Dehd
Chicago trio playing wide-open, echoing guitar songs with two voices trading off and a genuine sense of space — heartbreak surf-rock with room to breathe.
Dehd are a Chicago trio formed in 2015 by Emily Kempf, Jason Balla and Eric McGrady. Kempf and Balla split and trade vocals, with McGrady playing a stripped-down standing kit that often amounts to little more than snare, tom and cymbal.
Their songs lean on reverb-heavy guitar, simple repeated figures and a lot of open space, drawing on surf rock, post-punk and 1960s pop as much as on contemporary indie. The two singers approach the material differently — Kempf with a wide, unguarded delivery that can break into a yelp, Balla in a flatter deadpan — and the contrast between them carries much of the band's appeal. They have released a series of albums through independent labels including Fire Talk.
Dehd at a glance
Where is Dehd from?
Dehd is from Chicago, IL.
What kind of music does Dehd play?
Dehd is tagged indie rock and post-punk.
What festivals has Dehd played before?
Dehd has played Kilby Block Party 2026.
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