Music & Nightlife
Your guide to the best live music, nightclubs, gay clubs, after-parties, dance parties and music festivals in Bangkok
What's the deal with... Twopee
Thai hip hop is experiencing a new high. It was part of the mainstream music scene 20 years before going underground to give way to the electronic genre, but now Thai hip hop, which has an affinity with rap music, has resurfaced following the trend in the global music scene. Like how it usually is in the world of entertainment, people come and go and then return. And this is where you see the real-deal artists, those who are capable of surviving change and the test of time. Twopee is one of those survivors. Starting out as one-half of Phuket-hailing rap duo Southside (formed with Freddy V who is now pursuing his studies), Twopee, or Pitawat Pruksakit outside of the music scene, has spent many years surfing the ups and downs of the Thai hip hop scene. One of his claims to fame include winning a respected rapping contest for two consecutive years, which led Twopee to becoming part of the Thaitanium family of hip hop artists. But it wasn’t until he become a coach on competition TV series The Rapper, that the talented musician became a national sensation. He was also one of the headliners at W Hotels’ global music event, Future Rising. After ten years in the music industry, Twopee is finally enjoying the height of his career and having the time of his life. He sits down with Time Out to look back and look forward. Sereechai Puttes/Time Out Bangkok How did you become a rapper? It started when I was about 13 or 14. Hip hop hit me so hard—Eminem’s music, especial
Places to dance in Bangkok
Sing Sing Theater
After wielding design magic on Maggie Choo’s and Iron Fairies, Australian designer Ashley Sutton is back with Sing Sing Theater. Decorated with metalwork, wood, lanterns and neon lights, the place combines inspirations from Shanghai in the 1930s with futuristic Blade Runner-esque elements. The dance floor on the first floor is the heart of the place and is sometimes used as a stage for many a gimmicky performance. The balcony on the second floor is the best spot for looking over and enjoying the shows. The drinks list includes specials like the Cabinet Escape, a gin-based cocktail served in a birdcage (interesting) and Bank in Lemon, another gin-based drink. The music is always pumping and include house, hip-hop, hit songs, and live music.
Beam
Thonglor’s latest luxury nightclub is ready to entertain you and your posse with its cutting-edge beats and mind-boggling visuals. Set in a revamped warehouse, Beam is a two-story venue that features different music genres on each level. International DJs usually pump up the crowd with crazy beats on the second floor, while local spinners entertain with more relaxing beats on the ground floor. A bar doles out a variety of booze on both levels. Experimental cocktails include the Back Burner (Evan Williams Bourbon, Thai chili, cinnamon, honey), Black Rain (Kakubin whisky, ginger, Japanese black sugar) , and a selection of Champagnes from Moet Mini to Ace of Spades.
Maggie Choo’s
When the concept of the secret speakeasy bar keep on rising in Bangkok, Australian designer who was behind many concept bars in Bangkok (Iron Fairies and Clouds) Ashley Sutton takes it to the next level. This Shanghai 1950s-inspired bar is located on the lower ground floor of Novotel Silom with the ‘set-up’ Chinese restaurant in front to keep the speakeasy mood. Here the elegant element from New York gentleman club style got mashes up with chinoiserie hint of lighting, sculpture and altogether with ladies in Qipao welcoming you. Drinks side comes courtesy of Bangkok’s celebrity mixologist Joseph Boroski offering fancy choices with local fresh ingredient. Entertainment is also quite variety as you can expect DJ performs beaty tunes from hip hop, funk and old school r n’b to live band doing jazz and blues. If you have friends visiting, here’s an all in one place you can always rely on.
Violett
First it was BEAM. Now there’s Violett. The Thonglor dance scene has officially been revived. Party lovers from various backgrounds have gotten together to create this new nightclub in the heart of Bangkok’s party district. Named after the last—and possibly most mysterious—shade in the color spectrum, Violett beguiles Thonglor club rats with neon-lit vibes inspired by the underground clubs in Europe—Berlin, to be precise. We’re talking a discreet entrance, raw cement walls, and state-of-the-art lighting that’s been manually improvised by a visual designer. The music at Violett revolves around techno (Wed and Fri) and hip-hop (Thu, Sat and Sun). The club is very selective about the DJs they bring in so expect to dance to beats from top names like techno queen Nakadia, Kolour’s Coran, and the Soi Dogs duo. Drinks-wise, Violett has some Insta-worthy signature slingshots. Jelly Fish (B280) is a mix of triple sec, orange and blue curaçao, amaretto, Baileys Irish Cream and absinthe, while Suicide Bomber (B280) is a vodka-based cocktail with Malibu rum, amaretto, curaçao and Baileys Irish Cream. If you don’t fancy shots, opt for a cocktail like Nebular 272 (B340), an absinthe-topped blend of vodka, triple sec, passion fruit juice and lime juice.
