About think13

think13 is a San Francisco musical collective that blends progressive indie rock with tribal music and performance art. The group grew out of a collaboration between co-founders Dee Kennedy and Christoph, who met in 2004 while acting in a local play.

What began as a duo-driven live setup, originally centered on an iPod named "Bob" and Bose PS-1 speakers, evolved over time into a full-band performance built around a stage piece called Balance.

Concert stage bathed in deep teal and magenta lights, crowd silhouetted in front of a wide screen

The Members

think13 lineup

  • Dee Kennedy — co-founder, vocals
  • Christoph — co-founder
  • Forrest — drums
  • Joe — rhythm guitar
  • Anthony — bass

think13 emerged as a San Francisco musical collective where progressive indie rock meets tribal music and performance art, creating a sound that resists easy categorization. The project grew from a partnership between co-founders who connected through local theatre and discovered a shared fascination with rhythm, texture, and storytelling. What started as a small live setup gradually expanded into a fuller ensemble, with each member bringing their own musical background to the group. The collective treats songwriting as a collaborative process, weaving together layered percussion, vocal harmonies, and atmospheric guitar work to build songs that feel both intimate and expansive. Their performances aim to blur the line between a traditional concert and a piece of staged art, inviting audiences to engage with music as an immersive experience rather than a passive backdrop. The result is a body of work that feels rooted in community and experimentation, reflecting the eclectic creative spirit of the Bay Area scene that shaped them.

The creative identity of think13 is shaped by an eclectic range of influences drawn from international musical traditions, underground rock, and experimental performance. Rather than settling into a single genre, the collective moves fluidly between styles, allowing tribal rhythms, ambient textures, and indie rock structures to coexist within a single song. This openness extends to their visual and staging choices, where every concert becomes a chance to rethink how a live show can look and feel. The group draws inspiration from artists who treat the stage as a space for ritual and transformation, and they carry that sensibility into their own productions. By prioritizing mood and atmosphere over conventional verse-chorus formulas, think13 creates performances that reward close listening. Their approach reflects a belief that music can be both a personal expression and a communal event, bringing together listeners who are curious about sound that sits outside mainstream radio formulas.

As a collective rather than a traditional band, think13 operates with a flexible creative structure that has allowed the project to evolve over many years. New collaborators join when their ideas align with the group's direction, and members step into different roles depending on the demands of a particular song or stage piece. This fluid arrangement keeps the work feeling fresh and prevents the music from settling into predictable patterns. The collective also places a strong emphasis on community, viewing their audience and fellow musicians as part of an ongoing creative conversation. Live shows often feel like gatherings where the boundary between performer and listener softens, and where the energy of the room feeds directly into the performance. Working out of studios in San Francisco, the members balance independent projects with their shared commitment to think13, treating the collective as a long-term artistic home rather than a short-lived side venture.

Performance has always been central to the identity of think13, and the collective approaches each live appearance as an opportunity to experiment with staging, movement, and audience interaction. The stage piece Balance, for example, reflects an interest in using physical space and visual elements to give musical ideas a tangible form. Performances often incorporate elements of theatre, dance, and ritual, transforming ordinary venues into something more charged and ceremonial. This commitment to live presentation has taken the group through a variety of settings, from intimate local showcases to festival appearances where they reached broader audiences. Along the way, think13 has shared stages with a diverse range of touring acts, building relationships across the independent music world. Each show is treated as a unique event rather than a replica of the last, with the band adjusting setlists, arrangements, and staging to suit the energy of the room and the nature of the occasion.

Beyond the stage and the studio, think13 maintains an active presence through recorded music, videos, and ongoing dialogue with their audience. Their releases document the evolution of the collective, capturing snapshots of the lineup, the songwriting process, and the shifting sounds that define each phase of the project. Interviews and behind-the-scenes features offer glimpses into how songs take shape, how live pieces are developed, and how individual members contribute to the larger vision. The group also values written reflection, sharing thoughts on music, performance, and community through blog-style updates that keep listeners connected between releases. This ongoing conversation reflects a belief that artistic work is not finished when a song is recorded, but continues through the relationship between creators and the people who engage with their art. In this way, think13 positions itself less as a static brand and more as a living creative practice rooted in collaboration and shared experience.

Recognition & Milestones

2004 Dee Kennedy and Christoph meet while acting in a local play, forming the foundation of think13.
October 27, 2007 San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom proclaims "think13 Day" in San Francisco, recognizing the group for music innovation and community awareness.
November 2007 The band announces entering contract to purchase The Plant Studios building to preserve it as a music and arts incubator.
March 2008 VAGABOOM! with think13 begins sessions on Treasure Island with the Boys and Girls Club.

The group's live work has been featured by San Francisco Bay Guardian journalist Molly Freedenburg, who described the Balance performance as a "gorgeous spectacle" that continues to blur the boundaries between the music scene and the performance art scene.

Mission

think13 operates VAGABOOM! with think13 as a youth performance educational program, operating under the fiscal sponsorship of the IHCenter in Malibu, CA.