Amidst the vibrant buzz of this month, LadPhriw emerges as the ultimate go-to spot for unwinding. A collective effort of 13 creative minds, LadPhriw knows no bounds. From impressive promotions to a diverse musical backdrop, this new sanctuary tucked away in Lat Phrao has perfected the art of creating an environment tailored for relaxed musical enjoyment. Today, we had the honor of dropping by, and we're excited to acquaint you with one of its driving forces, ปนัดดา “Bee” ใบคำเลิศ.

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ปนัดดา “Bee” ใบคำเลิศ

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Where does the name “LatPhriw” come from?
“Naming a place can often be one of the toughest challenges, yet it took us less than half an hour. Thanks to the creative prowess of one of our partners, Yuthana “Ted” Boonorm, LadPhriw was born. We actually handed this task to him straight away because, among all the partners, he seemed to have the best knack for creative naming. He vanished for just 15 minutes and returned with a list of ten names. But there was one name that caught our attention - “LadPhriw.” It sounded so fitting, evoking a sense of tranquility, chill vibes, and letting go. And it truly syncs with the neighborhood. There’s a playfulness to it too. The word “phriw” is normally spelled with an “L,” but we wanted to use an “R” instead. We even consulted with Kru Tom because we didn’t want to get canceled (laughs). He assured us it’s all good.”

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The idea behind LadPhriw

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“I already had a business in this neighborhood. Even though there’re already many hang-out spots from the main road up to Soi 10, it’s still not enough to accommodate the number of people coming. Seeing the place got packed to the brim one night led me to link up with Wat, the owner of Highland, Pla, the manager, and Jirakorn or Bank, the manager of the band Bomb at Track. As for Ted, prior to this, we had done a project together called “Perd Muak.” He approached us for investment when I posted about it on Facebook. I thought he was joking at first! Then we brought in one more partner, X, the drummer from the band Papiyong Kookkook. Collectively, we have around 13 partners in total.”

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one of LadPhriw’s partners ชัยวัฒน์ “Wat” บานใจ

Evolution of the nightlife scene in the post-Covid era

Even though it might be premature to refer to the current time as the ‘post-Covid era,’ there is an unmistakable shift taking place. People are gradually reuniting in their quest to reintroduce a sense of normality into their lives. As proprietors who were among the first to reopen, we wanted to know if she’s observed any shift in social interactions and cultural trends, both at the peak of the pandemic and in its aftermath.

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What notable changes have you noticed?
“Ultimately, people are craving face-to-face interactions, conversations, and live music. It’s a way to break the monotony of working from home or online learning. I’ve noticed how our customers have come to prefer a spacious and open atmosphere. Generation Z is growing up and they’re looking for something new, something to experiment with, and a chance to experience the culture of those who are older. We use music to bridge the gap between the two generations and bring them together.”

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“The music we curate at our venue spans across the 80s and 90s, encompassing both Thai classics and international hits. We want to emphasize that these are tunes you won’t easily come across in other nearby venues. Mainstream hits aren’t our focus. Our playlist features tracks that might not be instantly recognizable, but they have the potential to become memorable after a listen. We wouldn’t exactly categorize it as ‘indie,’ though. We believe that those who come to LadPhriw aren’t seeking out heavy rock or the latest chart-toppers that everyone sings along to. Instead, we provide a selection of mellower, more melodious tunes.”

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Like visiting a friend’s place

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“X helped us with furniture selection and overall decor. He chose the beds for our performance area because he mentioned that when people visit a friend’s place, they tend to sit on the bed. The pricing for food here isn’t extravagant. We want our guests to truly feel like they’re in a friend’s cozy home. When they receive the bill, we want it to be in line with what they’d spend when eating at a friend’s place. It's a price that’s easy on the wallet, making it more likely for them to come back again.”

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A platform for artists of all ages
“This place fulfills our longstanding dream. It’s a space where musicians, both newcomers and established names, can perform small gigs. We want to offer emerging artists a chance to showcase their talents, build a fanbase, and gain valuable experience.”

‘No-entry’ concept

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“In this tight-knit industry, we can spot the troublemakers once they’re a few drinks deep. When they refuse to call it a night, shutting down becomes a whole ordeal for us. So, we had this quirky idea – like those ‘most wanted’ posters, but with a ‘no-entry’ twist. Not a total ban, obviously, but a watchful eye kinda thing. Ted loved it when he saw it. Next thing we know, those posters blew up online, and people started recognizing our joint. They even turned into a photo backdrop, and some customers thought those people were our partners!”

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Would you like to plug anything for your bar?

“Recently, a bunch of people have been kicking back at their friends’ pads. But if your buddy’s place isn’t set up for about ten people, why not check this place out? You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the vibes, great grub, and tunes. If anyone’s keen on throwing art shows, parties, fan meet-ups, or anything like that, we’re all ears! Down the road, we’re even thinking of transforming into a co-working space during the day. We’ve noticed the shortage of cool spots with affordable food, power outlets, Wi-Fi, bathrooms, and AC around here, so we want to create a space you can enjoy both during the day and into the night. We’ll need to sort out the nighttime setup first, though, considering we’ve only been open for just over ten days.”

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