Interview: Drummer & Producer Salin on her New Album Rammana, Growing up in Thailand and the Impact of Thai Culture on her Music

Thai-born drummer and producer Salin Cheewapansri, known as Salin, moved to North America at the age of 19 to pursue her musical dreams - a journey that has since gifted the world with some of the most enlightening and transcendent music.

We discovered her music back in 2021 when Salin released her debut album Cosmic Island. Ever since that faithful release, Salin has done remarkable things, including performing at the Montreal International Jazz Festival and a spot on LA's notorious KCRW radio.

Today, we're at the cusp of the release of her highly anticipated sophomore record Rammana, scheduled for release on March 28th. With singles like "Painted Lady" and "Puaj", it's clear we're all eagerly anticipating what's next—because it’s bound to be nothing short of blissful and enlightening.

Being able to catch up with her in this pivotal moment of her journey felt likе a blessing. Hope you enjoy our conversation and get a glimpse into the world of Salin and Rammana.

Hi Salin, great having you here, and congrats on the album release! How do you feel (with a single word) right now?

I feel amazing! Really happy to be able to share part of my culture.

The Ramanna is a hand drum instrument from the Thai and Khmer cultures. What’s its significance in your life, and why did you choose it as the title of your sophomore album?

Rammana is a Thai drum, yes, but it’s also a traditional folk song of the Urak Lawoi. They are sea nomads with roots from Madagascar, in the Adang Achipelago to Papua New Guinea. So my theory is that they brought the African rhythms and music through the sea, mixed with Thailand's culture, and birthed the Rammana. That’s why I picked Rammana as the title of the album, as the link between two cultures, and how two cultures can learn from each other and unite. “Rammana” is also a song that I remixed in my album. You can listen to it on the last song of the album, and it’s out now.

How was the recording and creative process behind Rammana different than Cosmic Island?

It was very much an exploration and creation process. I didn’t know how to mix afro-jazz with traditional Thai music because no one was doing it before. Right now, the Thai music scene is booming, and it’s inspiring to see that many artists are mixing traditional Thai instruments with something else.

I did quite extensive research of the indigenous cultures in Thailand. There are about 260 tribes in Thailand, but I was able to cover only 2 tribes in this album. Imagine if I really spent time researching them more. I sampled what they do, learned about their culture, and tried to tell their story perhaps through a more modern expression of the music so that their knowledge and their sound can continue to express their identity in this modern world.

What is the most positive change in yourself you have seen since 2021 when Cosmic Island was released?

I’ve learned to appreciate my culture more and to love myself more unconditionally. I’ve also learned to trust in the universe's timing as well. 

What’s the biggest obstacle you had to overcome when it came to recording this album?

I think the hardest part was to make this record instrumental and also to make it authentically combine the genre that I love. I had no role model of how to do it, so a lot of it is figuring out as I go. I can’t wait to make the next one, from learning what I learned from “Rammana”.

I love how “Lam Intro” sets the tone from the get-go. What’s the rhythmic inspiration behind it?

I have a Congolese-Canadian percussionist/friend. His name is Elli-Miller Maboungou. His mom, Zab Maboungou, is a very well-known dancer, and I got to attend one of her concerts one day. She mixed traditional Congolese dance with contemporary dance. When I saw her perform, she would dance with Ngoma drums, which are the drums performed in Lam Intro. It was like a slow start and sped up to the end like a mantra that could last for an hour. In Isaan’s healing ceremony, they’d perform to heal the sick. The khene player would perform in a very similar way. The Khene player would play for hours until the sickness was healed. So I thought, why not start the album that way, to get people into the trance-like journey of rhythms and sounds.

What’s the perfect setting for a first-time listening experience of Ramanna?

What I love about it is that you can listen to it anywhere. Regardless of where, you can listen to it from start to finish.

Who was your inspiration (sonically, creatively) for the creation of the album?

There are a couple of funk artists I really like, such as The Meters, Khruangbin, and Lettuce. And then there are Thai artists such as HED, Groovy Doopy, and Rasmee Isaan Soul that I’m really inspired by. There are also African artists Fela Kuti, Sekou Keita Quartet, etc.

What was growing up in Bangkok like, and how did this influence your music today?

Growing up in Bangkok, I did hear some Morlam music, but it was still quite marginalized and frowned upon to be the music from the Northeast, and to be music that poorer people listened to. However, Morlam music is still the most listened to music all around Thailand next to Korean Pop, to this day. I wanted to try to incorporate Isaan music to de-marginalize and close this gap more. In Bangkok, a lot of artists have started mixing Morlam with hip-hop and pop, etc, but none with Afrobeat. Afrobeat is the genre that I love, so I wanted to try to mix them both and also because I see their similarities in where the upbeat goes and the groove.

In a recent interview, you mentioned the importance of showcasing Thai culture worldwide and encouraging Thai people to explore their own local and unique roots. Have you always felt this way, or it’s something you felt in recent years?

To be honest, before I started to make this album, I didn’t know much about Thai music or Thai Indigenous music. I heard it on the radio, but it’s something that I’m not familiar with or have any knowledge about at all. 

What’s planned for the rest of 2025 in the world of Salin?

We’re launching a KEXP Live Performance on April 17, and we’re also preparing for a US/ Canada tour this summer, a Europe and Asia tour in the Fall/Winter. It’s a very exciting time! I also can’t wait to be back in Thailand in December for my sister’s wedding. I do miss home a lot when I’m away, so I can’t wait to spend more time with my family after my world tour.

Are there any Thai artists the world should know about?

Yes! Check out HED, Groovy Doopy, Réjizz, Supergoods, and Rasmee Isaan Soul. There are so many and so exciting to see many awesome Thai bands now. 

If you can go in the studio with any artist out there, who would that be and why?

I just discovered OHMA, and honestly, it’s so calming and so good. They are the two women composers that I’d really love to work with. I’m curious to hear what if OHMA, Alissia, (( O )) and Erykah Badu go in studio together what type of stuff we would make.