What is your name?
Dessa
What is your genre of music?
Hip hop, alternative, and pop.
Give us a little bio about you.
I grew up in Minneapolis, a curious kid with occasional dark moods, a relentless sweet tooth, and a love of language. I cut off all my hair and dyed it pink the Mississippi River in high school. In college, I earned a philosophy degree. I cut my teeth rapping with a crew called Doomtree; they make music that is angry and beautiful and purposeful.
What made you go in to music?
I loved words and wasn’t getting anywhere as a writer, so I made way into competitive poetry. From there, I connected with the musicians that have been my lifelong collaborators: Lazerbeak, Paper Tiger, P.O.S, Sims, Mike Mictlan, and Cecil Otter.
Are you signed?
Yes and no. My records are released by a label called Doomtree—it’s the one my friends started of necessity when no else stepped in with a contract. Many years later, however, we’re a real label with international distribution, marketing budgets, and clever release strategies.
You released your new album ‘Chime’ in February, tell us more about it.
It’s sometimes funny, sometimes sad, sometimes intellectual… sometimes restless and eager for a drink. That’s how I am too.
Do you have gigs coming up or a tour in planning?
I’m touring the United States, Europe, and playing a few dates in China this spring. In the US, I’m playing most major cities: New York, Chicago, LA, San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta, and many others. In Europe, I’ve got shows in Manchester, London (that one’s sold out), Prague, Amsterdam, Brno, Bratlislava, Berlin, Hamburg, Munich.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
I write books, so if I couldn’t make music, I’d probably focus on literature. But I have to admit, most jobs seem interesting…at least a little while. Having only one life to spend, I’m inclined to spread it around—to see the world from as many angles as I can.
Watch 5 OUT OF 6 HERE
Do you have social media for all your updates?
