Richard BodinThe Altons, from Southeast LA, have made a name for themselves over the past 10 years in the soul revival world—so much so that Mary J. Blige sampled their song When You Go (That’s When You’ll Know) on her Grammy-winning album Good Morning Gorgeous. But let’s focus on The Altons. Over their career, the band has evolved to produce wonderful music inspired by the golden age of Motown and Stax while also blending in their Latin roots.
A Nostalgic Sound with a Modern Touch
The first thing that struck me about Heartache in Room 14 was the album cover. It looks like something straight out of the ’60s or early ’70s—I immediately thought of the first Small Faces album. Then I played it, and the music fit perfectly. Wanting, the opening track, sets the tone with its mid-tempo groove, luscious guitar, and suave vocal interplay. The sound is warm and sweet—well-rounded, vibrant, and colourful—with a strong ’70s Motown vibe.
To extract such a rich, vintage feel from their music, The Altons worked with producer Gabriel Roth, known for his love of analog recording. Whether at Daptone Records—his own label in Brooklyn—or at Penrose, the California-based imprint, his studios are entirely analog, with no computers whatsoever. Roth prides himself on this approach: “It’s all springs and plates and microphones and tape machines, and mostly, good musicians—that’s kind of the key.”1 This explains the striking sense of authenticity the listener experiences when playing the album for the first time.
The Magic of Dual Vocals and Latin Influence
Roth’s influence doesn’t stop there. Before working on Heartache in Room 14, the band had only experimented once with vocal interplay between singer Adriana Flores and guitarist Bryan Ponce—on the last track of their first album, In The Meantime (2019). Recognizing its potential, Roth encouraged them to write more songs with two singers in mind, even if it meant sending them back to the drawing board. He also gave them a trick to maintain vocal chemistry: sing with a smile.
“I hate to admit it, but smiling during a take helps—you can hear the difference,” says Adriana. “Deciding to do it for 80 percent of the album was a doozy of a decision. It takes a lot of practice and a lot of smile-singing.2“ Maybe it was a tough call, but listening to songs like Tangled Up With You or Where Did She Go proves it was the right one. Their voices are a perfect match.
Del Cielo Te Cuido and Perdóname highlight the band’s Latin roots, infusing their music with a distinct warmth. Float stands out with its orchestral arrangement and soaring, lyrical quality. The song builds to a dissonant orchestral finish, giving it a powerful dramatic effect. Another standout track is Your Light, a lovely and groovy ballad featuring a passionate lyrical exchange between the two singers.
A Soulful Gem, Perfect for Valentine’s Day
Heartache in Room 14 is a superb soul-revival gem from start to finish. Although it was initially planned for release at the end of 2024, the album was ultimately scheduled for February 14, 2025—Valentine’s Day. A fitting date, as the album is a beautiful collection of love ballads. A perfect soundtrack for a date night—or simply for sitting back, relaxing, and letting the music wrap you in its warm grooves.
- Gabriel Roth interview by Jeff “Chairman” Mao for the RedBull Music Academy ↩︎
- Q&A with The Altons by MusicInSF ↩︎
