New York City-based singer-songwriter Linda Diaz has been named the winner of the 2020 NPR Tiny Desk Contest. Diaz took home the contest’s top prize with her rendition of reflective neo-soul track, “Green Tea Ice Cream”.

The annual contest invites unsigned artists to submit an original performance recorded behind a “tiny desk.” The more than 6,000  NPR Tiny Desk Contest submissions were reviewed by a panel of experienced judges including Tiny Desk creator and All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen, Tiny Desk associate producer Bobby Carter, Toronto radio personality Raina Douris, The Rhythm Lab host Tarik Moody, 2019 Tiny Desk Contest winner Quinn Christopherson, singer/songwriter/guitarist Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes), and Latin pop singer-songwriter and Tiny Desk alumna Gina Chavez. The winner of the contest gets the chance to perform an official concert as part of NPR’s acclaimed Tiny Desk Concert series.

As Boilen notes in the contest-winner announcement, Diaz’s “Green Tea Ice Cream” “has a powerful message and euphoric sound. To me, Diaz’s song is about slowing down and trying to find moments to enjoy life. Hearing her sing the line, ‘you should be living out your dreams / but you’re tearing at the seams’ seemed particularly poignant this year as we’re all struggling to find balance in our lives.

“Linda stood out in a crop of thousands of talented musicians, but I knew early on that she was the one to beat,” adds Bobby Carter of the contest winner/former scholastic chess champion. “Her tone, her message and the band’s overall musical presentation were simply undeniable.”

Tarik Moody notes that the song was “meditative and reminded me to take care of myself during this craziness that is 2020,” while Chavez adds, “If harmonies are medicine, then Linda Diaz is a salve for the soul.”

Dive into the undeniable vibes of 2020 Tiny Desk Contest winner Linda Diaz’s winning submission, and remember the name—with talent like this, we’re sure this is not the last we’ll be hearing from Linda Diaz.

Linda Diaz – “Green Tea Ice Cream” – NPR Tiny Desk Contest Submission

[Video: Linda Diaz]

For more info on Linda Diaz, follow her on Facebook or Instagram. You can also stream the official single for “Green Tea Ice Cream” here.