Chicago band Dehd, on tour in support of their latest album, Blue Skies, visited The Current studio for a session hosted by Ayisha Jaffer. In addition to playing songs from the new record, Dehd’s Emily Kempf and Jason Balla took time to go deep on the songs’ meanings and the inspiration behind them. They also talk about how they helped bring live music to Chicagoans in a surprising way during the depths of the pandemic. And they also pull back the curtain on some stories their fans have shared on the band’s Hotline, a feature of their website. 

Watch and listen to the full session above, and read a transcript below.

Interview Transcript

Edited for time and clarity. Advisory: The interview contains some instances of explicit language.

Ayisha Jaffer: All right, hello! I'm Aisha Jaffer, weekday host on The Current and I'm here with Dehd. Thanks for being here, guys.

Jason Balla: Hello!

Emily Kempf: What's up?

Ayisha Jaffer: Oh my goodness, it's so exciting. You guys have been on tour quite a lot as we were just talking about before. You just finished your U.K. and European tour, and now this is the first date for this run of the North American tour. How has it felt so far?

Jason Balla: Honestly, so good.

Emily Kempf: Yeah. We both went for a run separately today.

Jason Balla: Keeping it, keeping it healthy. This is our healthy leg.

Ayisha Jaffer: Oh my gosh, well, like that's amazing. That's like you guys are fresh and ready to go. And this is the perfect town to start it off with.

Emily Kempf: Yeah.

Ayisha Jaffer: The music fans are ready for it. And I mean, yeah, I'm new to Minneapolis, so I've seen they're hungry for music, and I know you guys are gonna bring that energy. Well, before all these tours, though, I have to ask about, because I love this so much, you guys rented a truck and you went to parking lots around Chicago and played some shows. What ignited that idea? And how were those shows?

Jason Balla: Well, partly it was just because it was like the pandemic and like everything was closed. And I think the idea of a generator show has always been something we're interested in. And then I was like, "Oh, we could just put it in a truck," and then make it like a caravan kind of thing where we just like drop locations and show up. So then we did that, and it was really crazy. And that was the first time we had played since our last record had come out. So we, like, I don't know, didn't know if anyone would come and then when we opened the door, there was like all these people, they were like, "Oh Chicago's here!" Like it was really affirming I think an exciting, and we actually just did it in England also.

Ayisha Jaffer: Oh wow! Oh my goodness.

Emily Kempf: We were like, we don't know if the English even know what a generator show is. Like, where we were. I'm sure they do, but it was like posh festival. You know? 

Ayisha Jaffer: That feeling though? The reveal of like lifting up?

Emily Kempf: Yeah!

Ayisha Jaffer: It's awesome.

Jason Balla: It was a surprise for both of us. For the audience and the band.

Emily Kempf: Yeah, it's a very... Yeah. And it was like, "Are the cops gonna come? Because I guess we can just drive away." Like, we were like thinking about all this stuff. And like, I was like, COVID, but it was totally fine. Yeah. The cops just drove by and gave a thumbs up. We were like, "This is so weird. Like, where are we?"

Ayisha Jaffer: They were like, "Contingencies..."

Emily Kempf: One time it was raining. Yeah. And everyone was just, like, jumping and like we were jumping and the truck was moving around. It was just like, "This is epic! This is an epic way to exit this terrible era of, like, sitting inside.

Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah.

Emily Kempf: And being randomly sad.

Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah, well, mobile show, too, that's like the perfect way to go.

Emily Kempf: Yeah.

Ayisha Jaffer: You can kind of choose your own adventure.

Jason Balla: Totally.

Emily Kempf: Yeah.

Ayisha Jaffer: Well, you guys have a new album out. It's called Blue Skies. And when I think of blue skies, for me, thematically, I think of this phrase where people talk about how, "Oh, the sky looks grey; it's because there's clouds in the sky. But really, the sky is blue. The clouds are just rolling through." And that's what I think of when I think of blue skies. But what is your hopeful takeaway from the album?

Jason Balla: I mean, I think you kind of know. 

Emily Kempf:  Yeah, you nailed it

Jason Balla: It's kind of just like optimism on the horizon. Like, that's how I kind of look at the blue skies, like, as like just a little bit ahead.

Emily Kempf: Yeah. It's sort of like, "This too shall pass" applies to bad things and good things, to use blanket statements that aren't real. But you know, like, it's like, "This too shall pass," and there, you know, another blue sky is coming, and there is always actually a blue sky somewhere. But, yeah, because it just was a dark time, you know? It was like, whether it's dark time pandemic; dark time, like the riots and the protesting; dark time, like just basic Chicago winter. Like yeah, like, I mean, I here, it's the same thing, Minnesota, it's like dark, gray, snowy winter. Then there's that day where the blue sky hits and you're like, "Oh my god, it's about to be summer." And everybody knows that feeling in the Midwest, like, [gasp!] And then everyone goes outside at once in this like mass mosh, and it's like that feeling.

Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah.

Emily Kempf: Of like, "We just survived, and now we're gonna party."

Ayisha Jaffer: And you're there waiting with the truck, so...

Emily Kempf: And we're there waiting with the truck. Exactly.

Ayisha Jaffer: I love that. Well, you had your prior album, Flower of Devotion. That kind of, that like, was a breakthrough! It, like, got you some resources; you ended up signing to Fat Possum Records. And what I really love is for this new album, instead of just like going to like the big studio or being like, "What's up Max Martin," or whatever, you guys decided to invest inwards and in your own process. And I'm just curious of why you decided that, and then like, has anything been a little bit different about this process of making this new record?

Jason Balla: I think like at the core we're like still like a DIY band and, like, we've been to Minneapolis so many times and played in so many basements here, like, and that's just like forever in our blood and I think it was like also a vote of confidence in ourselves, of just being like, the reason why this is like coming is because of the thing that we're like already doing. So like why change it and bring in this like person that we're like, objectively are supposed to, I guess?

Emily Kempf: Yeah.

Jason Balla: So it was kind of just like, yeah, like doubling down and like, trying to do the thing that we do, and just keep getting better at it.

Emily Kempf: Yeah, we just like, allowed ourselves more time to do what we do well. And just almost like, I like to do everything just as an experiment; like, well, what is this like? You know, because you don't really need much to do anything creatively, I think.

Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah.

Jason Balla: And our band has like, kind of our fingerprints over all, like, aspects of it, and I think that is like kind of something that gives it shape and also maybe like, the messy fingerpaint vibe that we sometimes give off.

Emily Kempf: But like, next record we're thinking — not to like already go to the next blue sky future, but it's like, we're excited to like, maybe invite a producer, but like a friend who we like feel really close with who gets the scrappy vibe, but also has like, a bit of shine we might not have thought about obviously. So it's just like, we're very careful with how we expand.

Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah, keep it in the family.

Emily Kempf: We just keep it kind of grounded. Can't explode too fast.

Ayisha Jaffer: No diss to you, Max, but like, I'm into this.

Jason Balla: Like, you know, people like are always making stuff. And like, why should like the old like, not that these people are old, but like, why should like the old heads be like the only ones like making cool records, I guess.

Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah, I agree.

Emily Kempf: Yeah, there's new heads coming up.

Ayisha Jaffer: There's new heads, and there's people powered, right? So you kind of get to decide if people are deciding what they love, and I think that's an awesome turn.

Emily Kempf: We don't like to follow too much.

Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah. Well, I'm glad because I'm loving the music. And in fact, we're playing "Bad Love," and it's our Song Of The Day today, which is awesome. And I love that song because it's so relatable; everybody can relate to bad love, you know? You're kind of trying to own your faults but also trying to run away from, you know, the bad love. Look for self love. Look for a better love, right? We're chasing that. So I was curious if that kind of lesson in that song came to you like during the time of like forced reflection or or what kind of lit "Bad Love"?

Emily Kempf: Yeah, I guess. Not really, in the forced reflection. I'm always forcing reflection upon myself. "The exception to the rule," to quote the movie we watched last night: He's Just Not That Into You with Jennifer Aniston.

Jason Balla: I guess it kind of applies to the song, too. 

Emily Kempf: It kind of applies to the song, honestly. I was like, "Oh, this movie's about bad love." Kind of.

Jason Balla: It's a roller coaster of emotions.

Emily Kempf: It's a roller coaster movie. We were only going to watch one hour, and we end up watching all two hours. And anyway, so watch that movie, and then you'll understand "Bad Love." No, I'm kidding! I just, one year, was like, "What am I doing dating crumbs?" And also like, you know, reflecting on how I've been a crumb, as well. So it's not just like finger pointing. It's like, what can we do about this? And then I just spent a lot of time alone and becoming my own best friend and my own partner and my own like, you know, my own dog. And then from that place, I was like, now how can I be in relation with people, whether it's friends, bandmates romantic partners? And that's what I'm referencing about the new love. But for me, it definitely starts with like, and it's like, you know, a lot of these words are thrown around like "self love," but it's like that real shit like you can't — sorry, are you allowed to cuss on the Minnesota radio? Probably not.

Ayisha Jaffer: I mean, it's got the best beep ever, so... I tend to love it.

Emily Kempf: Any hizzle...

Ayisha Jaffer: Don't worry, it's not live.

Emily Kempf: It's cool. And I wanted to talk about it, because everybody can, yeah, everyone can relate to it. 

Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah.

Emily Kempf: And it's a simple song. simple words, but the meaning can go deep state.

Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah. Well, and then "Stars" kind of feeds into that, right? Because "Stars" is like talking about the support and what you do to kind of get there.

Jason Balla: Mm hmm. Yeah, I mean, it's kind of, yeah, like, I guess, yeah, like the same, like kind of getting right with yourself so you can like handle the world, I guess, you know?

Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah. When I like the, you know, talking about taking a walk and kind of like, being able to do something for yourself for reflection and to get there. Is there a specific walk that you like to take?

Jason Balla: I was always walking through like, Chicago's got really good alleys, so I was always like walking through the alleys. I like to, it's like nice to get in motion, and then your, like, mind starts working. Like, riding my bike is the same way; like, like in this like, repetitive physical act, but it's like, doesn't require anything of you, you know?

Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah.

Emily Kempf: Yeah.

Jason Balla: So I just stomp around some alleys and kick some garbage cans.

Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah. And then some raccoons roll out like, that's the jam.

Jason Balla: Like, raccoon-size rats.

Ayisha Jaffer: Oh my gosh!

Emily Kempf: Is that for real?

Ayisha Jaffer: I believe that. I've actually, I remember being on the phone and like this football-size rat, like, knocked me over. My friend was like, "What was that?" "It was just a rat."

Jason Balla: One time I seen a rat dancing like in a rainstorm in a puddle.

Emily Kempf: With another rat.

Jason Balla: And so then I kinda, I was like, "I kind of like you guys now." It was like really joyful.

Emily Kempf: But he told me that story. And I was like, "Jason sees that and he's like, they're dancing." I'm like, "They were probably like, fighting to the death."

Ayisha Jaffer: That sounds like a single piece of art.

Emily Kempf: Or they were, like, poisoned and like, seizuring up, right? Like, I think of it so darkly and Jason's like, "They're dancing!"

Jason Balla: Well, they had tap shoes on.

Emily Kempf: No — I'm inspired by your point of view, and I'm trying to adopt that dancing-rat point of view.

Ayisha Jaffer: I love that. Well, I want to talk about "Window" as well, because I feel like that's a song right, that you guys have had many years on. So it's like your history song in a way, because you have all these different timelines that have come into the song, but the song is almost like the anthem of hope. And I'm just curious in the album, to me, at least.

Emily Kempf: No, you're right.

Ayisha Jaffer: And I'm just curious, what are you hopeful for in that song? And for the future? It's a big question.

Emily Kempf: Yeah. Wow. So many images flashed in my mind. Just sort of, like, letting go of, I mean, I'm gonna sound like a horoscope app right now, but like, letting go of things that don't serve me! Letting go of things that don't serve me and don't serve the world. It's like, I yeah, like I want to be of service to the world and my community in whatever way that looks for me. And like, again, I can't do that unless I'm in the right shape, and like, mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, so to speak. And yeah, "Window" was sort of like, "All right, I'm tired of these things; let them go." Ripping myself out of past patterns, scenarios, people, and then placing myself in this, like, hopefully new... which doesn't just, you know, and let people like, leave people, it's like, you don't have to, like leave them or cut them off. It's just like, your relationship with them can change or your perspective on how you treat the relationship can change the relationship without having to like... Yeah, so I don't know if that made sense. But yeah, it is definitely a big song. It's a big emotional, emo song. And it definitely tied, I think, also an era of Dehd stuff together and now there's like a new era coming even though most people probably won't be able to pick up on that. For me personally, it is.

Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah, you can show them that way. Do you have an answer to that as well, Jason?

Jason Balla: I'm mostly just looking forward to, like, cultivating happiness.

Ayisha Jaffer: That's perfect.

Emily Kempf: Dancing rats.

Ayisha Jaffer: I almost want you to start telling horoscopes, like for Dehd, which maybe could be part of this next question.

Emily Kempf: Damn ... money idea!

Jason Balla: Producer credit.

Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah, producer credit is all I want.

Emily Kempf: Yo. Finder's fee for that idea.

Ayisha Jaffer: Well, hotline. So you've got this hotline, because that actually kind of, that could feed into it in some way.

Emily Kempf: Oh my god, you're our manager now.

Ayisha Jaffer: I can't take Amy's spot!

Emily Kempf: No, Amy is like a god.

Ayisha Jaffer: But the hotline I love; like, I know you guys have had that for a few years. But the recent ask is about "Bad Love." And I've listened to some of those stories that are fantastic. But I'm curious, what are some of your favorites that have come in? 

Emily Kempf Well, I have one about the fish.

Jason Balla: What's that one?

Emily Kempf: Okay. I actually haven't listened to it in like, eight months. But there's a lot of voicemails on there! And they come to this certain email. But there's one about fish; like, this girl and guy like we're dating and long story short, they broke up and the guy had some mental health situation. And one of the things he chose to do was put fish into her favorite pillow, like dead fish. And then sew it — like, they were fresh when he put them in there — and then sewed it back, so they were like in there in a way that she wouldn't know. And she, in the voicemail, she just kept talking about how was her favorite pillow and she was always cuddling with it and like, I don't know, it was like her life, and then the fish started rotting. I was just like, "What an intense breakup thing to do." But then he, he like didn't remember doing it. And then when she called him out on it, he was like, "Oh, yeah, the fish were missing one day. And I was wondering where they went." It was like this, like creepy. I was just like... that's also maybe why I stopped listening because some of them were like, too intense for me. I was like, I can't listen to any more of this!

Ayisha Jaffer: It's a lot.

Emily Kempf: Yeah.

Ayisha Jaffer: Do you have a favorite?

Jason Balla: I don't think I could talk about the one that I thought was really funny on the radio.

Emily Kempf: Oh, is it embarrassing?

Jason Balla: I think it was like, they had a really nice date. And then she like peed on him.

Ayisha Jaffer: Oh, yeah. I heard that one. Yeah, it's fine.

Emily Kempf: I made you talk about that one. 

Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah.

Jason Balla: Yeah.

Ayisha Jaffer: Like he woke up in the middle of night and they were…

Emily Kempf: But that's like an alcoholic thing. Like when I used to drink a lot, I would do stuff like that.

Ayisha Jaffer: I thought it was like a golden shower thing.

Jason Balla: That's kind of what I thought, too.

Emily Kempf: No, I made it like the golden shower. I mean, it could be interpreted in many ways.

Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah.

Emily Kempf: There's no shame in like, you know, when you're drunk and you piss in your sleep, it's like, okay, you probably should stop drinking.

Ayisha Jaffer: Pull that back a little bit.

Jason Balla: I've definitely caught some sleepwalker streams in my day.

Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah.

Emily Kempf: But then yeah, if it's a piss-play situation, then that guy needs to chill out.

Ayisha Jaffer: They gotta have a conversation.

Emily Kempf: Yeah.

Jason Balla: You've got to get consent before you fall asleep.

Emily Kempf: Yeah. Yeah, maybe maybe that's, yeah, private.

Ayisha Jaffer: Well, so this since you've had this hotline for a while, like, you know, what's next for it, you think? Missed connections at Dehd shows? Horoscopes? Or like, you know?

Jason Balla: Horoscopes could be cool. Maybe we could start our own food delivery service? I don't know.

Emily Kempf: I don't know. Maybe we'll retire it.

Jason Balla: Yeah. Maybe we'll take submissions for the new album.

Ayisha Jaffer: Oh, my goodness.

Emily Kempf: Album title.

Jason Balla: They could just write songs for us and send it to us.

Emily Kempf: Lol.

Ayisha Jaffer: No rights, send in songs!

Emily Kempf: We would get canceled! People will get mad.

Jason Balla: Wasn't there like a Silver Jews' record that was all recorded on people's voicemails? 

Ayisha Jaffer: Oh yeah, that's true. Yeah. Oh, my goodness. Well, I have a few more questions, kind of some fun questions before I let you guys go. Now, I know you have been opening up about the Dehd process and production and talking about tips and tricks and tones. And so I'm curious if there's one of your favorite tips, tricks or tones that you want to share about the Dehd writing process?

Jason Balla: Hmm. I mean, this is not even I guess, specific to Dehd, but like, you just have to, like, get it right, before like, get it right when you're doing it. Like nothing can be fixed really to like satisfaction.

Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah.

Jason Balla: So just like play it with some heart and play it right.

Ayisha Jaffer: Just be perfect, okay?

Jason Balla: It doesn't have to be perfect, but just, like you know.

Emily Kempf: You have to reach for perfection knowing you're never gonna get it.

Jason Balla: You can't settle like with the like, if you're like, "Oh, we'll just fix it later." Like, don't have that attitude. Be like, I'm like, I can listen to this. Actually, I heard a really good quote from Aldous Harding, where she was like, any little thing, like if she, if it sticks out to her twice, then it like is removed.

Emily Kempf: Yeah. 

Jason Balla: I think that's a pretty good one. Like if it catches your ear twice, and then you're like, "Oh, like, that kind of might bother me."

Emily Kempf: Yeah, don't be lazy.

Jason Balla: It's gonna bother you for the rest of your life. And it's like permanent. So I might as well do it right.

Emily Kempf: Yeah. Like we recently just did a cover, and we did it horribly. And instead of redoing it, we were like, "Ah, it's fine."

Jason Balla: Well, I was also... I think, I don't know if it's that bad. I haven't listened to it.

Emily Kempf: We were in bad shape. No, it's bad.

Jason Balla: I was staring up and lying on the ground, and then I just stood up to play the song. And then I had to lay back down.

Emily Kempf: In my mind. I'm like, "This is a lesson in what you just described"; like, we should have been like, "Oh, let's do one more time, just in case." And we didn't. And I'm like, never gonna do that again. But it's like, yeah, it's fine to make the mistake. And I love making mistakes loudly and in public because then you have nothing to lose or hide. You're like free. 

Ayisha Jaffer: That's perfect.

Emily Kempf: Yeah.

Ayisha Jaffer: Well, Emily, I know on top of being a musician, you're also a tattoo artist. 

Emily Kempf: Yep. Sometimes.

Ayisha Jaffer: I'm curious if you have seen any Dehd tattoos yet?

Emily Kempf: Yeah. Some people will send us, like, they got the horse when we did the little horse one. Um, I think somebody's gotten the masks.

Jason Balla: I've never seen one.

Emily Kempf: I feel like I saw it recently.

Ayisha Jaffer: Like show us your Dehd tattoos.

Emily Kempf: In the blur of life! Yeah, everyone send the Dehd tattoos to Jason on Instagram because I retired from social media.

Ayisha Jaffer: I think that's fair.

Emily Kempf: I know; I'm perfect.

Ayisha Jaffer: Was there anything else you guys would like our listeners to know before I let you go? 

Emily Kempf: Come to the show.

Jason Balla: See ya at Hard Times afterwards.

Emily Kempf: Yeah.

Ayisha Jaffer: Nice.

Emily Kempf: Or Modern Times.

Jason Balla: Yeah. One of the 'Times. 

Emily Kempf: Hard Times at night, Modern Times in the morn.

Ayisha Jaffer: Perfect.

Emily Kempf: For those who know, you know?

Ayisha Jaffer: Well, thank you guys so much for for being with us here at The Current; again, Dehd here at The Current studio. Blue Skies is out now, and enjoy the show.

Jason Balla: Thanks for having us.

Emily Kempf: Thank you!

Songs Played

00:00:00 Bad Love
00:02:21 Stars
00:05:00 Window

All songs from Dehd’s 2022 album Blue Skies, available on Fat Possum Records.

Band Members

Emily Kempf – vocals, bass
Jason Balla – guitar, backing vocals
Eric McGrady – drums, percussion

Credits

Guests – Dehd
Host – Ayisha Jaffer
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video – Eric Xu Romani
Camera Operators – Eric Xu Romani, Derek Ramirez
Audio – Evan Clark
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor 

External Link

Dehd - official site