D.C. Band Oh He Dead is a funky family — silliness, stories, and an underlying powerful love leading the way. They finish each other’s sentences, write songs for one another, and, sometimes, remind each other to slow down, take stock, maybe drink some water? But they’re not without edge; they’ll throw for each other at a moment’s notice. See their band name, which was inspired by that time some foolish boy cheated on frontman CJ Johnson. “Oh, he dead,” she quipped when someone asked what befell him. See, fierce — but funny. Loving, but limber.

These days, the band — which also features guitarist Alex Salser, Adam Ashforth (drums), visionary Piano Whitman (keys), and Colin Sidley on bass —  is feeling dizzy. They’ve been touring Europe, playing festivals, shooting a documentary  — and, most importantly, writing. On the road, in their rooms, or in the air, the rock-tinged, smooth as silk, and utterly groovy act finds inspiration in everything, from butterflies to baby pics. A thoroughly democratic affair, the band sorted through more than a 100 tracks, voting on their favorites to forge Vertigo, their fourth studio album, out September 21st on their own Wally Baba Records label. Ten songs laced with R&B, rock, and a dash of disco, the record’s title reflects the group’s life over the past few years: bursting with pleasure, fun, drama, and, sure, that titular feeling of losing control — in a good way.