Since we opened the polls for our Fan Favorite vote, one artist has shone through and found a place in many hearts, winning for the second year in a row: nobigdyl., with his song “imago interlude.”
Last year, nobigdyl. caught the judges’ and fans’ ears with reflections on living a meaningful life. This year, the Murfreesboro, Tenn., artist’s entry tackles what it means to make Christian music. But “imago interlude” also stood out simply “because great art is great art,” as Contest judge LaRussell put it on Top Shelf. “When you hear something you really love, the last thing you think about is the genre.”
Apart from nobigdyl.’s talent and creativity, LaRussell also shouted out his effort, acknowledging that the artist’s independent music hustle was similar to his own. “He believes in himself,” LaRussell said.
Accompanied by Derrek Phillips on drums, Mike Hicks on keys, Adrian Taylor on bass, Court Clement on guitar, Evan Cobb on flute and Giovanni Rodriguez on percussion, the song’s powerful and poignant imagery underscores the relationships between music, politics and empathy. nobigdyl. told us: “I chose this song because I believe in the message and the power of music to change us.”
Join us in giving nobigdyl. (and all the 50 Top Shelf artists) a round of applause! And stay tuned to find out who our judges select as this year’s Contest winner, the artist who will perform behind the Tiny Desk and go on tour across the country this summer. As a reminder, you can get tickets to the Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour here.
The 2025 Tiny Desk Contest is presented by Capital One and supported by the Lagunitas Brewing Company.
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Before we go: We want to highlight our member stations around the country that have been featuring their favorite local entries. Check out KUSO in Oklahoma, which featured nine local standouts, and STLPR in Missouri, which highlighted a handful of local entrants who have returned to the Contest year after year. Plus, World Cafe Live in Philadelphia recently hosted 2024 Top Shelf artist Palmyra for a mini-concert and interview.
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