![]() ![]() "A career in independent music is challenging in good times," Amador says. In the past few months, Amador says she had actually been considering an exit from a career in music. Amador says that finding out she won brought on a mix of emotions – both immense excitement and wondering, "Oh my God, what am I going to do with this?" Past Tiny Desk Contest winners have gone on to win Grammy awards and write for Broadway, Kelly points out. "Cuando sabré descifrar mi razón? / Cuando sentiré mi hogar en mi voz?" ("When will I know how to decipher my purpose? / When will I feel at home in my voice?"), she sings in her winning entry. She explains that "Milonga accidental" is an ode to feeling like she doesn't fit neatly into any one box. ![]() ![]() "It's a really driving rhythm." She says she's always identified with her family's roots in Argentina, Puerto Rico, New Mexico and all of the other places her family is from. "Milgona," from the song's title, "is a folk rhythm from Argentina and Uruguay," Amador tells All Thing Considered's Mary Louise Kelly. For this year, she tried something new: She submitted a song sung entirely in Spanish, with a video that included what she calls an "animated visual translation of the lyrics." This was Amador's fifth year submitting a song to the Contest in the hope that it would earn her a performance behind series creator Bob Boilen's famed Tiny Desk. A songwriter from Boston, Mass., her entry "Milonga accidental" rose to the top of the thousands NPR Music received this year. Click HERE to order Narratives.Today, Morning Edition announced the winner of the eighth annual Tiny Desk Contest: Alisa Amador. They might break your heart open, but by the end, it will be mended, uplifted, and stronger-a ‘Life and Love Survival Kit' in the form of a bilingual EP. These songs explore themes of romance and heartbreak, of chaos and healing, exposing systems of oppression and shining a light on the intricacies of the human condition. The genre-bending effort is as empowering as it is heart-wrenching. Working with producer Daniel Radin (The Novel Ideas, Future Teens), Narratives concentrates on the journey of Amador’s live set, taking listeners through songs that may elicit a laugh, bring introspection, offer a cathartic cry, or encourage a sing-along. Her specialty is sparking connection across both listeners and musical styles. But there is also pop, funk, soul, and something uniquely her own. When listening to Amador’s music, her time spent immersed in Latin folk and jazz is undoubtedly present in her own songs, written in both English and Spanish. “The word ‘narratives’ encompasses not only the existing cultural messages that hurt people individually and collectively,” Amador says, “but also the revolutionary power of writing ourselves new narratives rejecting a culture of fear and catalyzing a culture of honesty, bravery, and self-love in the process.” Amador begins stark and solitary, accompanied only by the steady chime of her guitar as she acknowledges the pain that all too often defines life’s experiences.” Stating clearly what I want and naming my qualms.” Album closer “Together,” is a song about systemic violence which Under The Radar called “a heartwarming tribute to friendship and camaraderie. “Alone,” a three-and-a-half-minute dissertation on the importance of committing to self-love with abandon, is followed by “Nada Que Ver,” a love song entirely in Spanish, which she says is “the language closest to my heart, and the language of some of my most vulnerable writing. “An absence of a conversation around these violences causes such pain.” ![]() “Violence stems from fear, and fear grows from a lack of understanding,” Amador says. Intentionally sparse in its arrangement, “Burnt and Broken” examines myriad systems of oppression. This six-song snapshot in time is a deep look at a person stumbling through life in two languages - English and Spanish - and in many states of mind about it all.Īlbum opener “Timing,” a familiar tale of romantic uncertainty, accompanied by an irresistible horn section, was featured on Spotify’s "Fresh Finds,” "Fresh Finds: Indie,” and "Stay in Bed" playlists, as well as Apple Music’s "Now That's What I Call Today's Top Hits.” “Slow Down,” a Queen-tinged self-care anthem, was written a healing exercise meant to give a name to the chaos of navigating strained work relationships and an endless to-do list, while Beatles-esque standout “Burnt And Broken,” highlighted at The Bluegrass Situation, calls out rape culture and toxic masculinity. Today, Boston-based artist Alisa Amador has released Narratives, her critically-acclaimed debut mini-album. ![]()
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