The question of identity in the diaspora has long been a driving force behind the creation of art and music among artists – processing emotions, channeling anger, expressing feelings. With „What Does a Memory Sound Like?“Cologne-based producer Smiki invites us to join him on a deeply personal journey through his own exploration of a Thai-German identity while elegantly playing with sounds and beats.
The motivation for „What Does a Memory Sound Like?“ was driven largely by the absence of Thai sounds in the German music scene. “None of my friends or people around me had ever heard of or listened to music from Thailand. For instance, we had a Middle Eastern sample wave about 20 years ago, which is making a comeback now. So I thought, why not start the same conversation with Thai sounds?” he explains. The tracks feature sounds from across the world spanning the last 70 years, mainly sampling Thai shadow music classics from the 60’s like „The Son Of P.M. – Hey Klong Yao“ and mixing it with Middle Eastern and European sounds from the 60’s and 70’s. The production of the album took about a year, during which Smiki embarked on a personal journey through the music of his cultural heritage.
He discovered entirely new genres from various regions of Thailand, as well as new melodies, sampling techniques, and instruments. Traditional flutes, known as khaens, stand out on the tracks with their distinctive tones, layered over modern drums and beats, creating a unique listening experience that balances tradition, nostalgia, and contemporary sounds without losing its Thai character. It’s no coincidence that while listening, you might feel as though you’re walking through the streets of 1990s Bangkok, only to suddenly find yourself back in the present moment. The album’s title has existed for three years. “None of my previous projects really captured the essence of ‘What Does a Memory Sound Like?’ represents. But this album is so carefully crafted and conveys emotions that finally feel worthy of the title,” Smiki says.
»SMIKI is a protégé in the underground Producer & DJ scene, a rough diamond with raw potential. «
His fascination with sampling and music production began during his school years, where he would spend hours watching videos and streams from channels like KennyBeats, Mai and others. In clubs, you’d find him in the first row, right by the DJ booth, closely observing the artists’ techniques to understand how sounds and beats evolved. When one of his favorite DJ’s noticed his interest one night, he invited him behind the booth, smirking about the situation and letting him take control of the decks. “The moment I realized I made the beat change and saw how the crowd reacted, I knew I wanted to be a part of it,” he recalls. Using cracked production software, Smiki began creating his own music. Though he initially gravitated towards electronic music, he soon discovered that genres like Hip-Hop, Soul, and RnB allowed him to express his emotions and visions more vividly—genres that continue to shape his music today. His debut beat tape likely falls into the Hip-Hop category, though Smiki leaves the interpretation up to his listeners. Both technically and musically, he has been influenced by artists he admired early on, such as Sango, who samples and creates rhythms from Brazilian music that are rarely found in the mainstream.
For the producer, releasing and performing his music, whether through published tracks or live gigs, is about exposing his vulnerability and opening himself up to others. But it’s also a tool to help others connect with their own emotions. “When my music helps people get in touch with their own feelings, and I can see that through a smile on their face or the way they move to it, it makes me feel deeply and reminds me why I keep doing this,” he reflects. And he continues to do so—before the release of his debut, he is already working on his next project. He draws inspiration primarily from collaboration and exchange with other creatives, especially as a part of the Heavy Feelings collective, of which he has been a full member since February this year. His Beat Tape will be available on all streaming platforms starting September 27th.
If you asked Smiki which track is special he would answer “All of them, but be ready for the last one”. And if you’d ask him about the best way to listen to his beat tape, he’d say to play it chronologically – a classic. But with a playful grin and laughingly, he’d also shout at you to turn off Spotify’s crossfade so you don’t mess up the experience.
