Nat’s greatest hits

Summer Dress guitarist plays favourites

By Tatat Bunnag

Dedicated, fun and mad are words that could be used to describe 25-year-old musician Sanpawit Soikum (Nat). Anybody who has seen Nat perform live with hot indie band Summer Dress can confirm the guitarist’s energy and talent.

Nat graduated from Silpakorn University with a degree in music and enjoys a wide variety of genres as both a listener and performer. While best known as the energetic guitarist with Summer Dress, Nat also plays drums with the indie noise-pop band Triggs and the Longest Day, as well as finding time for his acoustic pop solo project, Flower Dog.

Student Weekly recently caught up with Nat and asked him to tell us about some of the albums that have inspired his own music making.

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John Frusciante

PBX Funicular Intaglio Zone (2012)

“John Frusciante is best known as the former guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He’s absolutely one of my musical idols. I have been following his solo career over the past few years, and his albums never disappoint. He’s known as a guitar genius, but he never shows off on his records. He prefers to write tuneful pop songs, which is what I like about him.

“PBX Funicular Intaglio Zone is John’s 10th solo album. It’s a synthesiser-based rock album, and I enjoy it a lot. I particularly like the song “Uprane,” but all the songs on the album are great.”

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Portishead

Dummy (1994)

“Portishead were one of the biggest trip-hop groups from the UK in the 1990s. I discovered them much later, because I was too young when this album first came out. Their musical style is unique. They’re one of the bands that I’d love to see live.

“Dummy was their first album and it’s my favourite. The band was still making straightforward trip-hop music, before moving towards the jazz and progressive rock sounds of their later albums. There are well known songs on this album like “Roads” and “Glory Box,” but “Biscuit” is my favourite track.”

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The Whitest Boy Alive

Dreams (2006)

“The Whitest Boy Alive are quite popular in Thailand because they performed live in Bangkok a few years ago. They’re a European indie pop group that had a big influence on my band Summer Dress, especially when we first started.

“I was blown away when I first heard their music, especially the track “Golden Cage.” I remember asking myself how a band could be so awesome! [Laughs.] They play minimal indie guitar pop music that is so smooth, groovy and perfect. I prefer this album to their second one, Rules. It’s a great example of how good music can be made in a very passionate and simple way without going to extremes.”

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The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

“The Velvet Underground were a legendary rock band. This album came out in the 1960s, but it was so great and beyond anything else that came out at that time.

“I first learned about The Velvet Underground when I was a first year university student. I traded some CDs with a friend and I got this album. At the time I thought the album artwork looked cool, but I didn’t like the music much when I first heard it. I thought it was too raw and confusing. I didn’t listen to it again for a few years, but I later realised that their music is like a piece of art that keeps growing on you. It’s an album that takes time and a few listens to really appreciate.”

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Rhye

Woman (2013)

“One of my friends introduced this group to me and I got hooked right away.

“Rhye are an electro-soul duo. Their soulful music goes perfectly with the singer’s unique, soft voice. Their music is similar to Everything But the Girl or Sade, but this album moves into electronic music towards the end. “3 Days” is my favourite track on Woman. You can’t help but move your body when you listen to it!”

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