#tiny desk contest submission

[therepressions]

NPR Tiny Desk Contest 2025 ~ Trust Your Doors

The Repressions’ song “Trust Your Doors” is the official entry for NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest 2025! This is a song about the difficulty of making changes, for even the best changes to our lives are not easy. This contest features independent artists and is a lovely showcase of songwriting, and desks! A new tiny Repressions desk and all of the previous customized tiny desks can be seen in between…

[goodjohnjr]

Wish Queen - Among The Stars ~ 2022 NPR Tiny Desk Contest Submission

Wish Queen – Among The Stars ~ 2022 NPR Tiny Desk Contest Submission What Is It? Wish Queen – Among The Stars ~ 2022 NPR Tiny Desk Contest Submission by Wish Queen: Wish Queen – Among The Stars ~ 2022 NPR Tiny Desk Contest Submission Description: Live recording filmed March 6, 2022, at the Hildebrandt Artist Collective Vocals: Grace SullivanAcoustic Guitar: Alfred HoodElectric Guitar: Nolan…

[swordandstars]

Agalisiga Mackey is making brilliant music through pairing Cherokee lyrics with classic (like, 40s and 50s) country-western instrumentation. This man can YODEL like nobody's business.

Read more about his work here:

bro i LOVE indigenous fusion music i love it when indigenous people take traditional practices and language and apply them in new cool ways i love the slow decay and decolonisation of the modern music industry

[nailahcarrie]

thought I'd share my 2025 Tiny Desk Contest submission on here ✨

[shadowzero359]

Syd Taylor - Heaven (NPR Tiny Desk Contest Submission 2025)

[ondasyletras]

Zohar & Adam NPR 2025 Tiny Desk Contest Submission - Drones in the Sky/Dying Hands

[defyperception]

The Bones of J.R. Jones "Blue Skies" Tiny Desk Contest Submission

[jackdroppersandthebestintentions]

Here's the band's NPR Tiny Desk Contest submission for 2024.

We made it for ourselves, but we thought of you.

[odedmusic]

The Bones of J.R. Jones "Blue Skies" Tiny Desk Contest Submission

#OdedFriedGaon ‪#OdedMusic

[thatfontainesound]

We’re entering @npr‘s @tinydeskcontest!  Check out our entry video :)

woop woop

[ninasmovingcastle]

Can I request Yae Miko with overworked sleepy reader? gender neutral is fine.

hi love, thank you for requesting !! i hope you like this <3

overtime - yae miko

yae miko x gender neutral!reader

word count: 390

content warnings: overworked reader

an editor's work is never done, especially when you work at the yae publishing house. being under the supervision of the guuji yae herself made your life a hundred times more stressful, as if editing wasn't hard enough.

your recent projects were mostly limited to light novels. due to a novelist submission contest being held in inazuma, you found yourself revising countless stories, filling plot hole after plot hole for young, amateur novelists.

yae miko had always told you to not burn yourself out, especially when working with literature. she constantly reminded you and your coworkers that forced work is always hard to read.

you're now sitting holed up in your office, reading through your twenty-sixth light novel of the day. according to your contract, you were supposed to have gone home hours ago. but here you were, cringing at a teen writer's attempt at a romance novel.

glancing at the clock suspended on your wall, you realized it was nearly midnight. you didn't have much time left until your deadline for editing. though you always tried to abide by miko's advice, you were sure you could handle this one tiny project.

the familiar clicking of shoes outside your office sent your heart racing, but your eyelids were becoming heavier and heavier. it was probably one of your fellow editors going home for the night. oh, how you'd love to go home for the night...

"my, what do we have here?"

standing over you was yae miko herself, her bright pink hair billowing around her like a veil. she maneuvers your pen out of your hand, eyeing the mountain of manuscripts on your desk. you began profusely apologizing to her, promising you could finish editing by midnight.

"midnight?" she asks. miko traces her fingertips over your shoulders, sending tingles through your body. it's like she's the pure embodiment of electro, every word and touch from her feels like a shock.

she studies your face. your eyes were probably drooping, evident exhaustion taking its toll on your body. she drags a finger over the stack of papers in front of you.

"give this all to me, darling. i'll handle it," she coos, piling manuscripts into her arms. "you need your beauty sleep. go on now, goodnight."

maybe the editor-in-chief wasn't so scary, after all.

[dudewhoabides]

Wanda Gonzalez “What U Feel” 2021 NPR Tiny Desk Contest Submission

[celtfather]

Gaelynn Lea #63

A Holiday collection of Christmas music to tug at your heartstrings with Gaelynn Lea today as we spread Christmas Cheer.

It's Celtic Christmas Podcast #63. Subscribe at CelticChristmasPodcast.com.

  WELCOME TO THE CELTIC CHRISTMAS PODCAST AND PLAYLIST

I am Marc Gunn. I am a Celtic musician and I love Christmas music.

This podcast is funded by people just like you on Patreon. Your generosity funds the creation, promotion, and production of the podcast and our companion playlist. You’ll find a link to both in the shownotes.

Sign up for as little as $1 per episode on Patreon to spread Christmas Cheer today in 2022. Because this is the last episode of the year.

But if you subscribe to the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, then you will also enjoy another episode of Celtic Christmas music coming this week.

FEATURED PLAYLIST: Celtic Christmas 2021

My final Celtic Christmas Playlist of the year is now completed. It features over 30 artists with amazing music to celebrate the holiday, from the slow and peaceful to the upbeat and rollicking. You can enjoy over two hours of Christmas music on this playlist.

And of course, if you’re a patron, you can download a podcast version of the show on Patreon.

Listen to Celtic Christmas 2021 now on Spotify.

“Angels We Have Heard on High (feat. Al Church)” by Gaelynn Lea from Deepest Darkness, Brightest Dawn

That was from today’s special holiday guest. She is on the latest Celtic Christmas Playlist.

HOLIDAY FEATURE: Gaelynn Lea

Traditional fiddle music tugs at the heartstrings, and it infuses feeling into what is otherwise notes on a page. There’s something transformative about it. Not only has Gaeylnn Lea mastered her craft, but her experimental use of this time-honored instrument adds yet another dimension to the sound. Melodies are stretched and harmonies are crafted by her use of live looping, paired with obvious classical training. It’s updated, and ultimately, very satisfying. Cellist Zoe Keating springs to mind as one listens to Lea’s use of her chosen instrument. It’s no wonder she has drawn attention for her music—she has really been carving out her own niche in the industry.

Gaelynn has been playing the violin for over two decades, and there’s little doubt she’s comfortable with bow in hand. It really does take a person mastering an instrument before experimentation can be successful. The challenge is to depart from the norm and create something unique—all while expanding on previous training. The skill is still in there--but the music grows larger and more full. This is what Gaelynn does, and it’s a pleasure to hear the thread of the familiar woven in with the freshness of something new at the hands of an experienced artist.

The musician has been recognized for her work—being chosen as the winner of NPR Music’s 2016 Tiny Desk Contest, recognized as a benchmark in the world of music. This competition brings in thousands of submissions, and to win is quite the accomplishment!

Those who are looking for a forward-looking holiday collection of music will want to investigate Lea’s album, "Deepest Darkness, Brightest Dawn". The tracks that are included here boast many of the well-known popular carol names, such as Angels We Have Heard on High, Silent Night, Away in a Manger, and O Come, O Come Emmanuel--but you haven’t ever heard them played like this before.

The 14-track album is an easy fit for anyone who is a true strings aficionado, and it would round out any collection of holiday music. Perfect for everything from a romantic candlelight dinner with your love, or at a family gathering, “Deepest Darkness, Brightest Dawn” is a delight to listen to. Experience the joy of hearing Christmas favorites that are coaxed into a new form through the hands of a talented musician.

You can find out more about Gaelynn Lea at https://violinscratches.com/

“Silent Night” by Gaelynn Lea from Deepest Darkness, Brightest Dawn

IF YOU ENJOY THIS ARTIST...

Follow them on streaming and add one of their songs to your playlist. You can also buy music from them, sign up to their mailing list and share this episode on social media. Use the hashtag #celticchristmaspodcast

The Celtic Christmas Podcast is free to enjoy. However, it is supported by the Christmas Cheer and generosity of people like you over on Patreon.

Celtic Christmas Podcast was produced and edited by Marc Gunn. Graphics were by Miranda Nelson Designs. Subscribe through your favorite podcatcher or on our website where you can become a Christmas Patron for as little as $1 per episode. Promote Celtic culture through Christmas music at CelticChristmasPodcast.com. Nollaig Shona Daoibh!

#celticchristmas #celticchristmasmusic #gaelynnlea

  Check out this episode!

[kat-hawke]

Descried

(Following [Found])

Sprawled across the surface of the desk as the echoes of the wall clock ticked away with every passing second. The bottle of whiskey emptied long ago, knocked to its side by the outstretched arm, the accompanying glass still ensnared within Kat's fingers as she lay face down upon books of dark knowledge. Exhaustion winning the battle, she fell asleep in the middle of her studies.

The pinch of shadow-laced pain startled Kat into waking, knocking the bottle to the floor in the process. Her left hand locked up with shadowy wisps as Seraanna's voice penetrated the blissful silence.

"He… is found."

"Where?" The Director responded without hesitation, the mental clutch of the void-tainted pearl within the mind strong enough to choke the light from the Cathedral.

"...beyond Lakeshire, within the ruined keep." Seraanna's tone was less - distinct - than it been in their days-earlier contact.

"Do not allow the wards to deceive you," the shadow-laced thoughts continued, "they exist only to dissuade and are weak before the determined." 

The elf paused, and Kat took the opportunity to remove the hair from her eyes and close the various books on her desk. A pocket mirror used to check her complexion, sneering at the void-tainted left eye.

"Another has found him and was slain by his hand." Seraa continues. "Your Grimm knows he has been seen, but I feel it is other than righteous... force that he suspects."

Within her fingers, the mirror snapped shut and tossed into an upper drawer.

"He has never taken an apprentice or pupils throughout the years. Minions and lackeys that worship him as a cult, sure, but..." Kat's thought trailed off, mulling over the new information.

"Elaborate," her tone sounded more of an instruction than an inquiry to do so.

"I offer my aid, but I am not yours to command," Seraa gently reminded with a faintly amused tone.

"The other presented himself as more - an equal. Seeking an ally? Advantage? He laughed as Uvexius took his life, the soul abdicating as if - expected. My own Sight was then noted, but I have evaded greater eyes." 

"Grimm may think he has been seen; but neither I nor the other could be mistaken for harbingers of the Alliance."

"Interesting..." Kat overlooks the gentle reminder and focuses on the details of interest.

"Doubtful Grimm would see any as an equal, nor would he wish to change deities- assuming he has one. This renovation has lasted years, and not even the Cult of the Damned are seen near him."

She stood from the desk and was pacing from wall to wall now. The thumb was circling the side of her forefinger in the air before her chest as her eyes shifted over the floorboards.

"Then your efforts are made simpler. No other minds of note, nor acolytes or worshippers. Only the dull thoughts of the risen dead, and Grimm within his lair littered with word and formulae and parts for his crafting." 

As their exchange lengthened, Kat's senses began to shift, picking up subtle details of Seraanna's environment as she spoke. Her pacing paused to run one hand over the back of the other arm as if she could feel the armchair where the elf was nested. This new development sparked concern and discomfort, shifting her focus to curtailing the blooming connection, nearly missing the rest of Seraa's offered insight.

"Yet if it is that he feels threat, either of his slain visitor or of my own Sight, then how might he act? Is he one to bide his time, or to act all the sooner and more fiercely?" The priestess' mind seemed to ask the question of herself as much as Kat. "A conundrum for the Director's discernment. Mmm, Kat?"

The direct use of her name came like a snap of fingers to the face, and attention shifted back to the telepathic conversation.

"He has always been...unpredictable in such regards. Ranging from leveling entire homes to going aground for months. I'm willing to wager on him remaining on his current path. All things considered."

"You have your quarry then. The aid which you asked, granted. And I? I am here, in distant retreat." 

The sense of the study flourished again briefly, obviously at the forefront of Seraanna's thoughts. 

"I will require rest before I make my return, Kat. Unless it is that passage awaits me in nearby port? The village below has offered adequate welcome, though I fear I am an uncommon visitor. But this? This room is comfort enough. I will rest here."

Kat's jaw clenched at the mention of the village, teeth grinding in anger as the elf admitted to wandering beyond the walls of the study. An unpredicted complication, one she assumed would evolve into a problem as the isolated hamlet did not know the Ren'dorei.

"It's a week at sea," she answered, "more if the weather fights. You will find no passage in the port."

The study's ambient sense receded in a calm quiet, replaced by the sensation of vast waters, still and dark, between them.

"Did you believe I would merely fade into some convenient shadow when your task was complete?" came the soft question. "Three full nights have I extended my Sight at your asking. Broken only by rest upon a couch in a room without doors, and a single meal purchased with my own coin from the village below." 

The waters of Seraana's mind remained still and dark. "Sanctuary was asked, not exile. And I am no other's tool to be carelessly discarded once my usefulness is past." 

"Do not begrudge mere rest, Kat."

"Oh, there very well is a door," Kat sneered in a raw form of sarcasm.

"Rest is not what vexes me, Seraanna, nor did I believe you do without. You wanted sanctuary, and it was granted. Venturing into the village was not part of the agreement. You are no exile; this is not Silvermoon. If additional stipulations were required, you needed only to ask. I am not at fault for what you did or did not negotiate."

"Neither, dear Kat, was such forbidden. Do not fault me," Seraa echoed, "for stipulations, you failed to place."

In the physical realm, Kat scoffed and rolled her eyes in frustration. To be challenged in such a way was uncommon as she became familiar with many folding beneath her ire, intimidated into submission.

With a deep breath, the frustration subsided, and a faint smile touched the Director's lips. Her eyes focused on a tiny hourglass at the corner of the desk, where dark matter swirled within the lower chamber.

"Smarter than you look," Kat conceded, "something I am not accustomed to these days."

"I find that I am often estimated poorly. The elf," an echo of distaste from Seraa in the term, "with her whispered words and placid demeanor. Certainly she is some wilting flower, in need of another's strong arm and sharp blade." Amusement rippled across the calm. 

"It is not without use." 

"Are we agreed, then?" Seraanna circled back.

"Agreed?" Kat repeated. "I never contested your desire to remain and rest, only disapproved of the journey to the village below." 

"Unless you mean the implication that men think women to be delicate beings in need of saving when we manage fine without them? In which case, yes, we are agreed."

"And of my own case, no few women," Seraa casually amended. "Though the pattern does tend as you describe it." 

"Then tell me where I might find a warm meal, and I shall avoid your further disapproval. And that somewhere you possess wine, and not only this wretched whiskey."

"Seeks wine but calls the whiskey wretched?" Kat mocked with humor. "Deplorable, to seek smashed and rotted grapes...but as you wish. The villagers have already been made aware of your presence, and if you care that much for Gilnean cuisine, then help yourself. There is also the manor in which you are currently within. The choice of food will be much the same as the tavern but better in quality."

"The door that opens to nothing, Kat?" Seraanna questioned. "I might open a rift from the study to the ground seen below, and knock at the manor door. But I am uncertain if any would answer, no matter give welcome to one such as I knocking unexpected."

Reaching out to pluck the hourglass as the elf spoke, Kat turned the instrument over in her fingers, watching as the dark energy within rushed through the bottleneck into the empty bottom half. Remaining silent and focused as Seraanna resumed the conversation without pause.

"And be assured. I did not speak of from where I came, nor did I enter the village from the direction of the manor. Although the matron at the inn," Seraa remarked with another faded ripple of amusement, "proclaimed me the most interesting thing she had seen in three moons."

Silence fell across the connection now, and Kat waited, a single finger tapping on the desktop as she stared at the hourglass. Nearly a minute passed before the shadows within the glass vessel dissipated, and the sensation of fright pulled on a distant thread within her soul.

The corner of painted lips lifted in a smirk as the Ren'dorei found what she requested.

"Try not to scare the child. She is not fortified as you and I. Her mind is...delicate."

The hourglass spun over again yet remained empty. As if she waited for it to fill on its own accord.

"I am no stranger... to delicate things," Seraa murmured across the dark waters of their connection.

Kat pursed her lips with a quick arch in her brow before severing the tether between them. The arrangement was now becoming a calculated gamble with unpredictable outcomes, a risk she found herself willing to take to foster trust.

( @longveil​​ )