Khruangbin pick the best music of Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas, has a rich and diverse music history encompassing a wide range of genres and styles. From blues and jazz to country, hip-hop, and rock, the city has been a breeding ground for musical talent and innovation. Central to this contemporary blossom of explosive talent is Khruangbin, the endearing musical trio whose mesmerising and hypnotic sound transports listeners to distant and exotic landscapes.
In recent years, Houston has emerged as a vibrant epicentre for celebrating a multitude of contemporary cultural contributions and musical genres. From the infectious rhythms of rap and hip-hop to the electrifying beats of rock and pop, the city has blossomed into a dynamic melting pot of musical expression. While some still cherish the timeless melodies of country and folk, Houston’s music scene has evolved into a dynamic tapestry of bustling genres, offering a diverse array of sounds for all to enjoy.
Khruangbin celebrate this rise in cosmopolitan culture with music that draws inspiration from various musical traditions around the world, including Thai funk, Middle Eastern music, and West African rhythms. With their eclectic tastes, global influences, and innovative approach to composition and performance, the trio continues pushing contemporary music’s boundaries and inspiring listeners with their unique sonic journey.
Discussing some of their most cherished sounds from the city during an episode of ‘What’s In My Bag?’, bassist Laura Lee Ochoa began with Billy Preston, a “Houston legend and keyboard legend”. Singling out his song ‘Kick-It’, she added: “I worked at The Continental Club here for years, and literally I think every night somebody would come in with their Houston Billy Preston story, so had to be on my list.”
Discussing another legend hailing from Houston, DJ Johnson discussed Ronnie Laws’ Flame, specifically sharing his appreciation for the keyboard element in ‘All For You’, created by Larry Dunn. “Really funky keyboard part,” he explained, adding, “Great sax solo, everything you want in a song. Funky record.” Mark Speer also picks out an album by his brother, Hubert Laws’, called Say It With Silence, describing it as a “jazz funk masterpiece”.
Naming the “most Houston song ever”, Ochoa picked ‘Tighten Up’ by Archie Bell & The Drells. In fact, according to Ochoa, this is one that needs no introduction or explanation. “I don’t have anything to say about that,” she gushes, adding, “It was recorded here in Houston, Texas, at Sugar Hill Studios, so awesome.”
One in particular that Johnson deemed “very special to the Houston area and the gospel scene” is I’ll Go by the Southeast Inspirational Choir. “It features Carl Preacher, who I’m a big fan of,” Johnson explained. “He has his own sound on the B3 organ to where he plays the choir parts as the choir are singing them, and it’s, in my head, what I grew up thinking church sounded like.”
Check out the full list below.
Khruangbin’s best of Houston:
- Billy Preston – ‘Kick-It’
- Ronnie Laws – ‘All for You’
- Hubert Laws – ‘Say It With Silence’
- Hubert Laws – ‘Love Gets Better’
- Archie Bell & The Drells – ‘Tighten Up’
- Bubbha Thomas & The Lightmen – ‘High Pockets’
- Bubbha Thomas & The Lightmen – ‘Luke 23:32-49’
- Southeast Inspirational Choir – ‘Hallelujah’
- Roy Neal – Man On The Moon: The Flight Of Apollo 11
