When your first album has people favorably comparing you with Joni Mitchell and Roseanne Cash, you're off to a good start. But when you update those influences with a hip-hop edge, you're off to an even better one.
Such has been the case for the one-named Dessa, who released her debut, A Badly Broken Code, last year. The Minneapolis native's unique combination of rapping and singing has earned her plenty of attention, and her current headlining tour should only add to the buzz.
Dessa will play the Casbah on Sunday, May 8, along with Doomtree labelmates Sims -- whose latest album, Bad Time Zoo, is currently at the top of the CMJ hip-hop charts -- and Lazerbeak. For a taste of what to expect, you can watch Dessa's video of "Dixon's Girl" below.
Tickets for the show can be purchased here. In anticipation of the event, Dessa was kind enough to share her Top 5 influences, in order of appearance:
1. "The sound of classical guitar, as played by my father and muffled by the sewing-room door"
2. "My mother, pushing me to find a harmony to the songs on the car radio"
SoundDiego
Music. Community. Culture.
3. "An undergraduate course in creative writing instructed by Thomas Haley"
4. "A Valentine's Day poetry slam featuring my future (now ex-)boyfriend"
5. "The collective, partnership and family of Doomtree"
Chris Maroulakos is a writer and managing editor for the San Diego music blog Owl and Bear.
