Stephen Thompson | August 14, 2017 -- The moment you get a look at ALA.NI behind the Tiny Desk, you'll notice it in the foreground: The singer asked us to record her set using her vintage RCA Ribbon microphone, which she carries around in a small briefcase between shows. It's a security blanket, a bit of visual branding, a statement of stylistic intent — and, not for nothing, a big reason ALA.NI's voice carries with such warmth and intimacy. The microphone isn't the only element of ALA.NI's sound that seems to have been transported from another era. The London-born, Paris-based singer draws inspiration from her uncle, a British '20s and '30s cabaret star by the name of Leslie "Hutch" Hutchinson, and writes her own songs in the style of the standards he sang. You & I, her debut album, reverberates from the same spirit: It captures and conveys a reverent love of early-20th-century music, while injecting those sounds with charisma and charm well suited for any era. Here, she performs four songs from You & I, before closing her set with a heartwarming, crowd-aided "Happy Birthday" to her accompanist, Marvin Dolly. You & I is available now. iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/album/you-i/id1209128772 Amazon: www.amazon.com/You-I-ALA-NI/dp/B06WWC9NCM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502459668&sr=8-1&keywords=ala.ni SET LIST "Cherry Blossom" "Ol Fashioned Kiss" "Suddenly" "Happy Birthday (To Marvin)" MUSICIANS ALA.NI (vocals, guitar); Marvin Dolly (guitar) CREDITS Producers: Bob Boilen, Niki Walker, Bronson Arcuri; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Niki Walker, Tsering Bista; PA: Karen Gwee; Photo: Liam James Doyle/NPR. For more Tiny Desk concerts, subscribe to our podcast: www.npr.org/podcasts/510292/tiny-desk-concerts-video

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