Notes from Bangkok

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!

Oliver Han

This one will make your heart melt. Born in London but raised in Bangkok, Oli played the piano from a young age and sang in chapel almost everyday too. Music was pretty much always in his life. Yet, it wasn't until he was 17 that he picked up a guitar. We literally thank the universe he did. He had a few lessons from a musician who played in a hotel lobby in Bangkok near his father's office and once he had learned a few chords he started writing and recording straight away. What we love about this one is that he is an absolute creator at heart; although he had influences from all the musical greats -- he allegedly played 1976 Eagles Greatest Hits until his tape player broke -- he never enjoyed playing covers and scores as much as he enjoyed figuring tunes out on his own. He switches between playing acoustic and electric guitar and as of late he's been coming out with some super psychedelic and atmospheric sounds, namely because, he admits, he is a bit of a guitar effects pedal junky. Some would say it's a problem, we say it's fantastic. And trippy AF! We're all about his recently released video and track too, By The River. Follow him on Facebook to check it out.

Random fact: He'd like to live in a castle in Scotland... Well, wouldn't we all Oliver?

Follow: http://fb.com/oliverhanmusic.

Buhonero Clandestino

The man behind Buhonero Clandestino is a Panamanian musician and artist who was born into this world with a limited hearing ability. His journey through music began the moment he started to realise and discover the relationship shared between geometry and music. He moved to Thailand in pursuit of his educational and professional career. Not long after arriving did he begin to turn his attention towards developing a concept he calls LATISIA, a cultural movement that focuses on fusing artistic influences from Asian and Latin American cultural forms which manifest themselves in the universal language of art. His music has developed a genre deeply embedded in LATISIA, one that fuses Latin American and Asian sounds. We're really in love with his new song Socorro. Although it's all in Spanish and we don't understand the majority of it, the beauty truly is in the sound of the music. This guy's music gives us goosebumps, it's that good. Seriously, seriously talented. All hail Buhonero Clandestino!

Random fact: He loves numbers and astrophysics and he's addicted to doggo memes. #word.

Follow: http://fb.com/BuhoneroClandestino.

Jennifer Lackgren

You probably already know her as the lead singer of that awesome indie-folk band, Jenny & the Scallywags. Jennifer is a skilled guitarist and singer who started off in Krabi with her family's band. There's no doubt why she's so talented as everyone in her "relatively large" family either sings or plays a musical instrument. How cool is it to come from a family band where you started off as the backup singer before progressing to the lead? She's getting more and more into songwriting these days and most recently, she wrote a song after having dreamt up the melody. Wow, so dope. We're also totally digging her band's newest single and video, Please Put Down Your Phone, featuring one of Thailand's musical sweethearts, Singto Numchok. Personally though, from human to human, if you haven't already, please do YouTube Color Blind, another song she's just released with her band. Words do not do justice to how beautiful the music video looks and sounds. Other singer-songwriters, take note!

Random fact: She admits she's actually quite shy. #shockhorror

Follow: http://fb.com/jenniferlackgren

John Will Sail

New Zealand born, Melbourne raised and currently playing around Asia with extended stops in Bangkok, John Will Sail is driving out folk with an edgy sound that brings in influences from punk and blues. Playing on an acoustic guitar while singing and weaving in his harmonica too, the talented artist truly writes and performs from the heart. He apparently has made it his mission to "smash the stereotype of male songwriters who lack a certain honest masculinity". He admits he got sick of male songwriters like Jason Mraz and Jack Johnson dominating what people thought of the genre with their soft sensibilities and safe pop melodies. He felt it was time for male songwriters to "man up". He got into songwriting when he was 10 years old after he got his mum to buy him his first guitar. Although he may not admit it, there's a definite sensitive side to his music too which we love.

Random fact: He screamed in a Thai metalcore band for six years and they won Hard Rock Rising in 2013, representing Bangkok against 91 other countries!

Follow: http://fb.com/johnwillsail.

Blue Randôme

We fell in love with this French beauty when we heard her singing at a gig at Black Cabin. We fell in love with her even more when we watched a YouTube clip of her singing live on Thai TV her Thai translation of Louis Armstrong's La Vie En Rose. She full on admits that music is not a career for her -- it definitely could be though, girl! -- and that music is something she uses to fulfil a physiological need. Her singing and guitar playing are the things that reward her after work. She is actually a political scientist with a PhD currently teaching other budding political scientists on Bangkok territory. Is she starting a revolution too? Who knows! But don't let that deflect from her capability as a musician. Her indie-trip-hop sound has seen the likes of Bangkok's hottest entertainment venues, from Whiteline, Maggie Choo's and Fatty's Bar to Jazz Skybar, Brownstone and The Overstay. We're kinda feeling a Lana Del Rey vibe from her. If you YouTube her new music video with Voodoo Asylum, The Ugly Truth, you'll see why.

Random fact: She is in love with handwriting and the way letters look. She calls herself a "handwriter Narcissus". When she learns a new language, her motivation is not speak it, but to handwrite it. OK so random but so cool too.

Follow: http://fb.com/bluerandome.

Alyn

He's probably our most favourite singer-songwriter right now. Alyn began posting English and Thai song covers on YouTube at the age of 15 and soon after that drew a huge following. He's modelled, he's been in soap operas and he's still at uni... but at the end of the day, music is his passion. He's collaborated with many, from those in his own band -- The Thaitans -- during a string of local music festivals to YouTube music sensation Billybilly01 and Bangkok-based DJ, RJ. After recording with a few labels in the past he soon left to form his own label, Links Music, with his older brother, and now they're tearing up the music scene. His family have been 100% supportive of his musical journey and this truly translates into his music as Alyn performs and creates with an honest heart, something many musicians may struggle with doing when they don't have the support of the ones they love most. To date, he's released three singles. We super love his song Lighter and we reckon you should totally check it out. The opening line: "I open up a magazine. What is the purpose of a perfect body?" We need more artists like this, please! #hittingthepositivenotes.

Random fact: Chocolate makes him sing better. Bless him, now we know it's OK to eat chocolate all the time!

Follow: http://fb.com/alynwee.

Niall

You'll probably know Niall as the singer and guitarist from The Sangsom Massacre. The Glaswegian started songwriting at the tender age of 10, writing what he admits were "really bad" football songs for his favourite team, Glasgow Celtic. We'd be interested to hear a few actually, we're sure they weren't all that bad! As he grew into his teens he got better on the guitar and became inspired by the usual favourites, Bob Dylan, Nirvana and Oasis, to name a few. His main passions are music and travel and if he's not jetting off somewhere you can usually catch him at his favourite hangout spot, Brownstone Studios, which apparently has everything a musician could ask for. He describes his sound as "bitter, sweet and rowdy". We'd say it's The Undertones, with a twist. Love it.

Random fact: He was a main feature in what he agrees was "possibly the worst advert of all time". Yep, the highly controversial Pepsi ad that starred Kendall Jenner, filmed right here in Bangkok! Oh, Bangkok...

Follow: http://fb.com/sangsommassacre.

Beer Soranut

We've written about this talented gentleman before and even christened him the Thai Johnny Cash; he's still got that title in our hearts. He started writing his own music at 15 and went on to start his own label, Summer Sun Records through which he collaborated with many artists and released his own singles too. He's another one who plays guitar, sings oh-so-well and is mighty talented with a harmonica. If you want to listen to a slice of heaven, do check out his song Summer Sun. Just YouTube it. Recently though, he's been spending less time as a solo artist and more time in the studio with his new rock band, Maitri. We're keen to know what he's been getting up to and we can't wait to hear the fruits of his labour.