Though many Gen Z’ers have digitally grown up with Dess Dior, watching her find her voice as an artist continues to open new doors in the fandom. As we get on Zoom, her energy is excited and confident in her power, yet unafraid to show her softer edges. Dess Dior enters a new era with her album, Note To Self. “Social media has always been a big reminder to me that even when I want to give up, I’ve got those girls and those supporters that root for me heavily,” she told EBONY. “It’s a gas behind me that I never want to fall too short, because I know I got everybody watching me.”
For her, this project plays like a love letter to her past, present and future self. Fresh off the momentum of her EP, Take Notes, which she calls the “appetizer,” she is now ready to serve the “entrée,” a body of work rooted in vulnerability, self-belief and growth, without sacrificing the confident flair that made fans fall in love with her in the first place. “This project was all about just reminding myself of who I am and how far I’ve come,” she said. “Note To Self is more personal and a whole-tailored journey.”
She kicks the album off with “Too Blessed,” a track with a hardcore beat and smooth flow, but as you listen to the lyrics, you peel back another layer of the femcee as she maneuvers fame, family and balancing vulnerability and strength. “Took so many L’s I keep my head up in the clouds,” she raps. She pulls back the curtain on the reality behind the glitz and glam, insisting on a heart-to-heart before the listener dives deeper. “I feel like it’s evolved a ton just simply because at first, I wasn’t really that open to being vulnerable in my music as I am now,” she said.
From there, Note to Self moves through the spectrum of her experiences: the introspective tracks born on her most vulnerable studio days, and the hard-hitting anthems like “Come Correct” and “Tell Me Now” that reaffirm her as a woman who knows her worth and demands that others recognize it, too.
This transformation not only allows her to express where she is in her artistry but also empowers her fans to embrace their vulnerability and strength. With each track, she invites us to join her on a journey of self-discovery and growth, reminding us that being an open book is a form of power.
“I dedicated each day to a different emotion,” she said. “I’ve been reminding myself, like I got to handle business these days because when you have a team, everybody’s taking your lead. So, if you’re not handling the business and making sure this is led a certain way, then everything can easily just fall apart. I feel like everybody else’s motivation for my career and my dreams all lie with me.”
With this new project, she is intentionally marking a personal checkpoint—a reminder of who she is, how far she’s come, and how much further she’s willing to go. “The biggest thing I learned about myself would probably be that there are no limits to my artistry, as I can really produce any sound and do anything,” she said. “What I want fans to take from this album is to not feel bad about standing on your boundaries, setting a tone for your life, believing in yourself, speaking life into yourself, and that it’s okay to have bad days too.”
Dess Dior is not just crafting songs—she’s curating a journey. Note to Self is more than an album title; it’s a mantra, an affirmation, and an invitation for listeners—especially the girls to never apologize for betting on themselves.