Thinking outside the box

Some of the most creative entries we saw this year [View this email online]( [NPR Tiny Desk Contest]( The Contest community is expansive, talented, supportive, inspiring and, perhaps above all else: creative. Last week on NPR Music’s Instagram and Twitter, we wrapped up our annual #DeskOfTheDay feature, spotlighting entries from artists who think outside the box and impress us with their creativity. Here are some of the highlights: - Back in February, we kicked things off with “Sing In The Shower” by [Cuchulain]( in which Cuchulain Kelly gives new meaning to the phrase “one man band” as he sings and plays five instruments from the comfort of his bathroom. - [Anaís Azul]( performs their entry, “It Was,” from a desolate beach in California, alongside a tiny piano, with a drastic backdrop of furniture and building scraps. - The duo [Sax & Taps]( recorded “Piggy Bank for Charity” with an instrument-of-sorts you don’t see in many Tiny Desk videos: tap shoes. - The teeniest, tiniest entry we saw comes from [GG Reverie]( with her song “Wannabe.” - [Ensamble 7/4]( entry, “Trumpet Mambo,” showcases a floating desk in a warehouse. - “Core” by [Margaret In The Wild]( features a mesmerizing trapeze performance. - We saw lots of performances in beautiful places, like “No Hero,” which [Téa Renee]( performs from a snowy yard, and “Offering,” which [Warm Human]( performs from a sunny field. - And we wrapped things up with [Lillian Krovoza]( “Gravestone Feel,” which she performs from a tiny portaledge on the side of a mountain while sporting tiny desk earrings. You can see all of this year’s #DeskOfTheDay features in [this Twitter thread](. In the coming weeks and months, we’ll continue to share more of your standout entries on social media, so stay tuned. (Next week, be on the lookout for the best desks!) --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Last week [on the blog]( we shared more of our favorite entries, including an acoustic song inspired by activist Lou Sullivan, a Latin entry about expansive love and a rock song that ends with the flush of a toilet: - [Jordan Lindley, “Dust”]( - [A Very Special Episode, “Cowboy”]( - [The Supa Crew, “I Don't Wanna Wait”]( - [Celso Garayúa, ”Al Dorso De Mi Corazón”]( - [Jackfruit, “Lou”]( - [The Lunar Year, “Tromping the Duck”]( - [Yah Yah, “All Bad”]( From our own tiny desks, NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest team --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Find a Station]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [tinydeskcontest@npr.org](mailto:tinydeskcontest@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Interested in connecting with music-lovers and music-makers across the Contest community? Join our Tiny Desk Contest Community [Facebook Group]( Need a new playlist? Follow NPR Music on [Spotify]( and [Apple Music]( Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Music, Books, Pop Culture and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Tiny Desk Contest emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]