English ballads and Thai pop: Tilly Birds
Posted on September 12, 2025
Joey Chou
Bangkok-based alternative rock trio Tilly Birds have carved out a name for themselves. Known for blending English and Thai lyrics, the group now turns a new page with their latest single Never a Waste of Time. We connected with them to talk about the song, their influences, and Thai horror movies.
Third (vocal), Milo (drums), Billy (guitar)
Who are some of the international artists that influenced you?
BILLY: Okay, I’ll give you three. So mine is Timbaland, Green Day, Red Hot Chili Peppers.
THIRD: Mine is Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, and I would say Mariah Carey.
MILO: Three of my all time favorite bands in very different times of my life…I first started with Dream Theater. One of the reason I started to play drums on my own. And the second one would be Kendrick Lamar, one of my biggest influences. “To Pimp A Butterfly” that’s a masterpiece. That’s also, like the hip hop corporate with jazz influence, how Thundercats produces. So yeah, Thundercat.
Do you prefer to write songs in English or Thai?
THIRD: Initially it was English and we changed to Thai and we had to adapt to it. You know, somehow. But since we’re used to it now, I think we enjoy both, writing in both Thai and English.
BILLY: In Thailand, I think we (Thai and Chinese) have the same issue, we have tones in our languages, right? That’s the big issue because English doesn’t have that. That’s the main difference.
THIRD: The words used in Thai songs are tone based. So if you have low notes, you have to use the low toned words. Otherwise we’re breaking the rules. But breaking the rules is not a bad thing to do. Some really try to break it, the norms of it. We’re simply in that era where anything can happen. Anything can be a song.
Tell us about the new song “Never a Waste of Time.”
So this song was composed originally by Milo. He was inspired for the band to have more ballads or more slow songs. Once I heard the melodies and the music, I thought of my relationship back then. It was brief, but it meant something. It was meaningful enough to be talked about. And so I wrote it basically to say sorry to her. Not exactly an apology, but it’s to let her know that it was brief but it was something. The boys put everything together and it became the song.
How does it thematically work into the next album?
BILLY: Never a waste of time is actually just a small part of the theme. I think the other two songs actually tell a better theme for the album, you know, and to listen to the whole thing, you will see an occurring theme among these songs and how they weave into each other. We have a few more singles and then the album is coming up. A very emotional album as well, but it also hits you hard when it needs to. And it’s going to be a full album in English. It features many songs. I can’t tell (you) how many. So yeah, can’t wait to show you guys.
It’s ghost month in Taiwan (Asia Pop 40 Headquarter) and soon Halloween. Can you explain why Thai ghost/horror films are so scary?
THIRD: I’ve been watching many horrors this year and they’ve been saying that when it comes to ghost stories, if you want authenticity, you have to come to the Southeast Asia. It’s not only in Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, around Thailand as well. But Thailand is famous for its horror movies. Comedy horrors, drama horrors. And most of them derive from true stories or are based on real events. And so people tend to think that Thailand is full of ghosts. Well, if you have sixth sense, then you probably might be in a bit of trouble living here. But if not, like me, then you’re fine. You won’t be able to see them or catch them or anything. They won’t harm you if you won’t mess with them first. It’s the first rule of being in a horror movie, you know? Don’t do stupid, don’t do bad things and just survive. Just live your life.
BILLY: Funny story to add is that. Once we explored Southeast Asia more and more, we (now) have friends across Southeast Asia. They’ve told me that they’ve seen an ad of a Thai TV commercial that features Thai folklore and ghosts. They say that we have the same ghosts. We have like same culture and horror is a cultural thing. But we just happen to have good horror directors, that’s all.
Milo (drums), Third (vocal), Billy (guitar)
