Together with a younger sister, El Kempner grew up in Westport, Connecticut, where they attended the
Staples High School. El developed an interest in playing music at an early age and was given guitar lessons by their father. In high school, they formed the band Cheerleader with drummer Max Kupperberg. During this time, Kempner recorded demos in
GarageBand, which were later heard by Dan Goldin, the co-founder of
Exploding in Sound. In 2012, they moved to New York City, where they attended
Sarah Lawrence College and studied music. There they recorded the six track EP
Bent Nail with Carlos Hernandez and Julian Fader of Ava Luna. Their debut as Palehound was through the digital release of the song "Pet Carrot" in August 2013. The EP received a physical release through
Exploding in Sound Records in October 2013. They later said, “when I first recorded [it], I was a little scared to put all the cards on the table." What initially had been a "bedroom recording project" was transferred to the live-stage. They dropped out of college and moved to Boston. In February 2014, the single "Kitchen" was released. In August 2015, Palehound released the album
Dry Food, produced by Gabe Wax in the US, and a UK release on
Heavenly Records followed in March 2016. In the same month, the band embarked on a UK/European tour in support of the album. Kempner worked with Real to Reel Filmschool in Boston on a video for the song "Cushioned Caging" that appeared in June 2016. On March 6, 2017, Kempner announced that Palehound had been signed by
Polyvinyl Records. Their 2017 album ''A Place I'll Always Go
was released on June 16, and was followed by Black Friday
in June 2019, described by Pitchfork'' as "reach[ing] far toward the hazy horizon, letting the nervous energy of Palehound's first two LPs mount and unspool." In 2020, in light of the
COVID-19 pandemic, Palehound contributed to a benefit compilation titled "The Song Is Coming From Inside The House." Organized by indie rock band
Strange Ranger, proceeds from the 24-track album went to Groundswell's Rapid Response Fund, in order to support organizations led by
women of color and
transgender individuals. On July 14, 2024, Palehound released their fourth album
Eye on the Bat, to critical acclaim. In their review of the album,
Pitchfork said that "Kempner’s songwriting is far from one-note, and the record’s winsome bombast finds the perfect foil in introspective details, moments of time trapped between the bars." On October 13, 2023, Kempner was named one of the greatest guitar players of all time by
Rolling Stone. On August 16, 2024, Palehound released
Live at First Congregational Church, a live solo album recorded by engineer Andrew Sarlo in Los Angeles during a string of shows Kempner supported for
Adrianne Lenker of
Big Thief in 2021. == Lyrical style ==