NPR Music has announced the winner of its first Tiny Desk Concert Contest. Oakland, Calif.-based Xavier Dphrepaulezz was selected by Bob Boilen, Robin Hilton and four other judges to perform in the Tiny Desk Concert series. Under the music project name Fantastic Negrito, he submitted “Lost in a Crowd.”
The concert will be recorded in late February at NPR’s Washington headquarters and released in early March as part of the regular NPR Music series.
The contest sought unsigned artists, who then recorded an original song at a desk of their choosing and submitted video entries from Dec. 2 through Jan. 19, and in total, NPR Music received close to 7,000 total entries, available now on YouTube. NPR Music will also highlight more standout submissions over the coming weeks via “All Songs Considered.”
Lagunitas Brewing Co. also sponsored the contest, and will showcase Fantastic Negrito at its CouchTrippin’ to Austin event at the Container Bar in Austin, Texas, on March 18. He joins a lineup rounded out by Charles Bradley, King Tuff, Delta Spirit and Heartless Bastards.
“Being a Bay Area artist makes the fact that it’s an NPR contest more meaningful,” said Dphrepaulezz. “We’re raised on NPR out here. This is a place I’ve always come to find music. It’s definitely overwhelming.”
