Oh He Dead is Skyrocketing to Extraordinary Heights While Carrying DC on Their Shoulders

Authentic, soulful, and downright groovy band Oh He Dead is on the rise, making tremendous strides within the music industry, and evolving beyond the Washington DC region. Comprised of multiple talented individuals, they possess the distinct ability to turn any melancholic story into an uplifting tune. The band knows no bounds when it comes to genres, emitting sounds of funk, soul, and pop, among many others. Ascending from the roots of Washington, D.C., Oh He Dead wears their love for the city on their sleeve as they spiral upwards to national new beginnings. 

It all started off on H Street in D.C., where founders CJ Johnson and Andrew Valenti were first introduced by their now manager, Claire Newbegin. Immediately after meeting, the two clicked, through both heart and sound, giving rise to the band Oh He Dead. The two are peas in a pod, sharing one of the most sweet, loving, and impenetrable friendships, while also perfectly harmonizing on just about any song. A little later down the road, guitarist Alex Salser, drummer Adam Ashforth, keyboardist Piano Whitman, and bassist Richard Smith joined the pair, formulating an unstoppable force. The band’s DC origins play a major role in their music presence, pouring into every song.

“We wouldn't be able to do all this stuff if It wasn't for DC, and it's why we want to give back so much. We feel like we owe so much to the city,” says Valenti. DC is the glue that holds Oh He Dead together. Their pride in being a DC band shines bright, its flag even appearing in elements of their branding.

Though their hearts reside in DC, their latest single, California, takes place 3,000 miles away (though raised in DC, of course). Released at the beginning of this year, the single has already garnered a substantial buzz from fans across the country. The hip-shaking hit features unforgettable lyrics, paired with rhythmic beats and groovy guitar rifts. Californiais the type of track to have every member in the audience on their feet, swaying with every note. 

The story of California’s emergence is almost as notable as the track itself. Inspired by a blogger’s remark to make previous single This Time Around more “poppy”, Johnson sat down and began crafting the captivating song. “She wrote it all in one night and I think it was inspired by her being angry at this blogger that told us we weren't poppy enough. She was like, ‘I'll show you’ and when we all heard it we were like ‘this is gold’,” says Valenti recounting the moment.

The band sees themselves playing this track at their next tour in California, which may be around the corner given their current trajectory. “I would love to do a big sized show in California where we're are playing the song because I feel like California would be a nice little groove for the Californians,” says Johnson. 

In addition to this dazzling song, Oh He Dead has countless breathtaking singles in store for fans. Earlier this week, they dropped their latest video and entry for the Tiny Desk contest, showcasing their unreleased single, More Time. The upbeat and melodic track tells the sorrowful story of a person trying to move on from a past love but still being haunted by the relationship. Proven time and time again, the band can turn any subject into a hit, just like their name. Describing the song Valenti admits, “That's become one of our things- to write about a heavy topic, but make it funky, make it like groovy.”

Their next single is set to release at the beginning of next month, on April 6th. In the meantime, fans will have to navigate to YouTube to satiate their hunger for new Oh He Dead.  More Time will be the band’s first release off of their upcoming album, Pretty. Although nothing has been released about the album so far, both Valenti and Johnson claimed the ideal name for it should be “straight bangers”, giving fans a sneak peak at what to expect in the upcoming months.

Not only are these tracks traveling far but so is the band- literally. Currently, Oh He Dead is gearing up for a sprinkle of shows around the DC area (catch them while you can) and a few national appearances this summer. At the end of May, Oh He Dead will make their debut at Summer Camp Music Festival after performing at The Kreeger Museum on May 19th and DC Hill House on May 21st. In June, they will perform at three festivals, including Mulberry Music Festival on June 16, Peach Music Festival on June 29, and Brandi Carlile’s Out & About Festival on June 25.

Oh He Dead may be embarking on a national tour, but DC will always be their home. Not only is DC where the band officially formed, but it is where the heart of where their music lies. “There's a lot of artists that you know, get good in DC and then they run off to LA or New York or Nashville, and we don't we don't want to do that,” says Valenti. “We think it's really important to us to be a DC band and to bring DC music and our kind of brand to the world.” 

Oh He Dead’s experiences within the city lit the flame that sparked their music career. According to the group, their fan base has been a major catalyst for their growth. “I feel like it's mostly the support from our DC fans that make us set better goals for ourselves and make us want to keep going,” Johnson reflects. “Without them, I don’t really think we would be where we are as far as playing music. It's been great being a DC band, being considered a DC band.”

Like birds of a feather, Oh He Dead and DC stick together. Be on the lookout for future releases from the band because they are on the horizon, drifting straight to shore. 

(Cover Photo Credit: Abhijeet Toor)

To learn more about Oh He Dead, please see the following web resources:

• Webpage
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube
• TIDAL
• Spotify
• Pandora
• TikTok