Article

Who is Dora Jar, and Why is She Facing Backlash as Gracie Abrams’ Opener?

Some fans have even started a petition on Change.org asking for Dora to be replaced

Archivado en: Gracie Abrams  •  

Gracie Abrams is preparing for her European tour and has chosen an opening act she truly admires: Dora Jar. However, not everyone in her fanbase is happy with the choice. In fact, some fans have even started a petition on Change.org asking for Dora to be replaced.

Under the pseudonym Dexter Morgan, the petition’s creator wrote: “Many fans, including myself, are baffled by the recent announcement. We are perplexed as we do not recognize her, and with less than two weeks until the tour, it’s virtually impossible to familiarize ourselves with her slow-paced songs. For a memorable concert experience, an opening act should set the mood and get the crowd excited, but Dora’s slow tempo songs may not achieve this goal.”

Despite the backlash, Dora has taken it all in good spirits. She even signed the petition herself and posted a lighthearted message on Twitter.

Stereogum shared this response on their social media, and Gracie Abrams didn’t hesitate to chime in: “Just hearing about this absolute ridiculousness. So wildly uncool and bizarre and also just does not remotely add up. I’ve only seen everyone’s total excitement and I couldn’t be luckier or prouder to share a stage with this talented wonder. Stream everything she’s ever made whether or not you’re coming to the show. Dora forever and ever.”

Who is Dora Jar?

Dora Jar has quickly become one of the most exciting new artists in the U.S., captivating listeners with her unique voice, artistic style, and magnetic personality.

Born Dora Jarkowski in 1996 in New York, she grew up in Northern California. Her older sister, Lueza, who had cerebral palsy, sadly passed away in 2011. Dora started studying music in Boston but decided to drop out and spent time living in California, London, and Poland, where her father’s family is from.

Her turning point came after an experience with mushrooms, which she says gave her the clarity to pursue music as a career rather than just a hobby. In 2021, she released her debut EP, Digital Meadow, a collection of seven tracks that introduced her surreal pop sound. The following year, she dropped her second EP, Comfortably In Pain.

Her influences include Outkast, with a special admiration for Andre 3000, as well as musical theater, which she grew up with thanks to her mother. She also draws a lot of inspiration from the works of Stephen Sondheim.

A Rising Star

She taught herself guitar by playing Foo Fighters songs, and her first concert experience was seeing them live. Early in her career, she had only released a few songs when Billie Eilish discovered her and invited her to open for her stadium tour.

While working on her debut album, No Way to Relax When You’re on Fire, she struggled with creative blocks and self-doubt. A ketamine therapy session with her mother and a friend helped her find clarity and the motivation to move forward.

Her early tracks were recorded in various places, including Poland, Alaska, Ojai (California), Tennessee, and New York. Along the way, she connected with some key collaborators: George Daniel from The 1975, Henry Kwapis (known for his work with Dijon), and Ralph Castelli. Her debut album also features a haiku written by her mother’s ex-boyfriend that captures her mindset: “The turbulent water is calm water.”

Artists like Conan Gray and Remi Wolf have already mentioned her as an influence, and she’s quickly becoming someone to watch in the music world.