The trends and tunes of Thai pop

by Gwyneth Cheng & Tassaya (Toffy) Charupatanapongse

Thailand’s pop music has been making waves beyond its borders into Asia and the rest of the world. We delve into how exactly it has become so popular and the influences that have shaped its evolution.

How it all began (1960–1980)
Artist highlight

Image source: Apple music

The Thai pop era (1981–1994)
Artist Highlight

Image sources: KanavaroT on Wikicommons, Sry85 on Wikicommons, Apple music

The Indie Era (1994–1997)
Artist highlight

Image source: plynoi on Flickr. Final work adapted from the main image.

A Return to the Old Normal (1998–2002)
Globalisation and the Flourishing of Modern Thai Pop (2002-Present)
Artist highlight

Image source: Z3144228 on Wikicommons

The Next Generation of Thai Artists
Disclaimer: Our stories have been researched and fact-checked to the best of our abilities. Should you spot mistakes, inaccuracies, or have queries about our sources, please drop us an e-mail at hello@kontinentalist.com
In collaboration with
Tassaya (Toffy) Charupatanapongse / Freelance Writer

Toffy is a part-time globe trotter, full-time justice warrior, and a semicolon enthusiast. With a Master's in Education, she's all about learning; in her free time, you can find her avidly reading books, doing yoga, picking up new languages, and writing about social justice and feminism. 

Credits
Cover image / Griselda Gabriele
Data visualisations / Bianchi Dy
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