Tamir Kalifa & Jazmin Cazares – Come Another Dawn (Tiny Desk Contest Submission 2026)

Описание: Come Another Dawn is a tribute to Tess Mata, who was among the 19 children and two teachers killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and inspired by the ways her family honors her with every breath.

Tess was a rambunctious kid and adored her parents, her older sister, Faith, and their cat, Oliver. She was a rising softball star and even taught herself how to pitch, striking out the first batter she faced. Tess dreamed of being a first responder when she grew up. Her mom, Veronica, is an elementary school teacher and Jerry, an airplane mechanic with a tremendous laugh. I imagined what it must be like to lay awake, restless, in a quiet house full of grief, searching for ways to gather the brokenness and to try to make something good.

Jazmin Cazares sings with me on this song, alongside Tess’s parents, Veronica and Jerry. Jazmin’s little sister Jackie was Tess’s classmate and lost her life that day too.

I’m a photojournalist and got to know the Mata family and Jazmin as I documented the long aftermath of the tragedy. Come Another Dawn is part of “Witness,” an album of songs inspired by my photojournalism and experiences behind the camera.

This video is our submission for the NPR Tiny Desk Contest and was recorded at Tess’s place of rest in Uvalde on Feb. 7, 2026.