Alisa Amador

Alisa Amador is a jazz, funk, and alternative folk musician.

In 2022, she won NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Contest with “Milonga Accidental”, the first Spanish language song to win the contest.

Early life Amador was raised in Cambridge, MA. Her parents allowed her and her twin brother to speak only Spanish at home so they could maintain connection to their culture and communicate with family. Her family has roots in Puerto Rico, Argentina, and New Mexico. She studied abroad in Argentina. In 2018, she graduated from Bates College with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

2018-2021 work In 2018, Amador submitted to NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest for the first time. WBUR stated, "It was clear from the young singer’s deft musicianship that she was an artist to watch."

In 2020, she won an Iguana Music Fund grant to help buy recording equipment. She performed for the benefit livestream concert, All In For Chelsea.

In 2021, she released “Timing", ahead of her album release, Narratives. Grateful Web complimented Amador's talent on Narratives for "sparking connection across both listeners and musical styles". She was chosen by Tiny Desk as one of their favorite 2021 entries.

Tiny Desk win In 2022, Amador submitted to Tiny Desk for the fifth time and was chosen as the national winner. Bob Boilen called her, "a powerful voice whose tender performance commands attention and fosters connection."

As her prize, Amador flew to Washington D.C. to perform her Tiny Desk show. It was the first show to be recorded in the original NPR Tiny Desk studio at Boilen's desk in two years.

Afterwards, Amador performed on the Tiny Desk Contest On The Road national tour at WAMU, KEXP, WABE, LAist/KPCC, and WFUV.

She considered quitting music right before she won Tiny Desk.

2022-present Amador was nominated for New Artist of the Year and won Folk Artist of the Year at the 2022 Boston Music Awards. In fall of that year, Amador was awarded a grant for a forthcoming album from the nonprofit Salt Lick Incubator. In May 2023, Amador opened Boston Calling Music Festival, performing songs in both Spanish and English. Boston Magazine wrote that her set was one of the best moments of the weekend.

Discography Studio albums +List of albums, with release date and label shown Title Details Multitudes To be released: June 7, 2024 Label: Thirty Tigers Format: Digital download, streaming, CD, vinyl

Extended plays +List of extended plays, with release date and label shown Title Details Red Balloon / Milonga Accidental Released: December 11, 2020 Label: Self-released Format: Digital downloadNarratives Released: September 17, 2021 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download

Singles