DEZI

Hypnotic, defiant, and wildly unpredictable, DEZI’s moody brand of alt-pop comes from embracing every aspect of her singular identity. “My whole life is about riding the in-between,” says the Los Angeles-based artist/songwriter/producer. “I’m half-Cuban, I’m bisexual, I’m very fem but also very masc. For a long time I felt like I had to choose which parts of myself to show, but now I’ve stopped trying to be some sort of perfect package.” Building on the breakout success of her hit single “Chaos Mode,” DEZI’s latest body of work is the sound of an artist pushing against all confines, and ultimately creating a thrilling new space within the pop world.

In early 2021, DEZI made her debut with a spellbinding single called “How to Leave a Lover,” then scored her first of multiple viral hits with “Chaos Mode” several months later. “It’s a song about being a chaotic Aries bisexual, and calling myself out on my bullshit but also celebrating it,” DEZI explains. “I brought that idea into so many writing sessions and everyone told me it was too weird, until I went to an all-female writing camp and they were all so excited about it.”

DEZI’s new material marks a magnetic convergence of elements: the sophisticated musicianship she’s honed since childhood, introspective lyrics informed by her folk background, a decidedly DIY and experimentation-heavy approach to production, and an unapologetically bold attitude echoing her affinity for pop’s fiercest icons. “Half my music is sad-bitch music and the other half is bad-bitch music,” notes DEZI. “There’s some hyper-pop in the new songs, but we also brought in a Latin influence to pay homage to my Cuban roots—which is something I’ve always wanted to do but never got right till now.”

With the release of her most recent batch of songs, DEZI hopes to extend that unstoppable sense of confidence to her audience. “These songs all started with me putting on the persona of someone who’s so purely themselves that nothing can possibly touch them,” she says. “The more I perform them and lean into that persona, it helps me to embody that feeling instead of getting caught up in what other people might think. It’s been such a long journey for me to find that self-love, and now I just want to bring it to my listeners and let them know they all deserve the absolute best.”