Dirt, a media brand founded in 2021, has announced Dirt Books, a new publishing imprint aimed at innovating traditional models. The imprint will release at least two titles annually, focusing on unique voices and subcultures. Its debut books include a memoir on the pop punk scene and a novel set in Berlin's rave culture.
Dirt Books seeks to challenge conventional publishing by blending genres and forms while highlighting subcultures that drive artistic innovation. This aligns with Dirt's origins as a brand, newsletter, and podcast that combines cultural journalism with emerging technology since its 2021 founding.
The imprint plans to publish at least two titles each year, emphasizing strong voices and distinctive perspectives. Previously, Dirt has featured excerpts and short works from authors such as Stephanie Wambugu, Erin Somers, and the late Joe Brainard.
CEO Daisy Alioto described the imprint's focus: “In short: the ideal Dirt Books title is a story that could not be told any other way.” The first two books, both scheduled for 2026, mark the start of its nonfiction and fiction lines.
Lauren Napier's Tattooed, Pierced & Fucked-Up: A Scene Memoir 2004–2008 offers a multimedia nonfiction account of the early 2000s pop punk scene. Drawing from diary entries, photos, and interviews, it covers Napier's experiences on the Vans Warped Tour and tours with bands including My Chemical Romance, Sugarcult, and Reagan Youth. The work mixes essays, memoir, nostalgia, and contemporary insights.
Geoffrey Mak's debut novel Total Depravity launches the fiction slate. Mak, author of Mean Boys and co-editor of Writing on Raving, explores Berlin's rave scene through a young trans woman's encounters with nightlife figures and rituals. Framed as a psychological thriller, it draws on influences like Gillian Flynn and Donna Tartt, informed by Mak's familiarity with venues such as Berghain.
Dirt Books builds on Dirt's innovative approach, born from frustration with corporate-dominated media. Co-founded by Alioto and Kyle Chayka (now at The New Yorker), Dirt initially accepted cryptocurrency subscriptions and envisioned itself as “the Condé Nast of newsletters” or “the LVMH of media.” Contributors include Grace Byron and Greta Rainbow. The imprint will experiment with software and hardware to complement print, with its site designed by Neesh Chaudhary at Topiary.
