Dessa
Biography
Dessa
Emcee | Writer
“Profound and Moving.”
-Star Tribune
“If wordsmith-songbird isn’t the future of hip-hop, she should be.”
-Insight News
Dessa’s first release with Doomtree, False Hopes, introduced a unique sensibility to underground hip-hop: literary, bitter-sweet, and wry. She alternated between a clever, droll persona as an emcee and her earnest, unaffected delivery as a singer with a low, clear alto voice. Her a cappella arrangements delicate and expressive, full of sad, old world harmonies. False Hopes attracted a varied set of ferociously dedicated fans in the Midwest and beyond. The press compared her to Lauryn Hill and Ladybug, and then as “equal parts Ani DiFranco and Mos Def” (Rift Magazine).
Most recently, Dessa published a book under the Doomtree banner. Spiral Bound, her collection of essays and poetry, was dubbed a “dazzling literary debut” by the City Pages and “witty and desperately honest” by Alive Magazine.
A Badly Broken Code, her solo full-length record was released in January 2010 to an eagerly waiting number of listeners and music-writers alike. It earned 4 stars from Urb Magazine, a mention in Spin, and rave reviews from publications across the country. She's currently on a 40-city tour with P.O.S.
“Absolutely brilliant.”
-Crossfire.com (London)
“A paramount, intimidate look into an astonishing human being.”
-OkayPlayer.com
“Code does not disappoint…Dessa stands alone in her brand of music.”
-HipHopDX
Solo Projects
False Hopes
Spiral Bound: a short collection of essays and poetry
October 23, 2009
I’m writing with a characteristically light-night announcement about an uncharacteristically early performance this evening.
At 7 p.m. tonight, I’ll be speaking at Saint Scholastica in Duluth. The topic of the address: “Hip Hop and Human Dignity.” The address of the topic: 2100 Kenwood Ave. I’ll be in the lecture hall in the main auditorium. Tickets are five dollars. Singles would be great—we’re running low.
In addition to speaking, I’ll also be singing and rapping. I’ll be punning because I do that when …
Posted by: Dessa in News Share This
October 14, 2009
I’ve always been pretty reluctant to chime in on the ‘body issue’ topics that female artists are asked to comment on. It seems like there’s already more than enough discussion on image and the inflated role it plays in our culture.
Nonetheless, this ad riled me up. I mean come the fuck on.
I give in. Bring on the body image panel discussions, the boycotts, and the righteous indignation. They Photoshopped out …
Posted by: Dessa in News Share This
September 22, 2009
The Walker Art Center was kind enough to ask me to play at one of their events–I intend on pouring my PBR into a champagne flute for the occasion. I’ll be performing on Wednesday at the Cedar Cultural Center with a new little quartet, pictured below.
Posted by: Dessa in News Share This
August 16, 2009
Hello fair friends.
My, what a whirlwind these past few months have been. A whirlwind of modest successes and minor frustrations, of vehicular travel, of music and of friendship all the attendant thrills and heartbreaks.
Doomtree went on tour. As Doomtree is wont to do, we went left: hit the West Coast top to bottom. We were largely impressed by the generosity of the many fine folks who came out to listen and say hello.
I drove the van sometimes. More importantly, I …
Posted by: Dessa in News Share This
July 31, 2009
Posted by: Dessa in News, Video Share This
July 28, 2009
Posted by: Dessa in Video Share This
July 21, 2009
Who’d imagine that a club with such an inelegant name would turn out to be so chic and lovely? Floor-length drapes; dim red light; unmatched mirrors, and hip kids who stop short of being poisonously fashionable. The room is filling slowly, Jean Grae is on the overhead speakers, and I’m plugging away on my MacBook behind Lazerbeak at the merch booth. I like it here. Thanks San Francisco.
Posted by: Dessa in News Share This
July 19, 2009
View from the stage door.
Posted by: Dessa in News Share This
July 16, 2009
Guys, we’ll be back soon. I’m in the van right now on the way to Salt Lake City.
Posted by: Dessa in News, Tour Share This
