Words Chantawan Mueanngern
Bangkok-based band delivers a spicy blend of dubstep, ’80s new wave, ambient techno, and hip hop
| DURAN Duran, Human League, Ultravox, Gary Numan and the Tubeway Army. Anyone who was a teenager in the ’80s will no doubt have a soft spot in their heart for at least one of these bands. It was a decade of big synths, big hair, and even bigger dreams. |  |
Australian expat Grahame Lynch remembers the era well. “New technology was opening the doors to new sounds and a new form of expression,” he says. “Every day after school my friends and I would go into the music lab and tinker around with the synthesisers. And we didn't just play them – we actually took them apart and put them back together again, learning about them from the inside out. It was fascinating, and I was hooked.”
Today, Grahame is the frontman and synthesiser player of Bangkok-based electronic band Wasabi Bytes, which he formed five years ago alongside drummer Ratchsak “Kob” Reuangchai, and guitarist Thomas Murcutt (best known for his own Bangkok-based indie rock band, Panic Station).
Renowned American hip hop DJ and producer Afrika Islam (real name Charles Glenn) is also a regular collaborator.
“While my influences are certainly rooted in the ’80s, since my high school days I’ve always been pushing my sound in new directions,” says Grahame, “and this is why working with Afrika has been so amazing. Together we really bring something new to the world of electronic music.
“It helps that our main priority is never to take ourselves too seriously, which can’t be said for a lot of DJs and producers nowadays who are a bit too po-faced. We believe all music should be created and approached with a good sense of humour.”
As the owner of The Overground Bar & Cafe in Bangkok, and founder of Australian telecoms newsletter CommsDay, Grahame certainly takes the business side of his life seriously. When it comes to Wasabi Bytes though – well, watch one of the band’s music videos on YouTube and it's clear he and the band are having a ball.
Today, Grahame is the frontman and synthesiser player of Bangkok-based electronic band Wasabi Bytes, which he formed five years ago alongside drummer Ratchsak “Kob” Reuangchai, and guitarist Thomas Murcutt (best known for his own Bangkok-based indie rock band, Panic Station).
Renowned American hip hop DJ and producer Afrika Islam (real name Charles Glenn) is also a regular collaborator.
“While my influences are certainly rooted in the ’80s, since my high school days I’ve always been pushing my sound in new directions,” says Grahame, “and this is why working with Afrika has been so amazing. Together we really bring something new to the world of electronic music.
“It helps that our main priority is never to take ourselves too seriously, which can’t be said for a lot of DJs and producers nowadays who are a bit too po-faced. We believe all music should be created and approached with a good sense of humour.”
As the owner of The Overground Bar & Cafe in Bangkok, and founder of Australian telecoms newsletter CommsDay, Grahame certainly takes the business side of his life seriously. When it comes to Wasabi Bytes though – well, watch one of the band’s music videos on YouTube and it's clear he and the band are having a ball.
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Take Wasabi Bytes’ most popular single Deep Inside. The last thing you'd expect to accompany the dreamy, laid-back beats and undulating synths is probably a video about two cross-dressing lovers heading out on a date in Bangkok, but that’s exactly what you get. And it’s pretty funny, with a good message too – basically don’t be afraid to be yourself.
“That track was a real breakthrough for us,” says Grahame. “We got airplay all around the world in places like San Francisco, Rome, Philadelphia, and it was really good for us. DJs in Thailand also started playing that track. It was the first time we’d had any real recognition here.”
As for writing the band’s songs, Grahame says he uses his laptop and crummy software that nobody has ever heard of. “I also deliberately use bad headphones,” he says, “because if the music sounds good on those, it’ll sound great on expensive ones!”
Inspiration strikes at all times of the day, but what’s most important for Grahame is originality.
“I usually take two separate ideas or concepts and mix them together to see what happens,” he says. “For our first single, for example, I sat down and thought what would acid house sound like if it came out of Egypt or India and had tablas and Arabic drums driving the beat. It’s important that our songs have weird ideas behind them; that's how we get the best results.”
Wasabi Bytes’ latest album, Art House, was released last month in Bangkok at Sing Sing Theatre. True to experimental form, it features a mix of rap, techno, and house styles.
“Unlike our previous albums, which were largely composed and mixed on computers, this was laid down in a real studio,” says Grahame. “The effects desk and the mastering became genuine instruments alongside the guitars, drums and keys. I’ve never felt more uncertain about an album before release; this is truly experimental and out of the comfort zone. But those who listen say it is the best thing we have done.”
The band’s earlier work is also set to be given an experimental update on a record provisionally entitled Berlin to Bangkok: The Rage of the Machine Remixes. This will feature several Afrika Islam remixes of Wasabi tracks and should be released in the next few weeks.
You can check out the band’s songs and albums on Beatport, Amazon and iTunes. For upcoming gigs, visit facebook.com/WasabiBytes.
