This Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, NPR Music celebrates artists from all corners of Latinidad with an 'El Tiny' takeover.Anamaria Sayre | October 15, 2025Silvana Estrada was born and raised in Veracruz, a seaside state known for its breathtaking ocean views and son jarocho, one of Mexico's most storied folk styles. But against the backdrop of its beauty, there's pain. Estrada confronts these realities in her art; she brings audiences to tears with her powerful, yet elegant vocals, but never leaves them without hope.In the five years I've come to work — and become friends — with Estrada, I've discovered the magnetic, joyful and wiggly person beneath who drives the richness of her music. I have seen Estrada perform in concert halls, hometown historic venues, televised broadcasts and Grammy showcases. But none of those have ever rivaled a small space with just her voice and a cuatro venezolano, surrounded by five or six people... until her stunning debut behind the Tiny Desk.Vendrán Suaves Lluvias, from which this set is drawn, is her most honest work, yet. In the making of this album, she lost a friend and parts of herself — "And me, who is no more than an ocean of doubts," she croons on "Como un Pájaro." But, as is sometimes the case of artistic creation in capable hands, her voice finds a way to bend wounds to her will and become whole.SET LIST"Como un Pájaro""Good Luck, Good Night""Si Me Matan""El Alma Mía"MUSICIANSSilvana Estrada: vocals, guitarRoberto Verástegui: piano, keys, arrangementsAlex Lozano: drums, percussionJoe Grass: guitar, lap steelRémi-Jean Leblanc: bassOwen Pallett: cello da spallaDiego Franco: clarinet, euphoniumAndy Clausen: tromboneChloe Rowlands: trumpet, flugelhornDavid Aguilar: vocals, baritone guitarTINY DESK TEAMProducer: Anamaria SayreDirector: Kara FrameAudio Technical Director: Josh NewellHost/Series Producer: Bobby CarterVideo Editor: Joshua BryantVideographers: Kara Frame, Joshua Bryant, Maia SternAudio Engineer: Hannah GluvnaProduction Assistants: Dhanika Pineda, Dora LevitePhotographer: Maansi SrivastavaSeries Editor: Lars GotrichExecutive Producer: Suraya MohamedExecutive Director: Sonali MehtaSeries Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson, Robin Hilton#nprmusic #tinydesk #silvanaestradaSupport for NPR Music and El Tiny comes from Moises. Powerful AI tools created by musicians, for musicians. Learn more at Moises.AI
