Lyrics and Vocals by Dessa
Produced by Lazerbeak and Andy Thompson
Purchase: https://lnk.to/BuryTheLede

Vocals recorded at Instrument Landing and The Birdcage
Engineered by Andy Thompson and Dessa
Mixed by Joe Mabbott at The Hideaway 
Mastered by Bruce Templeton at Microphonic Mastering

Photography by Sam Gehrke
Layout and design by Andy McAlpine

Executive Producers: Dessa, Lazerbeak, and Andy Thompson
Management: Becky Hoffmann

dessawander.com
doomtree.net
©2023 Doomtree Records

Dessa - Bury the Lede (2023)

Bandita's songs*2

Dessa

Dessa - Bury The Lede

DOOMTREE - COMPLETE

Lyrics and vocals by Dessa
Produced by Lazerbeak and Andy Thompson
Mixed by Joe Mabbott at The Hideaway
Mastered by Bruce Templeton at Microphonic Mastering
Art by Kai Benson

Dessa - "I Already Like You"

Lyrics and Vocals by Dessa
Produced by Lazerbeak and Andy Thompson

Mixed by Joe Mabbott at The Hideaway
Mastered by Bruce Templeton at Microphonic Mastering

Dessa - "Blush"

Reasons to Leave

1 day you will

Chasing Shadows

Chasing Shadows (Acoustic)

Miss Me The Same (with Anson Seabra)

Miss Me the Same (with Anson Seabra)

Journal No.1

Daughter

Lyrics and Vocals by Dessa
Produced by Lazerbeak, Andy Thompson, and Dessa

Preorder the album: https://lnk.to/BuryTheLede

LYRICS
Fill the kiddie pool 
up with Prosecco 
Get the LEDs on
need the spectacle 
Gotta beat the one last week 
let’s get a record
If you’re tryna be a go-getter
you gotta go and get it
Desperate times 
call for desperate pleasures 
Some legitimate headlines
mostly cries for attention
The camera speeds
copy ready to read
oughta be a good night 
We’re live in 3, 2—
fuck, man, busted on a hot mic 

Cuz it’s a hurricane 
a hurricane party
End days 
every other Wednesday 
Live girls dance 
dead men float
A hurricane party 
gold dust, sex, and Bacardi 
DJ says don’t hold back
because the water won’t

Looks like someone leaked the password
too much tea to clean earl grey disaster
Campaign manager come walks it backwards
but he’s the one who tipped TV—clever bastard 
Shots fired in the echo chamber  
rico-ricochet
The other side puts kids in danger 
don’t matter what their argument, that’s what they always say
Front of the parade girl spins a baton 
band leader conducts with a corn on the cob
The new sound gets everybody out on their lawn
composed for french horn, cash register, mob

Hook

Okay, who broke the chain letter 
too much bad luck to try to get away with it 
One more plague, nobody goes to recess 
Chatbots away take out your paper pieces 
longhand 
Gimme an essay on the living conditions in Oz written by the Strawman:
housing shot up, looking for a soft land
Dorothy comes to, couldn’t give a goddamn 
Looking for a few recruits 
to do what must be done 
So if you got the heart and a pair of good boots 
meet me at the food court by Forever 21 

Hook

Decoy

Not a sidepiece 
or a wifepiece
I’m a thinkpiece
If you’re done then 
take your dishes to 
the sink please 
Wash to the right
dry to the left 
mind is a kite 
and the fall is a mess 
Out of office
out of body
out of fucks to give 
sorry not sorry 
With a busted rib 
ain’t a thing to do about it 
just tape and time and then you take the turn again 
Lean in harder 
hope the road won’t burn 
so bad this time
you read your curve 
fast as fuck 
fit to swerve
put the money to the metal come and get your girl 
Til the lights blur
til the lines meet in the middle of the high beams
and the wipers 
keep time with the heartbeat
Til you hit a nerve 

I’m falling 
don’t catch me
don’t touch me 
don’t call me
Not much we 
let go 
even when we should and we know it
I walk the wall 
with both hands open 
I’d leave it all

Smokey eye because 
the mind’s on fire
Break glass and pass the axe skyward 
Stone the satellites
drones versus battle kites
Here goes 
the next past life
There’s a speaker 
in a decoy 
at the heart of the mine 
that rewinds
the same birdsong
Tell the back of the line  
that the digging is fine
let’s get the third shift on
They say that a rising tide
when it comes in
will lift every ship
But they skipped
the bit about wildfire
how it burns every bridge
Panic tryna find 
a little dry ground 
big back ups everybody outbound
Not me 
I’m like the good witch
bring the motherfucking house down

Looks like I hit a nerve
I hit a nerve

No patience I stay laced up and 
I’m running 
Learned a phrase in
every country 
I’ve lived and died, been revived like this

That game you taught me how to play 
I won it
Moved out East 
and I stayed hungry
And when the magic’s on me, I can’t miss

I can’t miss

Bury the Lede

Hurricane Party

Decoy
Lyrics and Vocals by Dessa
Produced by Lazerbeak and Andy Thompson


Not a sidepiece 
or a wifepiece
I’m a thinkpiece
If you’re done then 
take your dishes to 
the sink please 
Wash to the right
dry to the left 
mind is a kite 
and the fall is a mess 
Out of office
out of body
out of fucks to give 
sorry not sorry 
With a busted rib 
ain’t a thing to do about it 
just tape and time and then you take the turn again 
Lean in harder 
hope the road won’t burn 
so bad this time
you read your curve 
fast as fuck 
fit to swerve
put the money to the metal come and get your girl 
Til the lights blur
til the lines meet in the middle of the high beams
and the wipers 
keep time with the heartbeat
Til you hit a nerve 

I’m falling 
don’t catch me
don’t touch me 
don’t call me
Not much we 
let go 
even when we should and we know it
I walk the wall 
with both hands open 
I’d leave it all

Smokey eye because 
the mind’s on fire
Break glass and pass the axe skyward 
Stone the satellites
drones versus battle kites
Here goes 
the next past life
There’s a speaker 
in a decoy 
at the heart of the mine 
that rewinds
the same birdsong
Tell the back of the line  
that the digging is fine
let’s get the third shift on
They say that a rising tide
when it comes in
will lift every ship
But they skipped
the bit about wildfire
how it burns every bridge
Panic tryna find 
a little dry ground 
big back ups everybody outbound
Not me 
I’m like the good witch
bring the motherfucking house down

Looks like I hit a nerve
I hit a nerve

No patience I stay laced up and 
I’m running 
Learned a phrase in
every country 
I’ve lived and died, been revived like this

That game you taught me how to play 
I won it
Moved out East 
and I stayed hungry
And when the magic’s on me, I can’t miss

I can’t miss

Decoy

Lyrics and Vocals by Dessa
Produced by Lazerbeak and Andy Thompson
Bass by Ian Allison

Preorder 'Bury the Lede': https://lnk.to/BuryTheLede

LYRICS
When I’m good, I know it
When I’m bad I don’t know why
If you like it, you should show it
before we run right out of night 
Tired of the bar scene 
the stupid parties
getting makeup off my face
and glitter out the carpet    
Meet me in the elevator, let’s press all the buttons
we can say our goodbyes later
place is faded won’t remember nothing
 
Visine, cab fare, dry shampoo
I’ll take another like déjà—you
should let your guard down
I laid all my cards out 
Bells are ringing last round
but I’m not turning back now

This might be love
it’s still too close to call
But when the lights come up
don’t wanna be the flower on the wall 
Our nights are numbered 
you can count them as they fall 
But I like the thunder 
I’m here to feel it all

I know something’s missing 
I know something isn’t right
Seems like the good ones always hidden
somewhere just outta sight 
I think I’m ready, but I can’t say that I’m not afraid 
I got a sense of direction that gets in my own way 
I know at best it gets messy
nobody’s got an extra heart on hand to break

Dark eyes, allspice, hey look who
walked in shark fin headed for the pool table 
oooh maybe 
we could shoot a few later 
I got things to do but this game is better two-player
 
Hook

Chopper

Lyrics and Vocals by Dessa
Additional Vocals by Aviva Jaye
Produced by Lazerbeak and Andy Thompson

LYRICS
You keep in touch
but out of reach 
You know me
I always did like hide and seek 
This crush
I’m underneath 
it gets lonely
more hand to mouth than cheek to cheek

Tell me again and
this time try to mean it
Tell me again and
This time try to mean it
 
You call me up 
from far away 
though it’s so late 
you don’t seem to have much to say
I think you must 
have news to break 
I can take it 
I’d rather hear it from you, baby

Hook
 
If we’re just play fighting 
how come that blade’s shining 
how come my eyeliner’s running 
Then all of a sudden
you strike lightning
You turn me outside in
then I’m hit 
I’m in trouble
Now it’s
just a matter of time
 
It’s just a matter of time
It’s just a matter of time
 
I hope you love somebody
Even if that body isn’t mine
 
Even if that body isn’t mine
it isn’t
Even if that body isn’t
if that body isn’t
Even if that body isn’t
that body isn’t mine
 
Oh, just a little liquid courage and
Ooh, just a little powdered faith
I’ve been in and out of trouble  
while you have been walking away 
Oh, just a little liquid courage and
Ooh, just a little powdered faith
And oh, you’ve been running out of patience
And me, I’ve just been dancing in place

Tell Me Again

Lyrics and vocals by Dessa
Produced by Lazerbeak and Andy Thompson

LYRICS
Don’t be shy
I already like you
Don’t care what you drive
I’m attracted to the IQ
Not my style to make the first move
Haven’t felt this type of way since maybe high school
Sealed with a kiss
Signed with an Epipen
You gotta tolerate some risk
If you wanna make a margin, wanna make a friend 
We could live a little larger
Split the dividends
 
Wheels up
Let’s go
Already missed too much
To take this thing too slow
I already like you
There’s no sure bet
You just ride, ride, ride roulette
And I like you
I already like you
 
It feels right
Because it’s true
Don’t have to try when
I’m with you
You’re not the type to bend a rule
But I’m your bullet
And the proof
 
This city can feel like a little town
Think a marathon’s on, way they’re running all their mouths
But let em talk,
Let em wear their selves out
My book stays open
I know ‘cause I wrote it
Fucked up the trust fall
Caught a concussion
Run it off, that ain’t nothing
But the cost
The cost of doing business  
And I can take a hit with the big kids
Back up off me and count your own fingers
 
Wheels up
Let’s go
I could be your bullet and the proof
Bullet and the proof
I already
I already like you

I Already Like You

Lyrics and Vocals by Dessa
Additional vocals by Ben Burwell
Produced by ICETEP, Andy Thompson, and Lazerbeak
Bass by Ian Allison

LYRICS
Summer on the subway
whole city sweatin on the platform 
And the 4 would go to my place
but there’s bodies pressed against the train doors
I’ll wait til the next one comes—
been wearing that phrase out
It’s hard to meet someone
to unmeet the last one somehow
 
Oh, there’s your face in the crowd again
I see you all over town
It’s like there must be a dozen of you
But just one me and lately she’s breaking down 

Oreos and bourbon
I rent a movie and I watch it in bed 
That’s a B+ Thursday
and the past stays asleep in my head
But then the camera pulls back 
A sea of people out in the park 
I press pause, and I hear myself laugh
I lean in and I’m shot through the—
 
Hook

Oh, there’s your face in the crowd again
I see you all over town
It’s like there must be a dozen of you
Oh, I guess I’ll see you around 

I guess I’ll see you around

There’s your face in the crowd again
I see you all over town
It’s like there must be a dozen of you
but only one me and she’s freaking out

Hook

Twelve to One

Lyrics and Vocals by Dessa
Produced by Michael Piroli, Andy Thompson, and Lazerbeak
Pipa by Gao Hong

LYRICS
The razor’s free
but they get you on the blades it’s
basically 
on a know-to-need it basis 
Who’s gonna who’s gonna go and get it 
I’m on the road already 

Beijing 
to Bombay 
to Boise
Signal gets lost in the noise we
tune in but tap out before too long

Chatter on the intercom 
who’s gonna go and get it 
Someone else’s job
I’m on the road already 
But I keep the radio on 

The long wave
the last stations calling
The long wave
goes the way of all things 

Starve the guard dog and see what hunger does
it’s easy when we’re well fed to talk of love 
Panic bought a weighted blanket
now can’t get up to change the channels
lost cabin pressure in the living room 
What we wanted so bad, now we have it
still end up with parts not on the package 
just tryna put a new joint in solid bone 

Pull over 
read by 
the dome light
Shoulder 
to sleep on 
til sunrise 
But I listen in the whole night
scanning for a voice I know 

Rearview shows a cloud of dust 
a ghost arisen 
Windshield don’t show much
but I know something’s hidden 
so I spin the dial real slow 

On these straightaways
lonely steeplechase
only me to race home 
and I know it 
Day then night then day 
loop these interstates
More goodbyes than hellos 
I just go with   

Hook

Long Wave

Lyrics and Vocals by Dessa
Produced by Lazerbeak and Andy Thompson

This is the song on the record that most reflects my come-up in indie hip hop. Lazerbeak’s beat is vibey and driving; the lyrics flex some wordplay and lean into a little swagger. (And, for those of you following along at home, this track contains the second Wizard of Oz reference: I’m like the good witch, bring the motherfucking house down.)

The verses are impressionistic: a quick self introduction, a sweep of highway rushing past, a free fall, and then a few verbal polaroids of the chaos of the world at large: drones overhead, a flood at the city’s edge, and the relentless call to get back to work, despite the perils.

Dessa - Decoy

Created by Lazerbeak
Mixed by Joe Mabbott at The Hideaway
Mastered by Bruce Templeton at Microphonic Mastering
Art direction and photography by TZBZ

It's Going To Rain

Purchase EP

Sleepover

The Joynt

Bog Talk

Two Boats

Lyrics and vocals by Dessa
Music by Dessa, Lazerbeak, and Andy Thompson
Cello by Dan Lawonn
Violin by Andy Thompson

Chime

Velodrome

Dessa "Velodrome"

new DESSA 
album CHIME
in stores 2.23.18
pre-order: http://smarturl.it/DessaChime

Lyrics and vocals by Dessa
Music by Andy Thompson
Additional production by Lazerbeak

LYRICS

I’ve been Wendy
living with the Lost Boys
youth spent as a deckhand on the convoy
moved every night to prove we were something
got confused if it was from or to that we were running. 
I've seen Gibraltar
I’ve seen the Taj Mahal
Soweto, Hagia Sophia 
Chefchaouen paints their walls blue
I’ve played to full rooms
I’ve played the fool too 
burning through the bottoms of a pair of new boots
Cut my hair
tape my tits down 
A woman on her own must be from out of town
funny, you don’t know the concessions that you’re making until you catalog em
and by then they’re many and you’re battle-hardened. 
Heat makes liquid of the asphalt 
keepsakes and parking tickets on the dashboard 
I'm here to file my report as the vixen of the wolf pack; 
tell Patient Zero, he can have his rib back. 

Chorus
You can count my ribs
Wanna know what class I’m in—
Count my,
You can count my ribs. 

You can’t be too broke to break
as a woman
Always something left to take 
so you shouldn't  
try to stay too late or talk to strangers
look too long, go too far out of range cause
angels can’t watch everybody all the time
stay close, hems low, safe inside;
that formula works if you can live it 
but it works by putting half the world off limits. 

Chorus

We don’t say, Go out and be brave
nah, we say Be careful, stay safe 
in any given instance, that don't hurt
but it sinks in like stilettos in soft earth,
like the big win is a day without an incident 
I beg to differ with it
I think a woman’s worth
I think that she deserves 
a better line of work 
than motherfucking vigilance.
Don’t give me vigilance
by definition 
you can’t make a difference 
if the big ambition 
is simply standing sentry to your innocence  
that’s not a way to live 
that can’t be what a woman is
that gives her nothing to aspire to.
What that is—
what that is
is just a life of running fire drills. 

We’re runnin fire drills.

Fire Drills

Dessa "Fire Drills"

Dessa "Fighting Fish"

Dessa "Call Off Your Ghost"

Vocals and lyrics by Dessa
Produced by Lazerbeak
Additional production by Andy Thompson

Mixed by Joe Mabbott at The Hideaway
Mastered by Bruce Templeton at Microphonic Mastering
Art by Kai Benson