Koichi Shimizu The Japanese Bangkokian founded an experimental music label So::On and is behind the avant-garde soundtracks in Apichartpong’s Syndrome and a Century and Pen-ek’s Ploy.

I like everything related to sound. It doesn’t matter if I’m composing for an exhibit or a movie soundtrack. They’re all connected; they all draw on the same techniques. I don’t try to be artier when composing for exhibitions.

I like some Thai songs. Of course, I like the artists in So::On. Also, I just bought Patomporn Patomporn’s box set of eight CDs. I’m very impressed. His music and lyrics are deep and extreme.

Pop music? I listen to pop when driving, but only good pop. I like Friday, Palmy, T-Bone—is ModernDog considered pop? I like them, too.

The priority with pop music is to reach as many people as possible. The key is to keep things simple so the masses can enjoy it. The technique can be complex, but the final
outcome should appear simple.

For my music, I don’t expect that out of a hundred people who listen to it, all will like it. I don’t purposefully make my songs diffi cult for listeners to enjoy. I just try to make something I think is good—the audience comes second. If I made pop music, I might reprioritize.

It’s not that making pop music is easy. No, it’s as hard to make a good pop song as to make a good indie song.

I like the soundtrack of the freakish movie Eraserhead. It’s one of the fi rst fi lms of David Lynch. The sound is unique and Lynch made the soundtrack himself. If I could, I would like to create a soundtrack for him and make it absolutely abstract.

Some say So::On’s music is too diffi cult. I don’t really understand what they mean by too diffi cult, though. I think that term is very Thai. To listen to music, you don’t have to think a lot. It’s OK, if you don’t like it.

I believe in my artists and that they can do whatever they want. I never set a limit and I also never say, “Don’t do simple things.”

Well, sometimes at So::On concerts, I purposefully choose international artists who make complex music. Because I want to offer another choice, an alternative. I want people to know that there exists a variety of music in this world. It’s OK if they hate it, but if they like it, I will be happy.

So::On got great feedback. But we still want new faces at our shows.

My life at the moment is full of sounds, and nothing else. Sound is my work and sound is my hobby. I also want to fi nd fresh inspiration for myself. I want to try painting or something. I might not make a great painter, but I would have fun.

Driving has just become my new pastime. I drive to all my meetings and I enjoy the process of getting there. When I am at home, I stay in front of the computer monitor or amplifier; I can’t escape sound. But while in the car, I can turn the volume down and have time for my thoughts.

Their positive attitude is what I like most about Thais. But sometimes being too positive can be a disadvantage.

There are many things I don’t like about Thailand. It’s normal when you stay in one place for a long time, you start to see the bad sides of it. But overall, I like Thailand so much.

In fact, I’m a country boy from Japan and I like nature and peace. But if I stay in the country for a long time, I get bored. I’m 30- something and I have to work, so I enjoy city living.

I feel like I don’t have a nationality. Not that I’m not Japanese anymore, but I belong everywhere. I feel that nationality is not important.

Home is my hometown in Japan. But it’s just my idea of home. In reality, my home now is
Bangkok.

I don’t know what celebrity means. But, yes, I know a lot of people and artists because my job involves these fi elds of work. And I don’t like going to opening parties or events that much. I prefer going to small dirty bars with my friends. I feel more comfortable and it is much more fun.

In ten years? I want to switch to teaching, or training. I want sound design to have focus and a sense of purpose. I want to help young people get better in this field.

I want So::On to remain indie, sincere and straightforward. I know I have to do business, but I don’t want to lose myself to business.