"For those seeking a fresh perspective on electronic music, Apichat Pakwan proves that tradition and innovation can coexist in the most mesmerizing ways. Their live shows are not just performances they are sonic rituals, blending the past and future into something utterly captivating." - Arunzweez (Bangkok)

Apichat Pakwan is a Dutch-Thai live band and DJ-VJ based in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Their music is rooted in molam and other Thai, Lao & Isan music traditions, but also has elements of psychfunk, dub, hiphop and electro.

They perform with their own compositions, as well as with new interpretations of classic Thai and Lao-Isan folkmusic repertory.
The music collective is founded in 2016 by Dutch musician Olivier Schreuder (electronics, compositions, traditional Thai instruments) and Thai musician Angkanang Pimwankum (percussion).
They compose and perform with an alternating group of musicians from the Northeast region of Thailand, also known as Isan.

The group is formed in the city of Khon Kaen, where Dutch musician Olivier Schreuder studies Isan folkmusic at the university. They record their first EP called ‘Angkanang’ in 2016, which is released on the Dutch-Thai label Animist Records. Four tracks of the EP are also released on two vinyl singles.

The group debuts live on the Khon Kaen Filmfestival in 2017, followed by shows in local Thai folkmusic clubs like Kittasin, and Siam Paragon Songkran Wonderland Festival 2017 in Bangkok.
In that year the group tours for the first time in The Netherlands, with shows on the Thailand Grand Festival in The Hague and Blierock in Venlo.
In 2018 they tour in Singapore, Thailand and Laos, with highlights performing on the Jim Thompson Molam Bus stage of the Jai Thep Festival in Chiang Mai, and a live performance on Thai national TV-station Workpoint.

2019 brings more concerts in Thailand, followed by a tour in Europe, including shows on Fusion Festival (Germany), World Experience Festival (Romania), Na Fir Bolg (Belgium), Amsterdam Roots (NL) and the Houtfestival (NL).
In October of that year they release their first full album on Animist Records called 'Esantronics', a title by inspired by the legendary Congotronics, blending the folkmusic of Esan with electronic music.

In 2021 they release a new EP called 'Nam Ton Tad', perform at the redeemed WOMEX Festival in Portugal and start a new monthly radioshow 'Outernational Connections' on Amsterdam-based Echobox Radio.
In November of 2023 Animist Records releases the critically acclaimed 'Asian Tropical Bass Vol.1 EP' featuring the psychedelic 'Lao Cow' plus remixes.

In 2024 they debut with a live duo show on the Amsterdam Dance Event, and perform for the first time for a 1000+ crowd on the Nudkinkpuk Fair in Bangkok.
Their live debut in Vietnam comes in 2025, when they tour in Hanoi.
More succes comes with the appearance of their track 'Lam Toey Pasom' in HBO's hit TV sries 'The White Lotus'.

The band returns to Europe for the third time in 2026 where they perform on the Dutch Best Kept Secret Festival, and in Berlin's Arkaoda Club.

The press about the collective:

"Apichat Pakwan has a vibrant, colorful, lively cross-cultural sound that blends molam (Lao folk music) and traditional Thai music with dub, hiphop, funk, psych, and more." - KEXP (USA)

"Olivier Schreuder serves up beats that blend seamlessly with the Thai musicians and singers. Not in that crude mash-up kind of way, but warmly courting each other in a tryst. This approach carries over to audiences, creating a hot & sweltering dancefloor environment" - Best Kept Secret Festival (NL)

"The groovy electronics and captivating Thai elements ensure that you quickly become absorbed in the music. The unique atmosphere is somewhat hypnotic and feels very fresh." - Dansende Beren (BE) about the set on Best Kept Secret 2026

"The triphop of Apichat Pakwan, built around electronics and intriguing-looking traditional instruments, sounds fantastic" - Heaven Magazine (NL) about the set on Best Kept Secret 2026

"Apichat Pakwan entered the stage with distinctive masks, the audience was completelety silent and entranced by the duo, a show you won't forget anytime soon They played a diverse mix of tropical electronica, Thai and Lao music. With a unique touch, they were able to create a captivating environment through the event, engaging with the audience and making sure to keep the attention on their act. A fascinating fusion of world music and contemporary electronics. The music lies at the intersection of Western, electronic, and Asian influences, drawing inspiration from dub, hip-hop, and electro genres. The creativity and unlikeness of this artist added a special touch to this edition of ADE." - Gigstarter (NL)

"With their Nam Ton Tad EP Apichat Pakwan created a sun-soaked amalgamation of groove-trenched reggae & traditional Thai molam essence.
Rooted with Laotian origins from the Isan region of northern Thailand, this contemporary interpretation of ancient folk melody is both lush and intriguing" - Mixmag Asia

“One of those East-meets-West experiments that works very well. The Western dub and hiphop do not dominate the Isan music; everything is fused to create something new and refreshing." – Bangkok Post (Thailand)

"Apichat Pakwan creates a seamless blend of electronics and molam music and to their credit the electronic elements don't steal the show. A fascinating debut. Highly recommended. ★★★★" - Songlines Magazine #154 (UK)

“The musicians of Apichat Pakwan know the traditional Thai music so well they are capable like no one else to give it a modern twist. The intoxicating groove they create sounds equally logical and exotic.” – Job De Wit (We Are Public, Oor, DJ Broadcast - NL)

“Most innovative molam group around” – Bangkok Post (Thailand)


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✉ For bookings contact Hans Menke
For live video's, press photos and their tech rider see their EPK here

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