As an online ‘talent show’ of sorts, more than 40 Michigan bands and solo artists have submitted videos to NPR’s popular annual competition. View them here.
Inventive Video Entry: Grand Rapids’ Bootstrap Boys in their Tiny Desk Contest submission.
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Are you a Michigan act who’s submitted a video in this year’s Tiny Desk Contest but it’s not listed here? Email john@localspins.com with a link to your video and we’ll add it to our roster spotlighting Michigan contest entries.
As the world emerges from a pandemic slumber, hundreds of unsigned songwriters and performers across the country are putting their best musical foot forward as part of National Public Radio’s ever-popular “Tiny Desk Contest.”
Among those are more than 40 video entries from Michiganders, including West Michigan artists such as The Bootstrap Boys, Valentiger, Patty PerShayla, Loren Johnson, Chris Cranick, Jes Kramer and The Blue Pines.
Led by “All Songs Considered” host Bob Boilen, the contest boasts a tantalizing grand prize: The winner gets to play a nationally broadcast Tiny Desk Concert at NPR, will be featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” and headline NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour.
The Blue Pines: “Can’t Wait” video.
Tyler Newkirk of The Blue Pines said it’s the first year the Grand Rapids band has entered the contest. While it would be terrific to win, he said “any recognition and broader awareness that comes from entering is a win for us.”
The winner will be announced in May, with NPR judges sharing some of their favorite entries via live-stream starting in late April or early May.
This year’s panel of judges includes NPR Music producer Bobby Carter, WBGO editorial director Nate Chinen, Southern rapper Big K.R.I.T., musician and Tiny Desk alum iLe, Japanese Breakfast lead singer Michelle Zauner and R&B singer and Tiny Desk alum Raveena.
“We received thousands of entries both last year and this year,” said Yanius Alvarado Matos, media relations publicist for NPR, noting that entries come all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands. “We see the most entries from California and New York. … We’ve seen people get very creative with their entries.”
The following videos are those identified by NPR Music as being from Michigan. If you’re a Michigan solo artist or band who has submitted a video to the contest and you don’t see it here, email john@localspins.com with “TINY DESK” in the message field. Include a link to your YouTube video and provide the home city of your band or solo project along with a link to your website or Facebook page.
WEST MICHIGAN ENTRIES
The Blue Pines, “Can’t Wait”
The Bootstrap Boys, “The Last Roundup”
Chris Cranick, “Sleep Talking
Loren Johnson, “The Days You Missed”
Jes Kramer, “Shake It”
Patty PerShayla, “The End”
Valentiger, “Half Our Lives”
THE REST OF MICHIGAN
The Cleavers, “heyheyhey”
Doktor Watson
Mike Ward Psychosongs, “All We’re Hoping For”
stoop lee, “SWEETBABYRAE”
Soloveichik, “Ylenia”
Nadim Azzam, “Zen”
Bruce Bielawa, “The Devil You Know”
Jeremy Porter & The Tucos, “October Girls”
Lily Talmers, “Birthday Song”
Asaka the Renegade, “Ghetto Astronaut”
The Fruits, “That Something”
Brock Stonefish, “Paddle On”
Feimstro, “Nina X Feimstro”
Daring Detour, “Road to You”
The Band Mint, “To: Detroit”
The Eat It Up Trio
Hugo Biggs & The Dead Rebel Society, “Nobody Knows”
Matthew Ball, “Wonderful You”
Donny Zuzula, “Go Back Home”
Joe Kidd & Sheila Burke, “Nature of Man”
Zach Sands, “Dandelion Wine (If Only)”
Pat O’Connor, “Ready”
Fernando Silverio Solis, “When the Good Starts to Fade”
Shawn Vann, “Living in the Sun”
The Sugar Clouds, “Drinking to Forget”
This Life. We Lead. (Steven Banks), “Fly Away”
James Taylor Jr., “Boy in a Dress”
Bathroom of the Future, “Watching Bill & Ted Outside”
Reckless Revival, “User”
Life Lucid, “I Want You to Stay”
Jordan Blanchard, “Jericho”
Sophia Dove, “Quarter Life Crisis”
Stone Petoskey, “Sweet Music Man”
Bobby Bullet St. Germaine, “Looking At Me”
The Mad Cat Society Band, “Slugger”
Doug Bowen, “Everything’s Better on Friday Night”
Buddy Keys, “My Igloo”
Brody Rosten, “Riddled Mind”
Hotel, Echo, “To the Woods”
Cope Fiend, “Back of My Hand”
Demetri Politis, “Hollywood Scene”
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