Photo Courtesy of Conductor
For today’s interview. We’re excited to have the alt-metal band CONDUCTOR with us. Hailing from Bangkok, Thailand, this band has been making waves with their unique sound and compelling storytelling. With a debut EP album, “THE STORY IN CRIME SCENE,” CONDUCTOR is set to release a double single EP “Hkkmr.ios” in 2023. Let’s dive in and get to know the talented members: Nathaporn (Alex) inthapong on vocals, Atibess (Bess) meeissara on guitar, Adisak (Toon) thiamsorn on bass, and Nuttawut (Auto) Siricharoenwat on drums. Welcome, CONDUCTOR!
How did the members of CONDUCTOR come together? Was there a shared vision or catalyst that sparked the band’s formation?
Toon (Bassist) : We’re classmates in high school and university in Bangkok.
First, it was just having fun and joining university competitions, but over time it gradually became more serious.
Bess (Guitarist) : Back then, we were just having fun covering the bands we loved to figure out what we really liked. Eventually, we realized, “Damn, this is the kind of sound we’re into”, sludgy, dreamy, but heavy as hell. That’s when we started wanting to write our own songs.
The name “CONDUCTOR” feels intentional and symbolic. How did you land on it, and what does it represent about the band’s identity from the very beginning?
Auto (Drummer) : To be honest, it came from a joke in a classic Thai comedy movie. It’s one of the films every Thai kid grew up watching and still loves till today. And yeah, we all love Thai comedy, man. That’s all it was
Alex (Vocalist) : When you saw the word “CONDUCTOR”.
It feels like we will lead you. We will lead the music. But actually, there was a joke in a Thai movie that talked about this word.. And it’s kind of a funny idea, it stuck with us.
What bands, artists, or cultural movements inspired you during your formative years as musicians, and how did those influences shape CONDUCTOR’s sonic direction?
Auto (Drummer) : In the beginning, nu-metal had a huge influence on us. We started by covering bands like RATM, Korn, Snot, and Deftones. Personally, we love the heaviness of Pantera, the dreamy atmosphere of Deftones, and the twisted edge of Korn—that combination shaped our sound early on.
“The Story in Crime Scene”: Can you unpack its conceptual framework and how it reflects your fascination with crime and psychology?
Alex (Vocalist) : When creating the concept for The Story in Crime Scene, I wanted to craft sounds that could release pain and anger inside me. I was also fascinated by the idea of how our actions, experiences, and environment inevitably shape who you are—and how those actions ripple out to affect others. A big inspiration was the series Mindhunter, which really tied the whole concept together for our first EP.
Bess (Guitarist) : At that time, we wrote all songs by jamming. So the whole EP is just raw as hell, which actually fits perfectly with the concept we had in mind.
Then the final track, Runaway, was a turning point that shape the sound of our later songs as well.
“Endless Broken”: How does this EP expand or deepen the themes introduced in your earlier work?
Alex (Vocalist) : Endless Broken carries forward the essence of our first EP into the new album we’re working on. This time, the lyrics focus more explicitly on the pain of the victims, making it more clear and impact to listeners to recognize the violence.
Bess (Guitarist) : First we make a song by the software, and I was obsessed with Northlane at the time, Alien is definitely one of my all time favorite albums. We poured in our own blend of raw energy, heaviness, and atmospheric vibes into the new songs. I used a Bass VI and tuned it really low to make the sound more modern.
How do you navigate such morally complex perspectives without glorifying violence?
Alex (Vocalist) : That’s a really good question. I’d been thinking for quite a while, because the lyrics could easily be misinterpreted as romanticizing violence. But I believe that by presenting different perspectives, the songs encourage listeners to recognize the consequences of violence and develop greater empathy for each other.
You blend alternative metal, nu-metal, metalcore, and shoegaze. How do you reconcile these diverse influences to create CONDUCTOR’s signature sound?
Bess (Guitarist) : We usually focus on keeping metalcore first, then we try to blend in elements of nu-metal and shoegaze. The goal is to make the fusion as smooth and natural as possible, so it doesn’t feel forced or messy.
Auto (Drummer) : Conductor’s signature sound, i think it came from our experiences until now.
We played Nu-metal, shoegaze,…
And we spent so much time to find out what sound we like, what sound it should be.
Your music balances crushing riffs with haunting ambience. Is this duality intentional, and how does it serve your storytelling?
Toon (Bassist) : The aggressive always has reason behind.
Before we express pain or anger, we must endure many situations and environments until we can no longer bear it.
I think the atmosphere is the situation, the environment, sometimes it’s not tough but it is still with us all the time.
Bess (Guitarist) : Yeah, we definitely intended it that way. I think our music often deals with serious, brutal, and tragic themes all at once. So this contrast between soft and heavy helps keep things interesting and it also lets us express different emotions in each part of the song honestly.
As a band from Bangkok, how does your cultural or geographic background shape your approach to metal, a genre often dominated by Western narratives?
Alex (Vocalist) : I’d say our music is primarily influenced by Western styles, but Buddhist concepts—especially karma—definitely shape my lyric writing. I try to express themes that many people in our country tend to avoid, since our culture is generally laid-back and doesn’t often confront these issues directly. That’s just my personal take.
Bess (Guitarist) : I think the Thai metal scene is growing fast. And there are already quite a few bands here with a strong sense of identity and have made a name for themselves into the international market, like Defying Decay, Annalynn, and of course Whisper.
You tackle societal issues like the desire to “disconnect” from reality. What specific experiences or observations in Thai society (or globally) fuel this focus?
Alex (Vocalist) : I think this is something we see everywhere in today’s social media era. Online platforms play such an unavoidable role that some people create entirely new personas just to fit in. That freedom is a double-edged sword—we can type anything without consequence. The themes we reflect on often tie into bullying, trauma, and pressures that push people to withdraw from the real world.
Where do you see CONDUCTOR’s sound heading next? Are there uncharted genres or themes you’re eager to explore?
Bess (Guitarist) : Absolutely. Endless Broken is the opening track of our first full-length album after dropping an EP over the years. We’ve got tons of ideas we want to pour into this album. It’s going to have the heaviest stuff we’ve ever made, some wild new sounds that feel more chaotic—but we’re still keeping that serious emotional core that defines us. we think we can definitely get it out by 2026.
Alex (Vocalist) : There are still many themes I want to explore. The upcoming album will broaden the emotional landscape in multiple directions, and I’m also drawn to ideas connected to science and space. Hopefully, our fans will stay with us on that journey.
For listeners who connect deeply with your exploration of trauma and societal decay, what do you hope they take away from your music?
Alex (Vocalist) : Thank you to all our fans and listeners for supporting us. I hope our music can raise awareness of certain social issues, even in small ways. I truly believe that empathy is what will make our society a better place.
Get to know Bangkok’s rising alt-metal band, CONDUCTOR! From YouTube to Spotify, find all our links in one place and stay connected: https://linktr.ee/Conductorcdt
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