THAI alt-pop band Tilly Birds is back with a new English single Retro-39, released globally on major streaming platforms on Oct 1.
Drawing on late 90s and early 21st-century nostalgia, the track highlights the band’s growth as artistes while aiming to capture the hearts of multiple generations with its upbeat and easygoing sound.
Retro-39 is Tilly Birds’ latest effort to expand its international audience. Over the years, the band played in festivals and concerts across Asia, always keen to perform for fans. Its previous English release, the rock track White Pills, became a setlist staple and reached listeners as far as Latin America earlier this year. Retro-39 marks its second fully English-language release, a collaborative effort from the trio with some input from their friend Pat, who added the final touches.
Third (vocals) explained that the band wanted something lighter after White Pills, and Milo (drums) added that having played Retro-39 live for two years, it was time for something new.
“Songs are like people; they age. This song made us realise we’re growing up and we needed to make music that reflects where we are in life now.”
Billy (guitar) and Milo started with a tune, but the name Retro-39 came later.
“At first, it was ‘double speakers’,” laughed Third.
After some struggles with rhymes, the trio turned to online resources and stumbled upon Retro-39, a tape recorder that eventually became the song’s title.
“It’s cool, but also, it was Google,” Billy joked.
The carefree process reflected the vibe of the single, which did not take long to complete. By the fifth demo, the song was ready and Billy even purchased a Retro-39 recorder, which arrived just as the band was about to record Third’s vocals.
“This thing gave me power,” Third quipped.
Third also took charge of directing the music video, stepping in when the band struggled to agree on a director. After a long flight back from Japan, he announced his vision for the video while waiting for luggage. He later co-directed it with Cehadoo, creating a nostalgic homage to romantic comedies like 500 Days of Summer, About Time and Love Actually, packing it with pop culture references from the trio’s generation.
“My love for romcoms shaped my childhood and my passion for film. These films are old enough now for us to revisit. When we finished the video, I was blown away. It’s exactly what we envisioned – a love letter to the retro era. Maybe it’s something our generation will want the next generation to look back on,” said Third.
Retro-39 is both a sentimental throwback and a fresh experience.
“This is probably the brightest song we’ve ever made, and we can’t wait for everyone to hear it,“ said Billy.
“We want this to be the first door people open to discover Tilly Birds. It’s a timeless pop jam,” added Milo.
