#4298: With Dessa

The singer, rapper, and songwriter Dessa visits with John Schaefer to talk about her recent Sound The Bells, with the Minnesota Orchestra, conducted by Sarah Hicks, where her songs take on a slightly more restrained and organic flow.

Dessa tells her origin story of growing up with professional musician parent, a lute/guitar player, where she heard classical riffs growing up.  Topics range from details about her instrument – she has an asymmetrical mouth, making sure that newcomers to orchestral music feel welcome, and touring as a social media journalist.  

The idea of a rapper with a classical orchestra isn’t that far-fetched in that Dessa’s original songs already hint at grand arrangements – with strings, winds, percussion, and extra layers of vocals. Her latest, Sound The Bells, a live recording with the Minnesota Orchestra made before what sounds like a rapturous audience, captures this sense of drama and fullness and covers about 7-8 years of songwriting. Dessa introduces some of the songs from the record, and gives credit where due.

Plus, hear a little bit from the world music minimalist chamber ensemble Penguin Café. - Caryn Havlik

Program #4298: With Dessa (First aired 11/13/2019)

ARTIST: Arthur Grumiaux
WORK: J.S. Bach: Violin Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: V. Chaconne [:57]
RECORDING: Bach: Sonatas & Partitas For Violin / Arthur Grumiaux
SOURCE: Philips 464673
INFO: Available at ArkivMusic

ARTIST:  Dessa
WORK: Chaconne [:45]
RECORDING: A Badly Broken Code
SOURCE: Doomtree Records
INFO: dessa.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Dessa and the Minnesota Orchestra
WORK: Call Off Your Ghost [3:51]
RECORDING: Sound the Bells: Recorded Live at Orchestra Hall
SOURCE: Doomtree Records
INFO: dessa.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Dessa and the Minnesota Orchestra
WORK: The Chaconne [5:26]
RECORDING: Sound the Bells: Recorded Live at Orchestra Hall
SOURCE: Doomtree Records
INFO: dessa.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Dessa and the Minnesota Orchestra
WORK: Sound the Bells [5:58]
RECORDING: Sound the Bells: Recorded Live at Orchestra Hall
SOURCE: Doomtree Records
INFO: dessa.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Dessa and the Minnesota Orchestra
WORK: Velodrome [3:16]
RECORDING: Sound the Bells: Recorded Live at Orchestra Hall
SOURCE: Doomtree Records
INFO: dessa.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Dessa and the Minnesota Orchestra
WORK: Skeleton Key [4:34]
RECORDING: Sound the Bells: Recorded Live at Orchestra Hall
SOURCE: Doomtree Records
INFO: dessa.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Penguin Café
WORK: Pythagoras on the Line Again [3:34]
RECORDING: Handfuls of Night
SOURCE: Erased Tapes
INFO: erasedtapes.com | penguincafe.bandcamp.com