Synth-pop duo focus on sound

Making it in the music business can take time. But the synth-pop duo Cut the Crab show that patience and hard work pays off. After independently releasing singles for years, they finally landed a deal with Sanamluang Music. Now, they’re ready to bring their fresh sound to a wider audience with their new single “Tor Pai Bab Nee Tor Pai (What Else Can I Do).”

Cut the Crab are childhood friends Thitnun Swasdikula (Tom) and Nuttakorn Kravichien (Tao). Their 2014 debut single “Mai Mee Kam Tob (Without Doubt)” was met with widespread praise. Since then, the duo have continued to develop. “What Else Can I Do” sees them shift to a brighter electro-pop sound, with Tom singing about a man pining for his long-lost love.

S Weekly recently caught up with Cut the Crab to get the story on the up-and-coming electro-pop stars.

What’s the story behind the name Cut the Crab?

Tao: It’s the name that Tom used when he was a DJ. When he invited me to play with him, we decided to keep the name.

Tom: I wish I could say it’s a play on the phrase “cut the crap.” But I actually just spelled it wrong. [Laughs] I used the name for years until somebody pointed it out to me. By then, I figured it was too late to change it.

It’s been a year since your last single. What have you been doing since then?

Tao: We’ve been lazy and haven’t been doing anything. [Laughs.]

Tom: We’ve basically been busy with our day jobs. We’d actually finished “What Else Can I do” for quite some time, but waited until we’d made the music video before we could release the song.

Can you tell us about “What Else Can I Do”?

Tom: It’s a synth-based pop song. It’s a bit like house music, but not as fast. It has enough of a groove for you to move along to it.

Tao: Tom wrote the lyrics last year after he got dumped. So you can guess what the song is about.

Tom: I didn’t take the lyrics too seriously, though. I care more about the music than the lyrics.

Why is that?

Tao: I think sometimes in Thai pop music, the focus is too much on the lyrics and not enough on having good melodies. And the lyrics usually aren’t very original. They just reuse certain templates. We believe that a good melody should always come first. If you have a good song, then it’s a good song, no matter what kind of lyrics you write.

Tom: I’m actually more into songs that don’t tell a story, but use phrases or ideas that are open to interpretation. And I think that many instrumental songs are very moving.

How would you classify your music?

Tom: Our sound is based on synthesisers and electronic music. We’re inspired by all kinds of music, particularly from the ‘80s and ‘90s. We don’t talk much about our musical direction or sound. We just jam and experiment a lot.

How would you describe Cut the Crab’s live show?

Tom: Our live shows are definitely wilder than what you hear on our recordings.

Tao: You can’t really predict what’s going to happen at a Cut the Crab gig. Just come and have some fun!

Who are some of your favourite artists to listen to?

Tao: I enjoy listening to rock bands like Arctic Monkeys, Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson.

Tom: I like R&B singers like Anderson Paak and Bruno Mars.