Canceled festivals and closed venues have spelled rough times for music lovers like us, not to mention Bangkok’s musicians, DJs, and bar owners. Here, the city's music nerds share the playlists that have got them through the pandemic and tell us what's in store for them post-Covid.

Viphurit “Phum” Siritip

What's on your playlist right now?

Here are some of the highlights from my current playlist: Cape Weather, “Try Harder;” Bombay Bicycle Club, “Lights Out, Words Gone;” Tom Misch / Yussef Dayes, “What Kinda Music;” Matt Maltese, “Rom-Com Gone Wrong;” Jamiroquai, “Canned Heat;” Abba, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight).”

In your opinion, what makes a perfect playlist?

A mixture of moods and sounds that rounds off a listening session smoothly, whether you're listening to it first thing in the morning, or the last thing before you sleep.

Any up-and-coming artists we should keep an eye on?

There are too many out there! I'd say Kate Bollinger, her sound is just what I need right now.

What can we expect from you once Covid-19 is over?

Some more music, travel plans and general going out and about. See you guys soon, and stay safe! 

Credit: Marina Balenciaga 

Sadanun “Marina” Balenciaga 

What's on your playlist right now? 

I’m really into more mellow sounds recently. It’s a pretty stressful time, so I feel like something chilled can really lighten the mood and keep you going. “Sunday Best” by Surfaces, “Death Bed (Coffee For Your Head)” by Powfu, “I Can't Help” by Shoffy and “Good News” by Mac Miller are always on repeat. Jessie Reyez, Halsey, Jorja Smith and Honne have always been on my playlist and they still are. 

In your opinion, what makes a perfect playlist? 

Well, I just group a bunch of songs that makes me feel good (or hella sad, depending on how I feel really at that moment). You can make a separate playlist that reflects directly on your mood or just one big playlist that has a good mix of everything. Again, it depends on what you want. I’m kind of all over the place so I don’t really have any rules! 

Any up-and-coming artists we should keep an eye on? 

Jessie Reyez just dropped a really bomb album! I’ve always been a big fan of hers. I highly recommend everyone to go check her out. 

What can we expect from you once Covid-19 is over? 

I just released my new single (“เหมือนจะดี”) which is also going to be on my new EP. I’m planning on releasing the whole EP within this year and also some singles here and there. I’m just really trying to focus on my music and I will definitely be going on tour once Covid-19 is over.

DJ Maft Sai, founder of Zudrangma Records and Studio Lam

What's on your playlist right now? 

Here are some LPs I’m currently listening to: Planet Lam, The Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band (Zudrangma Records); The Distance, Gaussian Curve (Music From Memory); Anti-Stress: Music For Relaxation, Norbert Vogel; You're the Man‎, Marvin Gaye.

In your opinion, what makes a perfect playlist?

A perfect playlist for me consists of music that can be listened to in the background while you’re doing things but still bring good vibes when you have time for a proper listening session.

Any up-and-coming artists we should keep an eye on?

Aside from the Rattanakosin Breakin Crew, the new (third) album by The Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band should be interesting. They were supposed to travel to London in March for the mix down of the album, as all of the recording process was done, but due to Covid-19, they had to cancel the trip. Now, they’re finding a way to work with that online, so they should still be able to get it out this year.

What are your plans for the future once Covid-19 is over?

The plan for Zudrangma Records is to release more fresh records on the Zudrangma Label. As for Studio Lam, we will continue with what we’ve been doing, and improve upon it. We’ve also just started an online radio platform called “ZudrangLam Radio,” so after Covid subsides, we hope to continue this radio platform

Sebastian De La Cruz, co-founder of Tropic City

What's on your playlist right now?

I guess it is a mix and match of all types of songs and music genres. The Tropic City playlist has grown exponentially in the past two years and you can find everything from disco, R&B and Afro to soul and house music, perfect for any mood. 

In your opinion, what makes a perfect playlist?

A perfect playlist should reflect who you are and what you are feeling. Music is another form of expressing yourself, so I think most of us have multiple playlists depending on our mood. Also, don't be afraid to explore and really take the time to find new music and artists, crossing genres and that might challenge you. Step outside the “commercial” and radio top charts!

Any up-and-coming artists we should keep an eye on?

Locally, I would suggest listening to Tontrakul. He’s such a creative guy who plays a form of Isaan folk music with an electronic touch. Think modern, groovy, electronic molam music, in a way. Internationally, I would say Yussef Dayes. He’s one of the UK's most innovative young producers, also an awesome drummer, that blurs the lines of music genres and melds everything from '70s funk and Senegalese percussion to UK grime.

What are your plans for the future once Covid-19 is over?

Well, this is a particularly difficult question, as no one knows what will happen and what the world will look like after Covid-19. For us in Thailand and in the hospitality business, we are faced with so many uncertainties. So our plan for the future is to simply make sure that we survive as a business and that we can open once again, as well as make sure that our team is healthy and able to make it through this with us.

DJ Linus Rylander, Bangkok-based DJ

What’s on your playlist right now?

Right now I'm listening to a lot of deep and groovy minimal house. Here are a few recent favorites: “Amazonian (Original Mix),” Ryan Murray, Josh Baker; “Krishnamurti (Original Mix),” Adonis Rivera; “Fake People (Vern Remix),” Luminer; “When The Acid Hit (Original Mix),” Diego Santana; “Project A (Original Mix),” Oscar Saliba. The first three picks are a little more energetic and driving. The last two are more chilled and pretty minimal tracks. This is the kind of stuff I often listen to when I'm just chilling at home. If you ask me again later, this list would look drastically different. With the ludicrous amount of music I go through and listen to on a weekly basis, my tastes and preferences are constantly evolving and changing!

In your opinion, what makes a perfect playlist?

Great question. I think a good playlist should be consistent in its energy/mood so that when you put it on, you know how it's going to make you feel. This is basically what I do as a DJ when I organize my music for a DJ set. Every track comes embedded with a story and an emotion. Music makes you feel something, so you’d know if you like it or not based on how it makes you feel. So when you're curating a playlist, you have to think about the experience you're giving the listener. You have to think about how you're going to make the listener feel.

I also think playlists often risk getting too bloated or too random. Whether it's a Spotify playlist or a DJ set, every track needs to earn its spot. If it doesn't contribute to the experience and story you're telling, it should get cut. My selection from my set at Kolour In The Park earlier this year is a pretty good example of this. 

Any up-and-coming artists we should keep an eye on?

Right now I'm a big fan of a couple guys out of Denver, Colorado, that go by the name of Black/Tuesday. Then another two guys who they collaborate with, Diego Santana and Ross Kiser. I mentioned a track from Diego Santana above (“When The Acid Hit”)—I've been obsessed with this track for months.

Aside from that, I like a lot of the minimal stuff coming out of South America right now. There's an Argentinian label called Island Beats that put out a lot of the chilled groovy stuff I like. Jordy Sanchez and Ennio Skoto are some of my favorite producers that have released on that label. All the stuff coming out of Romania is obviously fantastic, they're dominating the minimal scene right now, but I think a lot of these South American producers are very much up and coming.

What are your plans for the future once Covid-19 is over?

I'm definitely eager to get behind the decks again as soon as possible. As far as DJ career goals, I hope I get to play a few international gigs over the next year. And definitely look forward to festival season! Hopefully, the lockdowns will be over by then.

I'm also working with Late Night Bangkok who organizes the Reveries and Disco Diaries events in Bangkok. I can't talk too much about it yet, but we definitely have some big plans that will shake up the Bangkok scene... as soon as we are allowed to!

DJ Willy “Wild Thai” Dejchakthip 

What’s on your playlist right now?

My playlist right now is all over the place with a mix of rap, dark disco, house, Afro house, minimal and techno.

In your opinion, what makes a perfect playlist?

A perfect playlist for me should have variety, not just in terms of the genres but a nice mix of old tracks and new tracks. I don’t know if it’s just me, but when I find an old track that I really like I just become super excited and start showing it to my friends. Or even better, I drop it at one of my gigs and the crowd reacts to it. 

Any up-and-coming artists we should keep an eye on?

Oh yes! Here’s a few: Tontrakul (they are super cool), Mumsfilibaba, Marcu Rares, Traumer, KiRiK, Balwant, NAV, Gunna, Russ.

What are your plans for the future once Covid-19 is over?

First off, I cannot wait to get back on the decks and dance with my lovely people. During Covid-19, I am slowly getting back into production. So definitely be on the lookout for some fresh Wild Thai music! 

DJ Bonita Everitt 

What's on your playlist right now?

For my DJ performance preparations, I’m currently obsessed with Russian music producer Dmitry Molosh; dark disco music alchemist Damon Jee; and, more on the groovy side, Archie Hamilton. They all have the sounds of a deep digging bassline, which I love. For something that is more about my passion for music, and less of what I play in nightclubs, I’ve found myself exploring different genres since the pandemic by creating Spotify playlists that represent the different isolation moods. One of my favourites is “Who Do You Call When You’re Lonely?”—a playlist to get us through those 3am solitude vibes. 

In your opinion, what makes a perfect playlist?

A perfect playlist for me should deliver a story behind it. Listeners should be able to hear in the melodies what the creators are communicating to them. Are the creators saying “Hey!”,  “It’s on!”, or “Goodbye”? Each song should sound like a bridge that carries you to the next song. What mood are you trying to make others feel? What’s the intention of the set? These are some of the questions I ask myself while creating a playlist. 

Any up-and-coming artists we should keep an eye on?

“Wild Thai” is a good friend and a new talent in Bangkok that we should keep our eyes peeled for. From his friendly character to his music selections, he is definitely on the right path to pursue his music career. 

What are your plans for the future once Covid-19 is over?

Since I’m mostly based in a small beach town three hours south of Bangkok, I spend most of my days gardening and helping my brothers build bamboo installations on our land. In the meantime, we are currently growing our event series, “Taidin Garden,” by creating a garden vibe DJ booth to be featured in our live stream project, which will feature many of Thailand’s respected DJs. Through this project, we aim to create a venue for underground music lovers to roam around barefoot with us while positively impacting our planet through many of our nature-friendly, community based concepts. 

Listen to a compilation of the recommended tracks here.

Read more: What the alcohol ban really means for Bangkok bars and small businesses