Song: Lyin’

Artist: Funky Gangster
Label: Zoo Studio
House duo Funky Gangster have been kicking around for over a decade, but their signing to fresh new label Zoo Studio (run by DJ Kingkong of Animal Machine fame) seems to have given them a new lease on life. Their first single “Lyin’” should well and truly lift them out of the Bangkok underground, with an insistent beat and slick production that wouldn’t sound out of place on swanky dance floors the world over. But it’s fresh-faced female vocalist Yona who really steals the show with a dynamic and surprisingly soulful turn.

Song: “Pra Yok Bok Lao”

Artist: Greasy Café
Label: Smallroom Records
While Shambala, the film about a journey to a mythical Buddhist kingdom, hasn’t exactly got the critics raving, at least one point in its favor is that we get another single from man of the moment, Lek, aka Greasy Café. “Pra Yok Bok Lao” is his contribution to the blockbuster’s original soundtrack and, as we’ve come to expect, it’s a huge, emotional power-ballad. Lek’s lyrics cleverly touch on the themes of the film atop some soaring guitar and marching drums that trump the film for grandeur—and hint at what might have been.

Song: “Chow (Morning)”

Artist: Scrubb
Label: Blacksheep Sony Music
Fans of this iconic indie duo are well aware that their lyrics mostly deal with memories of the past, both bright and bleak. Their catchy new single, “Chow,” is no different, painting the picture of someone taking a morning jog and taking stock of all the events that have shaped his life. Musically, too, the track gives off such a laidback vibe that you can almost feel the sun on your shoulder.

Song: “Kid Toong (Miss You)”

Artist: The Jukks
Label: Smallroom Records
The Richman Toy might be better-known, but their label-mates The Jukks are just as adept at combining hilarious lyrics with playful melodic rock that rarely fails to lift the spirits. New single “Kid Toong” riffs on the broken language of today’s Thai teenagers who mispronounce “kid tung” as “king toong,” and also features cartoonish dialogue from Paripan Watcharanon, leader of film-dubbing company Panthamitr. It’s funny, it’s catchy and the 8-bit video game-inspired MV only adds to the song’s charm.

Song: “Bab Nee”

Artist: Sqweez Animal
Label: Spicy Disc
After claiming Record of the Year from Fat Awards 2012 for their heart-wrenching hit “Kam Bang Kam” (co-produced by Xavier Boyer and Pedro Resende from Tahiti 80), funk-infused pop duo Sqweez Animal finally return with another slick offering, “Bab Nee.” Cute and catchy as ever, the new single sees usual frontman Win hand over lead vocal duties to his partner Singh. Nothing is lost in the switch—this is more toe-tapping soul n’ funk from two musicians well-versed in the art.

Song: “Doey Kwam Jing Jai”

Artist: Abuse the Youth
Label: Blacksheep Sony Music
If you’re a regular gig-goer you would have found it difficult to avoid Abuse the Youth over the past few years, as the three-piece appeared on bills at venues all over Bangkok. Having forged a strong reputation on the back of their stirring live show and their debut album Under Skin, an underground classic, released back in 2009, it wasn’t much of a surprise when the band signed to Sony Music earlier this year. Slick new single “Doey Kwam Jing Jai (Sincerely)” ticks all the right boxes in terms of major label pop-rock: the production is clean, it’s catchy and will probably lodge itself in your head. But it lacks the character and rough edges of the band’s independent debut. And there’s more than a passing resemblance to the Foo Fighters. For now we’ll just stick to our well-worn copy of Under Skin.