Emerging from Chiang Mai with a sound that drifts between dream pop, rock, psychedelic, and groove, YONLAPA has built their identity on freedom, experimentation, and the roots that shape their everyday lives. Their music carries both dreamy and melancholic tones, shifting from heavy and powerful to soft and easygoing, while always reflecting the culture and surroundings that inspire them.

Now they join Budweiser’s Music Is Yours To Take, presented by Hypebeast in Bangkok this October. The event celebrates music and culture in Southeast Asia, and for YONLAPA it’s a chance to share their journey and bring their energy to a new stage.

Read our full conversation with YONLAPA and see how they are shaping their sound and story.

HB: YONLAPA will be a part of Budweiser’s Music Is Yours To Take presented by Hypebeast, an event where music, culture, and self-expression collide. How does your music embody this blend of different creative elements?

YONLAPA: I think music and culture are the foundation for every musician, and everyone comes with their own roots. Our music reflects a mix of the styles we love, as well as the spirit of Chiang Mai, which naturally shapes the way we live, think, and create.

HB: How would you best explain your music to someone who’s never heard YONLAPA before?

YONLAPA: Our sound is a blend of dream pop, rock, psychedelic, and groove. Some songs are heavy and powerful, while others are soft and easygoing. What matters most to us is keeping the freedom to create and letting each song find its own meaning.

HB: YONLAPA is known for its unique blend of dreamy and melancholic sounds. How do you find a balance between these two emotions when you’re writing and producing your music?

YONLAPA: Each of us is very rooted in our own ideas, so when we create, we experiment with different sounds until we all feel it clicks. Whether it’s the lyrics, chords, or rhythm, we aim for everything to carry the emotion in the right way.

HB: What’s the main factor that has contributed most to your growth as musicians?

YONLAPA: Definitely our love for listening to music. We’ve all been obsessed with discovering different styles since we were kids, and even now we keep drawing inspiration from the artists we love to spark new ideas.

HB: What unique elements from Thai culture or daily life do you think unconsciously influence your music?

YONLAPA: Mostly the way we live, our surroundings, and the city we’re in. Those things really shape our perspective and the way we try to tell stories through music.

HB: What’s one thing about the Thai music scene that you feel most people often overlook?

YONLAPA: The creativity and diversity. The scene has always been overshadowed by mainstream pop culture, so a lot of indie communities stay small. We hope one day there will be more space for us to grow and step into the mainstream.

HB: Beyond music, what inspires YONLAPA: whether it’s fashion, film, visual art, or anything in between?

YONLAPA: For lyrics, films have been a big inspiration. Everyday life doesn’t always have enough color for the stories we want to tell, but films give us that spark.

HB: When you perform live, is there one song in particular that always changes the crowd’s energy?

YONLAPA: That would be I’m Just Like That.

HB: If you could choose one dream collaboration: whether with an artist, brand, or creative, who would it be?

Noina: I’d love to collaborate with the fashion brand Brain Dead. I really admire their designs.
Few: Puma Blue.
Gun: Fender Japan.
Nawin: Fender Japan too haha.

HB: Finally, if there’s one message you want the world to take away when they listen to YONLAPA, what would it be?

YONLAPA: We hope our songs bring peace, happiness, and love to everyone who listens. Hopefully, our music can feel like a friend to you in certain moments.

HB: Budweiser’s Music Is Yours To Take presented by Hypebeast is all about amplifying creativity and curating immersive experiences. What do you hope the audience will feel and take away from your live performance at the event?

YONLAPA: We just want everyone to have fun and feel the energy from us. Let’s gooo!