NPR Music’s 2025 Tiny Desk Contest received greater than 7,000 entries, together with some standouts within the folks and nation genres.
MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:
NPR Music’s 2025 Tiny Desk Contest simply wrapped up its nationwide tour with winner Ruby Ibarra, a rapper from the Bay Space. In the meantime, our judges additionally found tons of nice new musicians via the competition, so we’re sharing a number of the greatest this summer time on ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. Robin Hilton is a contest choose, additionally host of Tiny Desk and All Songs Thought of. And he is again to speak about the most effective folks and nation entries from this yr’s contest. Robin, my fellow host, welcome.
ROBIN HILTON, BYLINE: Hey, Mary Louise.
KELLY: Hey. The place ought to we begin?
HILTON: Oh, so many to select from. However let’s begin with what was essentially the most memorable efficiency I noticed. It is from a Nashville artist named Ollie Gabriel, and the track he despatched in is known as “Ric Aptitude.” And it is very a lot rooted in nation, but it surely does one thing that we have been listening to rather a lot the place artists mix traditional nation sounds with rap.
KELLY: OK. Evidently, I have not heard this track ‘trigger it is new. Let’s hearken to it, “Ric Aptitude.”
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “RIC FLAIR”)
OLLIE GABRIEL: (Singing) I met this lady once I was driving via Kentucky. Stopped for a chew and she or he was strolling out of Buc-ee’s. I moseyed over, requested her, do you want a buddy? She say she with it. Received the digits. I used to be fortunate. She rotated. I used to be locked in a stare. That sort of girl make a Nature Boy rise, Ric Aptitude, woo.
KELLY: (Laugher) It is already caught in my head.
HILTON: (Laughter) Proper?
KELLY: What caught you about this one, Robin?
HILTON: Effectively, I imply, I feel it stands by itself. It is clearly very infectious. However I feel to form of actually get the entire bundle, you bought to look at the video. Ollie Gabriel is a star. He’s so magnetic, completely fascinating. It is sort of thrilling to look at.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “RIC FLAIR”)
GABRIEL: (Singing) Woo.
KELLY: OK, who’s subsequent?
HILTON: Let’s hear a track known as “10,000 Toes.” That is by an Arkansas singer and guitarist named Jeff Scott. He is received this traditional nation voice. He mentioned that he was impressed by folks and nation greats like John Prine or Merle Haggard, and I feel you may actually hear that.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “10,000 FEET”)
JEFF SCOTT: (Singing) I purchased me a beer on the cafe in ideas it would hold myself sane. And there was no wanting behind me as I set foot on the airplane. However the sky fell down like water. And the entire world, it got here into view. And 10,000 ft over Tulsa (ph), I began lacking you.
KELLY: Oh, I feel you would not have introduced us two extra completely different songs. That is simply him, his voice, his guitar and that is it, proper?
HILTON: Yeah, I imply, some artists go actually, actually massive. Some go actually, actually small. You may have only a massive an influence whatever the manufacturing. You recognize, we simply need to join with what they’re attempting to say.
KELLY: Yeah. OK, so you have received one final entry you need to share with us. And I am curious what route you are going to take us in.
HILTON: Yeah, it is truly a kind of smaller performances. It’s extremely spare, very intimate. Only a solo guitar and singer from San Diego who goes by the identify Shua. And I will simply say that that is a kind of entries that had me bawling my eyes out the second I heard it. It’s so lovely, so shifting. The track that Shua did is known as “Damaged.” And I feel that the lyrics can simply wreck you in the absolute best method.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “BROKEN”)
SHUA: (Singing) Can I name at 1 a.m.? Feeling like a wreck once more. Tempted to chop myself in two. I want a physician, do not know who. Someway, I do know it is my fault. I ain’t prayed sufficient in any respect. That is what they mentioned once I confessed. God, are you able to hear me? Are you able to inform me, did you make me like this? Did you place me collectively damaged, damaged, damaged? Did you make me like this? Will I at all times be so damaged, damaged, damaged?
KELLY: I can hear it.
HILTON: Proper?
KELLY: I can hear what had you bawling your eyes out.
HILTON: Oh, and that voice, too, proper?
KELLY: Effectively, Robin Hilton, thanks a lot for coming to share a number of the greatest folks and nation entries from this yr’s Tiny Desk Contest.
HILTON: Thanks for having me.
KELLY: All proper, it is Robin Hilton of NPR Music. And you’ll watch all these entries, and 1000’s extra, at npr.org/tinydeskcontest.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “BROKEN”)
SHUA: (Singing) Come work your magic. Present it off.
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