Indie rock favourites finally release a new album
By Tatat Bunnag, photographs courtesy of Apartment Khunpa and Sanamluang Music
Fans of Bangkok's beloved indie rockers Apartment Khunpa are happy that the band finally released their first album in six years, Raksaniyom, in March. This was followed by their latest single "Nalika Sai (Hourglass)." The band is well-known for their honest and direct lyrics which cover philosophy, modern society, nightlife and even politics.
Since forming in 2002, the band — singer-songwriter Tul Waitoolkait (Tul), guitarist Piyanart Jatikasathira (Pump), lead guitarist Gun Rujinarong (Ball), bassist Pukan Sansuriya (Mai) and drummer Tassarirk Limsila (Ja) — have won the hearts of fans all over the kingdom with their unique fusion of funk, blues, hip-hop and rock ‘n' roll.
Student Weekly recently caught up with Tul to chat about their new music.
Student Weekly: What's the story behind the new album title?
Tul: Raksaniyom is a kind of wordplay. I combined two words together — rak (love) and rosaniyom (taste). I guess it means the type of person you love.
Student Weekly: Is it true that you came up with the title when you were still working on your last album, Somros Lae Para (Marriage and Burden)?
Tul: Yes, it's fun to come up with an album title before you even have songs for it. I think you can call it whatever you like. In the end, it's just a name. Our next album will probably just be called Apartment Khunpa.
Student Weekly: Why did it take the band six years to release a new album?
Tul: It's the marketing strategy. We finished the songs many years ago but only got to release them on CD recently. When we signed with our record label it was their plan to keep releasing singles instead of a full album. We've gained a lot more fans in that time, so I guess it worked.
Student Weekly: Your lyrics usually tackle important topics in modern society. Do you worry that your ideas will get old if you don't release the song quickly?
Tul: Not really. Some problems don't disappear that quickly. In the track "Duem (Drink)" on Raksaniyom, I talk about alcohol consumption and control in Thailand. People thought that I'd written the song recently in response to celebrities posting pictures of themselves with alcohol. I actually wrote it five years ago.
Student Weekly: Can you tell us about your latest single, "Hourglass"?
Tul: It's the last single we'll release from Raksaniyom. We've had eight singles in the past six years and we've made videos for all of them. I think "Hourglass" is a great way to close the album. It's a rock ballad about time passing in people's lives. An hourglass doesn't tell you the exact time, but it lets you know when you run out of time. Many people say that it's quite sad, but I think it's one of the most romantic songs I've ever written.
Student Weekly: The music video for "Hourglass" was made by the well-known film director Pen-Ek Ratanaruang. How did the collaboration come about?
Tul: We've known Pen-Ek for a long time. A few years ago Apartment Khunpa got to work with him on a special project for Fat Radio. Pen-Ek sang on our song "Mai Rok Krub (No, Sir)." So when we decided to release "Hourglass" we asked him if he'd do the video. It's black and white and doesn't have any people in it, just empty scenery. It has a very lonely feel. I love it.
Student Weekly: Will fans have to wait another six years for your next album?
Tul: I'm not sure. [Laughs.] We've already got some new songs. I think we'll experiment with our music more, but there'll be some sweet ballads and hard rocking tunes as always. It's going to take some time to put it together, though. For now, we hope our fans enjoy Raksaniyom.
beloved (adj): very popular
fusion (n): modern music that is a mixture of different styles
wordplay (n): making jokes by using words in a clever or amusing way
strategy (n): a plan that is intended to achieve a particular purpose
tackle (v): to make a determined effort to deal with a difficult problem or situation consumption (n): the act of buying and using products
collaboration (n): the act of working with another person or group of people
