Dessa: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
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- čas přidán 8. 12. 2013
- Part of the Twin Cities hip-hop collective Doomtree, rapper, singer, poet and songwriter Dessa divides her time between singing and rapping, often landing on a spoken-word splitting of the difference. The week she performed this Tiny Desk Concert, she appeared at an All Songs Considered live listening party, during which she opined articulately before closing the night by singing Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" in the style popularized by Jeff Buckley. This year, the former philosophy major released both a new album (Parts of Speech) and a chapbook of poetry called A Pound of Steam.
As versatile as she is, Dessa faced down a string of challenges in getting to the Tiny Desk. Near the tail-end of a tour - during which thousands of dollars' worth of her band's gear was stolen - her voice started to give out as she battled a bad cold. (Keep an eye out for her expression of relief at the completion of "The Man I Knew" in this set.) And, of course, Dessa and her band had to come up with ways to perform three songs from Parts of Speech in such a way that the drums and guitars wouldn't drown out the unamplified voices of herself and singer Aby Wolf.
Once we started recording, though, the seams never showed, let alone split: If it weren't for a bit of between-song tea-sipping, we'd have never known she was under the weather. Instead, what we got was as forceful and whip-smart as everything else Dessa sings, speaks, raps and writes. --STEPHEN THOMPSON
Set List
"Fighting Fish"
"The Man I Knew"
"The Lamb"
Credits
Producers: Denise DeBelius, Stephen Thompson; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Denise DeBelius, Becky Harlan, Meredith Rizzo - Hudba
Enormous thanks to Aby Wolf [vox], Sean McPherson [bass], Dustin Kiel [guitar] and Joey Van Phillips [drums].
I've been listening to this and you for years now; I'm still in awe, every time.
I come back again and again to this performance. It's imperfect, but heartfelt. The fact that you were sick and gently brought Aby closer to the mic.
You all CARED and I love it.
Margret and Aby 🥹😍❤️
I thought for sure Aby and Dessa must be sisters, they're so in tune. Nope! They're amazingly in tune nonetheless, how wonderful is that?
I love the way you bring her bring Abby back to the mic when she drifts off
Aby Wolf needs her props. She is an INCREDIBLE singer!
It is hard to know what to say about Dessa, she helped me get through some of the hardest moments in my life. I don't know how many times I listened to this.
"I swallowed the dice. I make my own luck now". #Dessa straight up golden
This woman!
*These* *women*
😭
great line
So underrated. My favorite studio performance ever, I don’t know how many times I’ve listened
The first song is just amazing. So much better than in the album.
Her performance (how she moves, how she acts, how she sings the lyrics) makes a lot too.
MY FAVORITE TINY DESK! Have Dessa and Aby back, please.
I think it is important to note that these girls are singing together on one mic which seems to be an Omni directional. They seem to be perfectly balanced with no help from a mixing board. This is evidence of very competent, comfortable and practiced vocalists. It is a treat to see artists who take their craft serious, and litter my ears with these whispers from the cherubim.
Just wanted to point out that the main mic that Tiny Desk uses is actually a shotgun mic, which is generally highly directional, rather than omni directional. I'm not certain whether other mics are used on the drums, but either way it has been positioned very well to balance the vocals and the drums, so huge props to the sound guy. That said, that doesn't really do anything for the singers and, like you say, they do an incredible job of balancing and blending with each other.
These Women.
Aby can sing birds out of the trees. They always sound so good together.
Women, not girls! ....I love how Dessa pulls Aby's sleeve a little bit to get them perfectly balanced.
She writes in her book about how she and Aby practice together. It's wonderful.
And this lady should (deserves to) be nominated for a GRAMMY ... enormous talent!
I didn't come looking for love. I didn't come to pick a fight. I come here every night to work, and you can grab an axe, man, or you can step aside ❤️❤️❤️
That's my favorite bar too.
This is where I first fell in Love a couple of years ago, and I constantly come back to swoon.
Still watching this performance in 2020 locked down at midnight. I need something amazing right now. Doomtree TV has come and passed at this point. Need a new Dessa album now.
Everything Dessa touches turns to gold. She's one of the best (if not the best) lyricists and vocalists of today. So much respect for all the feeling and emotion behind every single word of every single song
If I see one last live show before I die, I can guarantee it'll be hers
and she's such a professional in everything thing does, just small nuances that make her real talent
We need another Tiny Desk with Dessa.
I saw Dessa and Aby Wolf last night as the weather for a live Welcome to Night Vale event. They were fantastic!
Thank you! I was trying to figure out what her name was.
Lin-Manuel couldn't have picked a better artist to do "Congratulations" on the upcoming Hamilton mixtape - - Looking forward to hearing more
It's amazing that they can get robbed, be sick and perform in a space the size of a bathroom stall and deliver the best version of Fighting Fish I have ever heard.
Dessa is the fiercest woman in hiphop, no doubt.
Well then, how come no one has heard of her? Shouldn't she of opened for SOMEBODY we know?
One of the most genuine
@@toddcropper6802 maybe you only notice titty shaking? Not her problem
Dessa is one of the most fierce artist in general
I've been listening to Dessa and Doomtree for around 4/5 years. I still can't quite fathom how people where I live (Ireland) prefer something like Fetty or Kanye to this stuff? Dessa has a voice like honey poured over rocks, covered in a silk scarf. One she can beat you with if she chooses x
"Dessa has a voice like honey poured over rocks, covered in a silk scarf. One she can beat you with if she chooses x". Fuckin nailed it dude.
Totally agree and beautifully put. Was privileged to see and meet these two ladies last night - a gig I will never forget. Like the truly mighty Doomtree, this is music so good, genres or labels are irrelevant. Life-affirming stuff.
She is great, no debating. But why the hate for Kanye? Have you even heard anything from him?
Martin Stojanoski Hahahahahahaha nah man who’s Kanye West, is he a new artist? I’ve never heard of him. No one has ever heard anything by him
I've never listened to Dessa's solo work, and now I fully regret that. This was fantastic.
John Jeffries she amazing I love her new album
Its never too late..
I love that she guides Aby to the mic during the chorus of Fighting Fish. letting her have the spotlight♡
+Kayla Johnson-Farmer I think she guiding her there so her voice would pick up better on the mike..
Jared Bly I don't think Aby has a projection issue, when I've seen them live she's also let Aby have some moments where she got to do some sweet vocalizations💙
Good catch , Shiloh , you is hereby invited to our team of science fiction super nova analysts.
Make note , Margret's pulling Abby was about audio mix and balance , not staging spotlight , not at a Tiny Desk Show (the best platform for acts going nowadays).
In future , observe acoustic blue grass acts coming up on stage and balance mixing themselves during the first lines of their set's first song .
Entertaining stuff.
Yup, They all poured 11:15 their ❤ & Soul into this master piece...
Why don't we give some mad props to the gal singing to her right and the fellas playing behind Dessa. No mention of them in the credits... That gal can sing! No thing is the act or work of one individual.
Vocals: Aby Wolf
Guitar and bandleader: Dustin Kiel
Drums: Joey Van Phillips
Bass: Sean McPherson
[All from Twin Cities]
Dessa shouts em all out here in the comment section
Dessa is an amazing artist!! Grab an Axe or Step Aside!!
Drums, Bass Guitars - You guys rock! And I adore the sound of both of your voices melting together - strong, very cool timbre and delicate and beautiful. Your Tiny Desk Concert's been on repeat for most of the Afternoon already and I still can't hear enough of it. Fantastic music, thanks a lot!
Oh yeah...Dessa and Aby rise like quicksilver with the band so damn tight and loose at the same time anchoring them to the ground. Check out the serene cherub smile of the bassist. Heaven on Earth. If you don't aim for the center, it's a waste of the art indeed.
Yeah the bassist is the producer so as long as she is singing good he is only reaping the benefit. Plus that guy has mad feel. Twinkie Jingles FTW. He's the bassist from heiruspecs. I find this to be her best recording of anything
Can’t tell you how many times this video has saved my life. Dessa and Aby, you’re voices together.. I don’t think there’s anything that can compare. Wish you would collab again soon, it’s euphoric to hear you two together. Hope y’all doin well
I can’t even begin to describe how much I love how Dessa and Aby communicate without words while they’re performing. My guitarist and I do the same when he’s doing harmonies and it’s such a beautiful thing.
Keep coming back to this performance.
best version of fighting fish.
You have the most epic name... Ever... Period. And couldn't agree more with your comment
This is an absolutely riveting performance. Their two voices are like 2 sides of a gleaming coin. Vocal control is just superb, on both their parts. Lyrics to song "The Lamb" are fascinating and haunting, with the music enhancing the haunt. Musicians accompanying them are excellent as well.
I swear since i discovered this and fell madly in love with this woman, ive come back to watch/listen to this on average at least once a day for the past year. I even ripped it from youtube for when i dont have internet. This is by far the most in the zone ive ever seen her in a live performance. Dessa is something special, and ive yet to come across anything that even comes close to comparing. This is music at its finest.
+Matt Baytron I love her so much. She's just soooo good. Might be my new favourite artist. It's close between her and Slug from Atmosphere.
Matt Baytron she has a lot of music you haven't heard check out her crew Doomtree, buy her music at doomtreee.net
I never thought I'd say there was an equal to Slug, but by God, you're right. I've been down with Atmosphere since the Musab days, but she's the fucking truth.
Matt Baytron you can download CZcams vids.
Matt Baytron amazing
What I like most about the first song "Fighting Fish" is the reference to Zeno's Arrow. The paradox of Zeno's Arrow is not widely known and the words in the chorus fit the paradox perfectly. I once used Zeno's argument about motion to claim that I hadn't run a stop sign. Didn't work.
I’m
This is more than rap and r&b its poetry. I love it!
Is this version of "Fighting Fish" made out of crack? I cant get enough!
YouknowmeOUdo amazing I love her voice
Me too! I have come back to it throughout the years. I go back to the KEXP version of Doomtrees Little Mercy a lot too.
Such beautiful harmonies and magnetic energy and empathy between two performers.
Two songs in a row using the ancient Greeks (Zeno and Euclid) as fodder for brilliant metaphors. She is so amazing!
'They could sew your hands together...but they can't make you pray'. Best line ever...
So fire it took me 6 1/2 years of rewatching to notice Aby's top-notch boombox earrings. Need to get me a pair.
So it's been a week and I can't stop listening to this.
Ps. Drummer. . . You're killing it.
I always seem to come back to this tiny desk concert. It is the calming center that I need, sometimes.
Same. I tend to cry though. The Lamb is so melancholic it hurts.
Amazing! I Love to see Dessa blowin up and making Minnesota proud :)
First heard her on P.O.S' Never Better album. Fell fully in love after buying her A Badly Broken Code. Such an underrated talent. I 'm so glad I found this.
Hey! She's got a new album with some absolute bangers and some absolute tearjerkers as well. Just FYI in case you wanted to hear more from this talented lady and her crew.
i fucking love that she changed the lyrics to Fighting Fish a bit for this performance, you can really tell she's into it and it makes me think it holds more true because of that
she changed:
"while my knees still flex
while my joints hold steady"
to
"while my knees still flex
while my VOICE holds steady"
and i'd venture to guess its a reference to her cold but i think it makes for a better lyrics overall
Did not know that. That's awesome. I really prefer this performance.
But knees have joints not voices xD
Determined to single-handedly get this to 1 million views. ♥️
the most slept on Tiny Desk!!!
Everything I love in music: catchy hooks, clever lyrics, and harmonizing. Dessa = my new obsession.
I have a playlist on Spotify called: "So you just found out about Dessa" for all my friends who I force feed this woman's art into. I've converted about 5 so far, like some kind of melancholy missionary out to rob you of your former passions for a new one.
Shaking my head without notice lol, this tiny desk concerts were one of the best things on youtube!
I saw her last night in Portland omh so dam good
A must see!!!
Really great. I’d heard Doomtree quite some time ago. I dug it, but I love this. Although a recent introduction for me, I know this has big time staying power. Wonderfully moving. Thank you for it.
OMG!!! I spent many years in MPLS. I wish I could say I heard her back in the day. But I am brand new!
Dessa’s energy is completely intoxicating. Her rap style, so subtle and sinuous; it reminds me of Spanish guitar. Rhythmic precision with tonality that both whispers and gushes with power. She is in and out of each dynamic iteration like wind through the trees. Just when she hits a groove that you think you know what box to place her in, the sound transfigures into something new and more deeply satisfying.
I’m gob smacked!!
Susan Sarandon is killing it in the backing vocals.
Dude !! Davi , i love this comment.
I suppose by "killing it" you means to say she (Abby) does good.
Otherwise, i am lost in space again.
Meanwhile ...... You are FROM outer space and so am i !!
That's no Susan Sarandon , Abby Wolf is ABBY WAMBACH , contentiously the greatest of all American athletes ever . It's a reach , but do the math.
Within this process you will make for learning a lot about women in sport , soccer , and the comparative values of enduring stamina and longevity versus a couple of years of super nova stellar explosiveness.
By the way , Susan Sarandon is the daughter of Susan Hayward , both AMPAS (Oscar) recognition winners.
Exactly!! And at 1:15 she somehow also looks like Kate McKinnon
This performance is phenomenal. Just listen and watch how Aby and Dessa manipulate their vocals with the microphone. Distance, position and levels. Top notch. Props to the sound technician. They worked perfectly with them here.
I am grateful that Dessa appeared on this series.
I never get sick of this.
Oh lord. Music doesn't get much better than this.
I've watched this video so many times, and every time I love the bass player more and more. He's just so happy
Back here again tonight - amazing
Good stuff! Great vibe, catchy chorus, cool lyrics. Fantastic.
Can't believe there's thumbs down to this! Amazing! Inspiring!
love watching dessa and aby sing together ugh
They are awesome! !!!
pure poetry
Dope music awesome Cool good Listen wow powerful best ever real poet raw rap
Finally!!! Yeah brothers and sisters!!!! Rap that is succinct, intelligent, to the point and just plain dam good for the ears...Go higher Dessa...you have my heart and energy. may you rise high and soar to the sun! Love you guys! Big hugs! x
OMG this is really good. I'm already a fan after just hearing this. Great voice. Lyrics are very well constructed too.
That's what I noticed about Dessa as well. Really all the guys from Doomtree are amazing!
Such a lovely performance
All in all, this performence is way better than every studiorecord! :)
These ladies are FABULOUS!!!!!
2:10 she pulls Aby in closer to the mic and I love that. She deserve to be heard
my sister always bring me to beautiful artist...
That was 5 years ago !
Never get tired of this
so excited for the new record, and had to binge on videos from the last couple records.
Dessa is on fire during this set. a god damn blaze.
This came out well before I discovered Tiny Desk so i'm glad I took the time to go through the TD's back catalogue otherwise I would've missed this gem. Wow, Dessa's such an incredible artist and I've become a big fan now. Abi is just as sensational here. Beautiful harmonies. Good work Doomtree.
DESSA. Fantastic!
This is peak artistry!!!! I can't stop watching!
I love this girl.
So pure and astounding- what a talent!
Fighting Fish 2020 !
That sounded really smooth and honest. And that was a great live performance. I'll check out more from Dessa for sure! I prefer listening to music from the heart that has meaning as opposed to the trash we're subjected to by mainstream media.
Talent 100%....great music for a day like today....
Well shit. Now I'm in love.
tofumar amazing
Def one of my fave Tiny Desk sets. My fave Dessa clip too despite her being sick during this performance. Great lyrics and the band and backup singer deserve props too. Wish I could have been in there.
Commenting during the 2020 quarantine. Notice how she DUCKS SUPER LOW to cough into her arm. This is so important now. Not as much back then, it was a courtesy and shows she's looking out for everyone in that room. Still, she knows she could spread viruses and thinks about it. Love it.
they just blew my mind, ridiculously talented
Love you Dessa
So good!!!!!!
This woman is amazing!!
real deal all day,all the time....you are a golden
woman!
much love and respect-me
Still here in 2024
Why in the world did I just find this! Man I luh’ dis shiiiiit!
Very glad to have stumbled across this - great session!
Is there a place where I can get this version of The Lamb and listen to on repeat for a month, or just inject directly into my vein?
So in love
excellent ! me touched !!!
Love her!
Lovely. Powerful.
so amazing
Love love love ♡♡♡
That was Awesome!!
I am Sooo WOW!! addicted to THIS version of "Fighting Fish" !! :) Love IT!
i love this womans energy
I absolutely love the harmonizing between Dessa and Aby.