Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard Says New Album Keeps ‘It Simple’

Since their 2012 debut, Boys & Girls, Alabama Shakes have won over fans just about everywhere they go with their powerful blues-rock, becoming critical darlings and festival favorites along the way. With their sophomore follow-up, Sound & Color, slated to arrive in less than a month, the Brittany Howard-led crew are poised to keep the momentum going. However, Howard remains levelheaded when it comes to their ever-growing audience.

“Sometimes I don’t know what to say to 100,000 people at once, but it sure is cool to look at them,” the Shakes frontwoman told Billboard.

She’s just glad the band’s music has taken off enough for her to quit her old day job as a Post Office employee in her hometown of Athens, Alabama.

“I was like, ‘Please, God, let me quit my job,’” Howard added. “‘I’ll do whatever it takes to never work again.”

But Howard and her bandmates -- guitarist Heath Fogg, bassist Zac Cockrell and drummer Steve Johnson -- have been hard at work putting together Sound & Color. The singer-guitarist cites composers David Axelrod and Ennio Morricone as sources of inspiration for the new record, but nevertheless, the Shakes are “keeping it simple.”

“But [the album is] not too far out,” Howard said. “We could have gotten a full orchestra. But that’s now what we’re about. We’re about keeping it simple, keeping it classy and keeping it tasty.”

Sound & Color will arrive on April 21. The band has a robust tour lined up in support of the forthcoming LP, including stops at this year’s Coachella, Mountain Jam and Lollapalooza. Check out a complete list of dates here.