Black Dresses

Black Dresses were a Canadian experimental noise pop duo formed in Toronto in 2018 by Devi McCallion and Ada Rook, both established figures in the underground internet music scene from prior solo and collaborative projects. Their sound merged abrasive noise and industrial textures with hyperpop-adjacent melodicism and confessional, often visceral lyrics dealing with trauma, mental illness, and identity, earning a devoted cult following and helping shape the aesthetics that later became known as hyperpop and digicore.

The duo released a rapid string of albums, including Wasteisolation and Peaceful as Hell, distributed largely through Bandcamp and building intense fan engagement outside traditional industry channels. Tracks such as «CREEP U» and «THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS» became emblematic of their confrontational, genre-blurring style, drawing comparisons to both extreme noise acts and pop songwriting.

In May 2020, Black Dresses announced their disbandment after McCallion faced sustained online harassment, a moment widely seen as a stark illustration of the toll internet fame can take on artists. Despite the announced breakup, the duo continued to periodically release new material together, including further albums, before stating that their 2024 album LAUGHINGFISH would be their final release together.