It turns out Nene Royal isn’t the only junior rock star to come out of Thailand this year! Bangkok’s finest schoolboy band Newroof gained international attention in August 2026 with their thunderous live cut of Muse’s “Hysteria”. With that monstrous bass riff and complex guitar and drum grooves, “Hysteria” has long been an infamous challenge among musicians, but these young lads absolutely nailed it. And what’s even more impressive, they did it all in one live take with zero cuts – no studio tricks needed here, folks!
Fronted by singer Jan Nai alongside guitarists Ninja and Ohm, bassist Anpan, and drummer Namprik, the group attacks the alternative rock benchmark with striking precision. Nailing that iconic bassline is the first thing that catches your attention. But the whole band really crushed this. Ninja and Ohm were ALL over those guitar lines, which included that absolutely nutty harmonised guitar solo at 2:25.
We also have to give it up for Namprik’s drum prowess. Playing those syncopated hi-hat grooves while keeping the beat so rock solid is not an easy task. Muse is really no joke to cover. Singer Jan Nai also excelled, not only by hitting the notes but doing an incredible job by singing in English – few Thai kids his age could boast that level of English proficiency.
This polished ensemble playing did not appear out of thin air. Mentored through New Wall Academy by Kru New, Newroof has spent serious time sharpening their chops on Thailand’s youth competition circuit. The band earned recognition at the Valaya Alongkorn Music Competition and picked up campaign honors at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. They also proved their live credentials by earning a finalist spot in the secondary school division at the MBK Center Music Band Challenge, turning their rigorous rehearsal room work into solid stage experience. Newroof’s second-most popular cover is their take on Guns N’ Roses’ classic “Sweet Child O’ Mine”.
The performance has resonated far beyond local competition stages, racking up nearly 300,000 views on YouTube. Listeners have flocked to the comment section to praise the group’s technical poise. One viewer remarked that it was good to see kids this age still digging this kind of music. Another commenter pointed out that Muse songs are some of the toughest rock covers to take on, specifically because they test every corner of a band’s coordination across vocals, bass, guitar and drums.
The performance has also tapped into growing enthusiasm for Thailand’s rising wave of young rock players. Online listeners have drawn comparisons to fellow Thai prodigies like Nene Royal, who gained international attention performing “Hysteria” on America’s Got Talent. While Newroof follows their own distinct path as a tight-knit school band, the excitement surrounding their performance speaks for itself. By taking on an alt-rock giant and delivering it with relentless drive, these young musicians prove that the future of rock is in safe hands!