Uploaded by sxsw on Feb 28, 2011
Dessa is an essayist, a rapper, and a proud member of Doomtree, Minneapolis' ascendant hip-hop collective. Her most recent album, A Badly Broken Code, was enthusiastically received by NPR, the Chicago Tribune, and URB. After her last North American tour, the Utne Reader called her "a one-woman powerhouse."
Dessa's first book was published on Doomtree Press under the title Spiral Bound. The slim volume of poetry and essays was received as a "dazzling literary debut" by City Pages. Candid, but not confessional, Dessa manages to extract moments of profundity from the most mundane circumstances, and offers full access to the workings of her active mind.
In her lyrics and her writing, Dessa's style is defined by precision—the exactness with which she crafts her characters and her metaphors. She often alternates between wry narrator and tender protagonist. She exercises her wit without forfeiting her sympathies or her earnestness. She's an artist with a dark, fertile imagination, an agile sense of humor, and very keen aim.
Recently, Dessa was named Artist in Residence at the McNally Smith College of Music.
81 videosSXSW 2011 Music Videos 2- 3:18
Grieves With Budo - "Cloud Man": SXSW 2011 Showcasing Artistby sxsw37,960 views
- 4:10
P.O.S - "Never Better": SXSW 2011 Showcasing Artistby sxsw1,685 views
- 3:24
Lelia Broussard - "Satellite": SXSW 2011 Showcasing Artistby sxsw75,040 views
- 3:23
Schmillion - "Overgrown": SXSW 2011 Showcasing Artistby sxsw13,228 views
- 4:02
Dessa – Seamstressby Zewsina47,375 views
- 4:01
Dessa - 551by AesopRocks115,984 views
- 3:39
Dessa - Go Home (Live on KEXP)by kexpradio21,489 views
- 4:00
Dessa,"The Man I Knew"by MNoriginal20,920 views
- 5:11
Doomtree - Hot Monotonyby heliocentric007,796 views
- 3:41
Dessa - The Crowby nerdsgethunk14,143 views
- 3:35
Dessa - Matches to Paper Dollsby nerdsgethunk60,622 views
- 3:27
Dessa - Dixon's Girlby ILLigitt5,209 views
- 3:14
Dessa - Palaceby jamutka3214,343 views
- 4:01
Dessa - Kitesby thesonglessbird8,393 views
- 3:30
Dessa, "Sadie Hawkins"by MNoriginal9,381 views
- 3:14
Dessa - Children's Workby nerdsgethunk33,980 views
- 4:12
Dessa - Mineshaft 2by chrischallans3,844 views
- 0:25
Butts - "Wiggle Drip": SXSW 2011 Showcasing Artistby sxsw42,906 views
- 4:13
Cecil Otter - 1999 **OFFICIAL VIDEO**by strangefamousrecords32,474 views
- 3:24
City of Music: Dessaby mplstv8,210 views
Where has this been my whole life?
BrooKsCarries 3 weeks ago
awesome! really, really...
locator1 1 month ago
the snow falls fast,and thin like angels ashes....virginia slims
theorigpoon 1 month ago
κοριτσαρος λεμε
tsilimidridis 1 month ago
Got to see her w/ the rest of Doomtree last year on campus and this Friday once again I get to see her! And what's even better it's all for free!
elainemaik 4 months ago
I love the scratchiness of the sound, it sounds like vinyl, on which everything sounds better on.
MegaLlamas1 7 months ago 2
ahh P.O.S, Doomtree, and Dessa are flippin awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!! You all make some of the best music if not the best!!
hellogoodbynever 7 months ago 2
ABOUT FUKKIN TIME! Ohhh thank you Doomtree for helping this girl shine! She will only keep getting better. Watch out!
Swirvles 7 months ago
is this original?
mfreeman451 8 months ago
Awesome Song.. Love It!!!!!!
MonicaBoo23 10 months ago