What is it like? Started in France, Deezer is a web-based music streaming service that’s become even more popular since launching as a mobile app. The app works similarly to iTunes Radio but is slightly more like a music-focused version of Facebook. It allows you to browse and search for music from a massive database of over 30 million songs, then you can create and share your own playlists plus interact with artists and fellow listeners. Another point in its favor is that Deezer has local music editors who write up interesting content and can suggest songs based on the music you like.
How does it work? Sign in with Facebook if you don’t want to create a new account. On your home page, dubbed “Hear This,” you can click play on your new daily recommendations, then click “Flow” to hear a customized radio stream, which mixes your favorite tracks with what the editor recommends for you. To build your profile, you can also add your fave albums and create playlists to share with friends (and show off your great taste).
Verdict: Easy to use. Their database focuses not only on what’s popular, but offers up a good variety, including small and independent acts. We like that they have rising local bands like Yellow Fang and Part Time Musicians alongside bigger acts like Singto Numchoke or Dune Friday, and indie bands from across Southeast Asia. Another highlight is the ability to sync albums and playlists with your phone to listen offline.
Deezer in Thailand: Available for both iOS and Android. Local carrier DTAC has a special monthly package at B499/month for 1.2 GB internet. Non-DTAC users can pay B179/month. Free to use on web.
What is it like? KKBox is not new to the world. Launched back in 2005 as a PC-based streaming service in Taiwan, it’s only now branching out elsewhere in Asia as a mobile app with more personalized add-ons. In Thailand, the app has found popularity by teaming up with local carrier AIS to offer a special internet package.
How does it work? Signing up is a bit more complicated than the others on the list, but you can still link to either Facebook or Google+. The app has over 50 billion songs in its database, including lots of Asian and Thai pop songs. You can start by choosing “Explore” and the app recommends you songs. You can then choose to stream tracks of a similar genre. You can also
listen to existing playlists like Billboard Chart, OST and Drama Hits. Each song opens up a separate page with options for viewing lyrics, adding to playlist, discovering similar artists, sharing and more. You can “Go Online” to live chat with others on KKBox, too. You can also sync songs to your phone to listen to playlists without an internet connection.
Verdict: We like the app’s interactivity, but are not sold on the song selection or its algorithm for suggesting similar music. When you let the app create a mix for you, you often end up with a jarring jumble of genres. It might be better suited for those who love chart hits from Thailand and Asia, though.
KKBox in Thailand: AIS offers an internet package starting from B89/month with limited internet. B299/month for 500MB internet and B899 for up to 5GB.
What is it like? Available both in your browser and as a mobile application, Indie Shuffle is another music-streaming service that acts as both a radio channel and music blog, sourcing its database from Soundcloud. Run by a group of music bloggers with an aim of sharing new music, the app mostly serves up indie-pop/rock plus some electronic, hip-hop and folk, with big emphasis on regular track reviews.
How does it work? You can sign in via Facebook, Twitter or Google+. The homepage leads with the latest and most popular singles as selected by the bloggers; you can play these in order or use them to shuffle with other songs deemed similar. For each song, you can click to read one of the bloggers’ reviews, like to add to your own playlist (which will appear in “My Music”) and share to social media. Some songs will link to an artist’s Soundcloud page or let you download them for free. You can also choose to stream music according to genre or simply at random.
Verdict: How much you like Indie Shuffle really depends on your music preferences. If you dig indie/electro names like La Roux, Alt-J and Disclosure and would love to explore similar sounds, then this is the app for you. If you’re lazy, it takes just a couple of clicks to work as a straight-up radio. We like the useful reviews, which are not the usual PR puff pieces, and the bloggers also come up with some very apt listening suggestions. The only real problem is exploring an artist in depth, as the app rarely has the full back catalog.
Indie Shuffle in Thailand: Free on both web and mobile. Can be used on iPhone and Android.
