appearance on tiny desk concerts JAPAN!
A self-professed fan of tiny desk, Tajima Takao put together a special, one-time-only lineup for the show. Joining the five band members (Gt: Kogure Shinya, Dr: Sano Yasuo, Ba: Komatsu Hideyuki, Cho: Mashiro Megumi, Org: Kawai Daisuke) are a three-piece saxophone section and three backing vocalists. This lavish twelve-piece ensemble delivers Original Love's lush groove and vividly colorful sound with all the raw, up-close presence that only the tiny desk can offer.
The luxurious setlist befits the band's 35th-anniversary milestone: Seppun (Kiss), practically synonymous with Original Love; the celebratory classic Fiesta; the intensely groovy The Rover; the heat-packed live favorite Yoru wo Buttobase (Leave the Night in the Dust); and their newest song, Ai wa Akari (Love Is a Torch), making its television debut. It's a best-of-and-brand-new setlist that distills 35 years of Original Love's journey.
Most of all, though, we hope you'll experience the kind of performance that only the tiny desk can create. Right in front of the audience, close enough to hear every breath, the vocals come through live, with no speakers in between. The band builds around those voices with performances that are both groovy and finely detailed, while Tajima Takao simply lets the music carry him. What comes through is not just Tajima's talent as an artist, but his warmth, love of music, and joy in connecting with people.