On 'Bury the Lede' Dessa Explores Mortality, Hedonism & Having a Damn Good Time

Listen to ‘Bury the Lede’ HERE 

Dessa, the rapper, singer, writer, academic, and all-around creative polymath, is out today with her first-full length album in five years, ‘Bury the Lede’ (Doomtree Records). Fusing the fire-breathing, writerly rap that made Dessa a living legend in the DIY Hip-Hop scene with the poppier, more emotionally vulnerable sound that she’s recently cultivated, ‘Bury the Lede’ is a masterpiece example of what happens when a capital-P perfectionist lets her hair down, just a little. Executive produced by Dessa alongside friends and longtime collaborators Lazerbeak (Doomtree CEO) and Andy Thompson (Taylor Swift, Dan Wilson), the album’s making was guided by what felt and sounded good more than any rigid concepts or rules, and takes on a similarly laissez-faire lyrical theme. “It’s about indulging in a measure of hedonism even as the threat on the horizon mounts … Survival is, at best, indefinite. So maybe get a cocktail with an umbrella in it,” says Dessa.

Listen to ‘Bury the Lede’ HERE 

Earlier this week, Dessa, a perennial NPR favorite (in their words, she’s a “national treasure”), visited the DC headquarters to speak with 1A’s Jenn White about the album. Speaking on the album’s creation amidst the chaos of COVID, they also reminisced about Dessa’s gig guest-hosting 1A earlier this year. This afternoon, public radio listeners will also get the chance to hear Dessa guest-host Science Friday–living the dream for life-long listeners and behavioral science nerds. (The episode will air 2-4pm Eastern Time, check local listings for station info.)

Leading up to the album today, Dessa gave fans a preview of what was to come with the release of three singles: the rap-forward “Hurricane Party,” the irresistibly dancey, Swede-influenced “Chopper,” and the swaggy, take-no-prisoners “Decoy.” All very different, all very clever, and all examples of the way the album’s eleven tracks juxtapose hard-hitting rap verses, with big, catchy pop hooks (and, of course, a couple of classically Dessa melancholic tracks as well).

Watch the music video for “Hurricane Party,” directed by Aleutian Calabay and shot in and around Minneapolis, with stunning footage from an aquarium, HERE.

And watch the video for “Decoy,” directed by Oscar-Winning animator/artist Adam Dunn HERE 

Last week, Dessa also released a non-album single, “Starter Villain,” which she wrote as the official theme song for New York Times best-selling author John Scalzi’s latest sci-fi novel of the same name, HERE on Bandcamp.

Dessa will be taking ‘Bury The Lede’ on tour this fall alongside bandmates Joshua Holmgren (sax, vox) and Aviva Jaye (vox, harp). Sponsored by award-winning and Minneapolis-based hair care company Odele, the tour sees Dessa playing in major markets like Boston, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles in addition to a homecoming performance in Minneapolis at First Avenue. 

More on Dessa and her tour routing below. 

Dessa Tour Dates:

10.2 Ft. Collins - The Armory

10.4 Denver - Ophelia's

10.5 Seattle - Crocodile 

10.7 Portland - Polaris Hall (Sold out) 

10.17 Boston - Middle East 

10.19 Philadelphia - World Cafe Live 

10.20 NYC - Le Poisson Rouge  

10.21 DC - Black Cat

11.14 - Eau Claire - Pablo Center

11.16 - Minneapolis - First Avenue  

11.17 - Rochester - Chateau Theatre

11.18 Chicago - Bottom Lounge 

11.19 Madison - Majestic Theatre

1.16 San Diego - Casbah

1.18 Los Angeles - Lodge Room

1.19 Santa Ana - Constellation Room

1.20 Pioneertown - Pappy & Harriet’s

1.21 San Francisco - The Independent



ABOUT DESSA

Dessa fell in love with language as a toddler---and she just never got over it. Coming up in Minneapolis, she collected favorite words to decorate the walls of her brain; as teenager, she thrilled in metaphor; and when she started writing songs and touring, she'd always lean in to pick up on the regional slang (they say yinz instead of y'all in Pittsburgh; a beanie is a tuque in Canada; gotta ask for a lead to get mic cable in the UK). Now, Dessa works in most fields that traffic in words: she's recorded rap bangers as part of the fiercely independent Doomtree collective, released a live album with the Grammy-winning Minnesota Orchestra; contributed to the New York Times and National Geographic Traveler; delivered a TED Talk on the intersection of romance and neuroscience that's notched more than 4 million views; hosted two seasons of the Deeply Human radio program (BBC/American Public Media/iHeartMedia); and published a memoir recounting most of the above called My Own Devices, published by Dutton (Penguin Random House). She lives in Minneapolis and Manhattan, still tours in a rented van, and is probably eavesdropping on the neighboring table, listening for a word to add to the collection.