Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on November 7, 2025
Florencia & the Feeling, Johnson City, Tennessee’s rising jazz-funk quintet with a penchant for dance-ready grooves and electrifying live shows, releases their highly-anticipated sophomore album, Couch Hangin’. The eight-track collection follows the band’s acclaimed 2023 debut, Birthday, which drew praise from outlets like Glide Magazine and Under the Radar. Their first album helped pave the way for top honors at the 2024 MerleFest Band Competition and recognition as FloydFest’s 2025 On-The-Rise winners; the band was recently selected to perform for No Depression Sessions at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion in September — firmly establishing the group as a breakout act to watch.
Derived from a rich spectrum of genres including funk, jazz, nu-soul, pop, disco, Latin, and indie rock, Florencia & the Feeling’s sound sets them apart from the roots music culture of their Appalachian home; an evolution driven by vocalist/guitarist Florencia Rusiñol’s Argentine heritage and the band’s undeniable pop appeal. Rusiñol, with her husband Austin Herron (drums), Nick Castro (bass), Isaac Ratliff (keys), and Andrew Kramer (guitar) have developed an undeniable musical chemistry and irresistible stage presence, stirring echoes of Hiatus Kaiyote, Stevie Wonder, and Steely Dan.
If Birthday was Florencia & the Feeling’s coming-of-age story – a bold introduction to their infectious sound and soaring spirit – Couch Hangin’ is the band’s older, wiser sibling. It’s a record that radiates comfort and confidence, showcasing a group that has matured both musically and personally.
“This album is a collection of the songs we’ve built collaboratively from start to finish,” says Rusiñol. “It’s also a reflection of how we’ve grown as a band and as people – as literal as being thirty-somethings who’d rather stay in than go out on a Friday night, and as metaphorical as learning to take up space in the world instead of trying to fit into it.”
For frontwoman Florencia Rusiñol, the themes of Couch Hangin’ have taken on a new depth since opening up publicly about her family’s 20-year immigration journey from Argentina to the U.S. The album’s messages of belonging, courage, and empathy resonate powerfully against the backdrop of a country still grappling with questions of identity and inclusion. Rusiñol now hears echoes of it throughout the record — especially in tracks like “Better Place” and “Take Up Space.”
“Better Place,” the first single released from the album, is a song that radiates warmth and optimism, and envisions a world where we see each other as human and intrinsically valuable. With its Latin-inspired rhythms, gospel-infused vocals, and soaring guitar and synth solos, the song shines as an unforgettable R&B anthem and urges us to cross divides and erase borders for a better world. The unreleased “Take Up Space” challenges the pressure to shrink or conform — encouraging everyone, especially women and marginalized voices, to claim their worth unapologetically.
“Though these songs weren’t written about my background, they’ve started to mean more as the world has shifted around them,” she shares. “There’s something powerful about singing songs about belonging, connection, and finding home when the idea of who gets to belong is being questioned in our country.”
Three more singles have already given fans a taste of the album’s dynamic range. “Liar Liar” grabs attention with its tight funk grooves and lyrical bite, anchored by an irresistible hook that has every crowd shouting, “set your pants on fire!” “Getting on a Plane” takes flight through cinematic production and emotional storytelling, pairing wanderlust with introspection. “Lifetime” brings it all home – a shimmering disco anthem about belonging and long-term connection that will have you reaching for your dancing shoes.
Couch Hangin’ was self-produced by the band with additional writing credits to Noah Wise and Donnie Deniel (from Raleigh-based funk band, Duck), and recorded and mixed by Ethan Gingerich at Strangekid Studio (Maia Kamil, Victoria Victoria, Sam Fribush Organ Trio, Charlie Hunter) and Isaac Ratliff (Vulture Bolt, Charlie Maples). Recorded between their studios in Jonesborough, Tennessee and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Couch Hangin’ captures the band’s creative process in its most authentic form – organic, intentional, and deeply collaborative.
The quiet undercurrent of social awareness gives Couch Hangin’ an added layer of depth while celebrating comfort and groundedness – but not as complacency. Rather, it’s about claiming joy and rest as acts of resilience and resistance, and holding space for authenticity in a world that often demands assimilation – a sweet reminder that sometimes staying grounded and embracing who you are is the boldest move of all. To hear the album, click here. To view tour dates, purchase tickets, or learn more about Florencia & the Feeling click here.
Couch Hangin’ Track Listing
Lifetime
Couch Hangin’
Better Place
Closer (feat. Donnie Deneil)
Take Up Space
A Place to Land
Getting on a Plane
Liar Liar
Florencia & the Feeling 2025 Tour Dates
10/30 – Nashville, TN – The Five Spot
11/1 – Knoxville, TN – Scruffy City
11/6 – Asheville, NC – The One Stop
11/7 – Greenville, SC – Swanson’s Warehouse
11/8 – Charleston, SC – Tin Roof
11/14 – Blacksburg, VA – The Milk Parlor
11/15 – Johnson City, TN – Italian Pizza Pub
(More dates coming soon
