The Soul of Molam (14) – The changing sound of popular Isaan music
A look into the evolution of popular Isaan music from molam, luk thung to pop. Panis Phosriwungchai traces how Isaan music transformed itself to become Thailand’s most popular music.
music culture
The Soul of Molam (13) – The ancient roots of molam: From ritual to entertainment
In molam music, the vocals of the molam performer and the sound of the khaen, a free reed mouth organ, are intimately linked. Panupong Thongsri looks at the evolution of molam lyrics and khaen music in Isaan.
The Isaan Record
April 9, 2020
The Soul of Molam (12) – March to oust dictatorship
Molam artist Patipan Luecha performs the protest song “March to oust dictatorship” at a student protest at Khon Kaen University in February.[VIDEO]
The Isaan Record
April 6, 2020
The Soul of Molam (11) – Pong Lang Sa On: A molam revolutionary
Thawit Sitthongsi, former member of Pong Lang Sa On, talks about the molam troupe’s reputation as a leader in changing contemporary molam music and molam performances forever. [VIDEO]
The Isaan Record
April 5, 2020
The Soul of Molam (10) – The legacy of molam revolutionary Pong Lang Sa On
Fifteen years ago, a molam troupe made history by taking the molam sound of temple fairs and village festivals to the stage of Bangkok’s Impact Arena. We talked to former band member Thawit Sitthongsi about the troupe’s reputation as a leader in changing contemporary molam music and molam performances forever.
The Isaan Record
April 3, 2020
The Soul of Molam (9) – Meet the costume creators behind the marvelous molam show of Rabiab Watasin
Meet the costume creator of Rabiab Watasin, a molam troupe with almost 300 performers that takes its magnificent show all across the country.
Michael Eckel
April 1, 2020
The Soul of Molam (8) – When molam performers face sexual harassment
When female molam performers face sexual harassment, they often feel they have no recourse. “It doesn’t matter how angry we are, we still have to smile at them.”
The Isaan Record
March 31, 2020
The Soul of Molam (7) – Life is stranger than molam
The life of Molam Bank or Patiwat Saraiyaem took a dark turn in 2014 when he was convicted of royal defamation for a role he performed in a theater play. He spent two and a half years in prison. But the time behind bars did not stifle his talent for political molam songs.
The Isaan Record
March 29, 2020
The Soul of Molam (6) – Turning the music scene upside down, new Isaan singers find their voice
Luk thung-molam songs penned by independent and previously unknown Isaan singers are racking up millions of views on YouTube. How did this new generation of artists gain such massive success in Thailand’s mainstream music culture?