November 14, 2025

Dubbest step into soul on “Autumn Rain” — a seasonal ache with Motown/Philly textures

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Dubbest step into soul on “Autumn Rain” — a seasonal ache with Motown/Philly textures

After 16+ years in roots reggae, the San Diego quartet leans into a new pocket: retro-soul warmth, layered harmonies, and a lyric that turns fall weather into metaphor.

Listen:https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/dubbest1/autumn-rain
Out: November 14, 2025
IG: @DubbestMusic

Why this hits different (but still sounds like Dubbest)

“Autumn Rain” is Dubbest’s first soul single—and yet, it still carries the band’s DNA. “The harmonies are classic Dubbest layering, and the melodic bass line locking with the vocal is unmistakably us,” the band tells Music Coast via email. The shift comes from different guitar rhythms, more open keys, and—first for the band—synth strings riding a soul/hip-hop drum feel inspired by Motown and Philly soul. The song itself began as a side-project groove from bassist Andrew Mackenzie and his brother, which Ryan Thaxter immediately heard and “had to sing on.” “It was too good for Dubbest to pass up,” they say.

Studio, credits & a smart “feel vs. fidelity” call

Tracked at 17th Street Studio (Costa Mesa, CA) with producer/engineer/mixer Lewis Richards, the session stayed intentionally lean: just the four band members + Richards “keeping the vibe on point.” The most crucial call? Keeping a raw guide vocal. “It was a late, tired take we planned to replace,” Dubbest admits. “But the imperfections felt cooler and more real, so we kept it.”
Mastering:Dan Millice • Artwork:Nukui Bogard

Band:

  • Ryan Thaxter — keyboards, vocals

  • Andrew Mackenzie — bass, vocals

  • Kyle Hancock — drums, percussion

  • Cory Mahoney — guitar, vocals

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Music-nerd corner (key, BPM, feel)

“Autumn Rain” plays with harmonic suspense. The chords move C♯ minor ↔ B minor; technically it lives in A major, but never lands on the A (the “1”), so your ear keeps leaning forward—unresolved by design. Time feel is 4/4, straight eighths, around 77 BPM. (Fans of the band’s reggae work will spot an Easter egg: that iii→ii movement also surfaces—different key, reggae feel—on their new single “All My Wishes.”)

Live translation (and a hint of re-voicing the past)

The band’s already shedding the tune for stage. “With four players, we strip a few details but cover the major stuff and make up the rest with improvisation and feel,” Dubbest says. Thaxter runs electric piano (LH) plus the synth-string melody (RH) while singing; harmonies, guitar rhythms, and drums track the record closely. And yes—older songs may get refit: “‘Sincerity’ comes to mind” for a soul rework.

What comes next

“This is not a one-off,” Dubbest says flatly. “We’re huge soul fans, and we’ve got three or four new funk/soul ideas already—some upbeat funk, some downbeat neo-soul. We’re open to trying all sorts of things while keeping what feels like us.” The plan: back to the studio ASAP, with reggae still in the toolkit but the box lid permanently cracked open.

One 10-second moment to hear

As much as the chorus slaps, the band points to the wordless end-melody—“Bah dah… Bap bah dah bah dah”—as the most timeless 10 seconds in the track.