Personally, I'm a lover of music of all kinds: reggae, hip hop, rock, alternative, EDM, and the list goes on. I love the diversity of sound, mood, and rhythm between the different genres, bands, and artists. However, no matter how unique and amazing you think an artist is, they usually tend to conform to one of the commonly known genres of music that have already been established. Obviously, we all listen to this music and there are a lot of extremely talented people producing great music within these genres, but sometimes the same songs and genres you listen to get old and you get into a "music funk." When I say "music funk," I mean that feeling when you constantly listen to the same playlists of music and you get so annoyed with playing the same music to the point where you start playing FM radio in your car.
Don't do it. Don't push that FM button. Don't torture yourself with the same subpar top five pop hits playing on loop. I'm here to help you and cure you of your "funk." That cure is Khruangbin.
Khruangbin is a psychedelic Thai funk band out of Burton, Texas. The name Khruangbin translate to "engine fly or airplane." The band thought that the name "symbolizes the international set of influences that shaped their music." The band consists of Laura Lee, on bass, guitarist, Mark Speer, and drummer, Donald Johnson. The band was first inspired by a box of Thai psychedelic funk tapes from the 60's and 70's they got online. They use these tapes for most of their song writing inspiration, however they also they are also heavily influenced from the music from Ethiopia, Thailand, Jamaica, and the Near East. The masterpiece this trio creates together is the most fluid, relaxing, memorizing, and groovy music I've ever heard. Their music is very instrumental-focused, with soft touches of singing and humming in the background. However, when you listen to their music you realize their instruments speak louder than words, in a smooth, groovy, captivating, and unique language on their own.
Now I know you're probably thinking, "Okay, that sounds cool and all I guess but I don't really think a Thai psychedelic funk band is for me..." "I'm not into that psychedelic trippy hippie crap." Just give it a chance. Once my friend Bailey introduced Khruangbin to me this summer, it has been my mission to make everyone trapped in the car with me when I'm driving to experience their music for the first time. My grandmother loves them. My friends love them. My boyfriend loves them. My boyfriends roommates love them. Khruangbin has a sound and soul like no other band. So go do yourself a favor and experience the musical magic of Khruangbin and say goodbye to your mid-February music funk.
