Khruangbin’s Laura Lee on Building Family on the Road, Tracing Her Mexican and Spanish Roots, and Finding Chosen Family

In this episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers is joined by Laura Lee, founding member and bassist of the globally acclaimed band Khruangbin, for a vulnerable and wide-ranging conversation about family, ancestry, identity—and what it means to raise a child while on tour.

Laura shares the emotional story of her parents’ abrupt separation when she was just six years old, a rupture that left her bouncing between homes and questioning the meaning of “family.” She talks about the pain of being labeled a “rebel” as a teen when she was simply hurting—and how the emotional safety she found in her grandparents’ home shaped her sense of belonging more than anything else.

The episode also dives into her Mexican and Spanish lineage, including a fascinating (and literal) claim to South Padre Island through a centuries-old lawsuit. Now a mother herself, Laura talks candidly about touring with her baby and partner, carving a path for motherhood in an industry with no blueprint. She calls her Khruangbin bandmates her family, describing their deep trust, creative intimacy, and the joy her daughter has brought to the entire touring crew.

This is a story about making peace with the past, building your own version of home, and finding family in both bloodlines and bandmates.

Host: Nabil Ayers

Guest: Laura Lee (Khruangbin)

Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.