This selection is guest curated by Bangkok-based vinyl aficionado Maft Sai. He’s famous for a deep knowledge of traditional Thai sounds molam and luk thung, transposing this into a contemporary live band setting with his Paradise Bangkok band. He’s also known for his wonderful record shop and label in Bangkok called ZudRangMa Records. This is a place and a vehicle through which the world can get to know more about the musical treasures he discovers, from his South East Asian home and beyond.
Maft Sai hit Hanoi at CAMA ATK, for Women’s Day, armed with one of the most enrapturing and interesting record collections I’ve ever heard. Carrying on the theme of his stay in Hanoi, he has kindly curated a list for us which features five of his favourite female vocalists from Thailand. If you’ve never heard the music from our neighbouring country before, make sure you’ve got a bit of time – get yourself a drink, turn up the volume – as this is sure to impress.
Artist: Onuma Singsiri
Track: Mae Kha Somtum
The killer guitar riff and the beat could just be some big sample tune! For Onuma’s vocals… she sings about the love story of a papaya salad merchandise.
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Artist: Nung Lamyong Kularbseemuang
Track: Kati Sorn Jai
Sleazy, urgent, and an absolute staple from the Paradise Bangkok set lists, this tune is always a showstopper. A late 70s luk thung/talung production from the south of Thailand, replete with rasping horns and an off-beat groove. If Nung Lamyong’s vocal doesn’t get you, the nagging organ riff most certainly will.
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Artist: Yenjit Porntawi
Track: Lam Plearn Toh Lom Nhao
Yenjit Porntawi was born in Khon Khaen and has been performing since age six. A unique voice in molam, Lam Plearn Toh Lam Nhao was one of her biggest hits back from 1981.
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Artist: Angkanang Kunchai
Track: Lam Plearn Me Mia Laew Pai
One of my favourite molam singers, one of the queens of the molam music scene. With a career beginning in the early 70s she has one of the most recognisable voices in the genre, and still has a huge influence today. This tune is one of her funkiest late ’70s disco Isa.
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Artist: Kwanjit Sriprajan
Track: Tum Boon Kan Terd
Kwanjit Sriprajan came to prominence in the late 60s as she pioneered the fusion of luk thung and the more religious lae style (Thai temple music), creating in the process a cosmic, spiritual funk!
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CAMA’s Eliza Lomas is on a mission to find a huge array of great Asian music, digging through different times, countries and genres, with a regular monthly selection.
For information on CAMA events visit www.cama-atk.com
