Danai Thongsinthusak, the guy behind the success of labelmates Retrospect and Sweet Mullet, produced the new single and drummer Ritamnaj “Jazz” Kwanthong handled rapping duties.

“The song’s about those impossible loves that could never become stable relationships,” says singer Tunwa “High” Ketsuwan. “But, even though you know it’s impossible, you don’t want to lose the girl.

“It’s kind of post-hardcore mixed with synthesisers, electronica and R&B. It’s got Jazz rapping and Kitsakorn ‘Yok’ Chanthakasemkhun does a guitar solo. There’s ambient sound added to mimic the feeling of being a loser. And we recorded the whole thing in my bedroom, except for the drums, which were done in the studio.”

The music video features a bartender falling in love with a woman who dates multiple other men, and he feels like he’s getting punched in the face every time. Nevertheless, he keeps smiling through the pain.

Keep up to date with the band at “PaperPlanesTH” on Facebook and “paperplanesbandofficial” on Instagram.

Khunpa get cracking

Indie band Apartment Khunpa pack more their rock and roll, blues and funk onto their fifth studio album, which shares the group’s name, and the first single, “Yud Kham Khuen Wai Tong Na Ther Ja Dee Mai”. They’re on GMM Grammy subsidiary label Sanamluang Music.

Frontman Tul Waitoolkait says the single about an imaginary love blends folk rock and country, rippling with the soft sound of a Hammond organ.

The music video is about a man travelling into the lush jungle, where a woman in a red dress catches his eye – as she would in a jungle. But what happens next is even more surprising than that.

Formed in 2002, Apartment Khunpa also has Piyanart “Pump” Jatikasathira and Gun “Ball” Rujinarong on guitar, Pukan “Mai” Sansuriya on bass and Tassarirk “Ja” Limsila on drums.

Keep caught up at Facebook.com/ apartmentkhunpaa and Facebook.com/ SanamluangMusicOfficial.

Srisalai set for dual concerts

Singer Srisalai Suchartwut isn’t slowing down at age 74. She’ll be onstage at Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani on June 30 for a pair of afternoon concerts titled “Chua Fah Din Salai”.

The name is the title of one of her hits, which she’ll be singing along with “Rak Kham Khob Fah”, “Kep Rak”, “Khid Ja Pluk Ton Rak Aik Kor” and “Chong Rak”.

Joining Srisalai on the stage will be Songsith “Kob” Rungnoppakhunsri, Uthane “Thay” Phrommint, Nop Pornchamni, Anuwat “Boy Peacemaker” Sanguansakpakdee and Apiwat “Stamp” Eueathawornsuk. The Royal Thai Navy Orchestra provides the accompaniment.

Srisalai will be wearing outfits designed for the occasion by National Artist Somchai “Kai” Kaewthong of Kai Boutique.

Proceeds from ticket sales will purchase equipment for treating heart disease at Somdech Phra Pinklao and Queen Sirikit Naval hospitals.

The seats cost Bt2,500 to Bt3,500 at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456.

It’s the boys from CN Blue

Singer-songwriter-guitarist Lee Jong Hyun and singer-rapper Lee Jungshin from South Korean pop-rock band CN Blue will perform as “J vs J” at Central Lat Phrao’s BBC Hall on May 27.

Tickets are from Bt5,000 to Bt2,000 available at Thai Ticket Major (02) 262 3456 and visit http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.

Follow the action at https://Ticket.achi.co.th, ACHIACTIVATION on Facebook, @achiactivation on Twitter, AHI_ACTIVATION on Instagram and @ACHI_ACITIVATION on Line.

With tourism down in the coastal resort of Pattaya now that the low or green season has arrived, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is giving the city a shot in the arm by organising the Thailand Cultural Music Festival this weekend at Bali Hai Bay.

“The festival is a component of our ‘Open to the New Shades’ campaign that utilises music as the medium to promote tourism. Thailand’s dynamic music industry is really growing into one of the country’s greatest assets,” says Sujitra Jongchansitto, deputy governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand’s tourism products and business.

“It also helps build brand recognition for Thailand as a tourist destination as it is undoubtedly one of Asia’s best musical and cultural event destinations. We are putting it together now to stimulate tourism during the low season. We are also following the government’s policy on promoting the Thai way of life, which is an important selling point for tourism and covers arts and culture, food and, of course, music. Local artists and bands, many of whom have performed overseas, will be blending their local sound with Western music instruments,” she adds.

Pol Maj Gen Bandit Khunchak, Pattaya City’s deputy mayor, echoes those sentiments, saying: “We are honoured that the TAT is staging this music event in Pattaya for the first time, especially at Bali Hai, which has undergone major landscape improvements costing more than Bt100 million. We have prepared security measures, traffic control and a large parking lot to cope with the influx of visitors. Pattaya organises many activities and events to encourage tourism but the Thailand Cultural Music Festival is a new innovation. I believe this music event will be able to draw crowds from Bangkok and the surrounding provinces as well as foreign tourists.”

The festival is the first event being hosted by Bali Hai Bay since the renovation works were completed and features an all-star lineup, who will take the stage tonight from 5 until late.

Among them are The Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band, known for its modern take on traditional morlam (Isaan music), indie luk thung (Thai folk) singer Zak Chumpae whose song “Kham Pang” has been viewed over 400 million on YouTube and electronic reggae and folk outfit Ga-Pi & The Thai Dub Mafia. Also entertaining the crowds are reggae band Mocca Garden with disco artist Burin Boonvisut, Phatthalung Band, whose song “Mahalai Wua Chon” has been viewed over 200 million times on YouTube, fusion jazz band The Infinity, Urboy TJ with Day Thaitanium, and luk thung artist Kong Huayrai with morlam singer Kanittha “Bell” Baolorpetch.

“It will be a musical phenomenon and the greatest ever show in Thailand with its blend of East-Meets-West music. It isn’t easy to book these well-known bands, who are on a tight show schedule, but we’ve managed it,” Sujitra says.

Between them, these bands represent all four regions of Thailand and many of them are also featuring acts typical of where they live. For example, the Phatthalung Band from the South is featuring the Khai Liem manorah troupe, while Paradise Bangkok will be joined by Rasmee of “Isaan Soul” fame. Also coming to town is Chaiya Mitrchai’s likay troupe.”

“We will have a small stage along the beach road with shows by local bands starting at 4pm,” Sujitra adds.

“I’m honoured that we’ve been invited,” enthuses Nattapon Siangsukon, aka DJ Maft Sai, founder of The Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band. “For those who don’t know us, we are a gathering of musicians fascinated by morlam. We all have different backgrounds but have helped each other to develop morlam into a modern sound that the new generation can understand and enjoy. We’re putting our new album together and will be playing some tracks at the concert.”

Actors Louis Scott, Tanawat “Pope” Wattanaputi, and Ramida “Noon” Prapasanobon, stars of the hit Channel 3 period drama hit “Buppesannivas” will also appear on stage.

“Music is the lifeblood of culture, although people from other foreign countries, especially China, don’t understand it. We’ll perform some of the soundtracks from the drama and Noon and I will sing live for the first time on the number for which I wrote the rap part. We are educating the new generation to learn about and understand this kind of folk music,” says Louis.

The Thailand Cultural Music Festival endeavours to promote tourism in Chon Buri and neighbouring provinces while promoting local experiences that could later be developed on a regional, national or international, the TAT says.

With that in mind, festival-goers will also be able to sample the culinary delights of each of Thailand’s four main regions, have their faces painted, buy tattoo stickers and take part in “Snap and Share”, sharing 3D images of Thailand’s attractions from the TAT’s extensive gallery of photographs, or posting them on other social media platforms using the #thailandculturalmusicfestival or #amazingthailand tags. The prize is a colourful raincoat.

Music for the masses

– Admission is free.

– For more information, dial the call centre at 1672 or visit http://www.TourismThailand.org/thaifest.

“This first festival has all the makings of a great Asian music experience. TAT is proud to be involved in the organisation and support of yet another world-class event in Thailand, and one which is expected to further broaden Koh Samui’s appeal to Thai and international visitors alike,” said Noppadon Pakprot, the TAT’s deputy governor for Domestic Marketing.

The picturesque, tropical island setting for the Samui Asia Music Festival 2018 is Phru Chaweng on the island’s northeastern shore.

Find out more by calling the TAT Koh Samui office on (077) 420 504 and (077) 420 721 or email: tatsamui@tat.or.th.

Sony signed a deal with Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala to buy its 60 percent holding in EMI, giving the Japanese firm an indirect stake of approximately 90 percent, Sony said in a statement.

“We are thrilled to bring EMI Music Publishing into the Sony family and maintain our number-one position in the music publishing industry,” Sony boss Kenichiro Yoshida said in a statement.

He said the music business had “enjoyed a resurgence in the past couple of years” driven by subscription-based streaming services.

EMI is the second-largest music publishing company by revenue and either owns or holds the rights to 2.1 million pieces of music.

It either owns or administers some two million songs, including classics by the likes of Queen, Sam Smith, Pharrell Williams and Drake.

As for Sony, it already owns 2.3 million copyrights, including the Beatles catalogue.

The deal values EMI at $4.75 billion, the Sony statement said, adding that “the closing of the transaction is subject to certain closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.”

Sony will later Tuesday unveil its latest strategic plan under new CEO Yoshida, expecting to focus more on content than hardware.

The electronics and entertainment behemoth last month reported record annual profits worth $4.5 billion, a roaring recovery supported by better sales across the board and helped by box office blockbusters like its Jumanji reboot.

Those figures were seen as a fitting send-off for Kazuo Hirai, who recently stepped down as the firm’s chief executive after spending the past six years pulling the firm out of deep financial troubles.

Hirai led an aggressive restructuring drive at Sony, terminating thousands of jobs while selling business units and assets.

Investors appeared dubious about the acquisition however, with Sony stock down around 0.6 percent in the first few minutes of trade, underperforming the wider Japanese market which was flat.

The seven-song album features a variety of sounds, which vocalist Kritsada Rungrasee says reflects the band’s new direction. Kritsada adds that two songs in particular are representative of the alt rockers reincarnation: “60 Winatee … Mee Kee Chuamong?” which speaks about how time passes slowly when we feel bad yet flies by when we are happy, and “Yang Yoo”, which he wrote for a friend who recently broke up with his girlfriend.

Also worth a listen are “Jaak Pai Yang Sangob”, “Yim Thang Namta” and “Thang Wibak”.

The other members of Harem Belle are guitarist Pongsathorn  Mongkholsakulrit, bassist Samrit SaeFoong and drummer Panatsanite Sirirojanavanich.

Follow Harem Belle’s updates at Facebook/srplabel, or Facebook/HAREMBELLEROCK.

Folk from both directions

Folk rock trio West of East, who recently picked up the prize for Best New Artist at the 29th Season Awards, has just released their first album, “Western Music on Eastern Player” on Sanamluang Music, a subsidiary of GMM Grammy. The first single, “Rak Nai Nithan” (“Love in Tales”) features Isarakorn “Jan” Tuntrakool, guitarist with rock and roll outfit Sanim Yok.

Songwriter, singer and guitarist Chananan Chantorn, whose bandmates are Nattakorn Intaraprasert on electric guitar and Thitinun Kesorn on drums, describes the number as a portrayal of how the trio thinks.

The album is mastered by producer Howie B, who has worked with U2 and Bjork.

West of East have played at the Wonderfruit festival for the last two years and gained quite a following.

For more information on the trio, check out Facebook.com/westofeastband or Facebook.com/SanamluangMusicOfficial.

All that jazz

Boyd Kosiyabong, Nop Ponchamni & The Groovetomatix Band join up with the Groove Riders Trio, Pomelo Town , Mellow Motif, Sunny Trio & Natt Buntita, Snapper Town, Siam Jazz Orchestra, College of Music from BSRU, RSU Quintet  and special guest singers for “Jazzin’ It Up with Smiles – No 1” being staged at Aksra Theatre King Power on June 910.

Tickets costing Bt1,500 are on sale at Thai Ticket Major counters and online at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com. Only 500 seats are available per show and tickets must be purchased between today and May 25.

Jung Hae In comes to town

K-pop star Jung Hae In, who has been stealing women’s hearts with his warm smile, will be in town for a “Smile Fan Meeting” at Ultra Arena Hall of Show DC on Rama IX Road on June 2 at 6pm. The star of wellloved drama “Something in the Rain” captivated viewers with his performances in “While You Were Sleeping”, “Prison Playbook”, “Conspiracy: Age of the Rebellion”, “The King’s Case Notes” and “Heungboo”.

Tickets cost from Bt2,000 to Bt4,800 at Thai Ticket Major.