When the members of Cha Wa were invited to take over the NPR remote series Tiny Desk, they knew they needed to bring it into the heart of New Orleans’ rich musical heritage to a “hallowed space for Black American music,” as Bob Boilen put it in his introduction: Preservation Hall. It was only fitting, as Cha Wa are a true embodiment of New Orleans street culture as a collective which includes lifelong members of the city’s centuries-old Black Masking traditions. The group includes Joseph Boudreaux of the Mardi Gras Indians and Aurélien Barnes of the The North Side Skull & Bone Gang, along with many of the top musicians from New Orleans’ world-renowned social aid and pleasure clubs and second line brass bands. Together, Cha Wa keep these storied legacies in Black American music alive on the national stage with modern influences from New Orleans funk, R&B, hip-hop, rock and soul music traditions.

Only five years into their story and already Grammy nominees in the Best Regional Roots Album category, Cha Wa returned in April of this year with their new album, My People, which they performed four songs from at the NPR Tiny Desk. Watch their powerful performance below.

Cha Wa appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered earlier this year and took home a Best of the Beat Award for Best Music Video for “Visible Means of Support (No Justice, No Peace).”