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Helmetheads fall in love with social media

By Tatat Bunnag
Photographs courtesy of Spicy Disc

Spicy Disc introduced their promising new band Helmetheads to listeners a few years ago. The band were unique in the music scene, both fashion-wise and musically. They were young guys with a retro look of “mop top” hairstyles, matching suits, and rock ‘n’ roll and rockabilly influences.

After playing countless gigs around the city, Helmetheads — lead singer Chatarach Sridumrongruk (Jink), guitarist Nuttapong Lertsrinuan (Nutt), bassist Deo Suveera, and drummer Sadayu Suwanjunee (Sum) eventually released their first six-track mini-album, The Rhythm of the Time in 2012. The album contains both originals and covers of classic songs by groups like The Ventures, The Spencer Davis Group and Herman's Hermits.

Now Helmetheads have surprised their fans again with a change in musical direction on the new single “Instagram.” Produced by Pae of the band Mild and mixed by French band Tahiti 80, “Instagram” sees Helmetheads moving away from their retro sound with an easy listening pop ballad. The song tells a modern love story about being heartbroken and using the social media application.

Student Weekly recently caught up with Helmetheads to talk about their new song.

Student Weekly: It’s been a year since your first song “Happy.” Why did it take so long to release a new single?

Nutt: Because we want our songs to be perfect. Actually we’ve recorded and completed a few songs already, but we weren’t satisfied with them, so we took time to polish the songs. Also, we don’t feel that it’s necessary to rush things.

Student Weekly: Can you talk about your new single “Instagram”?

Nutt: I wrote the words for “Instagram” about five years ago. I wanted to write a song with a contemporary subject, which anyone can relate to. It’s about a guy who is heartbroken and finds it difficult to forget the pain because all these phone applications keep reminding him about the past.

Student Weekly: It’s quite a surprise to see the band switching from a rock ‘n’ roll sound to pop music.

Nutt: I think we changed our sound because we wanted our music to be more accessible to our listeners. We want them to better understand the message that we want to get across.

Jink: We don’t think that we are trying to be a retro band. We are definitely influenced by ‘60s and ‘70s music, but we won’t be able to do that 100 percent with Helmetheads. We still have some vintage sounds in our music, but we’re just a contemporary band writing songs about things that are happening now.

Student Weekly: Did working with Pae from Mild affect your sound at all?

Deo: Pae played a big part in the making of this song. He produced and helped arrange the song too, so that’s why the song came out so much catchier than our old songs. Pae is a professional artist with loads of interesting ideas.

Nutt: Yeah, Pae is like our brother. He’s a fun guy to hang out with, but he was quite serious when we were working in studio. That’s what we like about him.

Student Weekly: How did working with the French band Tahiti 80 come about?

Nutt: We’re all big fans of Tahiti 80. They write really good pop songs and perform live so well. I saw them once when they played with Sqweez Animal a few years ago, and it was great. Luckily, Tahiti 80 have good relationship with Spicy Disc, so we had the opportunity to work with them. They helped to mix and master the song, and we’re really pleased with the result.

Student Weekly: Fashion is an important part of Helmetheads. Can you talk about your new look?

Jink: Well, we don’t dress in matching suits that often anymore. I think fashion and style is always changing. The Beatles didn’t have that trademark haircut for their whole career. I think our style will keep changing, as well as our music.

Student Weekly: Are Helmetheads addicted to social media apps?

Jink: A little bit. I rarely look at apps if I’m out of town or when we’re on tour. But I use them a lot when I’m at home.

Sum: I usually check before I get up in the morning and go to bed at night.

Nutt: I’m more into Facebook than Instagram.

Deo: You can’t deny that social media has become part of our lives nowadays, no matter how old you are.

 

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