Mac Miller Brings 'Swimming' to NPR's Tiny Desk Concert Series

Mac Miller performs 'Swimming' cuts "Small Worlds," "What's the Use," and "2009" as part of NPR's reliably great Tiny Desk concert series. This October, Mac is taking the new album on the road with Thundercat.

Mac Miller's new album Swimming, which dropped Friday, is practically tailor-made for an NPR Tiny Desk concert. Now, we have exactly that.

NPR dropped footage of the three-song performance Monday. As expected, Mac's soon-to-be-tourmate Thundercat comes through with a shaker-and-bass assist. Catch Mac giving Swimming cuts "Small Worlds," "What's the Use," and "2009" the Tiny Desk treatment via the video up top.

Photo Removed

Mac celebrated Swimming's release with a run of super-intimate shows at the Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles. At some point during the festivities, this photo came into existence:

As Mac revealed to Zane Lowe last month when premiering "What's the Use," the bass line at the center of the track was the result of pure instinct. After the track was initially set aside so Mac and producer Pomo could work on something else, Thundercat dropped by and immediately came up with the part. "Swear to God, that was the first thing he played, like not even checking the notes or anything," Mac said. "He literally picked up the bass and that was the first thing he naturally did."

Mac and Thundercat will be hitting the road with J.I.D in October. The Swimming Tour begins at the Masonic in San Francisco Oct. 27 and wraps Dec. 10 at Vancouver's PNE Forum. For a full list of dates, you know what to do:

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