Sounds & Sights of Silva - Thailand
Bangkok and the Beauty of Local Record Shops
I spent a couple of hurried weekends in Bangkok but as is my impulse everywhere I travel, I sought out the record stores. I promise there’s a good reason for going out of my way to visit whichever physical music shops with good reviews I can reasonably locate on Google Maps.
These are the last bastions of handpicked culture in these cities – the staff holds the knowledge and genuine passion of music past, present, and future in their country. This is where you can learn about and listen to the artists that residents feel best reflects their own experience. It’s one of the most direct lines of communication to a local music scene, and I got a full dose in Bangkok.
I visited two shops in Bangkok: the fittingly-named Cassette Shop and the long-established Nong Taprachan. Both owners are dedicated to their craft – Cassette Shop is situated in the living area of the family’s home with back stock lining the walls of their individual bedrooms, while the owners of Nong Taprachan have been running their business for over four decades.
Both were gracious with their time, sitting me down for over an hour and putting on their favorite emerging young artists from Thailand that they truly believe are destined for international acclaim. They commented as I flipped through cassette tapes, remarking at the shocking names and album covers of some of them (Bodyslam and Big Ass, to name a couple, look them up). Just a month or so later, I was able to catch some of these bands when they transited through Taipei on their tours.
Bangkok is quite a stimulating place with energy flowing freely through the veins of the city, so by the end of the trip I found some much needed peace via visits to temples and a quick trip to Pattaya. It was time to break away from a Bangkok that brought anxiety with its rapidity and questionable traffic patterns.
The country’s spirituality and natural beauty are unlike anywhere else I’ve been. It’s a jarring turn from the bustle in the city center to the serenity of the holy places, but both are equally important to the country’s character. This blend is what makes Thailand a remarkable place to visit and also clearly serves as a unique inspiration for this new generation of artists.
YONLAPA - “Sail Away, Away”
One of my absolute favorite new discoveries, YONLAPA is a satisfying blend of indie pop and shoegaze that hits right in the 90s feels.
Listen If You Like: Alvvays, Snail Mail, Slow Pulp, sludgy indie rock with emotion
KIKI - “Alive”
Thailand’s danciest band at the moment. Their new record Post-Existential Crisis is so catchy and classy – I wish more bands made records as bold as this.
Listen If You Like: Jungle, Khruangbin
Death of Heather - “Pretty Things”
I’m a sucker for a good shoegaze band, and Thailand has an exciting new one of their own with Death of Heather. Small Room Records is also a legendary label in the indie scene, and clearly their good taste has not waned.
Listen If You Like: Cocteau Twins, Lucid Express
Tilly Birds - “Just Being Friendly”
Tilly Birds is probably Thailand’s current most hyped pop group domestically, with nearly 700,000 monthly listeners on Spotify in Bangkok alone. Most people I spoke with at the record shops pointed out this group, so expectations are high.
Listen If You Like: Alternative Rock Radio, Maroon 5
Big Ass - The Lion
Finally, the band with the best name. A band that unironically releases under the name Big Ass with an album cover of a dog in a lion costume can only be incredible, this album rips accordingly.
Listen If You Like: Classic Rock
Follow the full playlist of Sounds of Silva featured tracks.
Listen to Zach’s radio show archive for Friend From A Big City on Deadbeat Radio.
[Zach 2023 Travel Log #5]
***Special thanks to my good friend Kayleigh Madjar for snapping photos of me in my element.
I really enjoyed this article! Always a pleasure to find out about new musicians/scenes from all over the world. When you went to these record shops, did they show you any musicians who are staples of Thai music? The up and coming musicians are great too.