S Weekly recently had an opportunity to chat with Yellow Fang's Bassist Piyamas Muenprasertdee (Pym) about some of the albums that have inspired her.
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Fang favourites
Tatat Bunnag
No discussion of Thailand’s best indie acts would be complete without talking about Yellow Fang. With striking looks and a cool sound, the talented all-female trio has always stood out from the crowd.
The girls are known for playing different styles of music and they continue to change, with their most recent single, the beautiful “If Only,” embracing the synth-pop revival.
With such an eclectic sound, it’s no surprise that the girls have very broad music tastes. Bassist Piyamas Muenprasertdee (Pym) grew up listening to a wide variety of genres via her brother’s music collection before discovering her love for indie rock in her teens. Pym brought this musical knowledge with her into Yellow Fang, helping the band to craft their unique and exciting sound.
S Weekly recently had an opportunity to chat with Pym about some of the albums that have inspired her.
Lauryn Hill
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
(1998, Columbia)
"I love hip-hop and R&B, and this album was basically the start of it all. The Score by The Fugees was the very first album I bought with my own money. I got it on cassette tape and it quickly wore out. So when I heard that Lauryn Hill was putting out a solo album, I rushed out to buy it. I liked it even more than The Fugees. I’d never heard this kind of music before, with narration and stories that make you feel like you’re watching a movie. “Everything Is Everything” is by far my favourite R&B tune. I still haven’t heard a better hip-hop or R&B record."
Gil Scott-Heron
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
(1974, Flying Dutchman)
"I discovered Gil Scott-Heron by chance. I was looking for soul and funk tunes with flute, because I love the way it sounds. And then I heard the song “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” while watching the Denzel Washington film The Hurricane. I was hooked. So I found this 1974 compilation album of the same name. Gil has a spoken-word style which was a huge influence on the development of rap music. His early songs were very simple, using congas and bongo drums to create a unique groove. “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” made Gil a major voice in the black protest culture of the ‘70s. It’s a really inspiring song that makes you want to get up and do something."
Neil Young
After the Gold Rush
(1970, Reprise)
"I love Neil Young’s music. Whenever I listen to him, I feel like I’m listening to an older relative teaching me how to deal with life. Listening to him gives me strength when I need it. I really like his album Harvest as well, but I prefer to listen to After the Gold Rush. The mood and tone of the album is just right and you can enjoy it from start to finish without skipping a track. “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” and “Don’t Let It Bring You Down” are my favourite songs."
The Beach Boys
Pet Sounds
(1966, Capitol)
"A close friend of mine introduced me to this amazing album. I’d heard some of The Beach Boys’ early surf-pop before, but Pet Sounds is something entirely different. It’s full of great pop songs with elements of jazz, classical and even psychedelia. My favourite songs are “God Only Knows” and “I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times.” I recently watched Love & Mercy, the film based on the life of Brian Wilson and the making of this album. It was OK but I didn’t think that John Cusack was the right person to play Wilson."
Elliott Smith
Either/Or
(1997, Kill Rock Stars)
"Elliott Smith was a master of depressing music. He was very big name in indie in the ‘90s, especially after he did songs for the soundtrack to Good Will Hunting. I never got around to listening to his music until one of my friends gave me this CD. Either/Or is the sweetest and most haunting music I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. When you’re feeling sad or depressed, sometimes you think you’re the only person in the world who feels that way. But this album made me realise that everybody has dark moments in their lives."
