Psychedelic soul-funk trio Khruangbin has officially announced their fourth studio album, “A LA SALA,” set to release on April 5 through label Dead Oceans. With two more months until the full release, Khruangbin has so far dropped one single — “A Love International,” released Jan. 16 — for fans to savor in the meantime.
The three-piece band from Houston, comprised of members Laura Lee (bass), Mark Speer (guitar) and Donald “DJ” Jackson (drums), brings unique tunes that inspire listeners to dance on the spot. With Lee’s smooth bass lines, Jackson’s percussion beats and Speer’s guitar, which sings so profoundly that its melodies rival those of a singer’s, it’s truly addictive to stream one Khruangbin track immediately following another.
Khruangbin’s undeniable talent has been featured in recent media that includes movies such as Alexander Payne’s campus film “The Holdovers” (2023), Netflix teen drama show “Outer Banks” and HBO’s comedy-drama series, “Barry.” Their atmospheric surfer-inspired sound blends perfectly into 1960s and ’70s throwback hits, but also situates itself seamlessly into the hippie revival style trend that is increasingly popular among those of the modern music scene.
The band’s upcoming album, “A LA SALA,” which literally means “to the room” in Spanish, will consist of 12 tracks total. With tracks such as “Todavía Viva” and “Les Petits Gris” that take international influence, Khruangbin aims to take their listeners on a journey across the globe through their new music. Taking inspiration completely from stashed ideas at sound checks, on long trips, and from pure imagination, the band’s fourth album serves as a scrapbook of old memories compiled and transformed into new art for the masses to enjoy.
During production of “A LA SALA,” members of the band worked to incorporate elements from the natural environment into their instrumentals in order to achieve “set and setting” immersion. Both tracks “Farolim de Felgueiras” and “Caja de la Sala” feature cicada chirping and sounds of shoes on stone steps as slice-of-life accompaniments to Lee and Speer’s musical contributions.
In addition to the new album release, Khruangbin is kicking off a tour that will transport the soulful trio across the country, the U.K. and parts of western Europe. The six-month tour is slated to begin April 14 at Coachella, and will continue through the spring and summer before coming to a close mid-October in New Orleans.
On the epic “A LA SALA” tour, Khruangbin will have support on tour from a variety of international talent, including 1950s-inspired Latin instrumental band Hermanos Gutiérrez, American pianist John Carroll Kirby, vibey Canadian indie pop band Men I Trust, New Delhi-based psychedelic rock band Peter Cat Recording Co. and Grammy-winning Pakistani singer Arooj Aftab.
Be sure to check out Khruangbin’s website to see if they will be touring in your town, and pre-save “A LA SALA” now! You can also stay updated on Khruangbin’s socials here and stream their latest single, “A Love International,” now.
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