Photo Courtesy of SMEW
SMEW is one of the most exciting voices emerging from Thailand’s new generation of artists. Rising to national attention after winning The Rapper 2021, he quickly proved that his talent goes far beyond competition stages. With a bold sound that blends hip-hop, alternative influences, and raw emotion, SMEW brings a refreshing honesty to Thai music.
Known for his sharp lyricism, distinctive delivery, and fearless experimentation, SMEW creates songs that reflect youth, individuality, and self-expression. Each release showcases his growth as an artist—unafraid to challenge expectations while staying true to his identity.
In this interview, we dive deeper into SMEW’s creative journey, musical influences, and the vision driving his artistry as he continues to shape his path in Thailand’s evolving music scene
You’ve come a long way since winning The Rapper 2021. How would you describe your growth as an artist from then until now?
It honestly feels like a long time ago. I’ve grown a lot since then, both as a person and as an artist. I started out making mostly hip-hop, but over time my sound naturally shifted into more emo, alternative rock, and indie stuff.
The past few years were really about learning and figuring things out. I spent a lot of time understanding the whole music-making process and trying to understand myself creatively too. I struggled with a lot of changes, and not every song I put out felt fully like me. I was still trying to find my voice.
But now I feel way more confident in who I am and what I want to do. The music I’m working on for 2026 feels more honest and personal, and I’m genuinely excited to finally share it to everyone.
Many fans know the meaning behind the name “SMEW” related to your “duck” symbolism. How does that identity influence the music you create today?
The name SMEW started when I felt like a duck. Ducks can kind of do everything, but they’re never really the best at one thing. That’s how I felt about myself too. I could explore a lot of different genres, but I never felt like I truly stood out in any of them. Same with life in general. I was doing fine in school and with music, but I never felt like I was the best at anything.
I ended up just searching up duck names one day, and “Smew” really stuck with me. I liked how it sounded. Over time, the name started to feel like a reflection of being okay with not fitting perfectly into one box or even into society. It’s about being honest with where I’m at, instead of trying to be something I’m not.
You’re an artist who blends rap, emo-trap, punk, and rock. What motivates you to experiment with different genres and sounds?
I think it’s mostly because of how raw and honest alternative, rock, and emo music feels. There’s something about being able to say really vulnerable things through that kind of sound that I just love. I don’t even know why, it just connects with me.
I also like that it sits somewhere between rapping and singing, which are kind of the two things I’m comfortable with. Blending them together just feels natural to me, and it gives me more space to express myself without forcing it.
Can you share what your creative process looks like when you start a new song — do you begin with lyrics, beats, or a specific mood?
I usually start with the beat first. I try to find something that matches the mood I’m in at that moment. Once I have that, I start coming up with a strong core melody that really captures the vibe of the song.
After that, I’ll start writing lyrics and once everything’s there, I’ll tweak a few things, clean it up a bit, and that’s pretty much how it goes.
As someone who writes and composes their own music, what personal experiences or themes do you find yourself returning to most often?
I honestly just like writing things out. A lot of my music comes from vibes and the images I picture in my head when I hear a sound or a melody. I don’t always think too deeply about themes, it’s more about how something feels and what kind of world it creates in my mind.
I guess my songs probably aren’t super pop or for everyone, and that’s okay. I’m really just trying to make something for people who enjoy the same kind of music I do. If it connects with them, that means a lot to me.
Your earlier tracks like Drivethru and NERD each had unique styles and strong emotional tones. How do you approach balancing experimentation while maintaining “your sound”?
Those songs were honestly just me experimenting when I was getting into pop rock and punk at the time, so I was just messing around and seeing what worked with my voice. I didn’t really know what I was doing yet.
I was listening to a lot of Jxdn, Simple Plan, and MGK back then, so that might have influenced both the melodies and the song structure. It was all part of figuring things out and slowly finding what feels like me.
Congratulations on your new single coming out this November 20! What inspired this song, and how did the idea first come to you?
The new single is called รีบมาให้เร็ว (Come Quick). The idea actually came from a chorus I made in a demo about a year ago. When I listened back to it recently, it just felt right, especially for the end of the year. The vibe felt warm and comforting, and I thought it’d be nice to release something like that around this time.
Without giving away too much, what message or emotion is at the heart of this new track?
The song’s about that feeling when it’s the end of the year, it’s cold, you’re kind of lonely, and you just want someone to come over and spend time together. It doesn’t have to be romantic. It could be friends, family, anyone. Just hanging out, drinking something warm, relaxing, and enjoying each other’s company. That’s pretty much the feeling I wanted the song to give.
9. How does this new single reflect your artistic evolution compared to your previous releases?
This one’s a bit different from what I’ve done before. It leans more indie with some country mixed in, which I’ve never really tried before. I just really like how classic and timeless country music sounds. It feels like me trying something new but still trying to be myself at the same time.
Did you handle the songwriting, melody, or production yourself on this track? Who were your key collaborators?
Everything I’ve put out this year has been a two-man project. It’s just me and my producer, KORNZ, who’s also a close friend of mine. I usually come up with the melody and lyrics, record a rough demo, then send it over to him. He helps bring it to life by producing and arranging the beat. It’s a really easy process and I feel like we work together really well.
Sonically, what direction does this single take — more rap-focused, more punk-influenced, or something entirely new?
This one’s kind of like a break from the year and just doing something a little different.
Next year, I’m planning to drop an album that’s a mix of alternative, emo, rock, and indie all together, kind of like how I used to do it before. It’s hard to explain, but I can honestly say it’s the best music I’ve made so far, so I hope people stick around and wait for it.
What challenges did you face during the creation or recording of this track, and how did you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges for me is that I sometimes end up coming back to the same melodies or lyrics. After making a bunch of songs, it can start to feel like everything sounds the same. When that happens, I usually just stop for a bit and go do something else to reset my head. It could take weeks or months, but I try to let myself recharge instead of forcing it.
Most of the time, when I come back, I end up hearing things differently and finding a new sound or evolving musically in a way I actually like.
Are you planning any special visuals or a music video for this release? What vibe or story can fans expect?
I can’t really say too much about that yet, since I’m not 100% sure how it’s going to turn out, but I can promise that it won’t disappoint. I want whatever comes with it to match the feeling of the song and make the experience a little more special.
With this new single launching, what do you want listeners to understand about you as an artist at this stage in your career?
I guess I just want people to understand that this is really what Smew sounds like right now. It’s more indie, more alternative emo and rock, but that doesn’t mean the hip-hop side of me is gone. You can still hear it in the way I write and how the songs flow. I’m also not saying I’ll never make rap again.
I might even drop a full rap project someday. It really just depends on how I grow and evolve from here.
What can fans expect next — is this single the start of a new album era, a genre shift, or a deeper story you plan to tell?
Everything from Going South and Off My Brain up until รีบมาให้เร็ว feels like the real start of Smew for me. Everything before that kind of feels like a prologue. I feel like I’ve finally found myself and what I want to sound like.
I am working on an album, and honestly, I feel really good about the songs. I just hope people stick around and grow with me through this next chapter in 2026.
SMEW brings raw energy, sharp lyrics, and fearless sound.
Stream his music on Spotify
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