A Dallas band, Cure for Paranoia, won the prestigious Tiny Desk Contest, which aims to amplify musicians who are not signed to a major label.
DALLAS — Cure for Paranoia, a Dallas-based band, won NPR Music’s 2026 Tiny Desk Contest, securing a national stage to share their music and message.
The winner of the Tiny Desk Contest was announced on Tuesday, May 12. Cure for Paranoia, a hip-hop collective, won for their entry “No Brainer,” which was filmed at Dallas’ iconic eyeball.
You can watch the performance here. NPR reviewed more than 6,000 submissions.
The collective’s founder and frontman, Cameron McCloud, has entered the contest several times. He describes their sound as “‘pro-mental health’ fusion of rap, hip-hop and soul,” according to a press release from NPR Music.
“Ultimately, there is no greater platform for discovery and authenticity than the visibility provided by NPR,” McCloud said in the release.
Cure for Paranoia started on the streets of Deep Ellum, where McCloud said he would pull up in his car, connect an aux cord to a cigarette lighter and perform, WFAA previously reported.
Now, McCloud and the rest of Cure for Paranoia will travel to Washington, D.C., later this month to perform for NPR’s iconic Tiny Desk, which is a venue for performances from some of music’s biggest acts.
After that, the collective will embark on the 10-city Tiny Desk on the Road tour, visiting various cities including Los Angeles, New York, and D.C., as well as new stops in Minneapolis and Boston.
Tickets for the tour are on sale now.
“Cure For Paranoia is destined to be a force in the music industry and their entry, aptly titled ‘No Brainer,’ sealed the deal as winners of the contest. For four years, Cameron and the crew have wowed our judges with creativity and versatility and I can’t wait to see what they finally bring to the Tiny Desk!,” said Bobby Carter, Tiny Desk series producer and host.
McCloud told NPR he discovered the healing power of music over a decade ago, and it has been a tool to strengthen his mental health ever since.
“The group’s win serves as the ultimate validation of his lifelong commitment to authentic healing,” the release reads.
McCloud previously lived out his conviction to create music that’s a form of therapy; the group performed the first-ever “Louder Than Stigma” awareness event, which shone a light on suicide prevention.