Doomtree, an underground and independent collective out of Minnesota, plans a Blowout every year. The annual concert serves as a showcase for the group and its many members. Recently one of those crew members, Dessa, took time out of planning the show to discuss the concert, her new book and more with HipHopDX.
The Doomtree Blowout has been going on for years and a lot has changed since the crew first took the stage together.
“We’ve worked ourselves really hard these past few years to try and build a national presence for Doomtree,” said Dessa, acknowledging growth in the crew. “In the weeks before [the] first Blowout, we paced, hoping people would show up. Now we spend our energy making sure that the show will be amazing,” she added, before noting that even their meetings have gone through alterations in order to make this year’s Blowout a more elaborate show than any predecessor.
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“We meet about set design and lights and dancers and video cues. We’ve worked with a cadre of Minneapolis artists to try and create a really stunning production.”
The Blowout will also be the only place fans can go to in order to purchase Dessa‘s latest release, a book of essays titled Spiral Bound. The book won’t have an official release until next year.
“The book is a written in a tone that’s consistent with a lot of my music. Readers can expect reflective, funny-sad commentary on human nature. For both lyrics and essays, I’m most moved to write about those moments that put a lump in my throat, or those little daily details that reveal or encapsulate a larger truth. The essays in Spiral Bound deal a lot with my family. In a piece called ‘Camera Obscura’ I write about my father. He’s a genius–quite literally–who I have begun to suspect is hiding his plan to sail around the world.”
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With the book release and the Blowout on the way, Dessa is still finding time to wrap up her solo album, which she carefully said would be out at some point next year.
“I’ve shot myself in the foot by announcing dates before they’re firm. So I’ll delicately bite my tongue.”
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But, she did manage to give us a sneak into what people can expect from the album.
“For the next album, I’ve worked primarily with other Doomtree artists–in particular Lazerbeak, Paper Tiger, and P.O.S. I’ve also recorded a number of completely a cappella tracks, which I’ve performed under the name Boy Sopranos.”
The DoomtreeBlowout will be held at First Avenue in Minneaplos, Minnesota on December 12.
