BIOGRAPHY

“Slinking Caribbean funk-pop with big choruses and groovy rhythms.” – Under the Radar

Songwriting-as-poetry is a well-worn trope. The lyricism that Julia Massey crafts for her band Warren Dunes brings new weight back to that overused comparison. Fashioned with a careful economy of language, her bittersweet, surrealist meditations on the ephemeral nature of the human experience are presented with powerful, painterly language that goes straight for the heart. Wrapped in a swirling cascade of melody punctuated with bursting sonic ornament, voices join voices in harmony, going round and round (in the round).

Hailing from Seattle, WA, Warren Dunes is a power trio led by Massey, and consists of brothers Jared and Dominic Cortese. Their unique style of tropicalia-infused Indie rock, often referred to as post-modern beach music, was born from the cold waters and gray sky beaches of the Puget Sound. Their music is highlighted by Massey’s double keyboards and crystalline voice, soaring over chimey guitars and danceable beats. 

Julia, Jared, and Dominic are happiest together on stage, moving and flowing as synchronous aspects of a greater whole. That grace and delight comes through in their recorded work, telegraphed transparently to the listener. Anthemic, sing-along pop built on a foundation of arena-worthy choruses, self-assured yet free of bombast. Their debut EP Welcome to Warren Dunes was released in 2019, and their first full-length recording Get Well Soon - a Hallmark card to everyone who lived through 2020 - was voted one of KEXP’s “Top 20 albums of 2021”. A collection of holiday tunes appropriately dubbed Christmas Singles was released on Christmas Eve of 2022.

The band is poised for the release of their second LP Aquamarine in May, 2024 on Jenny Invert Records followed by a West Coast tour including appearances at Boise’s Treefort Music Fest, and Seattle’s Capitol Hill Block Party.

History

Julia Massey began writing and recording songs as a student at University of Colorado in Boulder. At twenty-one she relocated to Brooklyn, NY where she honed her craft, eventually moving to the thriving folk scene of Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. Julia, Dom and Jared met when Julia placed a Craigslist ad for a bassist. The ad was answered by a bassist, who also played in a band featuring brothers Jared and Dominic Cortese. A few weeks later, Dominic was the official drummer for the newly minted Julia Massey and the Five Finger Discount. Shortly after, Julia started dating Jared and they were married in 2012.

Known for their quirky pop and all around congenial vibe, Julia released a slate of well received records with the Five Finger Discount, toured nationally, and received local recognition in Seattle after being asked to perform on KEXP’s Audioasis. The band released their final recording, Heart Tones, in 2017. Warren Dunes started later that year, named after a state park on the shores of Lake Michigan, after Julia and Jared were inspired by their two year old son’s love of Calypso Pop legend Harry Belafonte. 

Julia, Jared, and Dom believe in showing up for their community and have raised money for homelessness, fighting the policies of evil wannabe dictators, and most recently are raising money for childcare grants for parent musicians in Seattle through their foundation The Many Hands Project - Seattle.