KIKI started during the pandemic, learning to play together in unexpected situations and trusting that timing and chemistry would carry them. With a carefree sound that captures youth and refuses to stay in one box, they’ve built a vibe that connects across different crowds and moments.
Now they are stepping into BUDWEISER‘S MUSIC IS YOURS TO TAKE, PRESENTED BY HYPEBEAST, happening on October 17 in Bangkok. The event celebrates music and culture in Southeast Asia, bringing together creators who move to their own rhythm and are unafraid to push things forward. For KIKI, it is a chance to share their journey, the influences that shaped them, and the energy they are bringing to the stage in Bangkok.
Read our full conversation with KIKI and see how they are shaping their sound and story.
HB: KIKI will be performing at Budweiser’s Music Is Yours To Take presented by Hypebeast, a movement that celebrates creators who own their rhythm and redefine the scene. As part of this movement, what are you most excited about?
KIKI: We’re mostly excited about the doors of opportunity this event has to offer for us. It has always been that way for us as we’re very accustomed to performing for crowds that we’re unfamiliar with. It’s something we look forward to see what the crowd has to offer while we work on the setlist for this peculiar show.
HB: How did the band first come together, and what connected you musically?
KIKI: We came together during COVID where most bands have zero to no chance to perform at any venues. Boredom kicked in and our passion rose more than ever to deliver something new. It’s important to keep in mind that KIKI is not something deliberate and that timing and chemistry are what contribute to our very existence today.
HB: If you had to explain KIKI’s sound without using musical terms, how would you describe it?
KIKI: We’d say that we’re “reckless” and “careless” at the same time. The thoughts of others meant little or had little impact on the direction on where we plan on going and we truly feel that that is the beauty that lies underneath KIKI’s creation.
HB: What’s the most unexpected influence—musical or non-musical—that has shaped your sound?
KIKI: Being able to travel abroad and discover new sounds and meet new people along the way. How is that unexpected you may say? it’s because we never thought our music would take us to places that it did. Different crowds and people offer different energy and that’s where we source our main inspiration to carry on with what we’re doing and we’re grateful for it all.
HB: KIKI’s music carries a sense of raw youthfulness. How do you keep that energy alive as your sound evolves?
KIKI: Experience is one of the main keys that keeps us going. This is relative to the question above as it fuels the passion on what we’re able and still doing today. Nothing is ever taken for granted and nothing is ever overlooked. Everything we’ve emotionally and physically experienced contributed to our very being today.
HB: What’s one song in your catalog that feels the most “KIKI,” and why?
KIKI: Love is so unreal would be the song that we choose. There isn’t much to explain the depth of it but more towards the process of getting this song done from our end. We wanted this track to be more of a ‘storytelling’ song and a philosophical track where people can have their food for thought when it comes to their intimate relationship with their significant other.
HB: Performing in Bangkok comes with its own vibe. How does the city influence the way you connect with your audience?
KIKI: Bangkok is the heart and the light of our everyday lives as we live here. Being able to see the crowd react to our shows starting from the very beginning to this very day makes a whole difference to how we see the way the “city” reacts to something we once thought was hard to connect to, and that truly means more than the world to us. Even if we’ve had a chance to perform overseas, nothing beats the heart and the love from the people from your hometown – that is something truly magical to experience.
HB: How do you balance making music that resonates locally in Thailand while reaching for a global audience?
KIKI: We don’t. Everything we design and do is applied to all audiences and we feel that segmenting the audience is ridiculous. Music should be a universal thing and it shouldn’t have a specific way on trying to make our songs work despite different audiences we get to meet.
HB: What kind of emotional “aftertaste” do you want listeners to have after experiencing a KIKI song?
KIKI: We don’t usually expect much. It’s not really our job or concern to foreshadow what the audience had to offer for us. We just want them to have fun and want them to forever ask for more. The party shall never ever end.
HB: How do fashion and style play into KIKI’s identity as performers?
KIKI: To be honest, fashion was never our forté. We dress as we want and we be who we want. The representation of what we do is beyond the realm of our appearance and that isn’t because we don’t care about it, but because we’re not really good at it. The focus just naturally shifts to something that we’re more acquainted to more than something that we wish we’d be in the eyes of the ‘fashion’ society.
HB: Bangkok is becoming a rising hub for new music in Southeast Asia. How do you see KIKI fitting into that story?
KIKI: We see ourselves as a slowly integrated indie band. Nothing is and was ever rushed with us in the Thai indie scene, but it’s a relief to see the progress of the indie scene today (speaking of 2025) and growth is something we always aim for. It’s a pleasant scene to see and experience.
HB: Budweiser’s Music Is Yours To Take presented by Hypebeast platform highlights music and culture. With a stage this special, what is one key message you want KIKI to leave with your fans and new listeners?
KIKI: We want them to see what we have to offer to new listeners and the world of music. To us, music shouldn’t be framed, defined or judged by a particular genre or style. Just enjoy what we have to perform for you guys as much as we have the joy in curating the songs for you guys.
