Book and Tuan team up
By Tatat Bunnag
Photographs by Tokin Teekanun
and courtesy of Archive Project
Did you know
Tuan’s favourite Thai band is Saliva Bastards.
After the dissolution of indie pop group Cloud Behind, 25-year-old lead singer Tawan S. Dacpham (Tuan) didn’t wait long before teaming up with his 27-year-old singer-songwriter friend Vuttiphong Mahasamut (Book), known for playing under the name of Free Typewriter. Tuan and Book formed a new pop project together called Gardener Twins.
Gardener Twins’ music is reminiscent of ‘60s duo Simon and Garfunkel and the modern Norwegian duo Kings of Convenience. The Twins’ sweet sound can be heard on their debut single, “Vague Screen,” which showcases the duo’s distinctive mix of light acoustic guitar and crystal clear electric guitar, which blend brilliantly with Book and Tuan’s harmony singing.
Gardener Twins are billed as one of the headlining acts at the upcoming Psych-Out music festival on October 18, along with well known indie performers like Little Fox, Sahai Hang Sailom and Yaan.
Student Weekly recently caught up with Tuan and Book to ask them all about Gardener Twins.
Student Weekly: How did you come up with the name Gardener Twins?
Book: When we decided to start playing together, I talked to Tuan about how we should have a name that reflects our style of music and our personalities. “Gardener” sounds warm and relaxing, and “twins” describes our image, because a lot of people think that we look alike.
Student Weekly: How did you guys first meet and start playing together?
Tuan: We formed Gardener Twins about three months ago. I planned to have a folk music project, but I didn’t have anybody to play with. One day I heard my friends talking about Book, and they joked that if we were in a band together, they probably couldn’t tell us apart because we look so similar! I then listened to Book’s Free Typewriter music online and I was hooked by his style, so I asked him if he wanted to start a new project with me.
Student Weekly: Can you describe your music for people who might be unfamiliar with your style?
Book: Describing our style is difficult. Our music has pop elements of catchy melodies and simple song structures, but the chord progressions we use are influenced by jazz. We also like to experiment with new forms as we progress, so we could be described as a bit experimental as well.
Student Weekly: Can you tell is about your first single, “Vague Screen”?
Tuan: The song is about people who are always daydreaming and in their own world. Sometimes they might do things based on their passions without thinking whether it’s right or wrong or whether others would agree with their decision.
Student Weekly: The song has been released by Archive Project. Is that a new music label?
Book: Not exactly. Archive Project is an independent music store and event organiser run by Tokin Teekanun, who helped to create big music festivals like Stone Free and Keep On the Grass. Tokin and his friends decided to start a music store selling interesting local CDs and band merchandise. They also set up events to support original local musicians.
Tuan: We’re lucky to be the first band to release music with their official support. With their help, we’ll be playing our first shows and making a music video soon.
Student Weekly: Has your previous work with Free Typewriter and Cloud Behind influenced the music of Gardener Twins?
Book: I think we meet halfway. I add some of Free Typewriter’s playfulness and melodic quality to the simplicity and harmonies that Tuan developed with Cloud Behind.
Tuan: With Gardener Twins, I want to make something exciting for myself by writing music that I’ve never played before. So the music Cloud Behind played doesn’t have much to do with my new songs with Gardener Twins.
Student Weekly: Can you describe what your live performances are like?
Tuan: Gardener Twins is a very new project, so we haven’t played much in public. But we’re having our first official gig at the Psych-Out Festival on October 18. So far we have around seven new songs to be recorded for our first album, and people will be able to hear those songs at our festival performance.
Vocabulary
- dissolution (n): the fact of officially ending something such as a business agreement, a partnership, etc.
reminiscent (adj): reminding you of something
vague (adj): not clear in a person’s mind
distinctive (adj): having a quality or characteristic that makes something different and easily noticed
hooked (adj): enjoying something very much so that you want to do it, see it, hear it, etc. as much as possible
chord (n): two or more musical notes played together at the same time
passion (n): a very strong feeling of enthusiasm, love, anger, etc.
merchandise (n): things that you can buy that are connected with a particular group, event, company, etc.
playfulness (n): the quality of being full of fun
melodic (adj): having a pleasant and musical tune
Idiom
in your own world: to be so concerned with your own thoughts that you do not notice what is happening around you
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