Doomtree

Early years

The name "Doomtree" is a made-up word without a meaning, according to P.O.S, who said it has come to represent "my people and my life's work so far." Dessa stated that it was initially a proposed name for a Cecil and P.O.S. record, and that the name followed them when they all lived together in a rundown house where dead pigeons always appeared on the doorstep. The group was originally called "False Hopes" when it consisted only of P.O.S and Cecil Otter, but that name was later used for a series of releases by Doomtree members.

The collective's formation was gradual: P.O.S and MK Larada, high school friends, began making songs with local artists including Cecil Otter and Beautiful Bobby Gorgeous. P.O.S and Cecil Otter first envisioned Doomtree as an in-house production team. Sims and Lazerbeak, also from Hopkins High School, joined later. Mike Mictlan, who attended high school with P.O.S, became an official member after moving back from Los Angeles.

Dessa joined after a chance encounter with P.O.S, who lived down the street with Sims, Turbo Nemesis, and MK Larada. Sims and Dessa were the last to join. Members MK Larada, Turbo Nemesis, Tom Servo, and Bobby Gorgeous eventually drifted away. MK Larada created Doomtree's "Wings and Teeth" logo.

Musical career

Doomtree dropped their self-titled debut album on July 29, 2008. Their follow-up, No Kings, arrived on November 22, 2011, earning critical praise. In 2012, Time magazine named them one of "11 Great Bands You Don't Know (But Should)." That same year, Minneapolis Mayor R. T. Rybak declared December 12 as "Doomtree Day" to mark the opening of the Doomtree Blowout 8 show at First Avenue. The documentary Team the Best Team came out on DVD in 2012, with digital streaming and download options following in 2013.

After a decade-long run, the final Blowout concert series took place in December 2014. The collective’s third group album, All Hands, was released on January 27, 2015. In October 2015, they curated the first Doomtree Zoo festival at CHS Field.

Distribution

P.O.S and Cecil Otter have released solo albums on other labels (Rhymesayers Entertainment and Strange Famous Records, respectively), but the group albums and most solo work are released on Doomtree Records. Doomtree also formed a publisher, Doomtree Press, which in 2009 released Spiral Bound, Dessa's first book of poetry and fiction. The label's CEO is Dessa, though the label is run by the entire group with outside help from Ander Other, who serves as intern, merchant, graphic designer, webmaster, video editor, social media agent, and librarian.

Did You Know?

• Doomtree's sound reflects influences of jazz, punk rock, blues, rock, and soul.
• The collective is known for "tangled, multihued and pointedly intellectualized lyrics" with "cerebral rhymes and moody beats."