'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Grammy Awards 2025 recently nominated the well-known musical trio Khruangbin for Best New Artist. The group includes Laura Lee, Mark Speer, and DJ Johnson as members, and they are known for their albums, such as The Universe Smiles upon You.
The group has been active since 2010 and starting from their third album Mordechai, they began to grab a specific spot on the Billboard and other charts. All three members are from Houston, Texas, and the trio's last major release was A La Sala.
In an interview with Harper's Bazaar in April this year, Laura described A La Sala as a big comeback for the band and added:
"It was really important for me personally to reconnect with Mark and DJ and reconnect with myself at a simpler time within the band."
Trending
The band was formed after Mark and Johnson began playing at a church band. The latter had once addressed how the experience helped him while working as a member of Khruangbin. He told Spin magazine earlier this year that he felt like he was training himself and added:
"You never know how complex or what style it would be. You had to practice and figure out and be able to replicate it in a professional manner. That's really good training for being a musician in general."
Khruangbin has also released a few EPs and live recordings over the years: Members and other details explained
The Houston, Texas-based group has worked with record labels such as Dead Oceans and Night Time Stories in their career. They have released five albums and their singles including Texas Sun and Summer Madness have helped them to remain in the spotlight.
Khruangbin's journey dates back to the time when Mark Speer and DJ Johnson formed a close friendship in 2004 as members of a church gospel band. According to Music Mill, the duo met Laura Lee around three years later, leading to the formation of Khruangbin. The band's name refers to airplanes.
The group first released an EP in 2011 and their first single, A Calf Born in Winter, came out back in 2011. They continued bringing more songs over the years and their debut album was released in 2015, titled The Universe Smiles upon You. The project included 10 singles in the soundtrack.
None of the group members have pursued a solo career so far, and their work is mostly influenced by Thai rock and funk from the 60s and 70s. Starting in 2018, the band began playing at different concerts, with most of them witnessing the presence of a huge crowd.
They even went on tours with Mattson 2 and Leon Bridges. In an interview with Exclaim magazine this year, Laura said:
"When we started Khruangbin, it wasn't about trying to be a certain type of band. While, especially in pop, you could probably advise a formula, I think when you're seeking unique, integrous originality, you almost have to make your own."
In 2018, the trio released another album, Con Todo el Mundo, followed by another major project, Mordechai, around two years later. The latter also grabbed the 31st spot on the US Billboard 200 and reached on top of other charts.
The group's fourth album, A La Sala, was released in May this year and received a positive response. Khruangbin also has some EPs in their credits, including The Infamous Bill, History of Flight, and Spotify Singles. They also released several singles like The Answer Is, One to Remember, A Love International, and more.
Grammy nominations explained in brief
Apart from Khruangbin, several other popular artists and groups have earned nominations at the Grammys. Beyoncé has managed to remain on top, with a total of 11 nominations for her album, Cowboy Carter.
On November 8, 2024, Gayle King announced the Grammy nominations on the official website, joined by Kylie Minogue, Victoria Monét, and Hayley Williams. Beyoncé led the nominations, followed closely by Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter.
Carpenter and Roan are also nominated for Best New Artist alongside Benson Boone, Doechi, Raye, Shaboozey, and Teddy Swims. Furthermore, the albums of Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, and Bruno Mars have also been nominated in the category of Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
