What’s that smell? FUNK, derived from the Latin “fumigare,” meaning, “to smoke.” The smoking ladies of Deap Vally don’t need boots to walk all over you. The barefoot duo’s mixture of brazen and sweet allows them to zigzag from songs of poignant social commentary and resolute declaration to vulnerable bare-all ballads and songs of universal empowerment. Not purely blues-rock– sandwich them between funk and punk, because it’s just as much about attitude and intent as guitar-and-drums.
Lindsey Troy and Julie Edwards met in a crochet class in 2011 (no lie), and have since then melted faces and blown minds all over the world, touring with Queens of the Stoneage, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, DIIV, Band of Skulls, the Vaccines, Marilyn Manson, Muse, Peaches, Babes in Toyland, and Mumford and Sons, appearing on Jools Holland, and playing festivals from Glastonbury to Austin Psych Fest to Splendor in the Grass all over the world on the wings of their 2013 debut album SISTRIONIX.
Deap Vally’s high fidelity recording approach reproduces the soul of their live performance, capturing the raw energy and sex appeal that oozes from the stage. Little instrumentation, BIG SOUND. That is the magic of Deap Vally.
They handle their instruments like machine guns, but snuggle kittens behind the scenes. These enigmatic women are wolves in sheep’s clothing by day, and sheep in wolves’ clothing by night (and if the thought of them as sheep makes you want to wear them as a sweater near to your heart, look out for their hand-crocheted merch).
In 2016, Deap Vally will drop album number two (album title is still top secret), produced by Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, featuring tracks ranging from experimental prog and kraut-rock to good old-fashioned heart-melters and ball-busters.