OMB, we've turned eight years old! Without getting too teary, we think it's a good time to reflect a little on our beloved Bangkok. We talked to eight different authorities in eight various scenes of Bangkok from music to food and fashion, to get an insight into their respective fields eight years past and eight years from now. Thank you for reading us, and here's to the next eight!
1. LITERATURE
Managing Editor - Betweentheline Publishing
Owner - Candide Bookshop
Eight years past
Photo by Niwat Puttprasart
Duangruethai Asanachatang
"During these past eight years, I've found that there has been a phenomenal emergence of independent publishers. They have claimed their place in the industry. The winning titles or at least half of the shortlisted books entered in the SEA Write Award are of smaller presses. Also, interestingly, most of the recently elected members of the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand, the literary salon who organises the annual Book Expo Thailand and National Book Fair, are from small book publishers too. Added to that, independently owned bookstores have also seen growth - not only in Bangkok, but also across the country. It's a positive sign to see the increase of independent publishers and book retailers which are now a strong voice and play an active role to help push the industry forward."
Eight years from now
"I hope that in the next eight years each independent publishing house will seek a unique direction - in terms of specialised genres, target readers and limited-edition offerings - in order to set them apart in the age of digital reading. By the same token, to stand out from chain stores, independent bookshops should have distinctive character and inviting ambience to attract readers. Online bookstores are, furthermore, an interesting alternative for literary enthusiasts in this era."
Duangruethai's eight favourite Thai authors of all time
1. Sri Burapha
2. Malai Chuphinit
3. Seni Saowaphong
4. Nikhom Raiyawa
5. Suriyachat Chaimongkol
6. Kanokphong Songsomphan
7. Uthis Haemamool
8. Prabda Yoon
2. FASHION
Chairman - Bangkok Fashion Society (BFS)
Founder and Creative Director - Asava
Eight years past
Polpat Asavaprapha
"The fashion industry has grown dramatically during the past eight years. There have been more players, both international and local, in the business - making it dynamic. Thanks to the growth of the middle class, there have been new levels of disposable income, change of lifestyle and, consequently, more segmentation in fashion. However, Thailand is better known as a manufacturing hub than as a designing country. The locals are neither aware of, nor value intellectual property. Brand piracy is hence common. That's a handicap that draws us back from having a creative environment. In general, nevertheless, the Thai fashion industry has been going from strength to strength. With more brands and more consumers, it's a competitive and healthy market which encourages creators to work hard while there are more choices out there for consumers."
Eight years from now
"The Thai textile and garment industry has merely consisted of OEM-based [Original Equipment Manufacturer] production. However, to grow from that, we need to highlight design and brand development to compete in international fashion markets. We need to put more emphasis on design as a matter of national policy. To push Thai fashion to a global platform, consistency - of both brands and administrative actions - is very important. To be the global leader in fashion is perhaps unrealistic, but in order to work towards that goal, we should proceed step by step. We need to boost bilateral ties, emphasise our strong points, and develop strategies to reach our goals. We should build a strong foundation and start from there."
Eight Thai brands that can be found in Polpat's wardrobe
1. Soda
2. Ek Thongprasert
3. Boyy Bag
4. Kemissara
5. Asava
6. Painkiller
7. Sretsis
8. Greyhound Original
3. CLUBBING
Arsit Prachaseri
Club event promoter and music festival organiser - Retox Sessions and AG Productions
Eight years past
"The dance music scene has grown exponentially over the years. With the emergence of digital download stores such as Beatport and iTunes, there's more competition in the field, which encourages local talent to learn how to produce music in order to differentiate themselves. In the local scene, there are some great talents, namely DJ Kingkong, the Superrzaaap crew and Moodwax, who have released music on both local and international record labels. The event market also has grown exponentially with larger scaled events and genre-specific festivals. The market growth also has benefited from younger promoters countrywide pushing their own branded events which has contributed to the growth over the last few years. Some notable promoters that have contributed to the scene are Bangkok Invaders, CMYK, Fuze Ent, Overdoser and Superrzaaap. Clubs and events have also followed trends from overseas and now feature more DJs and indie bands from R&B/hip-hop, which has helped grow the market."
Eight years from now
"The market will continue to grow and I see consolidation in Thailand much like what is happening elsewhere in the world with brands such as Future Music Festival and ID&T who runs Sensation and Tomorrowland. The electronic dance music market in Thailand is still very young as opposed to its counterparts in the region. However, it will continue to grow even further with more corporate brands wanting to explore the electronic dance music avenue with their branded events. I would like to see government agencies embrace and support artists and events like other markets such as Singapore. People from around the world love visiting Thailand as much as artists do. With additional support from the agencies involved, Thailand could become a dance music Mecca in Asia."
Eight dream acts that Arsit wishes to see perform in Bangkok
1. Sade
2. Phil Collins
3. The Killers
4. Fleetwood Mac
5. Daft Punk
6. Bruce Springsteen
7. U2
8. Rolling Stones
4. BEAUTY
Duangkamol Tirawat
Beauty and lifestyle blogger - cinnamongal.com, thecinnamongal.spokedark.tv
Eight years past
"Guru started almost the same time that I started my blog. The trend that has never faded away during this period of time is Korean beauty - white, glowing skin - as the new perception of beauty. From what I've observed, 80 per cent of Thai women - from high school girls to middle-aged ladies - now see perfectly bright skin that is seemingly poreless and always glowing as their ideal form of beauty."
Eight years from now
"I think people will be more into the use of highlighting and shading. It's a natural way to redefine your face shape with the trick of make-up. Because no one has an entirely perfect face, contouring and highlighting helps one look their best as it bring out good features and slims down the face. However, Korean beauty is here to stay. There will, additionally, be more beauty bloggers. To me, beauty blogs have become popular because bloggers give their personal perspective to readers. They feel more like a friend sharing tips and personal experiences."
Eight items that are always in Cinnamongal's beauty bag
1. Brow pencil
2. Powder foundation
3. Blotting sheets
4. Lipstick
5. Blush
6. Concealer palette
7. Mascara
8. Mineral water spray
5. MUSIC
Gene Kasidit
Thai indie icon/Diva extraordinaire
Photo by Tussunee Roadjanarungtong Eight years past
"[The music industry has been] just like the number eight actually, as it just goes round and round. Time went by and, of course, people are now more open-minded about sounds that were around or invented years and years ago. Look around and you'll still find that mainstream music is going strong. Not that it's a bad thing but it shows what the overall Thai music consumers are all about. However, there are many new and refreshing Thai artists out there that still need a lot of support. At the end of the day, even though your songs are all over social networking platforms, it doesn't necessarily pay your bills."
Eight years from now
"Hopefully people will start downloading legally more and more to support artists, who would then have more funds to make concerts, either at big stadiums or small venues. There will be more platforms for new artists to present their talent and more alternatives for music lovers to consume; in an ideal world that is."
Gene's Eight Favourite Artists
1. Lana Del Rey - Melancholicly sexy and cool. I love the fact that she writes songs to expose the dark sides of glamorous Hollywood lives.
2. Ke$ha - Trashy but sincere. She's so refreshing to listen to or watch. The face of the new generation.
3. Madonna - There's only one Queen and that's Madonna. Bitch!
4. Moderndog - I grew up with Moderndog's music and they were one of my inspirations to become a singer/songwriter.
5. Suharit Siamwalla - The one and only mad man who dares to challenge everyone with his avant garde electronica.
6. Rik Wachirapilan - Her music was so ahead of the times. I love her divine fusion Indian-electronica sound.}
7. Ornaree - Listening to her voice gives me a shiver every time. A true grunge rocker!
8. Bjork - The queen of avant-garde. Listening to her music takes me to places I've never been before. Her imagination just inspires me soulfully.
6. FILM
Kong Rithdee
Bangkok Post's film critic
Eight years past
"Thai cinema was buoyed by the prospects of international exposure (Tropical Malady won in Cannes in 2004) and domestic riches (Tom Yum Goong was released in 2005 and was a huge hit). The reality, however, was that of film-makers dealing with constant uncertainty, the fickle taste of audiences, and investors' unwillingness to take risks. The mainstream studios were hell-bent on making hits (or copying the pattern of hits), while the independent directors always struggled to find finance. The saying that Thai cinema is a glut of gays and ghosts was partly true, but that wasn't as worrying as the complete unpredictability of the market."
Eight years from now
"We could copy the previous paragraph and paste it here. Despite the post-P Mak age - now that a Thai film could reach that insane one-billion-baht revenue mark - the plague of uncertainty that has afflicted both the mainstream and indie players hasn't changed that much. I would predict, however, that young film-makers working on the fringe will become more and more inspired by politics and social friction, which are the issues that directors from the previous decade totally avoided."
Kong's Eight Favourite Thai Films
1. Prae Dam (Black Silk, 1961, by Ratana Pestonji) - A Buddhism-heavy film noir like no other.
2. Luk Isan (Son of the Northeast, 1982, by Vijit Kunawut) - A searing and perpetually relevant story of hardship and struggle.
3. Chuafah Din Salai (1955, by Kru Marut) - You may be more familiar with the recent version starring Ananda - but here's the real thing - the real hurt, the real handcuffed couple writhing in the agony of eternal love and curse.
4. Dok Far Nai Mue Marn (Mysterious Object at Noon, 1999, by Apichatpoing Weerasethakul) - Intriguing and unclassifiable, this is cinema as an archaeology of storytelling.
5. Monrak Transistor (2001, by Penek Ratanaruang) - You laugh and you cry - what more do you want from a movie?
6. Tae Piang Pu Diew (P-047, 2011, by Kongdej Jaturanrasmee) - The closest thing Thailand has to a Charlie Kaufman mind-bending script.
7. Kon Jorn (1999, by Attaporn Thaihirun) - One of the first Thai "indie" films, this homeless drama and social satire explodes in your face like acid pus.
8. Fah Talai Jone (Tears of the Black Tiger, 2000, by Wisit Sasanatieng) - A vintage cocktail of colours and homemade cowboys, this is a hallucinatory trip into the attic of Thai 16mm cinema history.
7. ART
Alex Face
Leading Thai street artist
Eight years past
"Speaking from my experience doing art on the streets for the past eight years, I have seen some evolution in street art. Thais seem to be more interested [in it]. You can go out and see works [on the streets] for yourself. Youngsters meet to do graffiti on the streets. It has been displayed at galleries and art centres. Brands recruit street artists to do projects with them. I think it's growing. I think eight years is long enough for street artists to develop their works and find their own style. It's also enough [time] for the general public to see it and start to live with it. It's a way of communicating between the artists who want to say something through the image they create and what people see in their works. As for myself, I've turned empty and old walls into canvases with pure intention so that people can see my artworks while going about their daily life."
Eight years from now
"It's difficult to say what will happen in the next eight years. I hope there will be new artists who can create street art with depth on par with other art forms that are already established and appreciated. I hope that audiences will seek to appreciate street art that has depth and value rather than just a flashy appearance. I think this would help strengthen the art scene in Thailand as a whole. As more people are exposed to artworks on the streets, they may be led to explore other art forms later."
For our birthday, Alex drew our snappy cover. Thank you Alex!
8. FOOD
Christian Johann Kostner (aka Chef Oak)
Chef and owner - Johann Bistro
Eight years past
"The restaurant scene has changed so much over the past eight years. Restaurants in Bangkok used to be simple and emphasise only fresh ingredients and flavours. Neither food presentation nor the interior design of a restaurant was a major priority back then. Restaurants looked similar. Now I see young people becoming more interested in cooking and more people want to work in this industry. Fresh ideas for cooking and how to decorate a restaurant have been put out. Flavours have changed too and food presentation has become crucial."
Eight years from now
"I think restaurants will continue to pop up across the city, each trying to be different from those that came before them. However, I think this trend will eventually reach a saturation point and we may return to classic ways of cooking in the future."
Johann's Eight Favourite Thai Dishes
1. Pad thai - I love the texture of sen chan that is somewhere between sticky and tender. Crushed peanuts add aroma and crunch. I love that the dish offers both spicy and sweet sensations.
2. Som tam - What's interesting about it is the unlikely union of fruits and savoury ingredients that totally works. I love it especially when there's poo na (crab from rice paddy) in the mix.
3. Gaeng liang - While people love tom yum, I prefer gaeng liang as it offers a better balance of different flavours. It's sour, spicy, salty and aromatic.
4. Nam prik noom and pork rind - It was the first nam prik I tried and I've been hooked on it since. I love the smell of grilled chilli and eggplant. When eaten with the pork rind, you can't put it down.
5. Larb gai - I love the fragrant fresh herbs. Khao kua (crushed rice) is the icing on the cake of this dish. You need hot sticky rice to go with it especially some cooked in a bamboo stick.
6. Kanom jeen - I take my rice noodle with just nam pla. That's enough for me.
7. Tom klong talae - The intertwining aroma of seafood and dried chilli that twirls up from the hot soup is very unique.
8. Kanom krok - It's very versatile. You can put corn, taro, dried shrimp, or even chives in it.
