THEBROSFRESH Return to Their Roots on Their New Album “Still Want You The Same”

On the cover of THEBROSFRESH’s latest album, “Still Want You The Same,” out June 25, Torrence and Thurman Thomas appear as children in matching blue loungewear sets and tan cowboy hats, toy guitars in hand.

The image captures the Austin-based musicians long before they knew music would become their career. For Torrence, the photo holds “so much wonder and joy.” For Thurman, it is a reminder not to lose what got them here.

Since moving to Austin about four and a half years ago, the Louisiana natives have played Austin City Limits Music Festival and South by Southwest, held residencies at C-Boy’s Heart & Soul and opened for artists including Leon Bridges and Flatland Cavalry.

But after those milestones, Thurman said, came a sense of “now what?”

The past two years became “a good incubating time,” he said, marked by discomfort, discipline and self-examination.

“I’ve had to do a lot of soul searching,” Thurman said.

Before they were THEBROSFRESH, the twins performed as Ask The Thomas Bros, playing covers at clubs and gatherings while also playing worship music in church. Today, their sound moves between R&B, soul, Southern hip-hop, funk and rock.

Thurman calls it “genre agnostic.” Torrence said listeners are still figuring out what to expect from them. This album, he believes, gives people a clearer answer.

Making the album

The childhood image on the cover became an anchor for that idea. Torrence said the boys in the photo had no idea they would become musicians, but the wonder was already there. The album title, “Still Want You The Same,” speaks to holding onto that younger self instead of outgrowing him.

For Thurman, revisiting that younger version of themselves also meant taking a hard look at where they are now.

The album was recorded at Preacher, the Austin creative agency located off East Riverside Drive. What started as a place to rehearse in air conditioning became the recording home for the entire project.

Before that, the brothers were rehearsing in a shed in South Austin.

“That’s all we had at the time,” Thurman said.

At Preacher, they brought in their recording gear and built the album within those walls, from live drums to vocals. Torrence plays drums, guitar, bass and keys, while Thurman sings and plays guitar. Torrence said the brothers played “95% of the project” themselves.

The album was mixed by Grammy-nominated audio engineer Aaron Glemboski, who has worked with Black Pumas.

For “Rush to Paradise,” one of the album’s standout tracks, the brothers pulled from a wide musical palette that included Men I Trust, The Isley Brothers, Gap Band, Maze, The Meters and Boyz II Men.

The song is smooth and atmospheric, but Thurman said he is especially proud of the details behind it: the tones, the textures and what he calls the “nerd stuff” of making a record.

Music and fatherhood

The two years between their latest EP “Same Leather” and their new album have reshaped more than the band’s sound. They have also changed as people.

Thurman has a 7-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son. Torrence has a daughter who will turn 1 next month. Both said fatherhood has shifted how they think about music, ambition and legacy.

For Torrence Thomas, fatherhood changed his creative lens. It shifted his focus toward longevity, caring for his body and thinking beyond himself. It also helped him put music into perspective.

“Music is great, it is not my worth,” Torrence said. “It’s not my everything, but it is a way that I can express myself. It is a way that I feel that I can best serve humanity.”

Outside the band, the brothers also founded Tankproof, a nonprofit that provides no-cost swimming lessons to children and fights food insecurity through weekly food distribution.

Austin’s next wave

With their new album on the horizon, a summer tour with Congress The Band ahead and another album expected in the fall, THEBROSFRESH are always thinking about what’s next.

Torrence wants to play “huge festivals,” have a sustainable fan base and a career that can open doors for others. Thurman wants the band to become a name people need to know.

They also see themselves as part of a larger Austin music moment. Torrence pointed to the city’s growing music infrastructure and the number of artists rising at the same time.

“The best thing we can do for the Austin music scene is to keep winning,” Torrence said.

The band will celebrate the release of “Still Want You The Same” on Friday, June 26, at Only The Wild Ones. A portion of bar proceeds will benefit Tankproof.

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