Song: “Chor Ma Kok”

Artist: Greasy Café
Label: SmallRoom Records
It’s little surprise that Kongdej Jaturanrasamee’s impressive second independent film, Tang Wong (see our review +film, page 38) boasts an equally impressive soundtrack. On top of two tracks from Yellow Fang, Kongdej once again calls on mate Lek Greasy Café to take care of the centerpiece tune. In keeping with the film’s questioning of belief, “Chor Ma Kok” delves into the idea of forgetting who you are in order to achieve what you really want. Musically, the track finds Lek expanding beyond his tried and trusted sad-guy-with-a-guitar formula, incorporating distinctly Isaan rhythm and percussion as well as some slightly creepy snippets of the traditional song from which it takes its name.

Song: “Ter Takon Tee Khao Krasib (Wired)”

Artist: Vinegar Syndrome
Label: Axis Records
The alt-rock duo Wuttinun Chamchoi and Korn Mahadumrongkul, return with their second single. Lyrically, it’s a similar story of a guy looking back at his past, yet “Wired” has a more uplifting edge. The sound, too, is more dynamic. Opening with a haunting choral sound, the first lyrics don’t appear until around the minute and a half point by which time the band’s built up an impressive wall of sound. On the evidence of their first two singles, Vinegar Syndrome have arrived with not only a fully-formed sound, but an adeptness for poetic lyrics that’s quite rare for Thai bands.          

Song: “La Fun (Dawn)”

Artist: Cloud Behind
Label: Independent
We’d argue that if one (sub)genre currently summed up the sound of young Bangkok right now, it’d be dream-pop. But while some bands do little more than bury their melodies under layers of fuzzy guitar, Cloud Behind really nail the aesthetic on this their debut release. The five-piece introduce themselves with a track that tells of a guy who wakes from a blissful dream to face the facts of life. With its mellow vocals, woozy synths and overall snail’s pace, this is one dream we’d rather not wake from.

Song: “Ter Kid Wa Roo Jak Rak Tee Kei Roo Jak Kae Nai”

Artist: Tabasco
Label: Lemon Factory
After previous comparisons to Two Door Cinema Club, we’re thrilled to hear the band aren’t afraid to shake things up, if ever so slightly, adopting a more electronic-infused sound here while retaining the same attention to melody. The single’s super long title, which literally means “how well do you think you know love,” gives you a pretty good idea what to expect, as frontman Champ continually asks such heart-wrenching questions over a stuttering, electro backing track.
 

What you need:

1.) Brush
2.) Liquid glue
3.)  Different patterned lace doilies
4.) A balloon
5.) An energy saving lamp

Step 1: Blow up the balloon to the size you want the final lamp.

Step 2: Thin out the glue with a bit of water before using the paint brush to apply all over your pieces of lace.

Step 3: Stick the lace doilies onto the balloon, overlapping them piece by piece. Leave a round space on top so you can insert the bulb.

Step 4: Wait until the structure is completely dry before popping the balloon and removing it.

Step 5: Insert the bulb, hang it on the ceiling and enjoy the patterned visuals projected onto your wall.

Essentials

Brush, Lace Doillies and Balloon: available at Daiso; try Siam Square Soi 3., BTS Siam.
Liquid Glue: available at B2S try Silom Complex, Silom Rd., BTS Sala Daeng or CentralWorld, Ratchadamri Rd., BTS Chit Lom.

 

The Chic Bohemian inspired by Haim

LA sisters Este, Danielle and Alana Haim shot to fame after topping the BBC Sound of 2013 poll on the strength of the first EP, Forever, and are now readying their first studio album, Days Are Gone, for release at the end of September. On top of their summer-friendly sound that blends soft rock with folk and Rn’B, what’s also caught our attention is the siblings’ fresh-faced look, defined by natural long hair, vintage t-shirts and jean shorts. This extends to the face, with the girls putting the focus on sharp and bold brows and lashes, and beautiful natural-looking skin.  
Get the look: Carefully blend the medium coverage foundation and softly apply cream blush. Then, choose a brow color that’s at least two shades above your skin tone. We pick Benefit Brows A-Go-Go: Brows & Eyes Shaping Kit (B1,450) for an all-in-one brows and eyes solution.

The Avant-Pop Star inspired by Lady Gaga

Pop stars don’t get any bigger—or more outrageous—than Lady Gaga, back with a huge new single, “Applause,” and a much-talked-about forthcoming album, Artpop, to be released in November. On the single’s cover, the self-named Mother Monster uses her face as a canvas which she paints in a bold pop art style. The look strengthens the current blue-eye trend and also shows the contrasting direction that most cosmetic brands are heading in. This is Gaga we’re talking about so don’t be afraid to take risks and match the look with a lip color you’ve never tried before.  
Get the Look: Choose a palette that already provides you with contrasting shades. Our pick? The YLS City Drive Arty Palette (B2,700) that comes with bold tones like mature deep night blue and neon green.

The Hip Rocker inspired by Alisa Xayalith

New Zealand electro-pop band The Naked and Famous is another group to have burst onto the scene with a fully-formed sound with their debut release, Passive Me, Aggressive You, back in 2010. After a few years of solid touring—including a show in Bangkok in 2011—the band have just returned with a new single, the anthemic “Hearts Like Ours,” while an album is due in September. Front lady Alisa Xayalith made her debut sporting long black hair, leather pants and cherry red lips, but is now turning heads with super-stylish pastel purple hair to match a darker shade of red lips.
Get the Look: Make a real change to your hairdo by going for a white-ish dye like egg shell, pastel purple or pastel green. Our pick is the new product Schwarzkopf Igora Royal. If the new color is too drastic, you can always just highlight some parts.

MAC: Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow/Pressed Pigment

Price: B1,750 / B950
Shades of blue are undoubtedly in this autumn/winter; not only did they feature heavily on the runways, but blue is also the main color when it comes to eye-shadow. MAC, for instance, has introduced a new palette series, Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow, in which the Bleuluxe is dedicated to the “perfect” blue in five shades. Apply as if going for a smokey-eye look with the middle blue as a base. On top of the palette, MAC has also introduced 12 new shades for its pressed pigment eye-shadow. To get this look, we picked the mid-tone Sweet Acting to act as a contrast for your base blue by applying at the inner corner of your eye then down the lash line.       

Illamasqua: Paranormal Palette/Posture lipstick

Price: B1,900/B850
Famed for their theatrical makeup style, Illamasqua always comes up with new ideas to play around with for your party look, like their latest collection inspired by “colors that can’t be seen on earth.” As you’d expect, the Paranormal Palette comes with four space-inspired colors: Paranormal (pink-infused red), Aura (copper), Possession (neon green) and Trance (soft neon purple). Get the look by using Aura as the base color on your lids before blending the Paranormal color on your upper lid and lower-lash line. Then make a contrast by using the Trance color around the inner corner of your eye. Match with their new Posture (pastel purple) lipstick.  

YSL: Pure Chromatics City Drive Arty Palette/Rouge Pur Couture N54 Prune Avenue

Price: B2,700/B1,200
Inspired by the city’s colors at the end of the day (grey, blue and neon lights), together with underground graffiti, YSL’s Creative Director Lloyd Simmonds has come up with a sharp new look for girls this autumn/winter. The City Drive Arty Palette is an absolute must-have this season, containing four shades: neon green, chrome-plated steel, asphalt black and electric blue. Go for some contrast on your eyes by applying the electric blue as a base and highlighting the upper eyelid with neon green. Use asphalt black to create depth at the outer corner of your eye and along the lash-line and then apply the chrome-plated steel in the inner corner. Match the Rouge Pur Couture N54 Prune Avenue lipstick for a sophisticated downtown girl look.

Speaking to Top earlier, we assumed Transaction was part of an ArtdeGround project, but it’s actually going to be hosted by Democrazy Studio. What’s the deal with that?
I’m an independent artist. I work for many troupes like B-Floor and Democrazy Theatre but I’m not officially a member of them. So, basically it’s my independent project but I asked Top for help on it as he works as an economics lecturer.

What’s the inspiration behind the performance?
It comes from the Occupy Wall Street movement a while back. I didn’t pay that much attention to it at first until it spread to many countries all over the world. I began to think if one incident could affect so many other countries, there surely must be something that links them together. And that’s economic inequality. This brought me to the world of economics, something that controls our lives, so I was convinced to do a play about the issue.

What exactly are you focusing on?
Human or even animal behavior can be looked at through an economic perspective. With monkeys, for example, when they’re helping each other looking for ticks, this can be explained as give-and-take behavior—they treat others the way they want to be treated. For humans, our decision making is so often determined by money. Economics for me, then, is the story about desires and values. The play looks at the bigger picture of society. Since we’re living in a market-driven economy where everything can be traded for money—how do we find a balance that pleases everyone? And is there an alternative economic system that could change our lives?     

How does Transaction stand out from your previous work?
Well, I’d call it contemporary dance; it’s conceptual in that it is driven solely by a concept not a plot. Here, I focus more on composition than dancing. To give you a clearer picture—I think the most successful choreography in the world is namaz. The way Muslims from all over the world do the same ritual five times a day speaks to me. It’s not the act itself but the ideas embodied in it that drives them. I’ve attempted something like that in my choreography. Even though there’s no solid story line, all the performers react to one other. It’s the most interactive piece I’ve ever done.   

What do you expect audiences to get from the show?
I want the audience to gain an idea of where their money goes. During a trip to India, I bought a bottle of water from a street vendor and she used the money I gave her to pay for her food, immediately. I asked myself, what would have happened if I didn’t give her that money? Every time we meet someone, there is money to be spent.
 

Foundation: Three Flawless Fluid Foundation

Price: B1,950
The natural look is all about getting a fresh, flawless face without a caked-on feel. So, after applying your daily moisturizers, choose a liquid foundation that’s light like a day cream but still provides medium coverage. We recommend Three Flawless Fluid Foundation. Like most Three products, it’s light but does wonders as it’s enriched with organic oils that protect your skin during the day. Oh, and the natural look doesn’t have to be 100% matte—this foundation also illuminates your skin, giving you a refreshing glow.       

Matte Eyes: Urban Decay Basics Palette

Price: approximately B810
Use the same method as if you’re going for the smokey-eye look. We chose the Urban Decay Basics Palette as it gives quite a clear color and also lasts all day. Pick one shade above your skin color as the base (either Walk of Shame or Naked 2), then apply the Faint shade to the outer edge of your eyelid to create depth and the Venus shade to the inner corner of your eyes, then blend.    
Order online at: www.facebook.com/eazyorder

Powder: Three Diaphanous Loose Powder

Price: B1,750
You might need some concealer to correct red spots or dark circles under your eyes, but instead of adding another product to the process, just use the same foundation as above and apply spot by spot. Your foundation and powder don’t have to be from the same brand, but it is the safe way to go. We chose loose powder instead of pressed powder as even though we went with liquid foundation and cream blusher, neither of our selected products leave you with an oily finish. You only really need the powder to give yourself the perfect finish. Opt for pressed powder if you still need a bit more coverage, though.

Light Lash: Maybelline Volum’ Express Magnum Mascara

Price: B349
Using a liner brush, apply the Crave shade from the Urban Decay Basics Palette close to your lash-line to shape your eyeline (not a thick line like you might do for other looks). Then, we chose Maybelline Volum’ Express Magnum Mascara to finish the eyes, as the product gives an outstanding black color, adds natural-looking length to your lashes, is easy to apply and lasts all day.

Nude Lips: MAC Lipstick Lustre-Freckletone

Price: B850
MAC nude lipstick products give a very beautiful, natural color if matched to your skin tone. Apply this nude color and finish the look with clear gloss for a slight glow.  

Cream Blush: Illamasqua Cream Blusher

Price: B1,150
Instead of using powder right after applying foundation, we say go for a cream blusher from Illamasqua to apply beforehand for more natural results. The product comes with eight different shades; pick the warm, candy-like Promise or warm and peachy Rude, depending on your skin color, then apply it around your cheek bone (just as you would normally apply powder blush).

Song: “Kor Mao Rak Hai Hua Pak Hua Pum (Punch-Drunk-Love)”

Artist: Seal Pillow
Label: Parinam Music
It’s fair to say we’re pretty enamored with Bedroom Studio’s Movie to Music project. This latest track from the project does not come from another independent band, though, but rather Parinam Music’s rising electro rockers Seal Pillow who take their inspiration from the 2002 rom-com Punch-Drunk Love, quite possibly the last good thing Adam Sandler’s done. The film tells the story of a psychologically troubled guy who falls in love with a co-worker of one of his seven sisters, which the band expresses through a sweet and jangly toe-tapping melody, with just a hint of synthesizer, for a sound that evokes easy listening 80s-pop.  

Song: “I Don’t Know”

Artist: Yellow Fang
Label: Independent
After releasing the killer one-two of “Unreal” and “Hom Pa” earlier this year (not to mention drummer/vocalist Preawa’s star turn in Yaaklab’s “Sakot Jai”), our fave stylish garage rockers Yellow Fang thankfully haven’t kept us waiting long for another taste. The girls’ latest single tells of the small problems that threaten to tear a couple apart, backed by a slightly subdued sound that’s even dreamier than usual. The acoustic version filmed by Tokin Teekanun is yet more emotional and certainly worth checking out, too.   

Song: “Talodpai”

Artist: The Classic
Label: Independent
While their first single, “Fight,” didn’t find too much success, this latest offering from indie rockers The Classic has made much more of a mark on Fat Radio’s weekly top 40 chart. Lyrically, the song tells of a love that will last forever, which is reflected aptly in the super-smooth melody and all-round warm production that reminds us somewhat of 90s indie band Lullaby, only a softer version—no surprise, then, that Lullaby frontman Cho acts as producer. 

Song: “Het Phon Tee Ja Mee Sheevit Yu [Reason to Live]”

Artist: Armchair
Label: BEC TERO Music
Lounge pop trio Armchair are back again with the third single lifted from their upcoming studio album, Timeless. “Het Phon Tee Ja Mee Sheevit” finds recently-married frontman Yong in an even more romantic mood than usual, delivering lyrics that speak about his girlfriend as his reason for living. The low-key backing track, with its gentle flutes and trumpets, gives the song a real daydream quality.
 

What you need:

1.) 3 nail polishes: a base color, a contrast (we chose pastel pink and white) and clear
2.) Clear tape
3.) A small piece of paper laceborder (available at B2S, see Essentials)
4.)  Nail polish remover

Step 1: Apply pastel pink nail polish as the base and wait until dry.

Step 2: Cut the piece of laceborder to the size of each of your nails and stick it using clear tape.

Step 3: Apply the white color over the lace and wait until dry.

Step 4: Carefully take off the lace and apply the clear nail polish to get a shiny finish.

TIPS:

- Paper laceborder works better than normal cloth lace as the latter will absorb the nail polish and create a mess.
- Make sure you wait until the white polish is fully dry before remove the paper lace.
- Be careful when applying the clear color. Don’t use a huge amount as it could dissolve the previous layers.     
- Use a cotton bud with polish remover to clean around your nail for a perfect finish.

Essentials

Paper laceborder: available at  B2S branches: nationwide, see details at B2S.co.th

Color nail polish from Beauty Buffet: try Terminal 21, G/F Sukhumvit Soi 19. 02-106-2747. BTS Asoke.

Clear nail polish from Essence Nail Studio: available at Boots; try Silom Complex 3/F, Silom Rd., BTS Sala Daeng.