Destiny “Dess Dior” Bailey is stepping into a whole new era—and she’s doing it on her own terms. After taking over the summer with her buzzing singles “No Service” and “Single Summer,” the rising star is embracing a new wave of sound that feels more personal, more fun, and more true to who she is as an artist. Now, she’s ready to level up again with her bold new single “IDC” featuring BJRNCK— out now.
The track reimagines Ciara’s 2006 Atlanta classic “So What” into an unapologetic anthem for today. For Dess, the choice to sample wasn’t just about nostalgia — it was about impact. She explained that the original record was a major part of her childhood, resonating not just in Atlanta but also across the Midwest and her hometown of Savannah. Being able to make the track her own felt “honestly fire,” she said, calling it a full-circle moment. Trends always come back around, and for Dess, putting her own spin on such an iconic record from another Atlanta artist felt both exciting and empowering.
Unlike some of her past collaborations, Dess and BJRNCK weren’t even in the same room when they made the song. “We weren’t physically in the studio together,” she tells Girls United, showing how creativity can still spark even across distance. The result is seamless chemistry between their voices that feels both unexpected and magnetic.
Since launching her music career in 2020, Dess has built a catalog of bangers, but she calls this new era her most intentional yet. “It’s more personal and fun for me,” she explained. That shift also shows in her process. While some artists thrive on crowded sessions, Dess prefers solitude. “I need to be alone in the studio,” she said. “I love to create a solo vibe when I’m curating my art.”
The title “IDC” may read as carefree, but for Dess, the meaning cuts deeper. “‘Not caring’ doesn’t mean proving anything to anybody else,” she explained. “It means doing it for yourself—being confident, living in your truth.” More than anything, she hopes listeners walk away from the record feeling empowered. “I want everybody to feel empowered … especially the ladies. But the guys, too—I didn’t want to leave them out.”
Collaborating with other women has also shaped the sound Dess is leaning into now. Working with Mariah the Scientist, she says, was her first real experience tapping into the R&B melodic side of music. At first, she wasn’t sure if it was her lane. “I was nervous because I didn’t feel like it was my natural style,” she admitted. “But being an artist is about trying new things and learning. You can’t box yourself in.”
After experimenting, Dess realized she sounded good in that pocket. “My voice has a certain tone and raspiness that just fits on melodic beats,” she said. That discovery encouraged her to explore her R&B era more openly. “I may not be singy singy, but I’ve noticed people really like that smoother, melodic sound from me—especially after I dropped Single Summer. It matches my chill personality.”
Still, she’s not leaving behind her rap roots. Dess emphasized that she loves balancing both sides of her artistry. “I appreciate my aggressive side just as much as my melodic side,” she said. “Working with Mariah and now BJRNCK helped me discover that R&B space, and I’ve grown to love it.”
That sense of freedom ties back to a mindset she’s carried since her teenage years. As a hustler in Savannah, she sold clothes and dabbled in multiple creative ventures, determined never to be defined by just one thing. “ I was always trying to expand my palette. So once I finally chose to dive into music, it just kind of all made sense because I never wanted to be boxed in from the jump. I never wanted to just be an influencer or just be an artist. I’m a magnitude of things.”
With Scorpio season and her birthday approaching, Dess is also hinting at more surprises. Last year, she dropped a swim collection to mark the occasion, and she’s toying with doing it again. “Yes, you can definitely expect some more music,” she confirmed. “And I feel like I should make that like a little birthday ritual, dropping a collection on my birthday, because I really enjoy collabing with Melissa, being that I am into fashion. And the girlies love the little—like they really, they got into it. That was my first time ever doing something like that. So I really didn’t know what to expect, but they ate it up, and it allowed me to be more expressive in the fashion side with actually being behind the scenes and creating.”
As for what’s next, she says the wait won’t be long. “Definitely expect my project to be out. I can’t put an exact date on it yet, but it will be out sooner than soon.”
Before wrapping up, she had a message for Girls United readers about finding their own voices.
“Put God first. Lead with what feels good in your heart,” she said. “You’ll know when you’ve found your niche because it will feel easy and effortless, and it will make you happy. Enjoy your work—work shouldn’t feel like a burden. Surround yourself with people who support you, as your foundation is very important. Stay motivated and keep pushing forward.”
For Dess Dior, not caring isn’t about apathy; it’s about power. And with “IDC,” she’s stepping fully into hers!
Stream “IDC” featuring BJRNCK on all streaming platforms