There's nothing unusual about two like-minded musicians joining up to record a few songs, but what makes new duo Hybrid stand out from the crowd is their combination of instruments.

On their self-titled, three-track CD, Nakrop "Dear" Naewnarong from the group A Cappella 7 sings to the accompaniment of a bass guitar played by Porachaya "Mint" Ramyothin from the pop band Etc.

"We wanted to let people know that bass isn't just the instrument that goes along with the drums, but sounds great in its own right," says Mint, whose pop outfit is in limbo following the expiry of its contract with record maker GMM Grammy.

Meanwhile, as Dear explains, "A Cappella hasn't split up, but we no longer have a contract with RS because one of our members left."

"Etc is still together too," adds Mint. "This is a personal project."

Dear is a former member of Etc, with whom he played while a student at Chiang Mai University. After watching a VCD about the American a capella singer Bobby McFerrin, he joined A Cappella 7 and the band went on to record two albums.

Dear and Mint took three weeks to come up with three songs for their independent release. "Ded Dokmai", "Khae Khuen Nueng" and "Sandwich" all talk about love.

"It's a non-commercial experimental work," says Dear.

"It's based on Mint's bass techniques of slapping and tapping, and my improvised singing style of a cappella and scat.

"I use my voice to fill in the gaps in the music, and the bass plays the other rhythm parts."

"I worked on creating a catchy bass pattern that would draw people into the numbers," says Mint.

"Ded Dokmai" has been climbing the charts of Fat Radio 104.5 FM - the only station giving the disc airplay. "Khae Khuen Nueng" is also receiving good feedback.

But while "Ded Dokmai" has a bass-and-scat sound, the second track is more of a commercial mix, with a full band fleshing out the number.

"It's unbelievable that 'Ded Dokmai' is popular," says Dear.

"The last track, 'Sandwich', is country style, with plenty of guitar slapping and banjo," explains Mint, who has backed look thung singer Jack Thanapol, crooner Paibulkiert Khiewkaew, pop pianist Pom Autobahn and saxophonist Koh Mr Saxman.

Hybrid's full-length album should be released at the end of the year, along with new outings by both A Cappella 7 and Etc.

"The album will have 10 tracks. Four or five songs will be bass and voice and the rest will have full band backing. We may do one with a beatbox," says Dear.

Dear and Mint are planning to set up a small music company, General Bay, which will help to produce and promote sounds by new artists.

Hybrid will also be running workshops at colleges nationwide to explain bass slapping and tapping techniques, studio recordings using computers, and the differences between working for major and minor music companies.

Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul

The Nation