The Chicago trio that turned frigid post-punk and wispy indie rock into their own gravity-defying sound, one heartbroken bark at a time.
MOODS · yearning · urgent · wistful · driving · raw
BIOGRAPHY
Dehd is a Chicago three-piece formed in 2015 by Jason Balla and Emily Kempf (their combined old-band names gave the group its name), later rounded out by drummer Eric McGrady. They began as a side project and grew into a defining voice of Chicago's indie rock scene.
The band self-released their debut in 2016 before signing to Fire Talk for 2020's Flower of Devotion, which earned Pitchfork's Best New Music and praise from The FADER, Vice Noisey, Under the Radar and Variety. That success led to a deal with Fat Possum, home to 2022's Blue Skies and 2024's Poetry, the latter spawning radio hits like 'Mood Ring' and 'Dog Days' that charted on Billboard's AAA list.
WHY THEY'RE COOL
Dehd built a devoted following by fusing icy post-punk tension with unguarded, almost aching indie pop melody, a combination that critics have called both catchy and casually masterly. Their rise traces a classic DIY arc: a scrappy self-titled debut, a pandemic-delayed breakthrough that snagged Pitchfork's Best New Music, and a graduation to a storied label in Fat Possum. By 2024's Poetry, singles were breaking into AAA radio charts, proof that their emotionally direct songwriting translates far beyond Chicago's basements.
GEORGE'S PLAYS
George has played this artist 36 times.
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