Austin, TX-based musician Somebody Someone (pronouns: they/them) has been causing quite a stir since the release of “Better,” their debut single under that moniker last year. Called “riveting and spellbinding” by American Songwriter, the track kicked off increasing momentum that sees them included in NPR’s coveted “Tiny Desk,” featured on the popular podcast “Telepathy Tapes,” and included in Adam Durwitz’s of Counting Crows’ Underwater Sunshine Festival in NYC.

Chosen by NPR’s music staff to be included in this Summer’s “Tiny Desk Contest On The Road Tour” when the caravan hits Austin, Texas, Somebody Someone will take part in the sold-out outdoor show sponsored by KUTX at Mohawk on June 27.

“I’m SO excited,” they said. “I submit every year not expecting much to come of it, but I have to admit that after nine years of entry, an official recognition in my home city is pretty damn cool.”

Heralded by former Tiny Desk chief Bob Boilen who once proclaimed “This is a song I wish I wrote,” about their previous “Top Shelf” Tiny Desk performance, Somebody Someone’s inclusion in this show holds special significance.

“Austin has been like my own piecemealed grad school for music,” they explain. “I’ve cut my teeth here and I’m confident enough to say they’re razor sharp and ready to go! Everything feels like it’s lining up like a planetary event.” More information here: https://tinydeskcontest.npr.org/2025/tour-page/.

Proving that the stars continue to align, they were featured on the massively popular podcast Telepathy Tapes which focuses on telepathic communication, particularly among individuals with autism.

“I’m neurodivergent with several things in the mix,” they say. “This podcast has been so validating for so many reasons.”

In the current political and societal climate where autism is being demonized and marginalized unfairly, Somebody Someone wants to shine the light even brighter on autism to dispel the harmful myths that currently abound.

“Especially in light of the *gestures broadly* political landscape and news cycle, ‘autism’ is a dirty word societally speaking,” they say. “Most people presume incompetence when folks are labeled as such, but really autistic people are responsible for some massive social and artistic movements – Greta Thunberg, Temple Grandin, Satoshi Tajiri, Naoki Higashida… we’re all over the place.” More information here: https://thetelepathytapes.com/podcast.

Tapping into the momentum, Counting Crows frontman Adam Durwitz took note of Somebody Someone’s music and invited them onto the Underwater Sunshine Fest that takes place in New York City on November 21-22, 2025. Carefully curated to include the newest, brightest, independent music artists that Adam and the larger team of producers can find, the festival is an immersive celebration of songwriting and music.

“It’s a music lover’s festival with an emphasis on songwriting, which is exactly the kind of room I like being in,” they explain.

More information can be found here: https://underwatersunshinefest.com/.

Photo courtesy of Delaney Gibson Moon.