Showing 1 - 10 of 16
'Tis the season to give back
Guru, Catherine Faulder, Published on 08/12/2017
» Alas, December is here and we at Guru now deem it appropriate to ring in the Christmas cheer. We trust that you, dear readers, ignored anything Christmas-related blasted to you before the beginning of this month. From today, we now declare it to officially be the season to be jolly; the season to get presents; the season to buy presents and most importantly, the season to give! And give back, maybe? This week we focus on gifts for Christmas and the new year that give back. These gifting ideas may clear your conscience and make you feel less guilty about all the naughty, naughty things you did in 2017. And if you were a saint for the entire year, well... perhaps you'll be sleeping even better every night knowing you bought one of these.
A very veggie delight
Guru, Catherine Faulder, Published on 10/11/2017
» The setting: Alright, this doesn't really bring to mind a fancy wine and dine joint and it certainly isn't gourmet. But given that it was just vegetarian festival, we thought we'd represent a bit. Veggie Chef is what you're more likely to call street food; except, it's in an air-conditioned shophouse; it's MSG free and it's also completely vegan friendly. It's a bit of a way out of central Bangkok as it's quite close to Don Mueang Airport, yet we'll have you know that people with some hours to kill before their next flight will actually leave the airport to come to this joint, just because it's that good. Think of it as a no-frills vegan joint giving off a street food vibe, serving the most authentic tasting Thai food that's actually better than your regular Thai food because it's super healthy.
The sound effect
Guru, Catherine Faulder, Published on 08/09/2017
» With the number of independent films being made and an increasing number of recording artists taking the leap into the unknown without a label, knowledge about sound and how and where to best capture it becomes key. Luckily you're in the right country. Thailand is a production hub for Southeast Asia when it comes to film and now even more so, music. So, if you've written music for a video, a movie, a music album or you've got this song in your head that you always dreamed of recording... where do you go to turn such far-fetched notes into reality? You could of course do it yourself and start off at home! All you'd need is a condenser mic, a laptop and a few other bits of hardware (e.g. an audio interface, headphones, a MIDI keyboard) and software (Logic Pro or Ableton are some of many) and you'd be well on your way. Or you could go to the professionals, who would have all the gear at your disposal as well as the know-how to see your visions turn into reality. We decided to investigate some of the city's existing recording studios to see what they have to offer in the way of making music.
Notes from Bangkok
Guru, Catherine Faulder, Published on 02/06/2017
» This week, we're bringing you some musical notes through the likes of Bangkok's hottest -- in our most humble opinion -- singer-songwriters. Because in the age of digital, sometimes it's sweeter to go back to analogue. It's nice to appreciate where music came from not so long ago... It ain't just about the bashing of thumbs on laptops or the scratching of vinyls, you know? It's also about the strumming of guitar strings, the hitting of plastic and leather and the sound of a larynx voicing notes that came from somewhere close to the beat of a human heart! Yes, besides becoming Asia's hub for electronic music, Bangkok's equally also driving some of the slightly more natural sounds that continue to resonate with our musical souls. And we seem to have some pretty skilled lyricists on our turf too. Check these guys out before they blow up. Whoops, some of them already have!
Bangkok's lyrical power
Guru, Catherine Faulder, Published on 24/02/2017
» Electronic dance music is great and all, but sometimes we feel somewhat disconnected when we listen to it. After all, a lot of the time, words -- our primary mode of expression as humans -- are missing. Music is music -- one of the greatest gifts of humankind and a whole language in itself -- but where would it be without the words?
A North Fest you won't forget
Guru, Catherine Faulder, Published on 24/02/2017
» Oozing the same appeal as a vampiric rock God and donning picture-perfect porcelain skin that would make any woman green with an envy, actor/singer and famed Thai celeb Dome Pakorn Lam was answering floods of calls about his new project in Chiang Mai when we sat down to interview him. This is one celeb that means business. Completing his look was an army green barber jacket and black jeans that had chains dangling from the sides; we thought this fashion trend had died down years ago but somehow Dome made it hot again. We got to grips with Dome's true passion in life, music, and what he's doing right now to fulfil this passion.
Gettin' mystic up there
Guru, Catherine Faulder, Published on 27/01/2017
» Are you excited for Mystic Valley or what? Frankly, we couldn't think of anything better than spending three days in a luscious green valley in the cool depths of Khao Yai, listening to nothing but your favourite music. Because at Mystic Valley, there's a stage for everyone. So long as you're into electronic music, or hip hop, that is. If you're into country, best to leave this one out sweetheart.
Somebody steal that sauce!
Guru, Catherine Faulder, Published on 11/11/2016
» OK readers, we know you're gonna be mad at us because we're presenting you with a restaurant that you already know about. Call us predictable, but we'd never shy away from munching on lobster, #sorrynotsorry. Plus, dining in that unusually shaped glass box on Lang Suan is always a treat, be it during lunch time or night time. The warm and inviting interior, the museum of expensive liquors on display, the sound of glasses clinking, voices buzzing and people laughing all mesh so wonderfully, making you feel like you're sitting in a Parisian café with the likes of Elizabeth Taylor-types. On the day we visited we were even lucky enough to hear some songs from Pink Martini, the talented mini orchestra of a music group from Portland, Oregon. The sound of fusion-classical-latin-jazz playing from Le Boeuf's speakers really set the perfect ambience for the place. #swanky.
The Only Way is Onsen
Guru, Catherine Faulder, Published on 28/10/2016
» In light of current events and the sea of black Bangkok finds itself in, your stress levels may need to be addressed, dear readers. It's important to remember to take care of yourself. You are important too, remember?
Directing Twelve Angry Men
Guru, Catherine Faulder, Published on 07/10/2016
» Loni Berry, the man behind Bangkok's multicultural, English speaking theatre, Culture Collective, is set to be putting on Twelve Angry Men towards the end of this month, the first of a string of plays the theatre will be staging this season. We're uber keen to see what he's got up his sleeve for this one, considering his Lisbon Traviata won Best Production at the 2015 Bangkok Theatre Festival. And personally, we did love his musically witty Death of Miss America. From Asian stereotypes and homosexuality, to nudity, Berry's performances always tackle prickly topics that make viewers stop and think. We thought it's wise to dig a little deeper into the artistic director who's making such great, mind-altering and risky moves for theatre in Bangkok.