Fruity feeling

Apple Girls cover classics

By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb

Back in 2010, Apple Girls Band caught the attention of music fans and YouTube viewers when they used iPads and iPhones to play their debut single, “Jakawanwittaya (Cosmology).”

Apple Girls Band, who were originally comprised of singers and musicians from Chulalongkorn University’s C.U. Band, recently returned to promote their cover versions of Chaliang’s “Rue Suek Sabai Dee (Feeling Good)” and Room 39’s “Goed Ma Pen Puen Thoe (Born to Be Your Friend),” which features vocals by Stamp Apiwat.

The seven girls in the group are lead vocalist Saithip Wiwattanapatapee (Walnut), 24, iPad player and singer Chitraladda Klaivongse (Pax), 23, iPad player and singer Pimprapa Chaloemwongwiwat (Fern), 23, iPad player and bassist Nichamon Pongsuwan (Wanyen), 24, iPad player and bassist Bunyawhad Thanasomboon (Whad), 24, iPad player Nisara Sittatikarnvej (Mint), 20 and 24-year-old drummer Patchanutsakarn Chaitripob (Bow).

Student Weekly recently met up with most of Apple Girls Band at the Banana Records office. Unfortunately, Whad was busy taking an exam and Mint is now an exchange student in Japan, but the rest of the girls were laid-back as they told us about their unusual band.

Student Weekly: How did Bow come to join the band, since she’s the only one who doesn’t study at Chulalongkorn University?

Walnut: I used to sing and play drums at the same time, so I couldn’t interact with the audience as I wanted to. We decided to find a new drummer, but there were no female drummers in the C.U. Band. Eventually we found Bow by searching on YouTube!

Pax: Bow is a skillful drummer and has a great sense of humour. She got along well with everybody from the first time we met.

Student Weekly: Bow, did you hesitate in joining the band, since you like rock music?

Bow: I’m always open to trying new things. I like rock music, but I also drum with the Faculty of Dentistry band, so I have experience playing different kinds of music.

Student Weekly: Why did you decide to cover “Feeling Good” by Chaliang?

Walnut:Classic songs from the past often contain thoughtful lyrics, while modern songs tend to be more simple and straightforward. Chaliang’s songs give you something to think about, like reading a book.

Student Weekly: Did Chaliang vocalist Jiab say anything about your cover version?

Walnut:Jiab was surprised that our version was totally different from the original. He said that it’s difficult to some up with new ways to do famous songs. We added the sound of brass instruments and changed the rhythm of the song.

Student Weekly: Have you experienced any problems while playing iPads and iPhones onstage?

Fern: Yes. My iPad once crashed during a performance and I had to restart it! When something like that happens, the rest of the group helps to complete the song.

Studen Weekly: How have you managed to improve your singing skills?

Pax: I learned vocal warm-up techniques with the C.U. Band. Also, when we’re preparing for a gig, a senior student always gives us advice about our singing. From that, I’ve learned how to project my voice, how to hold a microphone properly and to make eye contact with the audience.

Fern: With the C.U. Band, we’ve learned to sing various kinds of music including jazz, look tung, look krung and classic Thai pop.

Studen Weekly: Do you have any plans to record and release your own songs?

Walnut: Yes. I wrote a song while I was stuck in a traffic jam. I noticed that many cars had only one person in them and thought that if the drivers had lovers, they could travel together and ease the traffic problem. Stamp Apiwat sings with us on the song and he also helped to write the lyrics. We hope this song helps listeners to feel relaxed and makes them not want to be single!

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