Ever since 2018, WBUR in Boston has assembled its own panel of judges to crown a homegrown Tiny Desk Contest favorite from the state of Massachusetts. The very first year, they chose folk artist Anjimile, who later signed to the prestigious 4AD label — in March, they released the gorgeous album, You're Free to Go. WBUR recently announced this year’s favorite: Ella Faye’s “Aurora.”
In her entry, the Massachusetts-born, Berkeley college student sings seated at a desk surrounded by background vocalists who build out Ella’s sound. A 2026 Top Shelf pick for Bobby Carter, this entry’s harmonies are what got him hooked.
To find out more about Ella’s inspiration for the song, WBUR’s Amelia Mason (a former Contest judge) met up with Ella and her guitarist at her favorite tree in Boston. After an impromptu performance of the winning song, the group climbed up the tree to chat.
Ella shared that this song is an ode to nature, describing “the feeling of a waterfall or the feeling of a beautiful night sky where your breath is just taken by the beauty of the natural world.” That’s what drew Amelia and the panel of local judges to the entry, along with its “enveloping harmonies and quiet virtuosity.”
WBUR also crowned a fan favorite: riah’s “Other Side.” riah shared with Amelia that she found inspiration for the song while visiting family in Cape Verde; this stripped down version most closely resembles what she originally wrote.
The 2026 Tiny Desk Contest is presented by Capital One and supported by Rivian.
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Jovelle Tamayo for NPR
Ella will be one of two local entrants opening for Cure For Paranoia at the Boston stop of our tour. You can still get tickets for that show here. But before we make our way to the East Coast, we’ll be in Austin, Denver, Chicago and Minneapolis.
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