NPR Music’s 2025 Tiny Desk Contest obtained 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 by the competition, so we’re sharing a few of the finest this summer season 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 very best folks and nation entries from this 12 months’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 probably 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’s extremely a lot rooted in nation, however it does one thing that we have been listening to so much the place artists mix basic nation sounds with rap.
KELLY: OK. For sure, I have never heard this track ‘trigger it is new. Let’s take heed to it, “Ric Aptitude.”
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “RIC FLAIR”)
OLLIE GABRIEL: (Singing) I met this woman after I was driving by Kentucky. Stopped for a chunk and he or she was strolling out of Buc-ee’s. I moseyed over, requested her, do you want a buddy? She say she with it. Obtained the digits. I used to be fortunate. She rotated. I used to be locked in a stare. That form of lady 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: Properly, I imply, I believe it stands by itself. It is clearly very infectious. However I believe to kind of actually get the entire bundle, you bought to observe the video. Ollie Gabriel is a star. He’s so magnetic, completely fascinating. It is form of thrilling to observe.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “RIC FLAIR”)
GABRIEL: (Singing) Woo.
KELLY: OK, who’s subsequent?
HILTON: Let’s hear a track known as “10,000 Ft.” That is by an Arkansas singer and guitarist named Jeff Scott. He is obtained this basic nation voice. He stated that he was impressed by folks and nation greats like John Prine or Merle Haggard, and I believe 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’d hold myself sane. And there was no trying behind me as I set foot on the aircraft. 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 believe you could possibly 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 huge. Some go actually, actually small. You’ll be able to have only a huge an influence whatever the manufacturing. , we simply wish to join with what they’re making an attempt to say.
KELLY: Yeah. OK, so you’ve got obtained one final entry you wish to share with us. And I am curious what course you are going to take us in.
HILTON: Yeah, it is truly a kind of smaller performances. It is very spare, very intimate. Only a solo guitar and singer from San Diego who goes by the identify Shua. And I am going to simply say that that is a kind of entries that had me bawling my eyes out the second I heard it. It’s so stunning, so transferring. The track that Shua did is known as “Damaged.” And I believe that the lyrics can simply wreck you in the absolute best approach.
(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 would like 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 stated after 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 all the time 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: Properly, Robin Hilton, thanks a lot for coming to share a few of the finest folks and nation entries from this 12 months’s Tiny Desk Contest.
HILTON: Thanks for having me.
KELLY: All proper, it is Robin Hilton of NPR Music. And you may 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.
Copyright © 2025 NPR. All rights reserved. Go to our web site phrases of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for additional info.
Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts could range. Transcript textual content could also be revised to right errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org could also be edited after its authentic broadcast or publication. The authoritative report of NPR’s programming is the audio report.
