In 2020, Rudy De Anda moved his homebase out of California for the first time. He was headed East. Somewhere in the back of the U-Haul, among the boxes and baggage, was a mostly finished record.

Upon arriving in Chicago, Rudy quickly found the final pieces of his new LP, Closet Botanist.

The album was recorded in Austin, Texas at the Electric Deluxe recording studio. The space is owned and operated by Adrian Quesada (Black Pumas), who helped produce and engineer Rudy's new LP.

"In the past, I've done most of my recording in California," Rudy explained. "The new location changed the vibe.

The band and I were 100% focused on the process." Rudy's previous releases have grown synonymous with California sunshine.

He was born in Los Angeles and spent most of his formative years in Long Beach. "People often tell me my music reminds them of the beach and the sun," Rudy said of his older songs.

Closet Botanist isn't a total departure from Rudy's beachy, psych-rock roots, but it does sound more mature.

Rudy points to The Velvet Underground and The Kinks for direct inspiration. "I glorify those bands - I'm a 60s psych-rocker at heart." For the seasoned listener, there's a trail of psychedelic breadcrumbs to find throughout the track list.

Rudy dedicates the album to those who love so hard that they neglect to water their own garden.

Even in a much colder climate, the closet botanist continues to grow.