Showing 1 - 10 of 17
Prepare For Takeoff
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 12/07/2020
» As their name implies, Khruangbin ("airplane" in Thai) primarily drew inspiration from the musical heritage of Thailand, particularly during the glorious 60s-70s.
Same strokes, just a little older
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 19/04/2020
» "Up on a hill, here's where we begin/ This little story, a long time ago," Julian Casablancas sings on The Modern Age, one of the three tracks on The Strokes' 2001 eponymous debut EP, a precursor to the group's seminal full-length, Is This It.
… Baby one more time
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 19/01/2020
» Over the past few years, LA-based artist Sondre Lerche has made it his own little tradition to cover pop hits from the year that's been as a holiday gift to his fans. His past covers range from Miley Cyrus' Wrecking Ball and Drake's Hotline Bling to Sia's Chandelier and Beyoncé's Countdown. To cap off the end of the decade, Lerche has stepped up his game by essentially pulling a Ryan Adams circa 2015. But, instead of Taylor Swift, it's the former queen of pop, Britney Spears.
Death Becomes Us
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 03/11/2019
» Well, what do you know -- Foals have managed to pull it off after all. The English indie-rock mainstay finally follows up their Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 1, released back in March, with the second and final instalment. In Part 1, frontman Yannis Philippakis and co got political with tracks like Exits and Sunday while dutifully filling the quota for danceable indie bangers with On The Luna and In Degrees. On the production side, it swung from indie rock and new-wave to funk and disco -- a classic Foals album through and through.
Blast off into the not-too-distant past
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 27/10/2019
» Beadadoobee's backstory is one we're all familiar with: aspiring artist puts out a clip of themselves playing acoustic guitar in their bedroom on YouTube. The video goes viral, et voilà, a star is born. For Manila-born, London-based singer-songwriter Bea Kristi, it all began in 2017 with a cover of Karen O's The Moon Song and her own composition, a two-minute-long acoustic number called Coffee. The latter, set to simple guitar chords and earnest lyrics, has since inspired several covers performed by fans all around the world.
Off the leash
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 20/10/2019
» "Dogs whine to communicate their physical, mental and emotional states..." At first glance, Dogwhine's artist bio reads like the opening to a freshman's college essay. Then, out of the blue, what initially appears to be a direct quote from the dictionary turns into a sly jab at the absurd prohibition on political gatherings of five or more people imposed by the junta: "Not all whines are created equally. Sometimes dogs gather to whine in group. When they come together more than five, they often get chased or taken away." Like hip-hop firebrands Rap Against Dictatorship who brought us the brilliant anti-junta Prathet Ku Mee (What's My Country Got), this Bangkok five-piece are unapologetically political from the outset.
Driving ambition
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 13/10/2019
» Brisbane-born singer-songwriter and rapper Grace Shaw is not afraid to dream big. "Anything is possible if you just say that you're going to do it. That's honestly such a lifehack," she said recently in an interview with Fader. Shaw, who performs as Mallrat, went on to mention that she hopes to one day write songs for artists like Rihanna, Beyoncé and Camila Cabello. Her aspirations may sound rather ambitious, especially for a relatively new talent. But looking at the 21-year-old's resume, which includes two solid EP releases, a tour with fellow Aussie rapper Allday and opening for Post Malone, you can't help but wonder that she might be on to something.
The S.L.P. Experience
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 15/09/2019
» When Sergio Lorenzo Pizzorno came out with his first solo single, Favourites, back in June, we were pleasantly surprised. The song, an unlikely collaboration with UK rapper Little Simz, gave us an early glimpse into what could be expected from Pizzorno's solo project -- a whole lot of wacky swagger coated with a good amount of sonic experimentation. Listening to it closely, you can easily detect that indie impishness of his band Kasabian as well as the genre-hopping tendencies of Gorillaz. It's an impressive balancing act of breakbeat backdrop and funky basslines that sounds entirely new and familiar all at once.
Paint it black
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 07/07/2019
» In the age of social media and the hyper exposure that tends to come with it, keeping a low profile can be something of a Herculean task. And while most artists are trying to capitalise fully on the power of social media, there are also those who shy away from it and focus instead on what they’re meant to be doing: making music and performing. One such band is emerging British four-piece Black Midi who have managed to maintain a low-key online presence while steadily garnering a solid fan base through a series of live gigs.
Small things considered
B Magazine, Chanun Poomsawai, Published on 23/06/2019
» In much the same way that eyes are said to be the window to the soul, band names give us a glimpse into the collective personality lurking behind each group. And as far as Thai band names are concerned, they can range from prosaic (Solitude Is Bliss, My Life As Ali Thomas) and whimsical (Apartment Khunpa, Charblues, Gym and Swim) to absolutely outlandish (Big Ass, Calories Blah Blah). For Sakon Nakhon-based trio Junlaholaan, names represent a curious juxtaposition where two incongruous concepts (jun, micro, and holaan, enormous) coexist to convey a deeply philosophical message. Yes, we are but a tiny speck in the universe -- the band seems to be saying -- but at the same time, a butterfly in Brazil could also cause a tornado in Texas, couldn't it?