Thai music – Tom Vater

A Thai pop star uses her music to critique her homeland, in The Economist

August 1, 2022August 1, 2022tom

Known for her “dystopian pop”, Pyra has been driven out by Thailand’s conservatism The video is captioned “UGLY TRUTH ABOUT THAILAND”. Peeralada Sukawat—better known by her stage name, Pyra—looks into the camera and rolls her eyes. “Bangkok babies in Mercedes,” she raps over looping drums and a synth beat. “Rich gets richer, poor gets poorer,/Inequality’s […]

An interview with Thailand-based musician Hugo: “What kind of person wants to be in power?”, in Roadbook

May 31, 2022tom

I interviewed the fantabulous pop star Hugo for Roadbook the other day… Hugo Chakrabongse Levy is a warm, otherworldly, and handsome presence – a man of bell-bottom trousers, ornate shirts, wide-brimmed hats, and hand-rolled orange-flavoured cigarettes. He’s also a rock star. Born in the UK, Hugo, as he’s known, attended school in London until he […]

From the Vault: Pussy & The Learjets: You’re Gonna Miss Me

September 23, 2012September 23, 2012tomLeave a Comment

From the vaults…a new track by Pussy & The Learjets, who played Bangkok punk rock for twelve months and then crashed and burned, as any great band should. This is a cover on The Thirteenth Floor Elevators You’re Gonna Miss Me, a huge song. And yes, I played guitar for The Learjets. With Manis on […]

More great Rock’n’Roll from Thailand!

May 3, 2011May 1, 2011tomLeave a Comment

Thailand’s premier Rock’n’Roll band Pussy & The Learjets dish up their first promo video, a time lapse artifact, shot and edited by Austrian video director Willy Wysoudil aka Wysforce. Wysoudil produced this ripping timelapse video of Bangkok´s noisiest Rock’n’Roll band performing Nothing Can Bring Me Down, the forthcoming Learjets vinyl single, out in May on […]