DOSSEY’s latest EP, Crying in Public, stings with the brash, snotty attitude you’d expect from a punk record. But her anti-establishment ethos goes deeper than just political and social turmoil — it’s rooted in the wild rebellion of vulnerability.
This Austin-based artist wasn’t always getting tangled in mic cables and thrashing among sweaty fans. She used to write vibrant, 80-inspired hyperpop. You can still hear that infectious, shimmering energy in her latest EP, but this time, it’s laced with edgy guitars, raucous rhythm, and a healthy dash of cathartic screaming.
“I drew a lot of inspiration for Crying in Public from the late-‘70s NYC punk scene. The cross-pollination of art, nightlife, and music during that era — Debbie Harry, Andy Warhol, Grace Jones, Mudd Club, Talking Heads, The Clash — completely captivated me,” DOSSEY says.
It’s a genre she defines as “glitter grunge,” and it’s most evident in the EP’s title track. A song that’s both achingly honest and tongue-in-cheek, “Crying in Public” is complete with an earworm-worthy bridge and choreographed dance.
“I have cried in public with my friends more times in the last few years than I have in my entire life — and I’m incredibly grateful for it,” DOSSEY says. “Sometimes, you get lucky enough to find friends who walk with you through the highest highs and lowest lows, and, when necessary, cry with you over a table of black beans and Everclear margaritas.”
The EP kicks off with “Cheap Tricks,” a swift two-and-a-half-minute track that immediately slips into your brain. Like the rowdy chant from a punk rock cheerleader, the chorus begs you to shout along.
Then there’s “Pressure,” a standout track that whirls like a stream-of-consciousness frenzy. DOSSEY sputters a rhythmic, spoken verse that catapults into one of the most relatable lyrics of the EP, “Everybody’s got depression, social anxiety.”
“A friend (Jane Ellen Bryant of Jane Leo) introduced me to Debbie Harry’s memoir, Face It, and I was so enraptured by how fearlessly she tells her story,” DOSSEY says. “That book was the catalyst for writing and producing this record.
It’s not just the lyrics and vocals that vie for your attention. DOSSEY’s band, comprised of guitarist Evan Crowley, drummer Clayton Stroup, and bassist Elik Jazdzewski, craft compelling countermelodies and rhythmic elements that pique your eardrums and keep you leaning in.
DOSSEY recorded Crying in Public at her home studio and Austin’s Spectra Studios, alongside three-time Grammy-nominated engineer and mixer Charlie Kramsky. The EP marks a significant departure from DOSSEY’s neon-drenched dance tunes, but it’s the beginning of what appears to be her most authentic artistic expression. Bring on the grit, passion, and rebellion.
