Gardener Twins play favourites
By Tatat Bunnag
Did you know
Tuan used to be the singer of the band Cloud Behind.
At a time when most local indie bands are inspired by Brit-pop or post rock, the duo Gardener Twins decided to do something completely different.
Gardener Twins — 26-year-old Tawan S. Dacpham (Tuan) and 28-year-old Vuttiphong Mahasamut (Book) — unplugged their electric guitars and started playing soft and honest acoustic folk-pop tunes. Their distinctive sound is perfectly captured on their hit singles “Lok See Pian (Vague Screen),” “Tee Rao Pen (What We Are)” and “Ruam Tang (Winding Road),” all of which feature intricate guitar picking and sweet vocal harmonies.
With Gardener Twins debut album soon coming out, Student Weekly caught up recently with Tuan and Book to ask them about some of the albums that have inspired them the most.
M. Ward
Transfiguration of Vincent (2003)
Book: I bought this album around 2010. It was the first M. Ward album I bought, but after listening to it over and over I bought all his other albums and singles. He became my inspiration for writing indie folk type songs with fingerpicking guitar playing and poetic, heartfelt lyrics. This is M Ward’s most pop album, and it’s packed with nostalgic, timeless melodies.
Simon & Garfunkel
Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. (1964)
Tuan: I’m into minimal music where there aren’t many instruments used, and this album is like that. It’s Simon & Garfunkel’s first album, and the duo plays stirring, soulful folk music. The first tracks I heard from this album were “Sparrow” and “Wednesday morning 3 A.M., which impressed me with their superb vocal harmonies and classical-inspired arrangements. If you like older folk music, this is a wonderful album to check out.
Chladni Chandi
Tri (2011)
Book: When I moved back to Bangkok in 2013 after finishing school in Seattle, I discovered a lot of interesting artists from Panda Records. One of the first that I admired was Chladni Chandi. When I first listened to this album, I thought that the band would completely change the Thai music scene. They’re really talented musicians who devote themselves to their music. They’re not afraid to do something different.
John Lennon
Mind games (1973)
Tuan: This is John Lennon’s fourth solo album. I first heard it when I was at university and it became one of my favourite albums. It’s a very melodic album that I find myself humming along to. The title track is the best, but the whole album is great. The sounds from the vintage instruments used are impeccable, and Lennon’s lyrics are very poetic.
Kings of Convenience
Riot on an Empty Street (2004)
Book: Some people might think that Gardener Twins formed out of love for the duo Kings of Convenience, but I never really listened to their music until after we started playing. Now I really adore this album. They’re a perfect example of what a guitar duo can be. They sing with great harmonies and they contribute equally with their guitar playing. I also think that they’re brilliant songwriters.
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses (1989)
Tuan: I discovered this band from watching MTV. [Laughs.] They play the track “Ten Storey Love Song,” and I knew that I had to find more music by the band. I found their self-titled debut album, and it sounded even better than the song I liked. On this album, there are soft, ballad-like pop tunes, psychedelic sounds and some hard rocking guitar riffs. My favourite tracks are “Bye Bye Badman” and “She Bangs the Drums.”
Vocabulary
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heartfelt (adj): deeply felt and sincere
nostalgic (adj): evoking a feeling or memory from the past
timeless (adj): seeming not to be affected by the passing of time or changes in fashion
stirring (adj): causing excitement or strong emotions
impeccable (adj): perfect; of the highest standards
adore (v): to like something very much
