Liew Niyomkarn: The ‘Monday Is OK’ Mix

Her live shows have seen her perform at festivals and events across the world, including High Zero Festival, The Wulf and WORM, while her recorded output has formed the basis of two self-released LPs and one for SadoDaMascus Records.

It’s been four years since she shared her last full body of work, that is until now. The Thai sound artist’s new album I Think of Another Time When You Heard It, which is out on Chinabot – a label indebted to showcasing Asian electronic artists, is another example of her ability to whisk listeners away to another time and place.

There’s a meeting of synthetic and organic textures across the LP, which together with found sounds and field recordings of distant voices, fragmented conversations, create a series of ambient soundscapes, gentle folk melodies and avant-garde motifs.

As Liew is no stranger to creating meditative soundtracks, we asked her to piece together a mix that’ll help ease you into the week ahead. Stick this on and you’ll soon release that not all Mondays have to be a drag…

Please introduce yourself… Who are you, where are you, what are you?

My name is Liew Niyomkarn. I’m a musician and sound artist based in Antwerp. Belgium.

Tell us about the Monday mixtape you’ve put together for us. 

Assume most of us are ready to start our week and I thought this mixtape will give them a good vibe for the rest of the week aka comforting Monday!

If it were to be drawn what would it look like? 

Freestyle and colorful drawing.

If it were food what would it be? 

King salmon strips in brown butter, lemon juice, and herb served with stuffed avocado.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

On a couch wearing a hoodie and shorts.

What should we be wearing?

A hoodie and shorts.

Where was it recorded?

Antwerp, BE

Are you on the same wavelength as the boomtown rats or do you actually like Mondays?

Mondays are my rest day. Yes. I do like Mondays.

Who got you hooked on music?

My childhood friends. When I was around 13 we used to swap tape cassettes.

What was the first record you heard and how did it make you feel?

Probably music on MTV. Probably spice girls and I go WOW

What were the first and last records you bought?

Hmm, I can’t remember the first one but It was a cassette. My last record was given to me by one of my best friends and it’s amazing, It’s a record of Ami Dang.

What are you obsessed with at the moment?

A band called Rare Silk and my dog, Galaxy.

If you could travel in time…where in time would you go? Why? 

Probably any upheaval in historical periods because it tells a lot about change, and change is constant.

Am I excited to dive into the challenges that I have lined up for the week?

Yes, of course.

Am I looking forward to engaging with the people I am meeting or working with?

Yes. I prepare for it.

Am I going to my dream job?

Yes and no. I love what I do now, which is being a full-time musician. But dreaming about being an alpinist. It’s literally a dream job because I’ll never have the guts to do what they do.

Am I being compensated fairly for the value I bring to my job?

Yes. Pretty much

Do I feel energised, rested, and confident?

Yes, yes, and sometimes.

If you were trapped on a desert island with one other person, who would you choose? How long would it be before you eat them?

Dora Marquez and I don’t think we’ll eat each other.

What’s your answer to everything?

Probably go full-on calisthenics.

Anything else we need to discuss?

Probably how can we sleep better?

Chinabot celebrate their 5 year anniversary at Space289 on 24th June.