Emerging from England's southern reaches, the Lucky 13s craft an original strain of soul-tinged pop that incorporates funk, blues, and R&B elements. The band first appeared with the 2020 EP Breathe and followed it by releasing their initial full-length album, Gamble My Soul, in 2022.
Guitarist and songwriter Dudley Ross joined forces with former The Voice UK contestant Jamie Johnson to establish the group in 2019; they then completed the lineup by adding bass, drums, and a horn section. Drawing from the classic soul sounds of Otis Redding and Sam Cooke, Ross matched his soulful songwriting to Johnson's gravelly, soul-drenched vocals with striking results. The 2020 release of Breathe drew praise for its contemporary soul approach and simultaneously secured the band a recording agreement with Hillside Global. Recording sessions for the debut album began under producer Ryan Lipman, and following several singles the project Gamble My Soul arrived in late 2022.
