NPR Music has announced that The Philharmonik, a multifaceted artist from Sacramento, California, has won the 10th edition of the Tiny Desk Contest. The announcement was made on Morning Edition today.
The Philharmonik, known off-stage as Christian Gates, is a producer, singer, rapper, and multi-instrumentalist. The band, featuring Gates on vocals and keys, Moriah Wenzel and Alicia Huff on background vocals, Courtney Miller on drums, Samuel Phelps on bass, Darius Upshaw and Connor Chavez on guitar, Jimmy Toor on flute, and Jeffery Archie on keys, captivated the judges with their soulful performance of “What’s It All Mean.” The group was chosen from nearly 7,000 entries submitted from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
The eclectic performance of “What’s It All Mean” impressed the contest’s judging panel, which included Tiny Desk host Bobby Carter, All Songs Considered host Robin Hilton, musician Bobby Wooten, KEXP host Stas THEE Boss, Indonesian pop star NIKI, singer and actor Durand Bernarr, pop band MUNA, songwriter Julien Baker, Beggars Group U.S. president Nabil Ayers, jazz podcast host Keanna Faircloth, WBUR music critic Amelia Mason, KCRW’s Novena Carmel, former Tiny Desk Contest winner NEFFY, music manager Brendan O’Connell, and PR owner Loren Medina.
“The Philharmonik’s Tiny Desk contest submission was just perfect,” said Bobby Carter. “The concept and the dedication from start to finish was so heartwarming. But if Christian and the band sat in front of a black backdrop and played “What’s It All Mean?,” they still win. It’s a song and a message we all can connect to and more importantly, they brought something fresh to this year’s Contest. The Philharmonik is SPECIAL.”
“To win NPR’s 2024 Tiny Desk Contest was the best thing that happened to me in my entire career and one of the best moments of my life thus far,” said The Philharmonik’s Christian Gates. “Just for the simple fact that it provides enough evidence for me to keep going and always do my best when making and sharing my art with the world!”
The Philharmonik will perform at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C., before embarking on the Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour which will visit ten cities this year, showcasing The Philharmonik and vibrant local music scenes. Tickets are available on the Tiny Desk Contest tour page.
Tour Dates:
- May 21: Washington, D.C. (WAMU) – Union Stage
- June 7: New Orleans, LA (WWNO) – Toulouse Theater
- June 9: Seattle, WA (KEXP, KUOW, KNKX) – Nectar Lounge
- June 11: Los Angeles, CA (LAist, KCRW, KVCR) – Lodge Room
- June 13: Petaluma, CA (KALW, KEXP, KRCB, KQED) – Lagunitas Brewing Company
- June 22: Brooklyn, NY (WBGO) – BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!
- June 23: Philadelphia, PA (WHYY, WRTI, WXPN) – Warehouse on Watts
- July 11: Austin, TX (KUTX) – Antone’s Nightclub
- July 13: Atlanta, GA (WABE, GPB) – The Masquerade
- July 15: Chicago, IL (WBEZ, Vocalo) – Millennium Park Summer Series
Fans voted for their favorite video among the top entries, selecting “Go With The Ghost” by nobigdyl. from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, as the Fan Favorite. This marks nobigdyl.’s first submission to the contest.
For over a decade, NPR Music has engaged millions with diverse music journalism, live performances, and cultural analysis. Signature projects include the Tiny Desk concert series, Turning the Tables, and Jazz Night in America. NPR Music collaborates with public radio stations and a passionate listener community to celebrate exceptional music and discover emerging artists. For more, visit NPRMusic.org and follow NPR Music on Facebook and Instagram.
