Kevin Lau
AUG 2018-2019 BOOK CLUBBook 12/30: A Nonfiction Book
I only realized through reading this that most people who know Dessa's music might have discovered her from the Hamilton Mixtape for her performance of the song Congratulations (which was a song cut from the original play). I, on the other hand, discovered her on a Spring Sampler album with her cover of Balance by The Mountain Goats. I really dug her voice and how it correlated with the choice of instrumental (way different from the original Mountain Goats song but still held true to its core. One of my favorite covers), so I looked into her discography and absolutely loved her 2018 album Chime.
Not only did I adhere to her voice and excellent rapping skills, but to her lyrics as well. Dessa mentions in her memoir that she seems to be born to perform burn songs, and she may be onto something. In her music, the poignant vocabulary carries its own weight and provides a strong momentum,, never missing a beat. The writing in this book shares a similar effect.
My Own Devices is a candid collection of essays where Dessa writes about her road to music and addiction to love. She's a Philosophy major turned rapper that has a unique interest in science. She recounts her father's big project, her road trips from touring with DoomTree, her on-again-off-again ex for over a decade, and questions the validity of certain ideas and behaviors. Dessa writes with a lot of experience and knowledge under her belt and the placement of the essays really works in her favor, creating a rollercoaster of emotions that make you laugh from her witty remarks or ponder your own behavior from her sharp insight, and this is a rollercoaster you want to ride.
In short, Dessa was robbed for not even being nominated for Best Memoir/Autobiography of 2018.
AUG 2018-2019 BOOK CLUBBook 12/30: A Nonfiction Book
I only realized through reading this that most people who know Dessa's music might have discovered her from the Hamilton Mixtape for her performance of the song Congratulations (which was a song cut from the original play). I, on the other hand, discovered her on a Spring Sampler album with her cover of Balance by The Mountain Goats. I really dug her voice and how it correlated with the choice of instrumental (way different from the original Mountain Goats song but still held true to its core. One of my favorite covers), so I looked into her discography and absolutely loved her 2018 album Chime.
Not only did I adhere to her voice and excellent rapping skills, but to her lyrics as well. Dessa mentions in her memoir that she seems to be born to perform burn songs, and she may be onto something. In her music, the poignant vocabulary carries its own weight and provides a strong momentum,, never missing a beat. The writing in this book shares a similar effect.
My Own Devices is a candid collection of essays where Dessa writes about her road to music and addiction to love. She's a Philosophy major turned rapper that has a unique interest in science. She recounts her father's big project, her road trips from touring with DoomTree, her on-again-off-again ex for over a decade, and questions the validity of certain ideas and behaviors. Dessa writes with a lot of experience and knowledge under her belt and the placement of the essays really works in her favor, creating a rollercoaster of emotions that make you laugh from her witty remarks or ponder your own behavior from her sharp insight, and this is a rollercoaster you want to ride.
In short, Dessa was robbed for not even being nominated for Best Memoir/Autobiography of 2018.