DESS DIOR WANTS TO BUILD A NEW TRIBE OF SUPPORTERS THROUGH HER PODCAST “ACT NORMAL”
Dess Dior is far from being a newcomer but her evolution from newest IT Girl on the scene to rapper, entrepreneur and fashion icon in the making is introducing her to a new wave of supporters through her newest venture with her BFF, the “Act Normal Podcast“. We sat down with Dess to talk about her spirituality, girlhood, her new collaboration with Pascal and much more!
FEATURE INTERVIEW:
You were born in St. Louis, but raised in Savannah. Can you talk to us about what it was like growing up in both places.
Well with St. Louis. Saint Louis was a place. All of my family is from. I was born there so I spent a lot of summers in St. Louis, just being super family oriented. My mom made sure me and all of my siblings we we went back for like holidays and summertime. I didn’t live in St. Louis, really, until my 12th grade year of high school. But other than that, I was raised in numerous places, but I feel like the core of me was raised in Savannah, Georgia, because that’s where I like kind of established myself as a young woman entrepreneur, and built my core friendship. So I feel like it just played a big part in who I am today.
What initially drew you to music?
Well, when I was younger, me and my friends had a rap group and it was always something I was good at, so I just continued to play with it, but I never really seen myself doing it as a profession. I would make freestyle videos on the internet, and they will all go like viral. And then my dad was like you should really take this serious. I’m like, no. But then he pushed me. He kind of invested into me initially and put me in a studio, and from there I like fell in love with the creation behind it, like the process of making songs.
I just kept practicing with it and making connections. I started networking, and I found myself like being good at something naturally like I didn’t have to try really, like all of my business ventures and connections I made were just really organic. So I was like, well, maybe this is something that’s good for me, I kind of found my niche with it.
Let’s take it back to your 1st project, “Definition of Dess”. It features 6 songs and was released about 4 years ago. Can you talk about the inspiration of the project and your favorite song on it?
I made my 1st EP, “Definition of Dess“, when, during quarantine. Around that time I was going through a lot of 1st time things in my life, like I getting my 1st apartment. This is when I really started like practicing my craft with making music. The pandemic was so different for everybody in the world, I didn’t really know what to pour into. So I was just in my apartment and a little studio I recently built.
The inspiration behind the whole project was me being an independent woman, an independent entrepreneur and happened to be put in the position to make money and pour it back into myself like my career. So that’s really what my whole EP is about. Just me hustling, being a young woman and pouring it back into something that I believe in, my craft.
So “Definition of Dess” is like a coming of age project about you growing up.
Yeah, like everything I was going through at that time! My favorite song on there would be “Summertime” with my friend Lay Lay, because she wasn’t even an artist at the time. But I was in such a creative space. I’m telling her, you can sing. You can do it! I was just talking about a whole bunch of things that I was going through vulnerably, and I’m not a vulnerable person. So it took a lot for me to do that. It sounded beautiful, and a lot of people resonated with that song. So yeah, summertime will be my favorite. Lay Lay was still doing makeup at the time so I wanted to push her to do something creatively that she really didn’t see herself doing. And now she does! It just showed the space I was in, I was in my bag.
I want to talk about your fashion evolution over the years. How would you describe it? How has your fashion changed from your early twenties to currently in your mid twenties?
My early twenties, I would say I was still figuring out a lot as far as like what looked good on me now I feel like I wear. I know what works for me, I know the type of clothing like that I would just immediately go to. When I was in my early twenties I was kind of still experimenting. Figuring out what direction I really wanted to go in.
I’m not in a exact direction now, but I feel like I have a clear idea of what like. I know what is an immediate no for me, and an immediate yes as well. Back then I was just trying a little bit of everything. And then I started working with a stylist over the time. So I’ve I learned a lot about more of what I was into and how far I can take my style.
You have a new collaboration that is dropping very soon. Can you share with us all you can about it?
I have a new collaboration with the jewelry brand Pascal releasing very soon. They make lab grown diamonds, so that means they’re affordable for everyone, and they’re still the same quality, like they still shine the same. They still look good. I got into this because accessories are a big part of an outfit for me. I over accessorize with everything and I’ve never really seen myself diving into it, but when I was when I was presented with the opportunity, I was able to creatively design my own pieces.
I fell in love with it, and the pieces I made. I have like this one of my faves is this watch ring because I’ve never seen that before. Honestly the jewelry overall is just something suitable for everyone, because I feel like a lot of people don’t really wear a lot of accessory pieces because they feel like they can’t afford it, or that they can’t afford something that’s that perfect medium of quality and affordable. So I just I wanted to find something that I feel like all of my fans could wear.
Outside of your Pascal line, out of all the jewelry you own, what’s your favorite piece of all time?
My favorite jewelry piece would be, I have this necklace, and it’s colorful diamonds in it, like these colorful flowers. That’s my favorite, because I feel like it’s really creative. And it it just stands out from all of my other jewelry pieces. Kind of what I went for, too, with the Pascal line, colorful green and gold.
Are you going to be showing looks of how people can style it, and like different ways to wear the Pascal collection?
Yep, I’m gonna be wearing it because these are pieces that I actually wear! I I tailored them to fit me, I don’t like being behind something that I wouldn’t actually wear. So I made sure every piece was something that I personally would like to put on.
What are some things you’re looking for when you choose which brands to do huge collaborations with, like Pascal?
I just look for one quality. I don’t want to be behind something that I couldn’t myself see myself wearing. I’ve also collaborated with a swim brand called Melissa Simone Swim and that did really well as well. But I just like for things to feel authentic, to who I am like with everything I do, music, fashion, everything has to feel authentic to me. So if I see a brand, and I can actually see myself not only selling it, but wearing it and confidently standing behind it, that’s when I know. Okay, yeah, I can collab with them.
What are a couple tips you have for anyone looking to revamp their wardrobe or like start to build their staple wardrobe?
It’s never too late like. Never be afraid to reinvent yourself. I feel like I reinvent myself a lot. My style changed from when I was 20 to 26, probably like 4 times so like, never be afraid to just go in another direction. Go another route, set trends and don’t let nobody box you in or tell you that you can’t do something, or you can’t wear something.
A couple of years ago you were on reality, TV with BET+ on “The Impact ATL”. What was it like opening up to the world when you have been known to be more private over the years? How did that experience go for you as far as sharing your family life, and just talking to us more?
It was very different for me and made things different. It’s a lot of uncomfortable experiences. But one thing I love the most about it is, it gave my fans the opportunity to see another side of me in a more vulnerable light, and I think that was very needed. So things that can be uncomfortable are still good things.
I feel like it humanized you more to the world.
And I love that. So I like doing things that will push me out of my comfort zone. Because at the end of the day, that’s all I want people to know is that I’m a human being, just like y’all is. I might be a little more private, but I’m human. I go through human experiences just like everybody else.
Let’s switch gears and talk about you and Jada’s podcast “Act Normal’. How did this podcast come about? What have you all learned so far?
Me and Jada have been friends since we were babies. Girlhood is very important to us! We sit up and we literally get each other through the hardest situations of life. And we just thought, f we help each other, if we can impact each other’s lives this much, imagine how much we can help other women and girls that go through the same exact life experiences as us.
Imagine how many people we can touch. Jada is a little more vocal when it comes to sharing her life experiences. But I feel like this podcast gave both of us an opportunity for people to see total different sides of us in a more calm, very vulnerable state. We just want to help, inspire and encourage younger girls, older girls, and just build our own tribe of women to connect to in another light than Instagram and glitz and glam. We want people to see us in another light.
Y’all both are so young. It’s interesting to see y’all come into yourselves as grown women. And how you guys are trying to show us a more mature version of y’all.
Yeah, this platform gave us the opportunity to share the journey from being young, and all the challenges we’ve had in the industry that people may not have seen, and just everything! It gives us the opportunity to, you know, show everybody that one, not only you can do it, too. But it’s okay to fuck up. It’s okay to start over. We are very transparent with our journey with God, and I feel like a lot of people love that because a lot of people are really hard on themselves when it comes to their spirituality. So we we just try to be as organic as possible to people.
I love that. Can you give us a couple of tips for anyone who wants to start a successful podcast and make money from it?
Well, one it’s gonna be a lot of investments before you even start making money. So I feel like the goal should not be to think this is a money move. I feel like you should have clear intentions on what you plan to pour into the world before you even think about getting on there and pressing record on the video. You need to have clear intentions on what message you want to put out to the world.
My next advice would be if you’re not doing it by yourself, do it with somebody that you’re very comfortable with, that you feel safe with. The foundation between you two was already set before y’all pressed record. Well, with Pour Minds, they told us it was just them with us, we have a little production team. But with them starting out was so . So if you do it with like a team behind you, do it with people who understand the goal, you guys have understand you as a person, and they’re not trying to set you apart from that, I think that’s very important.
You’ve done songs with big artists like Mariah The Scientist, Skilla Baby and Rob 49, just to name a few. Who are a few artists that you would like to work with in the future if you could work with anybody?
I always say this, and it’s like I’m really manifesting it. At this point. I love Jhene Aiko. I love her so much. I would love to do a song with Jhene. I also love Sza. I listened to a lot of R & B, and after collaborating with Mariah, it showed me that I can. Even if I’m not like a singer, I can make good music with these other artists who do sing. On the rap side. I like lotto faux Millie. I would do a song with them, love them as artists.
Do you remember what Trina and Kelly Rowland’s “Here We Go”? We need that from you and someone else, that will be fire.
Still listen to that song that song’s still on my playlist! And that’s what I lean towards, more.
Let’s talk about your last project “RAW”, it was released about 2 years ago, and it has 8 songs. When can we expect a new full body of work from you. And how will this new project sonically differ from “RAW”.
Sonically, I feel like with “RAW” I was trying a lot of different things. I was really just low key experimenting like I had a couple of different sounds on RAW because when I made that I was in like this artist development stage. Since then I’ve transitioned into more of a solid sound. I feel like I’ve found more of my sound, because after Rob’s release, “Leave Her Alone“, which is like more of like I’m finding my tone on the beat. you know, and I feel like every time I go in the studio I do that. I learn new things about my voice. I learn more ways to play with music and making music. So this next body of work I feel like it’ll show that.
When can we expect it? Maybe in 2025?
Whenever it feels right, I don’t really have an exact date. I want to say 2025, but whenever. I want to go with whenever it just clicks to me. Like, Okay, yeah, it’s ready. And that’s one thing with “Definition of Dess” felt like. It felt like the right time. So I just like to do everything off organic-ness. And whenever it comes to me, whenever it feels right, and God say it’s time. That’s when I know it’s time. So I really don’t have an exact date. But I can say I do have a lot of singles coming. I’m just gonna ride the single wave until I feel like it’s time for a project.
Walk us through a perfect self care day from the moment you wake up. Where you don’t have to work, go to the studio, do anything except what you want.
An ideal self-care day for me… It’s like I mix work with every day. But it would be me not answering the phone from my team. They don’t get answered, but I’ll be like still responding to little emails or like important messages, because I just like I can’t go in MIA for a day. I mean that might sound crazy. But I just feel like I’ll fall so behind just by going in MIA, but it also consists of having a spa day.
And I love bubble baths. We’re gonna do a little spa bubble bath and I’m just laying around being lazy. I like watching “Insecure”. I’ll just let that play, I don’t even really have to be paying attention because my attention span is so short. I literally just like, let the TV play while playing with Ralph. And we just be laying up just doing nothing. I feel like I’d be on TikTok too! It’s my new binge watching, doing nothing. So much time will go by. But like, that’s like my spa time like me going to get a massage. I love massages as well!
What are 4 beauty products that stay in your purse at all times?
I have to have my my lip care. We can do carmax, or I just I’ll have like some lip moisturizers. I don’t know the exact brand, but I got it from Sephora like I gotta keep my lips moisturized.
I have this Dove hand lotion cream, it’s the best, need that always. My fancy lip gloss. It’s just a regular clear one, like the lip plumper and my eyelash brush.
Outside of music and fashion, are there any other ways that you like to express yourself creatively?
I haven’t got a hobby but I like to journal and read.
If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I can wake up every day and eat pasta. You can switch pasta’s up, though. I like a red sauce in mine! I think I can eat pasta every day.
What is the difference between single Dess and relationship Dess? What’s the biggest difference that you’ve noticed about yourself?
The biggest difference is relationship Dess is more of a very much put up, like not being in my bag at all. I’m gonna be a 100%, relationship Dess just put up and focused on her man, which is not good! But single Dess is more so, just pouring into herself and just glowing. Being outside, working, networking. and flourishing.
You’re known for having your signature blunt bob cut, and it’s so beautiful on you. I love the way you rock this style. Is there any other style that you feel like you could try?
I said recently, I want to just let my hair grow and see how long it could get. I know I always cut it. But I was like, I’m gonna just let it grow, and we gonna see what it gives. But I feel like the bob gives more of a look, like it’s like a statement so outfits and everything just looks good with everything. But we gonna see, we’re gonna see…
You can always be seen rocking a beautiful soft glam and natural glam makeup look. What are a few tips that you have for girls who may struggle with finding the perfect look for their face?
Less is more so when doing your makeup, if you can’t find a look that don’t mean put more on. That means scale back. I feel like less is more because I I don’t really put a lot of makeup on, and it still looks flawless. It still give gives glam.
Leave Galore readers with one piece of life advice.
Put God 1st in everything you do. Never lead off fear, always go off, faith, and give yourself grace, and give everybody around you grace. I feel like you will go very far in life with those key things.
TEAM CREDITS:
Editor–in–Chief: Prince Chenoa
Feature Editor: Taylor Winter Wilson (@taylorwinter)
Cover Art Design: Carlos Graciano (@sadpapi666)
Producer: Angel Rosa (@ajrfilms)
Director: Annie Bercy (@anniebercy)
Hair Stylist: Nina Boswell (@bigbrattyhair)
Wardrobe Stylist: Karissa Mitchell (@alistkariss)
PM: Brandon McClover (@brandon.bacquie)
DP: Leroy Farrell (@leroy_farrell)
1st AC: Sebastian Buendia (@fpssebastian)
Gaffer: Cole Heller (@nanaslightingservice)
Key Grip: Dardenne Mixon (@dardopamine)
PA: DJ McCain (@quanmccain)
BTS: 4 Shots (@4shots.iv)
Public Relations: Cabine Creative: (@cabinecreative)
Management: Sydney Vann (@thehomiesydneyy)
