Listen: A Conversation With 2018 Tiny Desk Contest Winner Naia Izumi
NPR Music recently named Georgia musician Naia Izumi the winner of the 2018 Tiny Desk Contest. Now in its fourth year, the contest lets unsigned, independent musicians submit a video of themselves performing an original song for the chance to perform as part of NPR's Tiny Desk concert series.
Izumi astounded the contest judges with virtuosic guitar skills and soulful vocals in his video. Those talents were on full display last week when NPR brought the Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour to Denver's Globe Hall.
Izumi sat down with CPR's OpenAir midday host Alisha Sweeney for an interview shortly before he took the stage. He spoke about preparing for his Tiny Desk performance at NPR headquarters, how years of street performances helped him develop as a musician and teaching himself to play guitar.
Below, check out photos from last week's Tiny Desk Contest On The Road concert at Denver's Globe Hall, featuring performances from Izumi and Colorado acts Audible, Ivory Circle and Los Mocochetes.
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