In 2020, like many others, I was swept up in the rising wave of Thaipop and one band that was quick to capture my heart (and my ears) was Tilly Birds. I was first introduced to the band through their breakout hit Same Page and ever since that fateful day, Tilly Birds has had a permanent spot on all my Spotify playlists.
Tilly Birds – which consists of Third Anuroth on vocals, Billy Nutdanai on guitar, and Milo Thuwanon on drums – has built a reputation as a band that etched themselves onto the top of the industry’s billboards, producing hit after hit and making sure they keep their fans well fed. And this time, the band is back and better than ever with their newest single Retro–39.
As a huge fan of Tilly Birds, I was bestowed the honour of peeling back the curtains and probing at the creative minds behind the song. Trust me when I say, this song is completely different from the band’s usual sound – making it all the more interesting and fun.
Inspiration behind Retro-39
In the week leading up to the song’s release, my entire Instagram feed was flooded with Thai music artists and actors reposting Tilly Birds’ teaser. Whenever Tilly Birds releases new music, it feels like a wildcard—you never know if it’ll be a heart-wrenching ballad or the catchiest pop hit of the year. With each repost I saw, my expectations grew higher, and I can safely say I was not disappointed.
The song opens with a synth line, immediately setting the stage for that late ’80s retro vibe the title hints at. Retro-39 feels like it could easily belong on the soundtrack of a ’90s teen romcom—think 10 Things I Hate About You when Patrick’s bet is exposed, and he knows he’s messed up. The song’s upbeat and cheery beat puts a playful spin on dealing with heartbreak and the emotional distance of a breakup. It’s remorseful, cheeky and tells a story – all at once.
The lightheartedness of the song was a deliberate choice, with the band sharing that they want fans to “just have a good time and want them to look back when they were having a good time. And just try to go back to have that good time again.”
“I think that’s the main feeling of listening to this song. The subliminal message would be like missing someone and wanting to have a good time with that person.” Billy explained. “I would say, yeah, just basically having a good time with this song. Nothing else. Just have a good time,” he added.
On my first listen, I was so captivated by the beat that I had completely missed that the song was in English. Although this isn’t the band’s first all-English track—their song, White Pills holds that title—Retro-39 is sonically very different. White Pills has a darker and more introspective sound while Retro-39 leans into a lighter, upbeat rhythm. “We wrote White Pills almost two and a half years ago, so it’s been a while. And we wrote Retro-39 in April this year, so they were quite apart”, Billy explained.
He went on to share, “I guess this album will be our journey back to writing in English… we’re going back to rediscovering ourselves, how and why we started and how we would want to move on with this band as well.” Third was also quick to add that making an all-English song was more of a homecoming for the band, “We started the band with English songs that we wrote. So it’s kind of like going back to where we started.”
I don’t think many people fully appreciate the skill it takes to craft a catchy, well-thought-out song like Retro-39, especially when it’s done in a language that isn’t your first.
When asked about the writing process, Third said, “It’s very different because in Thai we have to be strict about the tones because we have low tones for our spoken language; you have to make them align and go together. So, when writing in English, there’s no concern about that. It’s much simpler, and there are fewer rules (for) writing in English compared to Thai.”
Third also added, “The rhyme schemes are quite similar because, you know, I started writing songs because I love poetry and they’re quite similar because of the rhymes.” Imagine being a wordsmith in both Thai and English, creating hits in both languages—talk about multi-talented!
Music Video
A song as captivating as Retro-39 deserves a music video that matches its energy, and it doesn’t disappoint. If you haven’t seen it yet, do yourself a favour—open a new tab and give it a watch. Much like the track itself, the video tells a vivid and emotionally resonant story, combining nostalgic aesthetics with modern flair to bring the song’s themes of heartbreak and longing to life.
“We were looking for a director for this music video, and we were running out of time. So, I thought to myself, ‘I could do it’ because the band gave me the opportunity to do (the same for) some music videos like for the song Same Page.” Third shared.
He went on to say, “I wrote the script on the flight back from Japan and I finished the brief treatment, and I showed it to the band once we landed.”
If you’ve already watched the video, you would’ve seen all the little easter eggs and homages paid to the icons of the 80s and 90s. “I’m a fan of classic rom-coms, the romantic comedies and the bands incorporated in the music video are the ones that we grew up with, you know, like Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Cure, Green Day, Nirvana and Radiohead – you know, all the great ones.” Third added.
As a hopeless romantic who enjoys a good classic rom-com now and then, I had fun testing my knowledge to see how many hidden references to musicians and movies I could spot. My absolute favourite nod was to the movie Say Anything, with the iconic boombox serenade scene—pure gold.
In the video, we see the group dressed in styles inspired by David Bowie (Third), Robert Smith from The Cure (Billy), and Radiohead’s The Bends album cover (Milo). I initially thought each member was randomly assigned an icon, but even this had a meaning behind it. “Third picked those three artists to represent each one of us. He picked The Cure because I like The Cure personally, and he picked Radiohead for Milo because Milo loves Radiohead personally,” Billy explained.
Even though Third described the video filming process as “one of the most stressful sets I’ve ever been on because we had so much going on,” there were still some funny moments behind the scenes. For example, if you’re a fan of The Cure, you know Robert Smith’s hair is iconic in its own right. Naturally, I had to ask how they recreated that look, and it turns out Tilly Birds’ commitment to their art is no joke.
“That was my hair, all my hair! And you know what, it took me four good and thorough shampoo sessions and three more conditioner sessions to get it all out,” Billy recalled. “No wig was used. I was in the bathroom forever just washing my hair.”
All in all, the Retro-39 music video perfectly encapsulates the nuanced song, blending storytelling with the band’s unique sense of humour. It’s a visual journey that enhances the listening experience and showcases Tilly Birds’ unique creativity, both musically and visually. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to their music, this video is yet another reason to keep your eye on Tilly Birds—they’re continuously raising the bar.
New Album
Of course, Retro-39 signals the end of the Tilly Birds’ dry spell and a new album is on the horizon! But why hear it from me when you can hear it straight from the band? Milo shared, “We’re still working on it because we decided as a band that we can make the whole album better. We’ve challenged ourselves more this time; we have new challenges to achieve.”
While the trio has been working on this album for a long time, they’ve been perfecting every detail, making sure they give 100% of what Tilly Birds has to offer. “Maybe we can exceed that 100 percent,” Milo added.
As eager as we are for new music, Tilly Birds seem just as excited to release it, with the band saying, “We’re trying to push it as early as we can, like early next year. We can’t hold it in any longer as well, we need to push it out. It’s been staying with us for too long. If the label won’t push it out, we’re just going to keep working on it, and it will get crazier. And I don’t think we can afford any more of that.”
Not only did they mention the album, but the band shared what else fans can expect when the album release is upon us, “We’ll hold many concerts after the release. Releasing an official album deserves an official tour. We want to do listening parties and make more merch.”
My credit card is already trembling in fear, but hey, anything for Tilly Birds, right?
Listen to “Retro-39” Now!
With Retro-39, Tilly Birds have once again proven their ability to evolve while staying true to the heart of their music. The song and its nostalgic yet refreshing video are just a glimpse of what’s to come as they gear up for their highly anticipated album release. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering them, Tilly Birds continues to raise the bar with their creativity, passion, and commitment to their craft. As we eagerly await the next chapter, one thing is clear—Tilly Birds are here to stay, and they’re only getting better.
Continue to show your support for this enigmatic trio by following them on Spotify, Instagram and catching them on GeneLab’s official YouTube account!
Visual courtesy of Canglo.
