Song: “Into The Wild”

Artist: Secondhand Strings
Label: Independent
We start this All Ears with an interesting project launched by Bedroom Studio which sees them invite independent artists to send in songs inspired by their favorite movie. The first single, “Jennifer’s Body” by EE-Pavo (a solo project of Believe Records’ O-Pavee), has already cracked Fat Radio’s top 40 chart. But for us the real stand-out so far is “Into the Wild” by Secondhand Strings (member of indie folkers Part Time Musicians). It starts out as a simple, hauntingly sparse folk tune before the acoustic strumming gives way to a wall of distorted electric guitar. The track’s slow-building tension is befitting of the epic 2007 biopic directed by Sean Penn—if someone told us that it came from the original soundtrack, we would totally believe them.              

Song: “Microwave”

Artist: Pae Arak
Label: Believe Records
Since striking out solo (and further building his reputation as the face of everything, ever), Arak “Pae” Amornsupasiri has endured constant comparisons to his old band, indie-rock heavyweights Slur. But this fifth single from his album with the Peesaj Band is pretty convincing in its own right. Even though his huge fan base is likely to lap up anything he puts out, “Microwave” really is a pleasant and catchy number. Armed with little more than an acoustic guitar and a mouth-organ, Pae sings lyrics that cleverly compare the growth of a relationship to microwave-cooking. Re-heated leftovers, this ain’t.

Song: “Seang Ar-Kad”

Artist: Pluto21 Studio
Label: Independent
“Seang Ar-Kad” [Sound of the Space] is another track to emerge from a Bedroom Studio project (different to the one above) and find a place in the Fat Radio chart. The understated electro-pop ditty comes courtesy of Juk Tongma and Atiwut Tima, a pair of Khon Kaen University students who go by the name Pluto21 Studio. It finds the duo delivering a moody, atmospheric sound that matches lyrics describing the feeling of floating in space. The single is yet more proof of the up-and-coming music scene in Khon Kaen as it seems like every week we’re unearthing new gems from this part of the world.

Song: “Ratree” [Night Time]​​​​

Artist: Summer Dress
Label: Panda Records
A few months ago, we picked Summer Dress as one of the bands to watch this year, so we’re as relieved as anyone that “Ratree” delivers on the hype. Not that there should have been any doubt. This latest recording finds the Panda Records five-piece making good on their stellar rep as live performers. The energetic yet restrained track finds the band’s guitar-pop take on a shuffling, disco-like quality that will get you moving. While the lyrics that tell of a guy waiting for the right time to meet his crush in a dream may be a bit heavy-handed, they’re made all the cuter by the female backing vocals and the the Two Door Cinema Club-esque melodies.