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'{{Short description|Canadian noise pop duo}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Black Dresses | origin = Toronto, Canada<ref name="cfmu">{{cite web|url=https://cfmu.ca/posts/299-souls-are-as-frigid-as-their-music-toronto-s-newest-noise-pop-duo-black-dresses|website=[[CFMU-FM]]|title=Souls are as frigid as their music: Toronto's newest noise-pop duo Black Dresses|date=18 March 2019|first=Teodor|last=Zetko|accessdate=28 April 2020}}</ref> | genre = [[Noise pop]], [[electro-industrial]], [[Glitch (music)|Glitch Pop]], [[Screamo]] | years_active = {{flatlist| * 2017–2020 * {{nowrap|2021–present}} }} | label = | current_members = * Devi McCallion * Ada Rook }} '''Black Dresses''' are a Canadian [[Noise pop]] duo consisting of Ada Rook and Devi McCallion.<ref name="pitchforkpeaceful">{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/black-dresses-peaceful-as-hell/|title=Black Dresses: Peaceful As Hell|website=[[Pitchfork (magazine)|Pitchfork]]|first=Leah|last=Mandel|date=24 April 2020|accessdate=28 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="pitchforklove">{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/black-dresses-love-and-affection-for-stupid-little-bitches/|title=Black Dresses: Love And Affection For Stupid Little Bitches|website=[[Pitchfork (magazine)|Pitchfork]]|first=Colin|last=Joyce|date=31 August 2019|accessdate=28 April 2020}}</ref> Their debut album, ''[[Wasteisolation|WASTEISOLATION]]'', was released independently in 2018. The duo released three additional albums, ''THANK YOU'' (2019), ''[[Love and Affection for Stupid Little Bitches|LOVE AND AFFECTION FOR STUPID LITTLE BITCHES]]'' (2019), and ''[[Peaceful as Hell]]'' (2020), before breaking up in 2020. Despite no longer being a band, Black Dresses has released two additional albums, ''[[Forever in Your Heart]]'' (2021) and ''[[Forget Your Own Face]]'' (2022). ==History== ===2018-2019: WASTEISOLATION, THANK YOU, and LOVE AND AFFECTION FOR STUPID LITTLE BITCHES=== Black Dresses was formed in 2017 by self-taught musicians Ada Rook and Devi McCallion after Rook sent McCallion a beat on [[Twitter]].<ref name="nowtoronto">{{cite web|url=https://nowtoronto.com/music/features/the-sound-of-toronto-right-now/|title=The sound of Toronto right now|first=Max|last=Mertens|website=[[NOW Toronto]]|date=16 January 2019|accessdate=28 April 2020}}</ref> They released their first single, a cover of [[M.I.A. (rapper)|M.I.A.]]'s "[[Paper Planes (M.I.A. song)|Paper Planes]]", in December 2017.<ref name="blackdressesmia" /> The duo released their debut album, ''[[Wasteisolation|WASTEISOLATION]]'', in April 2018.<ref name="stereogumwaste">{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1991303/stream-black-dresses-wasteisolation/music/album-stream/|title=Stream Black Dresses WASTEISOLATION|first=James|last=Rettig|date=13 April 2018|accessdate=28 April 2020|website=[[Stereogum]]}}</ref> The album was created entirely through online collaboration, with McCallion based in [[Toronto]] and Rook in [[Vancouver]].<ref name="fader">{{cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2018/06/01/black-dresses-wasteisolation-girls-rituals-rook-interview|title=The addictive power of Black Dresses's dark, delirious noise pop|first=Sasha|last=Geffen|website=[[The Fader]]|date=1 June 2018|accessdate=28 April 2020}}</ref> ''WASTEISOLATION'' received positive coverage by ''[[Noisey]]'',<ref name="noisey2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/gy3qe4/40-essential-albums-you-probably-missed-so-far-in-2018|title=40 Essential Albums You Probably Missed So Far in 2018|first=Colin|last=Joyce|website=[[Noisey]]|date=20 July 2018|accessdate=28 April 2020}}</ref> ''[[Stereogum]]''<ref name="stereogum2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/featured/the-50-best-albums-of-2018-so-far/|title=The 50 Best Albums Of 2018 So Far|date=6 June 2018|accessdate=28 April 2020|first=James|last=Rettig|website=[[Stereogum]]}}</ref> and ''[[The Fader]]'' who called it "a raw, abrasive, and deliriously catchy album about surviving as a [[Trans woman|trans women]] in an antagonistic world."<ref name="fader"/> This was followed shortly by the EP ''HELL IS REAL'', released in October of the same year.<ref name="stereogumhell">{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2018752/black-dresses-hell-is-real-ep/music/album-stream/|website=[[Stereogum]]|title=Stream Black Dresses' New HELL IS REAL EP|first=James|last=Rettig|date=15 October 2018|accessdate=28 April 2020}}</ref> The EP featured in ''Stereogum''{{'}}s Best EPs of 2018 list,<ref name="stereogumep">{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2023376/best-eps-2018/franchises/2018-in-review/|title=25 Great EPs From 2018|date=5 December 2018|accessdate=28 April 2020|first=James|last=Rettig|website=[[Stereogum]]}}</ref> with the duo also featuring in the publication's list of best new artists.<ref name="stereogumbestnew">{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2019518/best-new-artists-bands-2018/franchises/list/|title=Stereogum's 40 Best New Bands Of 2018|website=Stereogum|date=29 October 2018|accessdate=28 April 2020|first=Gabriela|last=Tully Claymore}}</ref> In February 2019, Black Dresses released their second studio album, ''Thank You''.<ref name="stereogumthank">{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2030729/black-dresses-thank-you/music/album-stream/|title=Stream Black Dresses' New Album THANK YOU|date=5 February 2019|accessdate=28 April 2020|first=James|last=Rettig|website=[[Stereogum]]}}</ref> In May, they released ''Dreams Come True 2019'', a [[remix]] EP consisting of new versions of several WASTEISOLATION tracks.<ref name="dreams">{{cite web|url=https://blackdresses.bandcamp.com/album/dreams-come-true-2019|title=DREAMS COME TRUE 2019|website=Bandcamp}}</ref> The band released their third studio album, ''[[Love and Affection for Stupid Little Bitches|LOVE AND AFFECTION FOR STUPID LITTLE BITCHES]]'' in August 2019.<ref name="stereogumlove">{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2053247/black-dresses-love-and-affection-for-stupid-little-bitches/music/album-stream/|title=Stream Black Dresses' New Album LOVE AND AFFECTION FOR STUPID LITTLE BITCHES|first=James|last=Rettig|website=Stereogum|date=1 August 2019|accessdate=28 April 2020}}</ref> The album was reviewed positively, with ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''{{'}}s Colin Joyce awarding an album a rating of 7.7,<ref name="pitchforklove"/> and ''Noisey'' including the record on its "22 Best Albums You May Have Missed in 2019" list.<ref name="noisey2019">{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/jgex4g/the-22-best-albums-you-may-have-missed-in-2019|date=24 December 2019|accessdate=28 April 2020|website=[[Noisey]]|title=The 22 Best Albums You May Have Missed in 2019|first=Colin|last=Joyce}}</ref> ===2020: ''Peaceful as Hell'' and breakup=== 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]]''.<ref name="stereogumpeaceful">{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2080091/black-dresses-peaceful-as-hell/music/album-stream/|title=Stream Black Dresses' New Album Peaceful As Hell|website=[[Stereogum]]|first=James|last=Rettig|date=13 April 2020|accessdate=28 April 2020}}</ref> 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".<ref name="pitchforkpeaceful"/> The duo announced via Twitter on May 26, 2020, that Black Dresses would be disbanding, citing the harassment received by McCallion as the reason.<ref name="bdtwt">{{cite tweet|user=BlackDresses666|number=1265438821417705479|date=26 May 2020|title=Announcement}}</ref> The band's music was also temporarily taken off streaming services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/black-dresses-will-no-longer-exist-following-alleged-tiktok-drama-music-taken-off-streaming-services/|title=Black Dresses "will no longer exist," following alleged TikTok drama; music taken off streaming services|website=[[BrooklynVegan]]|last=Hatfield|first=Amanda|date=26 May 2020|access-date=18 August 2021|language=en}}</ref> On 10 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 21 December 2020, the duo released a single with ESPer99 titled "WORLD PEACE", recorded in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gregory |first1=Alice |title=Black Dresses Return with New Single "World Peace" |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/black_dresses_return_with_new_single_world_peace |access-date=December 21, 2020 |work=[[Exclaim!]] |date=December 21, 2020}}</ref> McCallion and Rook also continued to release solo music under the names Girls Rituals and Ada Rook respectively.<ref name="fader"/> ===2021-present: ''Forever In Your Heart'' and ''Forget Your Own Face''=== 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."<ref name="Forever In Your Heart">{{Cite news |last=Breihan, Tom |date=February 15, 2021 |title=Black Dresses Are Still Broken Up, But They Just Released A New Album Anyway |work=Stereogum |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2116326/black-dresses-are-still-broken-up-but-they-just-released-a-new-album-anyway/music/ |access-date=February 16, 2021}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bobkin |first1=Matt |title=Backxwash Gets clipping., Black Dresses, Sad13 for Upcoming Album |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/backxwash_i_lie_here_buried_clipping_black_dresses_sad13_code_orange |access-date=3 March 2021 |work=[[Exclaim!]] |date=24 February 2021}}</ref> although after tracklist changes McCallion did not appear on the album. In August 2021, Black Dresses' music returned to streaming services.<ref>{{Cite web|date=8 August 2021|title=music back on streaming|url=https://twitter.com/BlackDresses666/status/1424438196406980610|url-status=live|access-date=18 August 2021|website=Twitter|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818150257/https://twitter.com/BlackDresses666/status/1424438196406980610?s=19 |archive-date=18 August 2021 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rettig|first=James|date=2021-12-14|title=Black Dresses – "We Are Children Of The Light"|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2170769/black-dresses-we-are-children-of-the-light/music/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-26|website=Stereogum|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214155642/https://www.stereogum.com/2170769/black-dresses-we-are-children-of-the-light/music/ |archive-date=14 December 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2021-12-24|title=New Songs Out Today|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/12-new-songs-out-today-33/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-26|website=BrooklynVegan|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214232342/https://www.brooklynvegan.com/12-new-songs-out-today-33/ |archive-date=14 December 2021 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gregory|first=Allie|date=2022-02-15|title=Black Dresses Drop New Album 'Forget Your Own Face'|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/black_dresses_drop_new_album_forget_your_own_face|access-date=2022-02-15|website=[[Exclaim!]]|language=en-ca}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jocelyn|first=Hannah|date=2022-03-01|title=Black Dresses: Forget Your Own Face|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/black-dresses-forget-your-own-face/#:~:text=The%20Toronto%20noise%2Dpop%20duo,more%20outwardly%20pointed%20than%20ever.|access-date=2022-06-25|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|language=en-ca}}</ref> On September 30, 2022, the duo released a cover of the [[Scene Queen]]'s "Pink Panther".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-30 |title=23 New Songs Out Today |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/23-new-songs-out-today-57/ |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=BrooklynVegan |language=en}}</ref> On May 4th, 2023, Black Dresses released a single titled "gutz" featuring musician [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClPZSKYt-ydU-u5gfpI7e rirugiliyangugili]. In the same year, they collaborated with Canadian Electro-pop band [[Purity Ring (band)|Purity Ring]] for their single "shines" which was released on August 1. ==Band members and solo work== ===Ada Rook=== {{Unreliable sources section|date=July 2022}} Rook releases music under her own name, as well as her side project crisis sigil. She is also a member of the duo rook&nomie in addition to Black Dresses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rookandnomie.bandcamp.com/music|title=rook&nomie|website=[[Bandcamp]]|access-date=15 February 2022}}</ref> In 2022, Ada Rook released an album titled ''Ugly Death No Redemption Angel Curse I Love You'', featuring ''ESPer99''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=''Ugly Death No Redemption Angel Curse I Love You'', by Ada Rook |url=https://adarook.bandcamp.com/album/ugly-death-no-redemption-angel-curse-i-love-you |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=Ada Rook |language=en}}</ref> The album was reviewed by [[Anthony Fantano]], who gave it a 7/10 score.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 31, 2022 |title=Ada Rook - ''Ugly Death No Redemption Angel Curse I Love You'' |work=The Needle Drop |url=https://www.theneedledrop.com/articles/2022/5/ada-rook-ugly-death-no-redemption-angel-curse-i-love-you |access-date=July 24, 2022}}</ref> The album includes samples of the 2007 anime ''[[Ice (anime)|Ice]]''.<ref>{{Citation |title=(Almost) all ''Ice'' samples in ''Ugly Death No Redemption Angel Curse I Love You'' (Suggestive + Violent) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy0Ns4te4U4 |language=en |access-date=2022-06-04}}</ref> Ada Rook and Ash Nerve created a duo group, ''Angel Electronics'' in 2022, releasing a nine song EP, ''Ultra Paradise'', in 2023''.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Angel Electronics |url=https://open.spotify.com/artist/5pWpg0saMHolhv0hsOooaq |access-date=2022-07-31 |website=Spotify |language=en}}</ref> She is also a Pornstar that goes by the name “Rookie stray” <ref>{{Cite web |title=https://twitter.com/blackdresses666/status/1157619491053985792?s=46 |url=https://twitter.com/blackdresses666/status/1157619491053985792?s=46 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=ManyVids.com |title=Rookie Stray's Profile - Porn vids, Pics & More {{!}} ManyVids |url=https://www.manyvids.com/Profile/1002499478/Rookie-Stray/Store/Videos/ |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=ManyVids.com |language=en}}</ref> ===Devi McCallion=== 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=blacksquares reserve - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaJ2Cjh3TSZQ4ROYRm-AsDU0PJ50MR8_Z |access-date=2022-03-08 |website=www.youtube.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Magic Fire Brain, by Devi McCallion & Katie Dey |url=https://blacksquares.bandcamp.com/album/magic-fire-brain |access-date=2022-03-08 |website=Devi McCallion |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rockstar Super Heat, by Anarchy 99 |url=https://blacksquares.bandcamp.com/album/rockstar-super-heat |access-date=2022-03-08 |website=Devi McCallion |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=I'm So Sorry, by Cats Millionaire |url=https://blacksquares.bandcamp.com/album/im-so-sorry |access-date=2022-03-08 |website=Devi McCallion |language=en}}</ref> As Mom, she has released five studio albums, four of which are numbered self-titled releases.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Devi McCallion |url=https://blacksquares.bandcamp.com/ |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=Devi McCallion |language=en}}</ref> As Girls Rituals, she has released six projects: ''Reddishness'' (2015), ''New Nowhere'' (2016), ''EMERGENCY!'' (2017), ''I'm Desperate'' (2018), ''Crap Shit'' (2020),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2084708/girls-rituals-crap-shit/music/|title=Stream Girls Rituals' New Album Crap Shit|website=[[Stereogum]]|last=Rettig|first=James|date=17 May 2020|access-date=15 February 2022}}</ref> and ''Cow'' (2021).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2167598/girls-rituals-cow/music/|title=Stream Girls Rituals' New Cow EP|website=[[Stereogum]]|last=Rettig|first=James|date=16 November 2021|access-date=15 February 2022}}</ref> 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?.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thevariousendeavors.bandcamp.com/releases | title=The Various Endeavors?, by the Various Endeavors? }}</ref> She co-produced most of the band's music from 2007 to 2010. She is also a member of Anarchy 99<ref>{{cite web | url=https://twitter.com/dei_genetrix/status/1217322755219251200 }}</ref> with [[So Drove]]. Anarchy 99 has released one studio album, ''Rockstar Super Heat'' (2021). ==Discography== ===Albums=== * ''[[Wasteisolation|WASTEISOLATION]]'' (2018) * ''THANK YOU'' (2019) * ''[[Love and Affection for Stupid Little Bitches|LOVE AND AFFECTION FOR STUPID LITTLE BITCHES]]'' (2019) * ''[[Peaceful as Hell]]'' (2020) * ''[[Forever in Your Heart]]'' (2021) * ''[[Forget Your Own Face]]'' (2022) ===EPs=== * ''Lethal Poison for the System'' (2017) {{small|(with 99jakes and [[Laura Les]], remixes of [[Paper Planes (M.I.A. song)|Paper Planes]] by [[M.I.A. (rapper)|M.I.A.]])<ref name="blackdressesmia">{{cite web|url=https://blacksquares.bandcamp.com/album/lethal-poison-for-the-system|title=LETHAL POISON FOR THE SYSTEM|date=21 December 2017|accessdate=9 April 2021}}</ref>}} * ''HELL IS REAL'' (2018) * ''[[Dreams Come True 2019|DREAMS COME TRUE 2019]]'' (2019) === Singles === * CRUSH ([[Tessa Violet]] Cover) * WORLD PEACE (ft. [https://www.youtube.com/@_ESPER99_ ESPer99]) * We Are Children Of The Light * PINK PANTHER ([[Scene Queen]] Cover) * [[Kill All Your Friends]] ([[My Chemical Romance]] Cover) * gutz (feat. [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClPZSKYt-ydU-u5gfpI7e5g rirugiliyangugili]) * shines (Collaboration with [[Purity Ring (band)|Purity Rings]] ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Noise pop musical groups]] [[Category:Musical groups from Toronto]] [[Category:Canadian experimental musical groups]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 2017]] [[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2020]] [[Category:Canadian women in electronic music]] [[Category:Transgender women musicians]] [[Category:2017 establishments in Canada]] [[Category:Female musical duos]] [[Category:Canadian transgender musicians]]'