Computer kids

Published on December 21, 2007

Electronic music is a powerful solvent. Bland, flat mainstream tunes can become edgy and more dimensional with a touch of electronica. Back in the 1980s, when New Order was rising from the ashes of Joy Division, the band put a heavy dose of synth and house music beat in their indie Brit pop and made big hits. Later, suave group Depeche Mode crafted a thin layer of keyboard programming and dance in their signature pop groove. Then there was Daft Punk, with hard-core left-field house and progressive punk.

Now with laptop computers in the mix, electro-clash is made even easier. Take the new kids on the block, To My Boy, for example. They are literally two kids with a laptop that could work the magic on the dance floor.

Hailing from Liverpool, electronic music lovers Sam White and Jack Snape did not feel they belonged in the quartet they formed with two other student friends. The disagreement and trial changes led to separation and the birth of the duo, To My Boy.

"It wasn't anything serious, really," White said in an interview before their debut show in Bangkok. The group was the headline act at the fifth anniversary bash for party organiser Dudesweet on December 7 at Club Culture. "We wanted them to play the way we wanted, but they didn't want to. I made some demos on my computer to teach them how to play. What could you do? We're better off on our own, so we can do whatever music we want."

Taking the name from a chapter of a book they found, To My Boy does not at all sound like an electronic band. "That's the intention. We don't want people to expect us to be really, really electronic so we chose this name which is not too electronic sounding. 'To My Boy' sounds like a message from a father to a son - from an older generation to a new generation," Snape explains.

The duo share the same passion in indie pop and electronic music. They are both big fans of The Smiths. But besides music, the two have different interests. At university, White studied art while Snape's major was physics. The two lads enjoy the difference as it helps keep the balance when it comes to music. White writes the songs on his guitar and piano, and is responsible for the majority of the lyrics while Snape puts together the whole thing on the computer.

Not long after their quartet disbanded, To My Boy released a few singles to test their listeners. Using guitars, keyboards, synthesiser with arpeggiator, drum machine and vocals, the duo was ready to take off. A two-part album, "Fear of Fragility" was released on the Abeano label in 2005, followed by "The Grid" and "I Am X-Ray" on the XL label in 2006. The duo broke out as one of the most innovative and aspiring electro pop bands in the UK thanks to their subtle mix of indie pop and robust synth.

Gaining a legion of fans, the duo released their debut album, "Messages", in July this year on XL and gained collective nods from music critics in the UK. The album is co-produced by synth guru James Ford from Simian Mobile Disco fame. "James did two songs for us, 'The Grid' and 'Model'," White says, recalling the time with the celebrated re-mixer and producer. "The first time we met him was really funny. We opened the door to his studio and he just looked at us, didn't say anything, grabbed his synthesiser and twisted the knobs, making this crazy sound. He's like the biggest synth geek."  James Ford also produced the Klaxons and Arctic Monkeys.

"Messages" is a complete manifest of their tastes and method. The subject matter, the "I Like Computer" theme makes this album a single-minded record - since they spend every minute talking about it and what they do with it. Music wise, it's chirpy, clubby and energetic. The songs are relatively short and rich with slight trails of '80s new wave vocals and grave, rhythmic synth. Their confection of perky electro, tangy synthesised drum and rock guitar makes this entry a thudding, intriguing collection.

"Our music agenda is not turning our music into anything too pop or commercial. We just write our music and see what happens." White makes a statement. "Many bands in the UK now are trying to sound colloquial, to represent an idea of updated British music. But I think the cultures are more internationalised now, with kids logging on to the Internet and all that.

For the next album, we want to make music that sounds global, eclectic with lots of ideas and styles. We'll be talking more about the world and what's going on, not like bands like Arctic Monkeys that only talk about themselves and their lives in their small town."

To My Boy's debut Bangkok show at Club Culture was greeted with a jam-packed crowd of screaming and dancing young rock 'n' rollers. Though it was obvious that the majority of the audience was there to join Dudesweet Party and might have not heard about the group before, the Liverpool duo managed to impress the crowd with their powerful electronic pop act.

When their hit, "Tell Me, Computer", came on, the party horde's reaction was phenomenal, despite the impaired sound system of the club.

Log on to myspace.com/tomyboy for free downloads.

Manta Klangboonkrong