Black Dresses

Black Dresses
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada[1]
Genres
Years active
  • 2017–2020
  • 2021–2024
Past members
  • Devi McCallion
  • Ada Rook

Black Dresses was a Canadian noise pop duo consisting of Ada Rook and Devi McCallion, formed in 2017.[2][3] Their debut album, Wasteisolation, was released independently in 2018. The duo released three additional albums, Thank You (2019), Love and Affection for Stupid Little Bitches (2019), and Peaceful as Hell (2020), before breaking up in 2020 in response to harassment received by McCallion. Despite maintaining their declaration of disbandment in 2020, Black Dresses released three additional albums, Forever in Your Heart (2021), Forget Your Own Face (2022), and Laughingfish (2024). Upon releasing Laughingfish, the band announced that it would be their final album.[4][5][6]

History

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2018-2019: Wasteisolation, Thank You, and Love and Affection for Stupid Little Bitches

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Black Dresses was formed in 2017 by self-taught musicians Ada Rook and Devi McCallion after Rook sent McCallion a beat on Twitter.[7] They released their first single, a cover of M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes", in December 2017.[8]

The duo released their debut album, Wasteisolation, in April 2018.[9] The album was created entirely through online collaboration, with McCallion based in Toronto and Rook in Vancouver.[10] Wasteisolation received positive coverage by Noisey,[11] Stereogum[12] and The Fader who called it "a raw, abrasive, and deliriously catchy album about surviving as trans women in an antagonistic world."[10] This was followed shortly by the EP HELL IS REAL, released in October of the same year.[13] The EP featured in Stereogum's Best EPs of 2018 list,[14] with the duo also featuring in the publication's list of best new artists.[15]

In February 2019, Black Dresses released their second studio album, Thank You.[16] In May, they released Dreams Come True 2019, a remix EP consisting of new versions of several Wasteisolation tracks.[17] The band released their third studio album, Love and Affection for Stupid Little Bitches in August 2019.[18] The album was reviewed positively, with Pitchfork's Colin Joyce awarding an album a rating of 7.7,[3] and Noisey including the record on its "22 Best Albums You May Have Missed in 2019" list.[19]

2020: Peaceful as Hell and initial disbandment

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In March 2020, a full-length animated video for the Wasteisolation track "Nausea" was released. On 13 April 2020, the second anniversary of Wasteisolation's release, Black Dresses released their fourth LP, Peaceful as Hell.[20] The album received a rating of 7.6 from Pitchfork, with Leah Mandel stating, "Especially with the world's hellishness currently blaring at us, every social disparity spotlighted and exacerbated, loneliness and doubt deepened to an extreme degree, Peaceful as Hell is perfect medicine".[2]

The duo announced via Twitter on May 26, 2020, that Black Dresses would be disbanding, citing the harassment received by McCallion as the reason.[21] The band's music was also temporarily taken off streaming services.[22] in July 2020, after the duo disbanded, a remix of 100 gecs song, "745 Sticky", was released on the remix album 1000 Gecs and the Tree of Clues. On December 20, 2020, a new single titled "World Peace" featuring ESPer99 was announced on Twitter,[23] which was recorded in 2019. The single was released the next day on December 21, 2020.[24][25] McCallion and Rook also continued to release solo music, with McCallion using the alias Girls Rituals and Rook using her real name.[10]

2021-2022: Forever in Your Heart and Forget Your Own Face

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On February 14, 2021, the duo released their fifth studio album, Forever in Your Heart, announcing it 30 minutes prior to its release. Despite the release, the group stated "We're no longer a band unfortunately. Regardless, we've decided to keep putting out music."[26] Ten days later, Backxwash announced the tracklist for her album I Lie Here Buried with My Rings and My Dresses, which was to feature Rook and McCallion on separate tracks,[27] although after tracklist changes McCallion did not appear on the album.

In August 2021, Black Dresses' music returned to streaming services.[28] In December 2021, Black Dresses appeared on the holiday compilation album Christmasasaurus X2 with their version of the song "We Are Children of the Light" by Eugene O'Reilley.[29][30]

On February 14, 2022, the duo released their sixth studio album, Forget Your Own Face, exactly one year after their previous album released, to overall positive reception.[31] Hannah Jocelyn on Pitchfork stated: "For a band that often writes about internalized shame and self-loathing, the resentment at the heart of this record feels more outwardly pointed."[32] On September 30, 2022, the duo released a cover of the Scene Queen track "Pink Panther".[33] An announcement was posted on their Twitter for their cover of "Kill All Your Friends",[34] which was released the same day on October 17, 2022.[35]

2023-2024: Laughingfish and final disbandment

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On May 3, 2023, Black Dresses posted an announcement for a new single titled "Gutz" featuring Rirugiliyangugili.[36] The music video for the song was released the next day on May 4, 2023.[37] That August, they collaborated with Canadian Electro-pop band Purity Ring for their single "Shines".[38] They released a remix of "Got Damn Star" by So Drove on September 29, 2023, which features Kevin Jz Prodigy, Kornbread Jeté, and Yung Onyx.[39]

The duo released their seventh studio album, Laughingfish, on May 20, 2024. Upon release, they announced that it would be their final album.[4][5][6]

Band members and solo work

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Ada Rook

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Rook releases music under her own name, as well as her side project Crisis Sigil.[40] She is also a member of the duo Rook & Nomie in addition to Black Dresses.[41] In 2022, she released an album titled Ugly Death No Redemption Angel Curse I Love You, featuring ESPer99.[42] The album includes samples of the 2007 anime Ice.[43] Rook and Ash Nerve created a duo group, Angel Electronics in 2022, releasing a nine song EP, Ultra Paradise, in 2023.[44]

Devi McCallion

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McCallion has released music online since at least 2006, under her own name as well as several different aliases. She released her first album 1998 under the alias Eat Babies in 2006, and released Meow in 2011.[45][46][47][48]

As Mom, she has released five studio albums, four of which are numbered self-titled releases.[49]

As Girls Rituals, she has released six projects: Reddishness (2015), New Nowhere (2016), Emergency! (2017), I'm Desperate (2018), Crap Shit (2020),[50] and Cow (2021).[51] Under Girls Rituals, she also released a single entitled "Black Cloud" in 2017, for which she later released a compilation project featuring seven remixes of the song by various other artists titled Black Cloud 2021 (2021). McCallion also has two albums under the alias Cats Millionaire: Fun Fun Fun (2013), and I'm So Sorry (2012). She also created two collaboration albums with Katie Dey: Some New Form of Life (2018), and Magic Fire Brain (2020).

She has been a member of several side projects over the years, including the Various Endeavors?[52] She co-produced most of the band's music from 2007 to 2010. She is also a member of Anarchy 99[53] with So Drove. Anarchy 99 has released one studio album, Rockstar Super Heat (2021).

Discography

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Albums

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EPs

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Singles

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As lead artist

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[edit]

References

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  1. ^ Zetko, Teodor (18 March 2019). "Souls are as frigid as their music: Toronto's newest noise-pop duo Black Dresses". CFMU-FM. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b Mandel, Leah (24 April 2020). "Black Dresses: Peaceful As Hell". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  3. ^ a b Joyce, Colin (31 August 2019). "Black Dresses: Love And Affection For Stupid Little Bitches". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  4. ^ a b Rettig, James (20 May 2024). "Stream Black Dresses' "Final Album" LAUGHINGFISH". Stereogum. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Final album "LAUGHINGFISH" out now". Twitter.com. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  6. ^ a b "this is the last one. thank you everyone for all the support you've shown this music over the years. it means more to me than i can say. take care of yourselves out there". Twitter.com. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  7. ^ Mertens, Max (16 January 2019). "The sound of Toronto right now". NOW Toronto. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  8. ^ a b "LETHAL POISON FOR THE SYSTEM". 21 December 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  9. ^ Rettig, James (13 April 2018). "Stream Black Dresses WASTEISOLATION". Stereogum. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  10. ^ a b c Geffen, Sasha (1 June 2018). "The addictive power of Black Dresses's dark, delirious noise pop". The Fader. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  11. ^ Joyce, Colin (20 July 2018). "40 Essential Albums You Probably Missed So Far in 2018". Noisey. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  12. ^ Rettig, James (6 June 2018). "The 50 Best Albums Of 2018 So Far". Stereogum. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  13. ^ Rettig, James (15 October 2018). "Stream Black Dresses' New HELL IS REAL EP". Stereogum. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  14. ^ Rettig, James (5 December 2018). "25 Great EPs From 2018". Stereogum. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  15. ^ Tully Claymore, Gabriela (29 October 2018). "Stereogum's 40 Best New Bands Of 2018". Stereogum. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  16. ^ Rettig, James (5 February 2019). "Stream Black Dresses' New Album THANK YOU". Stereogum. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  17. ^ "DREAMS COME TRUE 2019". Bandcamp.
  18. ^ Rettig, James (1 August 2019). "Stream Black Dresses' New Album LOVE AND AFFECTION FOR STUPID LITTLE BITCHES". Stereogum. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  19. ^ Joyce, Colin (24 December 2019). "The 22 Best Albums You May Have Missed in 2019". Noisey. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  20. ^ Rettig, James (13 April 2020). "Stream Black Dresses' New Album Peaceful As Hell". Stereogum. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  21. ^ @BlackDresses666 (26 May 2020). "Announcement" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  22. ^ Hatfield, Amanda (26 May 2020). "Black Dresses "will no longer exist," following alleged TikTok drama; music taken off streaming services". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  23. ^ "We made this song in November of last year when ESPer99 was staying with us. Please enjoy". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  24. ^ Gregory, Alice (21 December 2020). "Black Dresses Return with New Single "World Peace"". Exclaim!. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  25. ^ Black Dresses - WORLD PEACE ft. ESPer99 (Music Video), 20 December 2020, retrieved 12 September 2023
  26. ^ Breihan, Tom (15 February 2021). "Black Dresses Are Still Broken Up, But They Just Released A New Album Anyway". Stereogum. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  27. ^ Bobkin, Matt (24 February 2021). "Backxwash Gets clipping., Black Dresses, Sad13 for Upcoming Album". Exclaim!. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  28. ^ "music back on streaming". Twitter. 8 August 2021. Archived from the original on 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  29. ^ Rettig, James (14 December 2021). "Black Dresses – "We Are Children Of The Light"". Stereogum. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  30. ^ "New Songs Out Today". BrooklynVegan. 24 December 2021. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  31. ^ Gregory, Allie (15 February 2022). "Black Dresses Drop New Album 'Forget Your Own Face'". Exclaim!. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  32. ^ Jocelyn, Hannah (1 March 2022). "Black Dresses: Forget Your Own Face". Pitchfork. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  33. ^ "23 New Songs Out Today". BrooklynVegan. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  34. ^ Black Dresses [@BlackDresses666] (17 October 2022). "We covered the My Chemical Romance @MCRofficial song "Kill All Your Friends"" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  35. ^ Kill All Your Friends, 16 October 2022, retrieved 12 September 2023
  36. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  37. ^ Black Dresses - gutz (feat. rirugiliyangugili) Official Video, 4 May 2023, retrieved 12 September 2023
  38. ^ Purity Ring + Black Dresses - shines (official lyric video), August 2023, retrieved 12 September 2023
  39. ^ "Got Damn Star (Black Dresses remix) feat. Kevin Jz Prodigy, Kornbread Jeté & Yung Onyx". Bandcamp.
  40. ^ "crisis sigil, by crisis sigil". Ada Rook. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  41. ^ "rook&nomie". Bandcamp. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  42. ^ "Ugly Death No Redemption Angel Curse I Love You, by Ada Rook". Ada Rook. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  43. ^ (Almost) all Ice samples in Ugly Death No Redemption Angel Curse I Love You (Suggestive + Violent), 25 May 2022, retrieved 4 June 2022
  44. ^ "Angel Electronics". Spotify. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  45. ^ "blacksquares reserve - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  46. ^ "Magic Fire Brain, by Devi McCallion & Katie Dey". Devi McCallion. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  47. ^ "Rockstar Super Heat, by Anarchy 99". Devi McCallion. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  48. ^ "I'm So Sorry, by Cats Millionaire". Devi McCallion. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  49. ^ "Devi McCallion". Devi McCallion. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  50. ^ Rettig, James (17 May 2020). "Stream Girls Rituals' New Album Crap Shit". Stereogum. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  51. ^ Rettig, James (16 November 2021). "Stream Girls Rituals' New Cow EP". Stereogum. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  52. ^ "The Various Endeavors?, by the Various Endeavors?".
  53. ^ "Anarchy 99 by Anarchy 99".
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