Taking influence from the lo-fi and slowcore of the 1990s, the ambling, intimate indie rock of Austin, Texas duo Hovvdy drew comparisons to the likes of Duster, Yo La Tengo, and Pavement with their earliest releases, including their full-length debut, 2016's Taster. Working with an outside producer for the first time, Hovvdy settled into a more coherent sound that brought lyrics to the fore on their third album, 2019's Heavy Lifter, while keeping things distinctly warm and low-key. It set the stage for the heartfelt True Love in 2021.