Alisa Amador Learns to Say Yes

A Deeper Listen
Hosted by Emily Fox

Alisa Amador talks about grief, struggles with mental health, and winning NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest in 2022.

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photo by Sasha pedro

Alisa Amador grew up touring the US and singing in her parents' Latin folk band, Sol y Canto. She then went on to start a solo career and in 2022 she won NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest. But when she got the call from NPR that she had won, she almost told them to give the award to another contestant. Amador had stopped writing music in 2020 following the death of a close friend. In the end, she did accept the award and is now out with her first album since winning the Tiny Desk Contest. It’s called Multitudes.

Emily Fox caught up with Amador to talk about grief, struggles with mental health, and how winning the contest allowed her to start a new, refreshed chapter of her music career.

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