The best Tiny Desk Contest entries we saw
Digest
This episode delves into the Tiny Desk Contest, highlighting various artists and their submissions. Featured artists include Pump Action with their stadium rock sound, Lily Talmers with a quirky van performance, and Walker Burroughs with his powerful vocals. Les Green & The Swayzees deliver a dynamic performance, while Nicolosi shares a raw, emotional song. Jackie Marshall impresses with her looping and vocal range, and Lehigh, Utah brings modern gospel. Yuri Shin's poignant song and Lauren Freehoff's mature songwriting are also discussed. Mira's catchy debut entry captivates with its hook. The "Top Shelf" series is introduced as a platform for discovered artists.
Outlines
Tiny Desk Contest Season and Top Shelf Series Introduction
The episode begins by introducing the annual Tiny Desk Contest, an NPR Music competition where artists submit original songs and videos for a chance to perform at the Tiny Desk. The "Top Shelf" series, which highlights discovered artists, is also introduced.
Featured Artist Spotlights: Pump Action, Lily Talmers, Walker Burroughs, Les Green & The Swayzees, Nicolosi, Jackie Marshall, Lehigh Utah, Yuri Shin, Lauren Freehoff, and Mira
This section provides detailed spotlights on various artists and their contest entries. Pump Action from Nashville is noted for their powerful stadium rock. Lily Talmers' creative van performance and infectious song are praised. Walker Burroughs impresses with his voice and joyful resistance theme. Les Green & The Swayzees deliver a dynamic performance, and Nicolosi shares a raw, emotional piece. Jackie Marshall showcases her unique looping and vocal versatility. Lehigh, Utah presents a modern gospel song with a blend of rapping and singing. Yuri Shin's poignant song about loss and Lauren Freehoff's mature songwriting are highlighted. Mira's relentlessly hooky debut entry captivates the hosts.
Contest Highlights and Discovery
The episode emphasizes the diversity of talent and creativity within the Tiny Desk Contest, from unique performance concepts and vocal abilities to original songwriting and genre blending. The "Top Shelf" series continues to be a key element in showcasing these discovered artists.
Keywords
Tiny Desk Contest
An annual online competition hosted by NPR Music, inviting musicians to submit original songs and videos. The winner gets to perform at the actual Tiny Desk in Washington D.C. It's a platform for discovering new talent and showcasing diverse musical styles.
Top Shelf Series
A series accompanying the Tiny Desk Contest, where NPR Music highlights and discusses artists they've discovered through the contest submissions. It provides a deeper look into some of the standout entries and artists.
Indie Music Discovery
The process of finding and promoting independent musicians and their work, often through platforms like NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concerts and contests. It focuses on artists outside the mainstream music industry.
Original Song Submission
The core requirement of the Tiny Desk Contest, where artists must submit a video of themselves performing a song they have written. This emphasizes creativity and originality over covers or pre-existing material.
Looping Artist
A musician who uses electronic devices to record and play back musical phrases in real-time, creating layers of sound to accompany their performance. This technique allows for complex arrangements by a single performer.
Q&A
What is the Tiny Desk Contest?
The Tiny Desk Contest is an annual competition by NPR Music where artists submit original songs and videos. The goal is to win an opportunity to perform at the actual Tiny Desk in Washington D.C., showcasing emerging and independent musical talent.
What is the "Top Shelf" series?
The "Top Shelf" series is a segment within the Tiny Desk Contest coverage where NPR Music highlights and discusses artists they've discovered through the contest submissions. It offers a closer look at some of the most compelling entries.
Can artists enter the Tiny Desk Contest multiple times?
Yes, artists can and often do enter the Tiny Desk Contest multiple times. The podcast highlights several artists who have been repeat contestants, emphasizing persistence and the ongoing opportunity to be discovered.
What makes an entry stand out in the Tiny Desk Contest?
Entries stand out through originality, strong songwriting, compelling vocal performances, creative video production, and authenticity. Unique approaches, like performing in unusual locations or using innovative techniques such as looping, also capture attention.
Show Notes
Tiny Desk series producer Bobby Carter joins All Songs Considered host Robin Hilton. (They’re also the two lead judges for the Contest.)
Featured entries:
(00:00 ) Intro
(00:51 ) Pump Action: “Supernova”
(03:34 ) Lily Talmers: “Big Idea”
(07:18 ) Walker Burroughs: “Open Skies”
(10:53 ) Les Greene and the Swayzees: "Long Story Short"
(14:08 ) Nicolosi: “Are You Coming To The Ivy?”
(17:20 ) Jackie Marchal: “Excavate The Girl”
(21:43 ) the King will come: “welcome”
(24:33 ) Yuri Shin: “Falling Rabbit”
(27:54 ) Lauren Frihauf: “One Thing Always Leads To Another”
(31:41 ) Meira: “Make Me Go”
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