Jungle Fuses Soul and Melancholy in Continuous NPR Performance
The London trio plays seven songs without breaks, blending 2018 hits with new material to create a seamless sonic experience.
By Zoe Harrison ·
Jungle performed a continuous seven song set for NPR's Tiny Desk Concert, a format that demands fluid transitions between tracks. The group, which has spent the last decade reinterpreting vintage soul and R&B, executed the performance with a focus on maintaining a single, unbroken groove. The set combined material from their 2018 debut with newer releases, including tracks from the 2023 album Volcano and the 2025 single Keep Me Satisfied.
Josh Lloyd Watson, one of the band's three primary vocalists, told the NPR audience that the goal was to keep the music moving. This approach aligns with the group's live reputation, where songs often spill into one another rather than ending with a hard stop. The performance featured deep, familiar grooves layered with a persistent undercurrent of mystery and melancholy, even during the brighter musical moments.
The setlist began with Someday, Somewhere, before moving into Beat 54 (All Good Now) and Dominoes. The band then shifted to The Wave and Keep Me Satisfied, the latter showcasing the group's six part harmonies. The performance concluded with Casio and a slow, moody rendition of Back on 74, the track that served as their breakout hit in 2023.
The on stage chemistry was visible as the members smiled through lyrics dealing with faded dreams, dead end infatuations, and the struggle to hold on. The trio of Tom McFarland, Josh Lloyd Watson, and Lydia Kitto led the vocals, supported by a full band that included Lucy Kitto on keys, Geo Jordan on bass, George Day on drums, Will Fry on percussion, and Kwaye on background vocals.
The production team for the concert included producer Robin Hilton, director and editor Maia Stern, and audio director and mix engineer Josh Newell. The Tiny Desk series, created by Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson, and Robin Hilton, is executive produced by Suraya Mohamed. The video was captured by videographers Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, and Alante Serene, with photography by Michael Zamora and Lexy Beale.
The performance highlights the band's ability to make old sounds feel alien through their specific arrangement choices. By linking distinct albums and eras of their catalog, they presented a cohesive narrative of love and longing. The final track, Back on 74, ended the session with a slow burn that contrasted with the earlier high energy sections of the set.
