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It's safe to say that LA-based neo-soul trio Hablot Brown have come a long way since their days of jamming together at Berklee School of Music. It's been two years since the group, comprised of keyboardist and vocalist Linus Hablot, guitarist Austin Daniel Brown and drummer John Sterling Brown, released their spectacular 2020 release Opaque. Nevertheless, fans have been waiting patiently, hungry for more, and more is what they got with the release of the band's self-titled debut album, Hablot Brown.

The genius of Hablot Brown is the secret. First, there's the one the boys are in on — their ability to retain a neverland sense of joy that only high school band nerds who have accidentally grown up to be sex symbol rock stars can have. And there's that of their fans, who each feel they've found the golden snitch of modern R&B.

Their debut album encompasses both the maturity and whimsy of Hablot Brown, the simple treasure of three guys who just really care and are really great at making beautiful music. The record is the most powerful installment of a success story that is incredibly rare in the social-media-forward musical climate, with a 2018 EP getting the golden stamp of Soulection Records approval and amassing over five million streams within the first year. Hablot Brown will follow the release of their album by headlining a tour across the states and Canada with support from featured artist Floyd Fuji.

Below, the band has shared with us a brief glimpse into the creative process of each track on their eponymous debut effort.

"Wait For Me"

The chords and lyrics to "Wait For Me" were written In a piano lesson with Linus and Taylor Mackall. The track was then brought to the band and recorded entirely live. The recording session for the song was the most natural and inspiring session we've had so far, with all three of us, Taylor and Sol playing our parts. It was a gorgeous sunny day in East LA, and it felt as though the stars had aligned for us musically to come together to make the song.

"Longest Time"

"Longest Time" started with Linus going to Leven's studio and making the first sketches of the track. Eventually, everything fell into place for us all to get together and record live with Sol on bass and Austin and John on their respective instruments. Leven and Linus's voice together with the band created a brand new sound for all of us that's close to home but also pushes our sense of R&B and arrangement. "Longest Time" feels like the beginning track to many more with Leven and the band.

"Electric"

This track was one of the first songs to be written off the album around 2019 with Floyd Fuji, right when we started to want to take the sound in a more live and energetic direction. It feels sensual, and you can dance to it, but we still kept the emotional core of Hablot Brown intact. It's so fun to jam out live on the last section of the song and is house-leaning with the four on the floor kick at the end.

"All About You"

"All About You" is as close to the quintessential Hablot Brown sound as we could get on this album. It's a straight-ahead jam about removing blame and placing the onus on yourself. It's oddly freeing in the way it helps you see all that's good that's happening in your life when you remove blame. The song starts with "know it took so long to grow, but I thought I'd let you know this shit is working," and that is something we can all relate to as a band, and we've felt the longer we commit ourselves to the band the better it gets.  

"Car Song"

"Car Song" was the first song we created at our new studio in Highland Park in 2020. It started off as a jam as we were feeling out the new space and understanding how the drums sound in the new room. It is true Hablot Brown sound. Lyrically it was very much a stream of consciousness just riding on a good feeling of a dream. This song feels so good to listen to in the car, thus "Car Song." 

"Deep in the Night"

We made "Deep in the Night" at our house in Highland Park with Floyd Fuji and Taylor Mackall on keys. We wanted to venture out of our comfort zone a bit with this track and add more pop flavor while still maintaining the Hablot sound. The song is about moments of clarity and stillness we experience late at night before everything comes crashing back in again the next day. Those late-night moments fill us with gratitude. "Deep in the Night" is motivational and upbeat and is meant to show that just one more step, one more chance, can be all you need to start again.

"Chasing The Shadows"

"Chasing the Shadows" was the kind of record that wrote itself honestly. We were at a point in the album process where we had a good amount of the tracklist, so we figured we'd take the day to just relax and jam out, and we ended up writing and recording this one in a day. The lyrics to this one really tap into that feeling of reflection, where you begin to think about how all the things you've been through up until this point have shaped you into who and what you are in the present moment. So at the end of the day, it's kind of a song about how the journey itself can be humbling. 

"I Think"

"I Think" is somewhat of an ode to headspace. In the hook, Linus sings, "The more I let myself be happy, I get happier. The more I speak the words I wanna hear I see return," which is really something we as a band were living by at the time. Allowing yourself to be happy in light of difficult circumstances is something that seems to take a lot of practice but is so important. When you're caught in the middle of trying times, it's vital to take the blinders off and realize that you're the only one in control of your mental health, no one else is going to be able to fix that for you. So we dropped this song in hopes that this message can help others see the light in the midst of all the madness. 

"Same Town"

"Same Town" is a special one off the project. We wanted to experiment with form and flow as well as test people's ideas of what to sonically expect from us. The first minute or so of the song seems to move into three very different musical spaces, all while maintaining that Hablot Brown sonic pivot foot. The lyrics to this one encapsulate the idea and importance of independence all while still being able to count and rely on your loved ones. Definitely one of our favorite grooves off the project for sure. 

"Garden"

"Garden" was written in Trey Nahkoda's room at our original house we all moved to in Culver City. Floyd Fuji, Linus, and Trey created the original sketch, and after John's live drums and Austin's guitar were added to make it much more of a jam and a song we could play live as in its original form, it was very laid back and softer. The record is very cathartic and slides in between keeping it light and diving deeper lyrically. 

"The Act"

"The Act" was written by Linus on guitar at Andrew Luce's place one hungover morning and slowly but surely built out by all of us. We have always wanted pedal steel on a track and thought the song was the perfect canvas for that sound. It's a very emotional and vulnerable song that doesn't lean towards R&B but shows the breadth of our taste and writing. 

"Outro"

Our ambient outro of the album came by way of another jam. John taking the reins on this one is something new and hopefully exciting for the listener. We feel as though it finalizes this era of Hablot Brown and leaves the listener wanting more while at the same time not really knowing where we will go next.