It’s that time again. One of our favorite parts of last year was browsing YouTube, pouring through all of the indie bands applying for a coveted spot to perform at NPR’s Tiny Desk studio in Washington, DC. Any band can enter as long as there is no record deal in the works with them. Feel free to enter here, especially if you think you’re weird. The following are some gems we’ve found from this year’s entries so far.

Amy LaCour Trio – “Blood and Vein”: The trio keeps it simple with percussion, voice, and cello. There’s something alluring about this trio from LA and the way they seem to put a funky twist on indie folk. “Amy considers it her birthright to blend genre lines,” her bio reads. While genre blending is the new normal, LaCour certainly has put a new spin on how we look at this. Watch the entry and get hypnotized by the organism that is the trio.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL2IOr8WIQU[/youtube]

OK Otter – “Wishniks”: The Redsford, PA band has added a nice dash of whimsy to their brand of garage rock, making the tiny desk not-so-tiny in their twist on the contest. Just as the desk takes up the whole aesthetic of the video, so the band’s music swells into your consciousness when you listen. The band also embraces storytelling through their music, utilizing methods that would either make The Decemberists jealous or happy they stick to a more abstract method…not sure which.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ef9eE8zL4E[/youtube]

Seth Hanson and the Additional Six – “Brother”: This lo-fi recording comes across as down to earth, yet oddly ethereal. I mean, what else comes to mind when band name that is a mouthful turns out to be one dude, and there’s some slight electronic elements to the music? One could call what we hear in the video lo-fi bedroom pop – at least on a surface level. I haven’t taken the time to listen to the rest of this dude’s discography but this tune is striking.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-Eo5CiqG3I[/youtube]

Tyler Smilo – “Speaking to the Colors Again”: Speaking of striking tunes, Tyler Smilo wrote a tune that is similarly heartwarming, yet raw. I’ll refrain from making a smiling pun… oh, I guess I just did. Sorry, Tyler. Like the previous song, this is a no frills, lo-fi recording. When its just one man and a guitar, that certainly makes an impact.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aQp_r3WbZE[/youtube]