At Tennessee State University, one student is proving that you don’t need a big stage to make a big impact. David Nyenwe, better known as Dav!d, has transformed his Boyd Hall dorm room into a mini concert venue, bringing the vibes of NPR’s “Tiny Desk Concerts” to campus with his own “Tiny Dorm” sessions.
Coming all the way from Memphis, Nyenwe has been surrounded by music his whole life. He grew up playing instruments and singing in church, but it wasn’t until his sophomore year at TSU that he decided to turn his dorm into a performance space. What started as a creative outlet quickly caught fire online, with fellow student musicians joining in to bring his vision to life.
It didn’t take long for Tiny Dorm to gain traction. His performances, filled with smooth R&B melodies and live instrumentation, started making waves on social media. One of his most viral moments was a live band performance of his song All The Time, which packed up over 1.5 million views on Instagram.
As the buzz grew, so did the need for space. The sessions eventually outgrew his dorm and moved into empty classrooms to accommodate more musicians and an expanding audience. But no matter the location, the energy remained the same raw, soulful, and deeply connected to the TSU community.
“The support that I get from them means so much to me,” Nyenwe told TSU Newsroom. “From the production to the visuals, there’s so much talent at TSU.”
While Tiny Dorm has taken off, Nyenwe has his sights set even higher. His dream is to take his talents from TSU to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert stage, bringing his unique sound to an even bigger audience.
“Coming to TSU has been a real-world experience,” he reflected. “That’s what the college experience is really about to me.”
Through his music, Nyenwe is doing more than going viral, he’s building something special. With every performance, he’s showcasing the incredible talent within HBCUs and proving that sometimes, all you need is a dorm room and a dream.
