Khruangbin

Khruangbin are a Houston, Texas trio whose music brings Thai rock, Iranian pop and dub into conversation with American soul, rock and psychedelia. Their name is the Thai word for “airplane,” and the group’s sound has drawn on 1960s and 1970s Thai rock alongside surf guitar, funk, soundtrack music and other international styles.

The band consists of Laura Lee Ochoa on bass guitar and vocals, Mark Speer on guitar and vocals, and Donald “DJ” Johnson on drums, keyboards and vocals. Speer and Lee began writing together after performing live with electronic rock musician Yppah during Bonobo’s 2010 American tour, then recruited Johnson, who had previously played with Speer in a gospel band.

Khruangbin’s instrumental interplay is central to its work: Lee’s bass lines, Speer’s guitar melodies and Johnson’s drumming create spacious, groove-led songs that move between funk, dub, psychedelia and soul. Speer and Lee’s wigs, originally used to avoid recognition when the group was starting out, became part of their onstage look.

In 2024, Khruangbin received a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist.