After nearly 7,500 entries from independent artists across the United States of America, the NPR judges were stunned by Filipino-American rapper Ruby Ibarra and named her as NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest winner.
Now, she has arrived at the Tiny Desk to share a glimpse of her revolution, reclaiming power along with intergenerational artists.
“When arriving at the Tiny Desk, Ibarra was poised, gracious and a little reserved. We could tell she was taking in the moment that she would later call "surreal." But as soon as she got situated behind the Desk, she locked in,” NPR said in a press release.
NPR said Ibarra had two guiding forces in music: community and culture. For the Tiny Desk Concert, the latter was accompanied by an all-Filipino band. It includes R&B singer Ouida, the members of Pinay Voltron and Astralogik, and rock legend June Millington.
“But beyond these musicians, Ibarra's crew runs deep; our office was packed with the artists' friends and family,” NPR wrote.
Ibarra and the band performed three songs: “Bakunawa,” “7000 Miles,” and “Someday.”
Although “Bakunawa” was Ibarra’s winning ticket to claim her Tiny Desk Concert moment, it was in “7000 Miles” and “Someday” that she was able to narrate her story as the daughter of two immigrants.
“I’m the daughter of two immigrants. I’m a 1.5 generation Filipina-American. Being human is not illegal. Immigrants have been here, lived here, worked here. And this immigrant is here. From Tacloban City, Philippines, all the way to Washington, D.C., my name is Ruby Ibarra,” she expressed with pride.
To end their performance, Ibarra recalled that she and her band, The Balikbayans, submitted an entry for the Tiny Desk Contest six years ago. The song, “Someday,” did not win at the time and left her heartbroken.
“But I have to say that winning this time around feels so much better. That journey in between those six years has allowed me to see myself more clearly. To recognize that I don’t ever have to compromise my art. And I never have to ask permission to be myself,” she stated.
“That journey has been everything, and I’m so grateful for all the communities that we’ve met,” she added.
“This last song is called 'Someday,' but today is the day,” she continued.
Following her Tiny Desk Concert, Ibarra will also go on a 10-city tour with her band.
