NPR Music: All Songs Considered – Our Favorite Tiny Desk Contest Entries
Date: March 31, 2026
Hosts: Bobby Carter, Robin Hilton
Episode Overview
In this special “All Songs Considered” episode, NPR Music’s Bobby Carter and Robin Hilton take listeners through their favorite entries from the 2026 Tiny Desk Contest. The show is full of infectious new music, insider anecdotes, and thoughtful commentary on what makes a Tiny Desk entry stand out. Beyond showcasing the top songs, the episode celebrates perseverance, authenticity, and the ever-rising bar for musical creativity.
Key Discussion Points & Highlights
Tiny Desk Contest Season & Judging Process
- The Tiny Desk Contest invites musicians to submit original songs filmed wherever they wish.
- Every year, the NPR Music team hosts "Top Shelf" to spotlight their standout discoveries.
- Bobby Carter: “A rock band, like, straight-up guitar rock band has never won the Tiny Desk Contest in 12 years of doing it. I would love for that to happen.” (03:39)
- Both emphasize that repeated entries and persistence are often key for artists making it onto the Top Shelf, if not outright winning.
Standout Contest Entries
1. Pump Action – "Supernov"
[01:10–03:39]
- Nashville-based band; their third contest entry.
- Memorable for: Stadium-ready yet restrained vocals, catchy guitar riff.
- Bobby Carter: “He kind of splits the difference between...restraint and something that could fill a stadium.” (03:03)
- Noted there’s yet to be a straight-up rock band winner.
2. Lily Talmers – "The Big Idea"
[03:53–07:14]
- Quirky video: band playing in a van in an empty field.
- Memorable for: Playful presentation, lush harmonies, subtle attention-grabbing.
- Robin Hilton: “Don’t bore us, get to the chorus.” (07:05)
- Her 8th entry, highlighted as an example of perseverance.
3. Walker Burrows – "Open Skies"
[07:37–10:57]
- Nashville artist; harmonies and vocal power stood out.
- Robin Hilton: “I was immediately struck by Walker’s voice. It, like, punches through.” (09:35)
- Backstory: Traded renovation work for studio time.
- Artist’s Quote: “I’m making music with an intentional choice of joy. Joy as a resistance to what’s going on in the world...” (10:38)
- Hosts praise his music’s positivity as vital right now.
4. Les Green & The Swayzes – "Long Story Short"
[11:12–14:22]
- Miami band; Les Green described as a star performer.
- Performance notes: Energetic living room jam, expressive vocals, wardrobe change mid-video.
- Robin Hilton: “That vocal is just pure power and pure emotion, and that’s what we’re looking for.” (13:52)
- Les previously entered solo in 2019; praised for evolution.
5. Nicolosi – "Are You Coming to the Ivy"
[15:47–18:40]
- West Coast, singer-songwriter. Inspired by father’s death.
- Memorable for: Raw, scruffy, intensely honest vocals.
- Robin Hilton: “It’s the rawness of it all is what really, really grabbed me. I got really emotional watching that.” (17:57)
- First-time entrant; lauded for authenticity.
6. Jackie Marshall
[18:57–23:08]
- Unique performance: looping vocals and contact mics on throat, then a full band reveal.
- Memorable for: Dramatic vocal transformation mid-song.
- Bobby Carter: “Honestly, I became a mouth breather while I was watching...You have to stick with it...so rewarding when you do.” (21:54)
- Has performed in Tiny Desk tours before; illustrates alternative routes to artist visibility.
7. The King Will Come – "Welcome"
[23:04–26:09]
- Lehigh, Utah; a modern gospel inflected group.
- Memorable for: Big group sing-along, uplifting, genre diversity.
- Bobby Carter: “When they all sing together...I’m getting goosebumps just now thinking about it.” (25:19)
- Lead singer Tammy Stephens slips seamlessly between rapping and singing.
8. Yuri Shin – "Falling Rabbit"
[26:09–29:22]
- Simple singer-songwriter arrangement, narrating a bittersweet reunion.
- Memorable for: Honest emotional storytelling, evolving melody, poignant a cappella ending.
- Bobby Carter: “It’s so perfect as she’s remembering someone she hasn’t seen in a really, really long time...” (28:14)
- 7th entry; entered every year since age 18.
9. Lauren Freehoff – "One Thing Always Leads to Another"
[30:49–33:42]
- Dynamic, powerful voice, sophisticated songwriting.
- Bobby Carter: “That is a gold record melody. I am not kidding.” (32:23)
- Song taps into wisdom about not sweating the small things.
- Robin Hilton: “She writes beyond her years...about not trying to get too upset about things that kind of don’t matter.” (32:50)
- Former contestant on The Voice; fifth contest entry.
10. Mira – "Make Me Go"
[34:35–end]
- Brooklyn-based looper. First-time entry.
- Memorable for: Earworm hooks, innovative composition.
- Bobby Carter: “It is relentlessly hooky...my reaction when I first heard this song...like that moment with Pharrell and Maggie Rogers when she plays ‘Alaska’...” (34:35)
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
- Bobby Carter: “Keep going, keep going, keep going, keep going.” (07:14) – On the necessity of perseverance.
- Walker Burrows, quoted by Bobby Carter: “I’m making music with an intentional choice of joy. Joy as a resistance to what's going on in the world. There is good in the world, and it's worth fighting for. That is my cause.” (10:38)
- Robin Hilton: “You did the thing, Yuri. Welcome to the top shelf. We love it.” (29:22)
- Robin Hilton: “The bar has really gotten a lot higher this year, I think, in part because of last year's winner, Ruby Abarra, which is amazing because...the very first entry I watched last year ended up being the winner.” (34:13)
Overarching Themes & Takeaways
- Authenticity Matters: Genuine expression and emotional honesty are what move the judges, even more than technical perfection.
- Persistence Pays Off: Many featured artists entered repeatedly before making the top shelf.
- Community & Opportunity: Even without winning, repeated contest entrants build community and often access new opportunities through NPR’s support.
- Rising Standards: Last year’s winner (Ruby Abarra) set a new bar for creativity; this year’s crop feels especially strong.
Final Thoughts
Bobby and Robin close out expressing excitement about this year’s entries and the ever-increasing quality of submissions. They encourage all musicians who don’t make it this year to keep trying—“you just never know where you’ll end up.”
This episode is a must-listen for musicians and music lovers alike, illustrating the diversity, heart, and perseverance running through the modern indie music scene.