Dehd by Atiba Jefferson
Dehd are and aren’t what you’d expect: The indie band’s music is teeming with endless love, life and friendship, in absolute contradiction of their finite and morbid name. But once you know the origin story, the duality clicks — friends making music together, daydreaming of crushes and brighter days. And, of course, falling in love in a mortal world.
Products of Chicago’s DIY music scene, friends Emily Kempf, Jason Balla and Eric McGrady met at a house party and soon after formed a band “just to hang out and make music,” frontwoman Kempf tells PureHoney. What began as a lark has evolved into a showcase of intuitively organic raw energy and creativity, built out and refined over four albums and one full-length remix (of 2021’s “Flower of Devotion”), an EP (2017’s “Fire of Love”) and two standalone singles (“Dying For” and “Letter”).
Kempf calls Dehd’s sound “warm-crush-friendship indie rock.” Their strain of pop bliss plays like a soundtrack to a modern coming-of-age film — think Devendra Banhart’s “Lover” in “Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist.” Kempf’s power as a vocalist to radiate light and love feels like a childhood friendship.
As friends do, she lets us in on a little secret: “You can expect a hot album to drop next year, probably.” But before Dehd conclude touring their post-pandemic 2022 album, “Blue Skies,” they’re excited to play their first-ever Florida show and they hope you are too. “Don’t sleep,”
Kempf says, “because we probably won’t be back for a while.”
Dehd spent much of 2023 touring North America, playing large at Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, and sharing dates with kindred acts including Sylvan Esso and Ulna.
As to what to expect — if Cupid were a band, it would be Dehd. Fans online have confessed to falling in love with someone at a concert or while listening to “Blue Skies.” Kempf signs off with one last invitation: “Bring your best friend, bring your crush. If you bring your crush, we will give you a shoutout.”
Dehd perform 8pm Tuesday, October 10 at Gramps in Miami. www.dehd.horse ~ Amanda Moore
