Thee Sacred Souls return with their sophomore album, Got A Story To Tell, released via Daptone Records, following the breakout success of their 2022 self-titled debut. The San Diego-based soul band accumulated millions of monthly Spotify listeners, high-profile celebrity fans like SZA, Alicia Keys, and Kylie Jenner, and performed an NPR Tiny Desk concert.
Life on the Road Shapes a Mature Sound
Drummer and guitarist Alejandro Garcia notes that the challenges of touring resulted in a darker, more mature record. Because of this touring intimacy, Garcia points out that bandmates could not hide their true feelings from one another.
Songwriting Rooted in Universal Truths
Instead, the three founding members channeled their experiences into a blend of truth and imagination, drawing from the traditional songwriting ethos of Hitsville U.S.A. and the Brill Building. The lead single, “Lucid Girl,” serves as an anthem for independent women, sparked by an instrumental track Garcia composed on Christmas morning during a moment of solitude. Lane channels that musical foundation into a narrative about a woman who chooses her own path, singing in a pure tenor over heavy drums and bass.
Analogue Recording at Penrose Recorders
The 12-track album was recorded at Penrose Recorders in Riverside, California, a studio built by Daptone Records co-founder and producer Gabriel Roth, also known as Bosco Mann. The analogue space allowed the band to capture sincere lyrics, vocal harmonies, and immortal grooves. Tracks like “My Heart Is Drowning” lean into Jamaican rocksteady and 1960s girl-group pop, showcasing the band’s continued exploration of classic rhythmic foundations.