KOSU has gathered some of our favorite submissions by Oklahoma musicians to NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest. Across Oklahoma, 47 artists filmed their submissions in living rooms and home studios to stages and the great outdoors.
Here are 12 videos that you should watch, listed alphabetically.
Advisory: some songs below contain explicit language.
Agalisiga Mackey
Agalisiga Mackey is a country artist from Kenwood, which is about 30 miles north of Tahlequah. He sings in a country western style hearkening back to Hank Williams Sr., but all of his songs are in the Cherokee language. Mackey released his debut album Nasgino Inagei Nidayulenvi (It Started in the Woods) in 2024, and his 2024 submission earned him an interview on NPR’s Weekend Edition.
Bear Is Driving
The submission from Tulsa indie rock band Bear Is Driving is immediately endearing, featuring singer and bassist Sadie Fu front and center, with a hand on her hip. In a listing of what each band member’s role is in the band, every band member is described as bringing “vibes.” Bear Is Driving released their debut album, How Can That Be?, in 2025.
Cameron McCutchen
Armed with just a guitar, Cameron McCutchen is a self described mill, voice, and guitar operator from Stillwater. Find more of him ‘operating’ here.
Diet Riot
Oklahoma City punk band Diet Riot infamously played live in the back of a moving van for Go Out and Skate Day in 2023. Rather than play behind a tiny desk, they filmed their submission on a tiny island.
Kat Lock
Norman singer Kat Lock plays her song “Far” about longing and heartache. Learn more about her on this episode of Songwriters & Tour Riders.
Lauren Rose
Oklahoma City singer Lauren Rose combines a love of folk and pop with classical piano and jazzy vocals. Her debut album, In Your Arms, was released in February.
Lincka
Latinx pop artist Lincka performs her protest song, “C***** La Migra.” The song was released back in 2022 and, like most of the Oklahoma City musician’s discography, is bilingual, mixing English and Spanish lyrics.
Micaela Young
Singer-songwriter Micaela Young is from Tulsa. You can find her latest single, “You Look at Me Like Art” wherever you stream music.
The Muffled Siren
The Muffled Siren is a rock band from Oklahoma City. They recently released a live recording of their set from Norman Music Festival, which combined elements of theatre, blaring guitars and drag.
Petty Fox
Fronted by Damion Shade, Tulsa trio Petty Fox combines Shade’s intricate rhymes with equally as complex jazz instrumentation.
Ravenwood Vipers
Edmond garage/psych three-piece band Ravenwood Vipers feature longtime local music veterans, including former members of Reverb Bros and Feel Spectres. Their straightforward, no-nonsense approach is echoed by their own description of their music: “Our songs are mostly about love… and drugs.”
stepmom
stepmom captures the live experience of seeing them perform, with costumed dancers included. Lead singer Lindsey Cox hosts Lindsey’s Lounge every Saturday night at 8 p.m. on the Spy.