Out of hundreds of entries, a number of R&B artists stood out to the judges within the 2026 Tiny Desk Contest.
Transcript
SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
Usher, Leon Thomas, Jill Scott, Babyface – NPR’s Tiny Desk sequence has hosted some unbelievable R&B artists over time. And on high of that, our NPR music colleagues are at all times looking out for brand new expertise by the annual Tiny Desk Contest. This 12 months, greater than 6,000 impartial artists submitted their work to the competition. And in the present day, host and sequence producer Bobby Carter is right here to share the very best R&B entries. Hey, Bobby.
BOBBY CARTER, BYLINE: What’s taking place, Scott? How are you, man?
DETROW: I’m good. I am able to get sultry with some R&B.
CARTER: (Laughter) Let’s discuss it.
DETROW: What stood out to you this 12 months?
CARTER: You recognize, I seen this 12 months that so many genres had somewhat splash of R&B in it, and that is simply taking place within the music business as an entire proper now. A number of the pop music is R&B coated. However one of many massive, massive standouts this 12 months is by this girl by the title of Kennedy Ryon, and he or she had a tune known as “Ego.”
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “EGO”)
KENNEDY RYON: (Singing) I simply met my ego. She’s been knocking at my door. Mentioned, what for? Received a message I do not assume you need to ignore.
CARTER: Once you watch the video, it brings all of it collectively, however she’s like – I’ve by no means – that is, so far as I am involved, her first entry. And if she’s entered earlier than, that is the primary time she’s hit my radar, however she’s so dynamic, a lot power. And I simply cherished her voice. And it is a tune that actually, actually sticks in your head and actually, actually catchy. So I really like that entry.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “EGO”)
RYON: (Singing) Hey, ego, do not fail me.
DETROW: It undoubtedly popped out.
CARTER: Yeah. Kennedy, if you happen to’re listening, enter once more as a result of we’re watching.
DETROW: All proper, who else? Who else caught your ear?
CARTER: Rijah, who’s been actually, actually constant. She performed a tune this 12 months known as “Earth.”
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “EARTH”)
RIJAH: (Singing) Someday, I am a rock. Subsequent day, lump of clay.
DETROW: I just like the guitar in there.
CARTER: The guitar and the factor that stood out to me – clearly, she’s – Rijah’s been coming into for the previous few years, and he or she’s been on our radar for fairly a minute. However I really like artists like her as a result of we’re watching them develop with every passing 12 months, vocally, lyrically. I really like how she launched the tabla, this drum, into her sound this 12 months.
(SOUNDBITE OF RIJAH SONG, “EARTH”)
CARTER: It is simply actually, actually cool to see these artists enter time after time and reimagine themselves and in addition reimagine their units and in addition simply evolve as artists. It has been actually, actually cool to see Rijah, once more – enter once more. However that tune, “Earth,” made an enormous impression on me. I could not cease singing that tune.
DETROW: These two songs had been nice.
CARTER: Yeah.
DETROW: Is there one tune that rose to the highest for you?
CARTER: Whew. I will let you know what, man. A tune known as “Aurora” by Ella Faye actually, actually made an impression on me.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “AURORA”)
ELLA FAYE: (Singing) Oh, Aurora. What’s there to know? Once you see me as your sound.
CARTER: Younger college students simply getting collectively in a room on a sofa and simply harmonies that simply blew you away.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “AURORA”)
FAYE: (Singing) Oh, oh.
CARTER: Pay attention, R&B has come a good distance on this contest, and there is a lot nice discoveries that we have run into this 12 months. I am actually, actually pleased with the way in which that R&B confirmed up and confirmed off this 12 months.
DETROW: That’s NPR Music’s Bobby Carter, speaking about the very best R&B entries on this 12 months’s Tiny Desk Contest. Thanks a lot.
CARTER: Thanks, Scott.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “AURORA”)
FAYE: (Singing) Will not you hear me.
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