<\/p>\n
\n\tSin Suela lit up NPR\u2019s Tiny Desk Concert with a historic and dynamic performance, becoming the first artist to incorporate a sign language interpreter as part of the performance that premiered on Thursday (May 1).<\/p>\n
\n\tClad in vibrant orange \u2014 a color aligning with his most recent album, Toda \u00c9poca Tiene Su Encanto<\/em>, which dropped September 2024 \u2014 the Puerto Rican wordsmith and his 12-member troupe brought a genre-bending set to the stage.<\/p>\n \n\tThe 24-minute performance opened with the love rap \u201cTengo Una Nota\u201d and and the bilingual \u201cDuolingo.\u201d The artist showcased his versatility with \u201cM\u00edrame,\u201d delivered in a spoken-word, conscious-rap style that highlighted his lyrical depth and storytelling ability. A blend of funk, rap and hip-hop defined the set\u2019s eclectic sound, punctuated by a laid-back yet pulsating performance of \u201cAmor Artificial\u201d and the high-energy \u201cTop.\u201d He closed with the emotional anti-war song \u201cMambr\u00fa.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThis is a dream come true for me,\u201d said PJ Sin Suela in a press release. \u201cI remember being in college playing Tiny Desk sessions and thinking, \u2018One day I\u2019ll be there,\u2019 and it happened. To this day, if I\u2019m cooking or having friends over, we put on a Tiny Desk. I have a deep respect and love for the platform, and I treated it that way. We prepared, rehearsed and gave it our all. I was able to bring my favorite musicians from Puerto Rico and people I admire and love dearly. I was able to represent what I do visually, musically, and socially.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tAccompanying PJ was a powerhouse ensemble of Puerto Rican musicians, including Jahaziel Garc\u00eda on trumpet, Benson Pag\u00e1n Jim\u00e9nez on guitar, Gabo Lugo on percussion and Barba Blanca on piano. Alexssa Hern\u00e1ndez made Tiny Desk history as the series\u2019 first sign language interpreter. Backing vocalists Ver\u00f3nica Rol\u00f3n Acevedo and Yeidimar Ramos Col\u00f3n added soulful harmonies to the show.<\/p>\n \n\tPJ Sin Suela also used his Tiny Desk debut as a platform for activism, placing stickers on the set that read \u201cPuerto Rico is NOT for sale.\u201d The message \u2014 which he carried as a sign during the 2022 Puerto Rican Day Parade \u2014 reflects his opposition to policies such as Act 22<\/a>, which allows wealthy foreigners to exploit the island\u2019s resources.<\/p>\n \n\tWatch PJ Sin Suela\u2019s performance on Tiny Desk below.<\/p>\n