Congolese musician Herve Gama Bongela came to Thailand in the hope that the experience would broaden his horizons as an up-and-coming singer/songwriter. What was supposed to have been a year-long visit stretched to nine. Despite the ups and downs he has faced so far, Bongela seems pretty contented with the way things have turned out for him.
Herve Gama Bongela, left, with the band CH2.
The 30-year-old tenor, who is with Novotel Ploenchit’s resident house band, CH2, was born in Kinshasa, the capital and the largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“Congolese are passionate about music, so you can hear people sing and dance everywhere. Much of our music is influenced by Latin American rhythm, however, it is rare to have Congolese musicians develop music for the masses. Our music style is the rumba, not pop or hip hop, which has a larger audience.
“To gain a better knowledge of world music, one needs to travel outside the country, so when my sister, who had visited Bangkok as a tourist, suggested I visit Thailand to experience the wide selection of music played by both Thai and foreign musicians at clubs around the capital, I took up the challenge.”
Bongela, a psychology major, discovered his passion for music while singing in the church choir, describing his talent as God-given, he wrote his first song at the age of 11.
What part of your work do you love the most?
I love to create new melodies. When I am able to infuse beats from two different cultures to come up with an original musical piece can be highly satisfying for me as a musician. It could be bringing in some Indian music roots and mixing them with African roots, the end result can sometimes prove a winner.
I hope to one day be able to mix local Thai beats to Congolese sounds to create an unprecedented brand of music.
How was Bangkok’s nightlife live music scene a decade ago?
It was more low-key, largely dominated by Filipino musicians. There was a sprinkle of Thai music talent back then because their English was not as good as it is today and there weren’t as many singing contests as there are now.
Expat musicians, such as myself and others, began to make their presence felt in greater numbers throughout the years. So far, I have met musicians from such faraway destinations as Cameroon, Jamaica, Brazil and Mexico. Most play here as solo artists or in a Filipino band.
Unlike in the past, today bands have a multicultural ambience. So you might see a Thai playing in a band with members from the Philippines, Brazil and Mexico.
What circumstances led you to play in Filipino bands?
As a Christian, I began attending the International Christian Assembly (ICA) church when I first arrived in Thailand.
There I began playing in the church band which consisted largely of Filipino musicians, who had jobs playing at hotel lobbies, clubs etc.
They were the ones that gave me the opportunity to pursue my passion for music by inviting me to join their band. Since then I have always played in bands consisting of Filipinos.
What obstacles did you face in the beginning of your career?
One was probably the need for me to learn more about the Filipino style of playing. We come from very different musical backgrounds, so there was a lot of catching up for me. I was used to energetic dance beats back home, so I had to adjust and fit into a different musical repertoire that varied in tempo.
I had to also learn what type of music each of the venues I played at enjoyed. At the end of the day, the audience needs to be familiar with the tunes musicians play. I do a lot of my learning by sitting and listening to other musicians. I like to observe and learn from them. To entertain people we have to also be innovative in our approach towards the tunes we play. So we might change the tune to a popular song to add a freshness to it. I am always looking for ways to introduce, not just the Congolese beat, but also beats from other countries into present day music.
What is your signature beat?
I would best describe my signature beat as being predominantly reggae, with a blend of hip hop and pop. To enable myself to keep abreast of new sounds I listen to a lot of different types of music from around the globe.
How do you view the local beat (type of music local Thai bands play)?
I find it interesting, especially the signature guitar beat, which seems to be a part of most of the melodies. I try to improvise this sound in some songs just to see how it comes out. If it works, the band keeps it, otherwise I believe it was worth the try.
What are the challenges of being an expat musician?
When you’re not on a contract, it can be difficult. People have to keep in mind that the immigration laws keep changing, so it is always advisable to be a law-abiding expat. The money might be good, but it is not worth the headache.
Competition is also stiff today because we have a number of talented musicians, both locals and expats. This is why it is pivotal to create your individual style, to show your employer that you have something unique to offer.
