Dessa Live In Studio - All Of It with Alison Stewart

Summary

All Of It with Alison Stewart: "Dessa Live In Studio" – March 20, 2026
Podcast Summary

Episode Overview

This episode of All Of It with Alison Stewart features rapper, writer, and composer Dessa. Known for her start in the Minneapolis hip-hop collective Doomtree, Dessa discusses her new EP Tough Call Camelot, previews songs live in studio, and reflects on the cultural and political events in Minneapolis over recent years. The conversation covers music production, protest and community resilience, creative process, and her artist-in-residence role at Georgetown University. The tone is thoughtful, candid, and peppered with Dessa’s trademark wit and self-awareness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Performing "Camelot" and Political Songwriting

[01:57] Dessa performs "Camelot," the opening track from her new EP, noted for mixing pop culture and urgent political references.
Motivation Behind the Song:
- Written in 2025, pre-ICE raids in Minneapolis.
- A rare political song for Dessa, aiming for inclusivity:
  
  “I really wanted to try to write a political song where I was a member of the group that could use some changing too…so for me, using words like I and we were really important…” — Dessa [05:26]
- Felt by news, societal overwhelm, and uncertainty about how to respond.
On Including References to Gaza:

“I was a little bit afraid just because of the way that we communicate online that including a line overtly about Gaza would be tricky...I was afraid to read the comments. I was also afraid to read the DMs…” — Dessa [06:01]
- Reception was “really receptive,” validating her risk.

2. Recording Process & Creative Collaboration

[06:52] Songs were written "pretty quickly back to back."
First time self-producing tracks, with support from Lazer Beak and Andy Thompson.
Field-recorded a guitar line in South Africa after denied visa for collaborators.
On writing speed:

“I’m so slow, Alison. Do you know what I’m saying? Like, whatever you’re imagining ‘back to back,’ you know, spread that out over, like, many pages of the calendar.” — Dessa [07:25]
Band camaraderie highlighted—shared laughter during the segment.

3. Minneapolis Protests: 2020–2026 Comparison

[08:12] Reflects on Black Lives Matter (2020) vs. ICE raids (2026):
- Difference between clean “history book” narratives and real, messy on-the-ground confusion.
- Importance of trusted, local connections and grassroots resistance:
  
  “Making those connections are what allowed Minneapolis to resist…block by block, building by building, people were really mounting an oppressive resistance to wildly overarmed federal agents...” — Dessa [08:12]
Why Minneapolis?

“No matter what you think about immigration, this ain’t the way to do it full stop… I think that Minneapolis said, nah, message not received. Like, return to sender.” — Dessa [09:40]
Mother Jones Essay & Community Solidarity:
- Wrote to share the reality and best practices from the ground.
- Unexpected community alliances (e.g., a local sex shop became a donation hub called “Diaper Mountain”).
  
  “Those people will become part of a shared resistance. Together, they’re compatriots, even if they’re not their friends...engage in conflict responsibly, because you will need to link arms with people who you don’t like in serious scenarios.” — Dessa [10:28]

4. Keeping Perspective and Community Focus

[12:09] On staying focused amid chaos:
- There is no spreadsheet for resistance—just meeting needs as you see them and trusting others will too.
  
  “Where do you see a need? Do you have anything that might help meet that need?” — Dessa [12:09]
- “Trust that the big production is going on in concert around you.” — Dessa [12:46]

5. Band Introductions

[13:01]
- Joshua Williams aka Jelly (Keys)
- Lady Midnight (Touring)
- Aviva J. (Harp & Vocals)

6. Performing "Tough" and Themes of Resilience

[13:20] Performs "Tough," a song about getting through life's randomness and pain, not always finding meaning in suffering:

“Just ’cause there’s a reason doesn’t mean it happened for a good cause...you don’t gotta grow from it, you just gotta get through...” — Dessa [14:35]

7. Artist-in-Residence at Georgetown

[16:40] First-ever artist for the Music Sustainability Initiative.
- Exploring topics on the economics and sustainability of music and performing arts:
  
  “The economy, the ecosystem of music and performing arts…newsflash, it kind of sucks.” — Dessa [16:40]
- Hosting conferences on AI and its impact on music—both threat and opportunity.
- Highlights music as “informal apprenticeship,” importance of mentorship and academic-artist dialogue.
  
  “So much of what we do is really like watching and modeling how the people around us who seem to be doing it well and in ways that we admire do it.” — Dessa [17:59]

8. Upcoming Symphonic & Literary Project

[19:45] Will perform with the Oregon Symphony, integrating monologues and literary angles as part of a book festival show.

9. On Tour & Live Shows

[20:09] Discusses the challenges of keeping live shows fresh, working in new “Easter eggs” for fans who follow the tour.

10. Performing "Dixon’s Girl": Early Days Retrospective

[21:09] “Dixon’s Girl” (2010) closes the set.
Reminisces about humble beginnings and learning through embarrassing takes:

“She went, ‘Honey, this is the job. Now you know? Now that lousy take is over, we can start the next one.’ And that has stayed with me to this day.” — Dessa [21:40]
The real “Dixon” is anonymized—his name changed for privacy.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On collective action:
“Those people will become part of a shared resistance. Together, they’re compatriots, even if they’re not their friends. And so, to me, the biggest reminder was: engage in conflict responsibly, because you will need to link arms with people who you don’t like in serious scenarios.” — Dessa [10:28]
On songwriting and self-inclusion:
“I wanted to try to write a political song where I was a member of the group, that could use some changing too...” — Dessa [05:26]
On AI and the music ecosystem:
“They’re putting on a conference next month that explores and investigates how AI is changing the ecosystem, the threats that it poses, the opportunities maybe that it offers too.” — Dessa [17:11]
On perseverance:
“You don’t gotta grow from it, you just gotta get through. Even when you don’t want it, even if it hurts you…” — Dessa [14:35]
On early career lessons:
“Now that lousy take is over, we can start the next one. And that has stayed with me to this day.” — Dessa [21:40]
On Minneapolis resisting federal overreach:
“Minneapolis said, nah, message not received. Like, return to sender.” — Dessa [09:40]

Timestamps for Major Segments

[01:57] "Camelot" live performance
[05:09] Discussion: why write "Camelot" and approach to political songwriting
[07:21] Songwriting process, South African collaboration
[08:12] Comparing 2020 & 2026 Minneapolis protests
[09:40] On why Minneapolis became a protest epicenter
[10:28] Writing for Mother Jones and community alliances
[12:09] Maintaining focus in tumultuous times
[13:20] Band introductions
[13:38] "Tough" live performance
[16:40] Artist-in-residence role at Georgetown—music economy, AI, mentorship
[19:45] Upcoming symphonic and literary performances
[21:09] "Dixon’s Girl" live performance and origin story
[24:44] Show close

Summary Tone

The episode is open and personal, with a mix of humor and gravity. Dessa offers both creative insights and reflections on serious socio-political issues, inviting listeners into her processes and community activism. Stewart’s questions are warm, supportive, and probing, fostering a space for authenticity and candid dialogue.

Recommended for listeners interested in:

The intersections of music, protest, and social change
The realities of making music in a disrupted industry
The creative process as lived by a working artist
Live performances and the backstories behind songs