>>> Musicians from Adele, to the rapper had visited the Washington DC offices, for intimate performances in the newsroom, called the tiny desk Concert series. Since 2014 we have invited amateur musicians to enter the tiny desk contest. This year, thousands of musical acts across the country are hoping for a chance to perform. Michael Lipton has a look at those from San Diego and the Imperial Valley. >> The New Orleans group one last year's contest, even though the video was not the most polished. Judges loved how genuine their performance was. >> More than 40 musicians submitted their video, some are professionally produced, others are stripped down. The only rule is it has to include a desk somewhere. Michael S-10, his eyes glow, which might be because it was shot using the wireless camera he monitors his cat with. Reporting -- recording a golf cart with Christmas lights, and they work to the tiny desk team inch -- Sema into the lyrics of the song -- FEMA into the lyrics of the song. -- Theme into the lyrics of the song. >> Centerstage is the mascot, a 11-year-old dog named Bella. If you submissions were in spite of recent news, Dean the data band be my Phantom valentine. His day job as a psychologist in the Mesa. After the Parkland Florida shooting he kept his school home after the district threat in their neighborhood. He said -- that same day he wrote a song called do not let me bullet. >> One songwriter for the alternative rock band Santa Pandora immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico in his teenage years, his other songwriter is his needs. Their son was motivated by the political rhetoric with asylum seekers. Several bands are hoping to add NPR honors. The routine was called the best rock group, and they were finalists faster. -- Last year. The routine video featured on NPR all songs considered as one of the top early submissions. Simon ripped a desk out of the wall before filming, one of the best uses of the desk and the dancing partner they have seen. The band sister speak was nominated for best pop element, and best pop band last year. They were in the Santa Monica Mountains surrounded by lush hills. Birds chirping in the background as she plays next to a small desk with the book the hidden life of trees on top. >> I have a hold on my heart. I have not the words to show, I do not know if I could be stronger. >> Will farmer does not have accolades, his job is a horse trainer in Vista, he had one key element in his video. Pandering to judges. >> Hello to everyone in NPR, keep doing what you are doing, we love you baby as they say, >> the winner will be announced tomorrow. Michael Lipton KPBS news. >>> Tomorrow it was your performance in the KPBS studio from the band, the routine, and of course one of the San Diego bands entered in the tiny desk contest.
More than 40 amateur musicians from San Diego and Imperial Valley are hoping for a ticket to Washington, D.C. and NPR fame.
NPR’s Tiny Desk concerts have attracted performers from Adele to Chance the Rapper, putting on shows inside the newsroom. Since 2014, NPR has invited artists from around the country to enter its Tiny Desk Contest for a chance to join those ranks.
The New Orleans group Tank and the Bangas won last year’s contest, even though their video wasn’t the most polished.
“What won me over about the band's performance of ‘Quick’ were the interactions among lead singer Tarriona ‘Tank’ Ball and her bandmates and the way they seemed to surprise one another,” All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen wrote. “It all felt so organic and on-the-spot, just like the best Tiny Desk concerts.”
This year thousands of musical acts entered to be the next winner. Some of their videos are professionally produced; others are more stripped-down. The only rule is that the video has to include a desk — somewhere. The winner will be announced Tuesday.
In Michael Esten’s video, his eyes glow. That might be because the video was shot using the wireless camera he also relies on to monitor his cat.
The band MDRN History jam-packed its video with props including a rubber horse head with a beanie hat. Center stage is the band’s mascot, an 11-year-old dog named Bella which is short for Bellandranog-non Faltrooth Hemmingpurse. The pooch got a shout out from the All Songs Considered team in a round-up of their favorite pets in the submission videos.
A few of the musicians were inspired by recent news. Twin brothers Dean and Wes Primicias lead the band Be Mine Phantom Valentine. Dean’s day-job is as a psychologist at Murdock Elementary in La Mesa. Days after the Parkland school shooting in Florida, a social media post potentially threatened a school shooting at San Marcos High School. That’s the district where Dean’s children attend, so he kept them home. That same day he wrote, “Don’t Let Me Bullet.”
Roberto Villaneuva, the guitar player and co-songwriter for the alternative rock band Santapandora immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico in his teens. His niece Cassandra Childers is the group’s other songwriter. Their song, “Periphery,” was motivated by the political rhetoric around asylum seekers.
“We want everyone to take a step back and celebrate humanity, to have compassion for your fellow human beings, and to really think about those being lost on the periphery,” Villaneuva wrote in an e-mail.
Several bands have been recognized locally for their talent. The Routine was named best rock group at the 2015 San Diego Music Awards and was a finalist in the category this year. The band’s video was featured on NPR’s All Songs Considered blog as one of the top early submissions.
“You've probably never seen someone so successfully use a desk as a dancing partner until you see Bryan Barbarin spin, flip and sway with his,” NPR’s Jay Reed wrote about The Routine’s lead singer.
The band Sister Speak was nominated for best pop album at this year’s San Diego Music Awards, and won for best pop band last year. Frontwoman Sherri Anne filmed the group’s video in the Santa Monica mountains, surrounded by lush hills. Birds are chirping in the background as she plays next to a small foldable desk with the book “The Hidden Life of Trees” displayed on top.
Will Faerber may not have those accolades. His day job is a dressage horse trainer in Vista. But he made sure to include one key element in his video: some pandering to the judges.
“I want to say hi to all of our friends out there at NPR,” he said. “Keep doing what you’re doing. We love you baby, as they say.”
