Strumming a New Economic Beat: Insights from Suphicha Teddaroon on Chiang Mai’s Music Scene

For many decades, the indie music scene in Chiang Mai has seen significant activity, much of which has been driven by a man with long hair working behind the scenes—‘Cha’ Supicha Teddaroon, also known by many as ‘Cha Harmo,’ a nickname derived from his former band Harmonica Sunrise.

Cha, a music enthusiast from Nakhon Sawan, moved to Chiang Mai to study engineering at Chiang Mai University. He formed a band with friends, producing music under Harmonica Sunrise, Suthep Band, and as a solo artist under the name ChaHarmo. Besides creating his own work, Cha has also been instrumental in organizing various music events in the province. His latest endeavor, under the name Chiang Mai Original, supports local Chiang Mai bands in getting their music known to the public.

Having been immersed in the music industry for years and traveling to participate in music events abroad, Cha noticed how other countries use music to drive their local economy. This inspired him to bring a similar concept back to Chiang Mai. His goal was to make music a part of the province’s economic engine, leading to the creation of the High Ho Chiang Mai event. The event, first held from September 15 to October 30, 2024, aims to boost Chiang Mai’s economy during the low tourist season by featuring local bands performing across various locations around the city, encouraging visitors to explore the region and enjoy live music.

“The idea for the High Ho Chiang Mai festival came from our desire to create music events purely for the sake of music. For a long time, Chiang Mai has had a lot of local bands, but for them to gain recognition, they often have to move to Bangkok. However, many musicians still want to stay in their hometown. We saw a growing number of new bands forming here, so we wanted to find a way to help them stay and thrive. That’s how Chiang Mai Original was founded,” Cha said.

Chiang Mai Original focuses on supporting the sustainability of the local music business by promoting and showcasing the work of Chiang Mai-based musicians. It acts as a mediator, helping to organize events where these artists can perform their original work, such as Chiang Mai Secret at One Nimman, where Cha has been involved, or the Chiang Mai Ho! Fest, a four-year-old music festival featuring numerous local bands. Additionally, Cha participated in the 2024 Gwangju Busking World Cup Festival in South Korea, which uses music to drive the local economy and promote the city’s image.

Inspired by the benefits of the busking festivals he observed, Cha collaborated with the CEA Chiang Mai (Creative Economy Agency) to create the Chiang Mai Busking Festival. This event showcases musicians performing in various districts of Chiang Mai, encouraging tourism while providing performance opportunities for local artists.

In addition to organizing events, Cha and fellow musicians recently formed the Chiang Mai Music Network, which brings together all sectors of the Chiang Mai music industry. Monthly meetings are held to discuss the current challenges facing the local music scene, including artists’ livelihoods, the quality of their work, and venue availability. As the music industry strengthens, the goal is to further use music to drive the city’s economy.

The Chiang Mai Music Network has also begun compiling crucial data on the local music scene, creating a database where musicians can register and event organizers can view artists’ information through the Chiang Mai Original website.

“During the rainy season, which is the low season for Chiang Mai, we saw that the city’s economy was sluggish, and fewer tourists were spending money. This directly affects the local music scene, as there are fewer opportunities for musicians to perform and earn a living. We came up with the idea to use a music festival to draw people to Chiang Mai during this season, and that’s how High Ho Chiang Mai came to be.

“For a full month, High Ho Chiang Mai will feature music performances across different venues in the city. The aim is to use music to light up various areas of Chiang Mai, encouraging people to visit new places while helping the local economy. At the same time, local musicians will have more opportunities to perform during the rainy season.

“Music is an integral part of Chiang Mai’s culture, and the city is known for producing many talented musicians, both in the past and present. It can be a key selling point for the province. If we strengthen Chiang Mai’s music scene, with locals organizing their own festivals, I believe that music can attract more visitors to the city. We’ve seen many examples of this abroad, and I believe that Chiang Mai has the potential to achieve this too. I dream of seeing that here,” Cha concluded.

For those interested in following Chiang Mai Original’s news, visit their Facebook page at Chiang Mai Original or Chiang Mai Original’s website. If you’d like to join the High Ho Chiang Mai music festival this rainy season, find more details at High Ho Fest linktree.