Since bursting onto the scene and captivating listeners with their 2015 debut, The Universe Smiles Upon You, three-piece Khruangbin (pronounced krung-bin) have become a breakout success thanks to their world-music influences that stem from places far from the band's Texas roots like Thailand, Spain, Iran, and Ethiopia. With such a global palate, it’s surprising to learn that the band’s multicultural music has all been composed and recorded in a small barn in the 300-person town of Burton, Texas. But being pigeonholed or singled out for any similarities tied to a particular region is the last thing the band wants. Apart from any ethnic comparison, their music is often labeled as soul, funk, psychedelic, or stoner rock — but the truth is, the members of Khruangbin are just playing what they feel, and that seems to vary frequently. Reigning from Houston, guitarist Mark Speer, drummer Donald Ray “DJ” Johnson, and Laura Lee assembled in 2009 after bonding over their musical simil