Biography
A rock & roll duo hailing from California, Deap Vally fuse hard rock stomp, glam rock swagger, and greasy blues riffs into a primal sound that evokes the White Stripes colliding with the Black Keys after a round-trip journey to the 1970s. Relying solely on guitar, vocals, and drums, the pair project a full-bodied presence marked by cool detachment, visceral impact, and deadpan wit woven through their boastful lyrics. Their debut, the fiery 2013 release Sistrionix, gave way to a stronger follow-up in 2016’s Femejism, and after a period spent seeking the ideal label, the duo resurfaced in 2021 with the refined yet powerful Marriage.
Deap Vally came together in Los Angeles once guitarist and vocalist Lindsey Troy, previously active as a solo singer-songwriter, enrolled in a crocheting class held at a San Fernando shop by drummer Julie Edwards, formerly of the Pity Party. The pair exchanged recordings from their individual projects and soon began jamming with the aim of forming a heavy rock band driven by potent rhythmic grooves. Initial rehearsals included a bassist, yet after that musician devoted increasing time to other commitments, Troy and Edwards opted to continue as a duo. Adopting an aesthetic centered on halter tops and short jean shorts, they made their live debut at Silverlake Lounge, where their explosive stage energy quickly secured support slots alongside Muse, Peaches, Wolfmother, the Vaccines, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. In July 2012 Deap Vally issued their debut single, “Gonna Make My Own Money,” followed later that month by their first United Kingdom performances. The resulting attention earned festival bookings across Britain and prompted Island Records to offer a recording contract.
During spring 2013 the self-described Valley girls issued the four-song EP Get Deap!, produced by Lars Stalfors (Matt and Kim, the Mars Volta, Cold War Kids). Their first full-length album, Sistrionix, arrived the same year, also under Stalfors’s guidance, and reached number 38 on the U.K. album charts. Three years later they released their second album, Femejism, produced by Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs). The record tempered some of the debut’s raw crunch while highlighting Troy’s vocals, which drew from Karen O, Courtney Barnett, and Chrissie Hynde. Though it received favorable notices, Femejism fell short of Sistrionix commercially, leading Deap Vally to part ways with Island.
The duo maintained a busy touring schedule, including a 2017 support run with Garbage and Blondie. When Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips suggested a collaboration with Lindsey Troy, the project evolved into the one-off album Deap Lips. Coyne and Steven Drozd wrote and recorded nine original songs with Troy and Edwards, adding a cover of Hoyt Axton’s “The Pusher,” later popularized by Steppenwolf. Cooking Vinyl issued Deap Lips in Britain, and Deap Vally subsequently partnered with the same label for 2021’s Marriage, which incorporated pop and hip-hop elements while featuring guest contributions from KT Tunstall, Peaches, Jamie Hince of the Kills, and Jennie Vee of Eagles of Death Metal.
Deap Vally came together in Los Angeles once guitarist and vocalist Lindsey Troy, previously active as a solo singer-songwriter, enrolled in a crocheting class held at a San Fernando shop by drummer Julie Edwards, formerly of the Pity Party. The pair exchanged recordings from their individual projects and soon began jamming with the aim of forming a heavy rock band driven by potent rhythmic grooves. Initial rehearsals included a bassist, yet after that musician devoted increasing time to other commitments, Troy and Edwards opted to continue as a duo. Adopting an aesthetic centered on halter tops and short jean shorts, they made their live debut at Silverlake Lounge, where their explosive stage energy quickly secured support slots alongside Muse, Peaches, Wolfmother, the Vaccines, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. In July 2012 Deap Vally issued their debut single, “Gonna Make My Own Money,” followed later that month by their first United Kingdom performances. The resulting attention earned festival bookings across Britain and prompted Island Records to offer a recording contract.
During spring 2013 the self-described Valley girls issued the four-song EP Get Deap!, produced by Lars Stalfors (Matt and Kim, the Mars Volta, Cold War Kids). Their first full-length album, Sistrionix, arrived the same year, also under Stalfors’s guidance, and reached number 38 on the U.K. album charts. Three years later they released their second album, Femejism, produced by Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs). The record tempered some of the debut’s raw crunch while highlighting Troy’s vocals, which drew from Karen O, Courtney Barnett, and Chrissie Hynde. Though it received favorable notices, Femejism fell short of Sistrionix commercially, leading Deap Vally to part ways with Island.
The duo maintained a busy touring schedule, including a 2017 support run with Garbage and Blondie. When Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips suggested a collaboration with Lindsey Troy, the project evolved into the one-off album Deap Lips. Coyne and Steven Drozd wrote and recorded nine original songs with Troy and Edwards, adding a cover of Hoyt Axton’s “The Pusher,” later popularized by Steppenwolf. Cooking Vinyl issued Deap Lips in Britain, and Deap Vally subsequently partnered with the same label for 2021’s Marriage, which incorporated pop and hip-hop elements while featuring guest contributions from KT Tunstall, Peaches, Jamie Hince of the Kills, and Jennie Vee of Eagles of Death Metal.
Albums
Singles
