Khruangbin, a Trio From Houston, Mix Global Influences Into Stellar Psychedelic Instrumentals

Laura Lee Ochoa and guitarist Mark Speer realized early on in their collaboration that they wanted to combine various international styles into their hypnotic grooves, so Houston was an obvious place to seek inspiration for this endeavor.

Bonobo included their debut track on his Late Night Tales mix in 2013, an action which significantly expanded their Stateside fan base.

Origins

Khruangbin are an unlikely trio from Burton, Texas with only 298, 13 miles from Brenham. But that is precisely the improbable story behind Khruangbin; their unique blend of global influences results in breathtaking psychedelic instrumentals.

Bassist Laura Lee and guitarist Mark Speer met while performing in a gospel band before both joining Ninja Tune artist Yppah for Bonobo’s tour, prompting them to form their own group. Soon thereafter drummer Donald “DJ” Johnson came aboard, creating an audacious sound that is both sensuous and occasionally trippy.

Con Todo El Mundo (literally “With All the World”) is their 2018 sophomore album that expands upon their 2015 debut by adding styles from across Mediterranean and Middle Eastern music cultures – with Lee providing soulfully funky bass lines, Speer crafting fluid guitar melodies and Johnson providing his signature breakbeat chops. But their core components remain unchanged: Lee’s soulfully funky bass lines, Speer’s liquid guitar melodies and Johnson’s crunchy breakbeat chops all remain at their core jigsaw pieces remained intact: Lee’s soulfully funky bass lines, Speer’s liquid guitar melodies and Johnson’s breakbeat chops remain as core jigsaw pieces.

Influences

Khruangbin’s global grooves captivate listeners. Hailing from Texas, this trio’s music blends Thai, African, and American styles into something uniquely their own.

No matter the collaboration with Leon Bridges for their 2020 and 2022 albums Con Todo El Mundo or Ali, bassist Laura Lee Ochoa, guitarist Mark Speer and drummer Donald “DJ” Johnson create their own hypnotic universe through rhythmic interaction and melodic improvisation.

Returning to the expansive, jammy compositions that first brought A La Sala fame, they have deepened their roots even further than before. From Thai funk (their name literally translates to Engine Fly) to Tarantino soundtracks and surf rock influences seamlessly blended together by A La Sala, they seamlessly fuse influences.

Styles

Khruangbin is a band that brings listeners into its world. Hailing from Houston, their unique blend of neo-nostalgia can be heard playing over buzzy restaurants or simply emanating through dorm room speakers in mid-trip haze.

Mark Speer, Laura Lee and Donald “DJ” Johnson have been creating astounding psychedelic instrumentals with global influences for over a decade now – yet despite their immense popularity (their albums have been streamed over 775 million times!) the group seems uncommitted to pleasing anyone but themselves.

At their core, their music is unashamedly instrumental – an invitation to explore subtle changes that oscillate between genres, textures, and global musical traditions. On 2024’s Ali album they revisited an essential strategy from previous records by adding field recordings from Malian singer-songwriter Vieux Farka Toure as part of its fabric.

Techniques

Khruangbin (which translates to “engine fly” in Thai) have pioneered an evolving world music style known as Khruangbin Soundscape that can best be described as mixtape-esque. But their latest release A La Sala appears unrushed.

Donald “DJ” Johnson and Laura Lee Ochoa escape the bustle of Houston for an introspective recording session in a barn in rural Texas, nonchalantly accepting any limitations their primitive recording setup might present.

Its impactful result was an album more intimate and profound than any previous work by the group, garnering them widespread acclaim from tech bros to Teva-wearing hippie folk alike. Collaborative projects like their 2020 country-twang EP with Leon Bridges and Ali – created as a tribute to Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Toure’s late father – further demonstrate their expansive musical horizons.

Audience

Khruangbin as a band does not take the traditional approach to music-making; which may account for their immense success.

Houston trio Smudge plays to an eclectic range of audiences ranging from tech bros in tevas to jobbing musicians and families enjoying an evening out, yet seems to appeal universally. There’s an underlying sense of comfort where familiarity meets strangeness seamlessly.

As the evening progressed, Speer’s reverb-drenched guitar and DJ Johnson’s sparse percussion were transformed by Laura Lee Ochoa’s sensuous singing and vowels with various pitches, creating an unforgettable soundscape. At the conclusion of their set they performed a covers medley that catered to all age groups while remaining true to themselves musically – it was an ideal way to cap off an unforgettable show!