As well as keeping a busy touring schedule across Asia and the UK, Pam has had a strong hand in shaping the local music landscape in Bangkok through her new project "Salon Kiku" a Sound Room/ Wine Bar and also founding a weekend festival called "Ritual Rhythm Weekend”. Her inspiration comes through her time living and studying in New York, diving into the world of Jazz and back home in the colourful landscape musical landscape the Bangkok offers.

Can you tell us about your project "Salon Kiku"

We have been officially operating the place since last July. It started when I first saw this rooftop space which is located in the same building as my favorite local bar/ club "Studio Lam". I was in love with it and with my architectural background, I can visualize the design that could potentially apply. With the ideas of making it into a "Sound Room" where the room is flexible enough for various musical programs, my design focus was mainly to make this compact room good acoustically for the chosen soundsystem and to make the furnitures in modular unit to be able to move around as we host different programs. I later partnered up with my friends who specialised in wine and operation and formed a team which made the project soon become a reality.

We really want to move away from being 'trendy' but hoping that Salon Kiku will be a special place that will consistently evolve with Bangkok's soundscape, culture and the community in local and global scales. While my partners are in charge of the operation, I'm currently taking care of music curation and bookings for djs and musicians. We have been hosting DJs night, Live performance, Talks, DJ lessons, Open Deck night, Pop-up chefs, Wine Tasting and more.

It seems like Jazz has had a huge impact on your musical journey and the way you dig for records. Can you tell us more about this connection and how you got into digging and mixing?

I lived in New York for 5 years between 2014-2019. After finishing my degree that was when I really got to know more of the city, especially its music culture. Through my very close friend, I got to meet many people in the music community who DJ and work for record stores in the city. At first I went to record stores to dig for my dad who is a music fan, afterward I got hooked to digging and start to dig and collect for myself. I remember I was mind blown discovering 'The Cosmic Echoes' Series of Lonnie Liston Smith which led me to dig for a lot of Jazz-Funk, Fusion, Acid Jazz and Spiritual Jazz.

New York is a special place, it offers so much for musical palette and I'm thankful to receive so much exposure that I never did back home. I love dancing to parties like 718 Sessions, Body & Soul, Joy, The Loft and Cedar Room while seeing live Jazz performance at Nublu, Headz and Pioneer Works. Later when I moved back to Bangkok, djing and mixing started casually when my friend asked me to bring my vinyl collection to play at his bar by the river. His place is very popular; some nights there would be up to 300 people. Afterward, I got more club gigs where I also shifted to explore digital format.  

How has your own local scene in Thailand inspired you and do you have a favourite local artist to shout out?

I have been inspired a lot by everyone who is working hard for the music community in Thailand; there are many local talents and I really see a strong force that everyone wants to make a good difference, bring the old and the new, Thai and global to bring something fresh to the scene. There are rooms for the opportunity which make Thailand an exciting place to be.

Here is a shorter list of my favorite local artists - Live Performance: Khontan, Nisatiwa, The Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band, Tommy Hanson, Isaac Aesili - DJ Sets: Maft Sai, Mae Happyair of NONNONNON, Sarayu of More Rice, Elaheh, Wildealer, NK Chan, Mighty NP, Issasha, Yoongying, Meltmode, Jayja, Transport & RomRom collectives.  

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