(August 10, 2023) Oh He Dead began their musical journey as an acoustic folk duo of C.J. Johnson and Andy Valenti in 2015. Long before the Washington D.C. band was birthed, Johnson already affirmed her dedication to become a well-rounded musician – soaking what was on the airwaves from a local hip-hop station, the fluid funk of Earth, Wind & Fire, and any music that grooved along.
Itching to unveil her zealous songwriting and musical vision, Johnson added three new members to enhance the eclectic artistry, and Oh! He Dead was ready for their recorded closeup. Their 2019 self-titled debut received raves from NPR including an appearance on their popular Tiny Desk Concert series and an appearance at SXSW (South by Southwest). The pandemic lockdown arrived a year later, yet Oh He Dead was never deterred, centering on their happy zone of genre-twisting, soul-fueled, party approved jams.
Their upcoming project, Pretty, has released several advance singles to prepare OHD’s fanbase for post-pandemic fun. We now introduce Oh! He Dead to First Listen, presenting their latest track, “Lightning Drunk.” And “Lightning Drunk” drops a fascinating and satisfying slice of indie-soul, despite clocking in a lightning quick time of under three minutes. For beginners, we have the quirky tale of an addictive love that seems to lose control – even if the emotions are oh, so right. Johnson follows up by selling the storyline, aligning her animated performance with the funky, synth pop-frosted melodies. Finally, the musicianship (lead guitarist Alex “Solo Sals” Salser, drummer Adam Ashforth, and keyboardist Piano Whitman) flips a semi-dark mood into a cheery soulful surprise for 2023. Check out Oh He Dead’s “Lightning Drunk.”
By Peggy Oliver
Oh He Dead – “Lightning Drunk”
