Dawson was born and raised in Hutchinson, Minnesota.[2] She comes from a musical family with deep roots in their Indian heritage. Her grandfather taught himself to play the organ by drawing a keyboard on the ground with charcoal, a skill he passed on to her father, who then taught Debbii.[3] She grew up traveling with her parents as they performed across the United States and internationally.[4]
Career
Dawson's debut track "Even If It Kills Me" landed on the cover of Spotify's "Fresh Finds Pop Best of 2023" end-of-year playlist.[5]
In 2022, Dawson appeared on America's Got Talent, where she performed an interpretation of ABBA's "Dancing Queen," receiving praise from the judges for her sweet and soothing voice.[6] She was described as having "star quality" by Howie Mandel and received four "yes" votes to advance in the competition.[7]
In 2023, she released her debut EP, "Learning," which included the single "Eulogy for Nobody."[8] The same year, she signed an exclusive co-publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music and Katy Perry's Unsub Publishing. Katy Perry praised Dawson for her songwriting talent, stating that her team had "fallen in love with Debbii's ability to fill her songs with a perspective that feels so uniquely her."[9]
In April 2024, Dawson signed with RCA Records and released her first single with the label, "Happy World," crafted alongside collaborators Alida Peck and Zhone.[10] The track blends '70s rock and disco influences with contemporary pop.[11] Dawson is set to support Orville Peck on select dates of his Stampede North American Tour and will also perform at The Great Escape Festival in the UK and Hinterland Music Festival in the US.[12]
Musical style
Debbii Dawson's music is a fusion of pop, folk, and country sounds, with influences from her Indian heritage.[13] Her style is characterized by soft vocals and a blend of genres.[10] Influences from artists like Stevie Nicks, ABBA, Harry Styles, and Queen can be heard in her music.[14]