Oh He Dead

Washington Post: D.C. band Oh He Dead’s new album is throwing out all sorts of feelings

Anyone listening to Oh He Dead’s new album, “Ugly,” might find it hard to imagine that huge-voiced frontwoman CJ Johnson didn’t know she could sing when she started performing in musicals at a D.C. charter school. Her first role was in “Rent,” which updates “La Bohème” to New York’s AIDS-haunted East Village in the late 1980s.

Th Berkeley Beacon: Oh He Dead’s new project explores a range of ‘Ugly’ moments

Ugly’s sound is special, and while “Ugly” is mixed and mastered by engineer and producer, Jimmy Mansfeild, what’s even more compelling is that the album is produced by the band themselves. “The rewarding part is that we get to say, ‘hey, we did this ourselves,’” said Johnson. “Nothing feels greater than being able to do anything by yourself”

Oh He Dead grooves with soulful, funky flair

While Oh He Dead has yet to release any new music since “Ugly,” their funky, fresh aptitude and talent are almost guaranteed to hit listeners in their souls. The band isn’t just keeping soul alive while touring across the globe — they’re reshaping it for the better with every gritty note and groovy riff.

Feb 19, 2026

50+ Good Live Music Choices in NYC This Weekend

theaquarian · Dec 19, 2025

Get Ready for Oh He Dead’s Third Studio Album, “Ugly”

Bong mines · Aug 5, 2024

Oh He Dead embrace their fun-loving side on ‘Pretty’ » // MELODIC Magazine

//MELODICMagazine»MelodicMagazinekeepsyouuptodateonyourfavoritemusicianswithinterviews,tourdates,livephotos,andliveshowreviews. · Sep 15, 2023

Oh He Dead was once an acoustic folk duo. Now it’s an indie soul band with a bright future. - The Washington Post

WashingtonPost · Nov 19, 2019

WXPN: Oh He Dead rocks a high-spirited Free at Noon set

Comprised of charismatic vocalist CJ Johnson, guitarist Alex Salser, bassist John Daise, drummer Adam Ashforth, and keys player Piano Whitman, the band shows how they’re masters of dynamics, moving from the slow and low “Is It My Love,” a cup of soul with a simmering guitar solo by Salser, to the heart-racing, high-drama build of “Cover Me.” The short “John Song” and its companion “Artemis” brought us into the introspective zone again, and by “Strange Love” the room was clapping along on cue. These are (if the titles didn’t make it clear) songs about love, connection, and emotion, and that was felt all around the music hall during the band’s eight-song on-air performance. For an off-air encore, they covered Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer,” to the delight of the audience.

DC Music Review: Oh He Dead Brings Crowd to Life at Hagerstown’s Newest Venue

One standout moment came during "Cover Me", a soulful ballad that featured a tender guitar intro by another member shared between the two bands Alex Salser, organ-like keys, and a crescendo of powerhouse vocals. The crowd erupted during a guitar solo, only to be put back into awe by the bassist’s smooth vocals leading the next verse. The song’s emotional depth was matched only by its technical brilliance.

50+ Good Live Music Choices in NYC This Weekend

theaquarian · Dec 19, 2025

D.C. band Oh He Dead’s new album is throwing out all sorts of feelings - The Washington Post

WashingtonPost · Aug 14, 2024

WYEP's Summer Music Festival features artists from around the world and around the corner | 90.5 WESA

90.5WESA · Jun 28, 2024

Tiny Desk Contest entrant Oh He Dead on newfound motherhood and love

NPR · Oct 31, 2021

Oh He Dead Detail New Album and Tour; Share First Single 'Strange Love'

BroadwayWorld.com