Topline:
Chosen from nearly 7,500 submissions from independent artists across the country, Bay Area artist Ruby Ibarra captivated the judges with her striking originality, lyrical depth and commanding presence.
Stand out artist: Ibarra and her band's performance of "Bakunawa" impressed the 2025 Tiny Desk Contest judging panel, earning high praise from a distinguished group of artists and music industry leaders. Bobby Carter, Tiny Desk host and producer, said "Bakunawa" covers all the bases: beautifully arranged music, passion and above all authenticity. "We've never seen or heard anything like Ruby Ibarra," said Carter. "She's special and she's ready."
What's next for Ibarra? As this year's winner, Ibarra will perform an intimate concert behind NPR's iconic Tiny Desk in Washington, D.C., joining the ranks of artists like Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii and Usher, as well as acclaimed past Tiny Desk Contest winners, such as Fantastic Negrito, Gaelynn Lea and last year's winner, The Philharmonik. Following her performance, Ibarra will embark on the Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour, bringing her music to audiences across the country.
Read on . . . for more about this former research scientist's road to NPR's Tiny Desk.
The winner of NPR’s 2025 Tiny Desk Contest is the Bay Area’s own Ruby Ibarra.
A research scientist and fiercely poetic lyricist raised in San Lorenzo, Ibarra raps in English alongside the Filipino languages of Tagalog and Bisaya. Her Tiny Desk Contest-winning track, “Bakunawa,” was inspired by the dragon-like serpent of Philippine mythology.
Ibarra sees the Bakunawa and its banishment from society as a metaphor for the way that Filipino history, art and culture as a whole is often shunned and cast aside by the mainstream.
“I just wanted to flip that story,” Ibarra tells KQED. “And this time around, with this song, I wanted to embody the Bakunawa itself.”
The track’s guest artists Ouida, Han Han and June Millington (of the pioneering all-female rock band Fanny) tap into their own inner mythological creature, expressing their powers through musicianship.
Meet the Filipina-American rapper making music about bi-culturalism and empowerment
Behind the scenes, Ibarra was pregnant while filming the music video for “Bakunawa.” She gave birth to her first child in 2024, the Year of the Dragon. “My daughter,” Ibarra says, “she is my baby dragon, she is my revolution, she is my power.”
“Bakunawa” anchors Ibarra’s upcoming album, the release of which will coincide with a 10-show tour. But first, she has to go to Washington D.C. to perform at NPR’s Tiny Desk.
‘Giving me goosebumps’
When she learned that she won this year’s contest, Ibarra was so surprised that she started crying and her hands started shaking.
“I will say, that typically does not happen to me,” Ibarra says, adding that she’s usually calm and composed. “I think that alone really tells you how much excitement and joy it brought to me.”
Born in the Philippines and raised in the East Bay, Ibarra has been around hip-hop for as long as she can remember. E-40, Hieroglyphics, Lauryn Hill and the late Filipino rapper Francis Magalona were all influences on Ibarra, who started rapping professionally in 2016. She dropped her first album Circa ’91 a year later, and entered the Tiny Desk Contest in 2019 with an attention-grabbing ode to her immigrant mother.
In 2021, she stepped away from her career as a research scientist to pursue music full-time. In 2023, along with Ouida, she cofounded a Bay Area-based indie collective, BOLO Music Group.
Her music has appeared on Fox’s The Cleaning Lady as well as the soundtracks for the NBA2K23 and NBA2K24 video games.
Now, with this opportunity to bring her art, Filipina heritage and Bay Area culture to the world via NPR’s Tiny Desk, Ibarra joins a long list of legendary artists with humility and appreciation.
“To be there in a few weeks,” she says, “it’s giving me goosebumps.”
Ultimately, she sees it as another way to showcase the diverse culture and creativity that emanated from the Bay Area.
“There’s so much talent here,” she says. “I’m just excited to put on for the Bay.”
