![Image](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1042,h_782/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/tdc-ts_social_ig-week-3-080ffa3ee5ba5fe07b02fa6fef2b823a48de7877.png)
On the latest episode of Top Shelf — a series on NPR Music’s YouTube channel highlighting the best entries from the Tiny Desk Contest — Contest judges Sudan Archives and Baby Rose shared their top picks. Having both performed Tiny Desk concerts in early 2020, these Tiny Desk alums know exactly what it takes to make a performance shine. Their Top Shelf selections included artists with impressive musicality, direction and breath control — plus songs about mental health challenges and songs “entrants poured their souls into.”
Brimming with enthusiasm for these up-and-coming artists, the judges highlighted the following entries in episode 3:
- Rijah, “Up”
- Yosmel Montejo & La Caliente, “Point Of View”
- The Canterberries, “Small Steps”
- [REDACTED], “Future Homes”
- Cure For Paranoia, “Unbothered”
- Ephraim Bugumba, “Delilah”
- Daniella Faith, “Seven”
- LORD$, “Speed It Up”
- Rachel Rose, “Back To The Beginning”
- Eric Penn, “Catastrophic”
Next week, singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten will share her favorite entries with Tiny Desk series creator Bob Boilen. You can set a reminder for the fourth episode of Top Shelf here.
![](https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Sudan+Archives+and+Baby+Rose+pick+their+Tiny+Desk+Contest+favorites&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDEwNzczMDA2MDEzNTg3ODA1MTAzZjYxNg004))
![Featured image for “Jax Indie Singer-Songwriter Erica Reese Has “Breakfast for Dinner,” Introspection for Dessert on Dreamy New Single”](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_851,h_772/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/9U5A9857-scaled-e1724771315764.jpg)
Jax Indie Singer-Songwriter Erica Reese Has “Breakfast for Dinner,” Introspection for Dessert on Dreamy New Single
![Featured image for “The Neighborhood Playlist | August 24”](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_540,h_449/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/The-Neighborhood-e1704830645677.png)
The Neighborhood Playlist | August 24
![Featured image for “Song of the Day | “What’s Fair” by Blondshell”](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_750,h_500/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/unnamed-63.jpg)
Song of the Day | “What’s Fair” by Blondshell
![Featured image for “Beaches Psych-Rockers Killer Larry Serve Up a Bona Fide Marsh Stomper with Latest Release, “Swamp Rascal””](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1280,h_1280/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Killer-Larry-scaled.jpg)
Beaches Psych-Rockers Killer Larry Serve Up a Bona Fide Marsh Stomper with Latest Release, “Swamp Rascal”
![Featured image for “Jax Music Hour Playlist | August 17”](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_540,h_414/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Jax-Music-Hour-e1704723913466.png)
Jax Music Hour Playlist | August 17
![Featured image for “Song of the Day | “Metropolis” by Kit Sebastian”](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_600,h_600/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/0036753781_10.jpg)
Song of the Day | “Metropolis” by Kit Sebastian
![Featured image for “Veteran Art Rocker Vanessa Briscoe-Hay of Pylon on Honoring Music Legacy Through Reenactment”](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1280,h_853/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Jason-Thrasher-1-scaled.jpg)
Veteran Art Rocker Vanessa Briscoe-Hay of Pylon on Honoring Music Legacy Through Reenactment
![Featured image for “Song of the Day | “Alesis” by Mk.gee”](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_300,h_214/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/unnamed-62-e1723827026750.jpg)
Song of the Day | “Alesis” by Mk.gee
![Featured image for “The Neighborhood Playlist | August 10”](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_540,h_449/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/The-Neighborhood-e1704830645677.png)
The Neighborhood Playlist | August 10
![Featured image for “R.A.P. Music Tour Highlights Riverside’s Rich Musical Heritage with Multi-Venue Festival Featuring Local Artists”](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1007,h_1024/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/453874390_884920986992962_5629177662093860268_n.jpg)
R.A.P. Music Tour Highlights Riverside’s Rich Musical Heritage with Multi-Venue Festival Featuring Local Artists
JME Live Music Calendar
![Buffalo Nichols](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/aa38ee3b-039f-4023-8832-61a172a338ba-634435fd510e9feb9eb38444bb770d94.jpg)
![Leela James](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1180X517-MAINEVENT-LeelaJames-V2-6f912d4fe5-5008e67613a7efeef7faaf5484ca8668.png)
![Limo Scene](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/IMG_20221103_121838_241-2acf2296c1d4a3c10fc801fc606957a3.jpg)
![Pylon Reenactment Society](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pylon-Reenactment-Societypic-0625a6a7dc7fbc86a3591a7816bc9dd2.jpg)
![Jazz Night at Casbah](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/DSC_2937-3000x2229-1-scaled.jpg)
![Blue Jay Jazz Jam](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BlueJayJam-57179d7cea1fffac181e52d0b3e17402.jpeg)
![Fea](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/FEApic-137924d83fc05e9a71f1cd7718f1c433.jpg)
![Sing Out Loud Local Artist Showcase](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/SOL24_Local-Showcase_Web-Header-a722826972-8146e0610068eeae35ac1e03b0f4bf0e.jpg)
![Sing Out Loud Local Artist Showcase](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/SOL24_Local-Showcase_Web-Header-a722826972-0d3dcba5919295ca9e73e7371b4782b1.jpg)
![Cody Jinks](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img/https://wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/countryfork9sjam_eventimage-981e447624-0638a7faf2efc1d74ae9762c50cbc746.jpg)