Khruangbin

Khruangbin is an instrumental trio from Houston, Texas — bassist Laura Lee, guitarist Mark Speer, and drummer Donald «DJ» Johnson Jr. — whose name means «airplane» in Thai, a nod to the ‘60s and ’70s Thai funk and rock records that shaped their sound. Speer and Lee began playing together after backing electronic musician Yppah on tour, and later brought in Johnson, with whom Speer had already played for years in a gospel band.

Their music blends psychedelia, dub, surf guitar, soul, and touches of Middle Eastern, Indian, and Southeast Asian melody into warm, groove-driven instrumentals, often recorded with a deliberately loose, analog feel. Onstage the trio is known for wearing wigs, a visual signature that started as anonymity and became part of their identity.

Albums like «The Universe Smiles Upon You» and «Con Todo El Mundo» built a devoted following through instantly recognizable basslines and guitar tones, while collaborations such as the «Texas Sun» and «Texas Moon» EPs with Leon Bridges brought vocals into their world without losing the band’s hypnotic, cinematic character. Songs like «White Gloves», «Pelota», and «Mariella» show how the group turns minimal arrangements into richly atmospheric listening.