Fans of NPR are familiar with its Tiny Desk concert series, where bands like Wilco and Ben Folds record live at the desk of radio host Bob Boilen in NPR’s Washington, D.C., headquarters.
In 2015, the series started a contest, and this year’s Tiny Desk Contest winner, announced Thursday, is Gaelynn Lea, a musician from Duluth, Minn., who beat out some 6,000 other competitors.
Be prepared to be blown away.
Black Keys guitarist and producer Dan Auerbach, one of the judges, said on the contest page “the song starts off with the sound of 20 old floorboards groaning and creaking in unison, and then Karen Dalton and Joanna Newsom melt together in the form of Gaelynn Lea and set about absolutely obliterating your heart.”
According to NPR, Lea “builds on a repertoire of traditional Celtic and American fiddle music, writing original songs that incorporate folk-rock influences, looping tracks and an inventive improvisatory style.”
She also teaches fiddle and advocates for people with disabilities.
You can watch all the entries here.
Filed under: News Tagged: Music contests, NPR, Tiny Desk