By Ajarn Helen Jandamit
Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post
University Tips is here to help you prepare for the English exams and tests that are coming your way. It gives you practise answering questions similar to those you may have at school and also on the University Entrance Examination.
Read the following interview by Pimchanok Phungbun Na Ayudhya from the Bangkok Post. Then, answer the questions that follow.
After their single "P./Again" was chosen as the Best Song on Thailand’s iTunes Best of 2015 beat-makers, Charlie Nipanan and Piruntar Kalasanimi came out of their bedroom studio and onto the big stage. They are known as DCNXTR (De Connextor).
They make their uplifting electronic dream pop music in a home studio in Nonthaburi, in a space which was once Charlie’s bedroom.
What are the main perks of having a home studio?
Charlie: The best part is that I don’t have to commute to work every day. My house is quite far from central Bangkok. At least I don’t have to waste two hours on the road each day.
Piruntar: But I have to drive 20 kilometres every week! Now that we have a live act, I come here every Sunday to rehearse. I like rehearsing here. I don’t like going to music rehearsal spaces because the carpets always smell.
What do you like about this studio?
Piruntar: It’s cosy. I’ve been hanging out here for years, since playing in our former band, Revenge of the Cybermen. I’ve been coming here so often that it has become my second home. I’m used to everything here — these yellow walls, the shelves and everything. I also like this neighbourhood, especially the local flea market.
Do you record your music here?
Piruntar: When writing a new song, Charlie comes up with a rough draft, and we then start adding new sounds by sending the track back and forth between us.
Charlie: We got used to this working method when I was studying electronic music production in the US. We emailed each other each time we added new material to a tune.
Piruntar: I’m more productive when I spend time alone and work on my parts at home. But some the work also happens here spontaneously while we're rehearsing. We finished writing and recording the demo of Summer Rain in one day.
Can you us more about your studio space?
Charlie: There are a lot of second-hand items here in addition to my vintage keyboard collection. I also sell used American furniture as a hobby. Sometimes I get cool stuff cheaply from my furniture dealing friends.
Exercises
Section 1
Read the story and answer the following multiple-choice questions.
1. How is DCNXTR pronounced?
a. Dee See En Ex Tee Ar.
b. De Connextor
c. De Concert.
2. In whose family home is the studio located?
a. Charlie Nipanan’s.
b. Piruntar Kalasanimi’s.
c. The feature does not say.
3. What is the name that Charlie and Piruntar are known by professionally now?
a. Revenge of the Cybermen.
b. DCNXTR.
c. P./Again.
4. Which single was chosen as the Best Song on Thailand’s iTunes Best of 2015 beat-makers?
a. “Cyberman.”
b. “DCNXTR.”
c. “P./Again.”
5. Piruntar said, “I’m more _______ when I spend time alone and work on my parts at home.”
a. possessive
b. productive
c. creative
6. When did Charlie and Piruntar start adding new sounds by sending tracks by e-mail back and forth between themselves?
a. When Charlie was studying in the US.
b. When Piruntar was studying in the US.
c. When Charlie and Piruntar were both studying in the US.
7. What colour are the walls of the studio?
a. Yellow.
b. White.
c. Black, white and grey.
8. How is DCNXTR’s music described in this feature?
a. It is described as beat-maker music.
b. It is described as electronic dream pop music.
c. It is described as not being too noisy.
Section 2
Specify whether each of the following statements is true or false.
9. DCNXTR’s home studio is in Nonthaburi.
………………
10. Piruntar has been going to the studio so often that it’s become like her second home.
………………
11. Piruntar sells used American furniture as a hobby.
………………
Section 3
Read each of the following sentences and underline the grammatically correct words in each from the choices given.
12. There are a lot of/with/over vintage items here.
13. He’s more production/producer/productive when he spends time alone.
14. I prefer performing/perform/performed here anyway.
15. We got used/use/using to this working process.
Section 4
Fill in the blanks in the following passage with the correct words from the choices given.
I prefer working in a place that makes …..16….. feel comfortable. I hardly ever come up ……. 17 …… new ideas in other rehearsal spaces. When I …..18….. here and feel bored, I can just pick ……. 19 …… some toys to play and tease people. It’s ……. 20 …… comfortable and relaxing.
16.
a. I
b. me
c. mine
17.
a. from
b. with
c. across
18.
a. work
b. works
c. working
19.
a. up
b. out
c. over
20.
a. most
b. many
c. more
Section 5
Write down the noun forms of the following words used in the story in the space provided.
21. performing ……………..
22. rehearsing ……………..
23. spontaneously ……………..
24. productive ……………..
Vocabulary
- rehearse (v): to practise a play, a piece of music, etc. in preparation for public performance
cosy (adj): warm, comfortable and safe
spontaneously (adv): not planned but done because you suddenly want to do it
demo (n): a recorded example of somebody's music or of musical ideas that are still being worked on
