If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or scrolling through Instagram Reels lately, you’ve probably heard a voice that sounds like it was pulled directly from a dusty 45rpm record found in a thrift store bin. That’s Josh Lane. He’s the lead singer of Thee Sacred Souls, and honestly, calling him just a "singer" feels like a bit of an understatement.
He's more like a time traveler.
But here’s the thing: most people think Thee Sacred Souls are just another group doing the "retro-soul" thing, trying to ride the coattails of the late Sharon Jones or Charles Bradley. They’re not. While the band definitely leans into that warm, analog vibe, there’s a specific chemistry between Josh Lane, drummer Alex Garcia, and bassist Sal Samano that makes them feel completely fresh. They aren't just imitating the past; they’re living in it while keeping one foot firmly in 2026.
How Josh Lane Ended Up in a Chula Vista Garage
The story of how the band started is kinda wild because it happened on Instagram. No fancy auditions. No industry plants. Just some DMs and a shared vibe.
Back in 2019, Alex Garcia and Sal Samano were already playing together in San Diego, messing around with instrumental "oldies" tracks. They were deep into Chicano soul and the "lowrider" culture of Southern California. They needed a voice. They found Josh Lane’s profile, saw some clips of him singing, and reached out.
At the time, Josh was living in Sacramento. He actually moved to San Diego in 2017 with the intention of making dream pop or chillwave music. He had studied classical voice in college—we’re talking Italian opera and French arias—which explains why his control is so insane. When he finally linked up with Alex and Sal in a Chula Vista garage, something clicked.
"I didn't know about the project when I went over to Alex's studio," Josh once mentioned in an interview. "I was just coming to jam with him based off of what we knew about each other from Instagram."
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The very first song they wrote together? "Can I Call You Rose?" Talk about a home run on the first swing. That track basically became the blueprint for their entire career. It’s got that heavy reverb, the steady "boom-chick" of the drums, and Josh’s falsetto floating over the top like smoke.
The Daptone Connection: Saving a Legend
If you know soul music, you know Daptone Records. They’re the gold standard. After the tragic passing of stars like Sharon Jones and Charles Bradley, the label was in a tough spot. Some critics were even saying Daptone might be over.
Then came Thee Sacred Souls.
Gabriel Roth (aka Bosco Mann), the co-founder of Daptone, caught their second-ever live show. He didn't wait around. Within three days, he had them in his Riverside studio (Penrose Studios) cutting tracks to analog tape. He reportedly told them they should make a record right then and there.
That debut self-titled album dropped in 2022 and it didn't just perform well—it exploded. It earned them "co-signs" from everyone from Alicia Keys to SZA and Kylie Jenner. Even the hip-hop world took notice, with artists like Curren$y sampling their grooves.
By the time they released their sophomore album, Got A Story To Tell, in late 2024, they weren't just a "buzz band" anymore. They were headliners.
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Why Their Sound Hits Different in 2026
The reason Josh Lane and Thee Sacred Souls are still everywhere is because they don't overproduce. In a world of Autotune and over-compressed pop, their music feels human. It’s got flaws. You can hear the fingers sliding on the bass strings. You can hear Josh taking a breath.
Key Elements of the "Sacred" Sound:
- The Falsetto: Josh doesn't just scream high notes; he stays in a "vibey" falsetto that feels intimate, almost like he's whispering in your ear.
- The Pocket: Alex and Sal play "behind the beat." It gives the music a lazy, soulful drag that makes you want to sway.
- The Lyrics: They write about universal stuff. Heartbreak, unrequited love, and social justice.
Josh has been vocal about how his songwriting is therapeutic. He’s used music to process everything from the death of a family member to the general heaviness of the world. For him, the stage isn't just a place to perform; it’s a place to have a dialogue.
What's Next: 2026 Tour and Beyond
If you’re trying to catch them live, you better move fast. Their 2025 tour saw them selling out massive venues like The Fillmore in Philly and the Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre in their home turf of San Diego.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2026, they’ve already got major festival slots lined up, including a massive performance scheduled for the Governors Ball in Queens, NY, on June 6, 2026. They're sharing the bill with heavy hitters like Kali Uchis and Stray Kids, which shows just how much their crossover appeal has grown.
They also dropped a new single in March 2025 called "We Don't Have To Be Alone," which signaled a slightly more polished, yet still incredibly soulful direction for their next era.
How to Get the Most Out of Their Music
If you're just getting into them, don't just shuffle their top tracks on Spotify. You’ve gotta listen to them the right way.
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1. Listen on Vinyl if you can.
Their music is literally recorded for analog. The warmth of a record player brings out the mid-tones in Sal’s bass that digital files sometimes crush.
2. Watch the live sessions.
Check out their Audiotree Live or NPR Tiny Desk performances. Seeing the seven-piece live band (they add horns and backing singers for shows) really shows you that Josh isn't hiding behind studio magic.
3. Dig into the influences.
To really "get" what Josh Lane is doing, go back and listen to Marvin Gaye’s What's Going On or the early Chicano soul of Thee Midniters. The band actually named themselves as a partial nod to Thee Midniters.
Thee Sacred Souls aren't a "retro" act. They’re a soul band that happens to be making some of the best music of the 2020s. Josh Lane’s voice is the hook, but the heart of the band is that DIY, Chula Vista garage spirit that refuses to go away.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check their 2026 schedule: Look for tickets for the Governors Ball or their Santa Ana Stadium show on March 21, 2026.
- Spin "Got A Story To Tell": This 2024 album is the best entry point for their evolved sound.
- Follow their socials: They still post 30-second clips and demos on Instagram, which is exactly how they were discovered in the first place.