Fate From Mars

Fate From Mars (DESSY (@fatefrommars), a Brooklyn native, is a singer, songwriter, and performer. They recently released the long-anticipated EP HIATUS, available to stream on SoundCloud and Spotify—and performed their new album at Arlene’s in downtown Manhattan. When asked about their upcoming moves, they sat down with me to tell me about their next project, “RIDE,” and how they will elevate the experience for their fans.

How would you describe the genre of music you're working on right now? 

It could be described as neo-soul, alt-r&b, or indie. I think I try to push myself and experiment. 

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a single for my next project called THE RIDE, I’m talking choreography, release party- all of that!

When's it coming out?

That's a good question! Haha I wanna say before the Fall starts.

What made you feel like it's time to take that step? 

Well, it's been about two years of me just sharing my music with people and being vulnerable and just putting myself out there and putting out what I think people would like, and now I have these collections of things in me that deserve a bigger platform than I have given them. I think taking that next professional step really shows or gives me a chance to show a specific part of myself. I feel like this EP should be the start of that picture. 

When you say you want a bigger platform, who’s that audience, and where is it going? 

I want it to keep to the same vibe of the people I get to meet in person, but I feel like others aren't able to get to that connection of in-person-shows that might benefit if I made my art accessible online.

Oh okay, okay!

Right! So they might not be able to vibe in person, but maybe at home they might get to have that same energy. So that's for those people.

Alright, alright! Uhh, what's your favorite color?

Black! 

What is the meaning of the sort of scattered songs you've put out so far compared to this first project? 

I like to label myself as someone who puts out low vibrational music and I feel like this EP is very much so in the opposite direction or at least the message strives to be so it's very different from what I have scattered around.

What is that message you're trying to put out now? 

No matter how low you are, if you take that time to really be alone with yourself, you'll find that push that you need to elevate, that you need to grow to change the habits that are probably bringing you down.

Are you doing that now? 

Yeah! I've done that! That's how I ended up here! Be outside and go to the studio and get to meet people!

Done and checked off! 

Yeah thank, God!

So what's the next season gonna look like now that you've checked that off? 

It's going back to back to how it used to be when I was open and collaborating with other creatives in the city and coming back to that community and putting myself back into it.

That's great, so you've done collaborations before, and you're open to it now?

I've had a long string of hot and cold with my collaborations which is part of the reason why I ended up going into a hiatus, but now coming out with the change that I've been through, I'm selective in all the right ways so now I know every experience that I have is going to be a good experience. There are some people that I've worked with that I'll definitely be working with again and there are some people… love you, mean it, see you around…

What are you trying to convey or move people with this?

I'm tryna move people with the "Let's finally step out of the hibernation we've all been in since quarantine, and let's create and try new things and try to be better people”. 

Facts. Who are your biggest musical inspirations? 

Definitely Talia the Goddess because you know she's someone that's a little bit closer to home, someone I got to meet, someone I got to see, see them go through the progress and go through it successfully. Um, Doechii because she's such a dope Black artist that really pushes the standard every time. And, honestly, although she kinda got me pissed off with her recent tweets, but Doja Cat is still one of my favs because (laughs) looking at where she started- I was a big fan of her old shit, she was one of the people that really pushed the envelope of "I went from here to industry standard. And yeah, became a lil fucked up but I still put out music that's from me". 

That's facts. Are you excited about her new album? 

She's putting out a new album? She be doing a lot.

I just found out like six hours ago. 

I'm sure it'll be fresh for her which will be fresh for me which I'm excited for as a fan. 

Yeah, I definitely wanna see Doechii.

Her stage presence!

Yeah, I've only heard good things! Okay, so who are your biggest soulful inspirations?

Soulful? My closest friends are my closest friends because I'm really grateful to be surrounded by people who are just constantly growing and learning.

What's the ritual for the first step of creation for you?

Just thinking, I like talking to myself and just listening to music constantly. I gotta listen to a good tune before I can create my own. 

Do you remember the tune you were listening to when you first started the EP?

Pft, I think I was listening to my concert recordings.

Ohh, are there any other points of creation for you?

Mediums? I've been trying to go into photography. I have one shoot that I could say I was really proud of. Just creating video content, like editing and putting shots together. I find that really soothing. 

You gotta show me the shoot after!

Yeah, I do. I love that shoot!

Where do you wanna see yourself at the end of the summer? 

Definitely, with my project done and in a good place and seeing myself have all these results of collaborations that I've done with other people.

Facts, I guess if you were me, on the other side of this interview, what would you ask yourself? 

Just like, "Why are you smoking when you know you have to come to the studio? Why would you do that to your voice?" 

Because that's what keeps the morale going! You hacking into the mic!

I gotta learn self-control!

I mean, I saw you rolling up just now and stopping yourself.

I know!

Where are you from? 

I'm from Bushwick, I'm kind of Puerto Rican, I try to jack. (laughs) Fake cause I don't speak Spanish, but I'm learning! Haters gone hate, real ones know wassup!

What's the date of your next show for people to look out for?

Sometime in October, I’m helping my friend RillyRil who is working on a project I’m featured in.

Okay, is there anything else you wanna say before we say bye?

Don't wait to start something that you have never started before. Don't be afraid to jump into something new even if you feel like other people might not fuck with it, or people might not see what you did. You know what you did, you did that, keep doing that.