BK: When did your love for Lady Gaga start?
I’ve loved her since she released her first single “Just Dance” in 2008. But I didn’t truly become devoted to her until I saw her Paparazzi show on the MTV Music Awards 2009: the most epic stage performance ever, in my opinion. Before, Cher and Madonna were the only ones who could pull this off but now Lady Gaga brings us these stunning shows. I also feel that she’s clever. And I admire that she always fights for gay rights. I’m a transgender, so things that she says totally touch my heart: Be proud of what you are; we are different but we are all beautiful. Her album, Born This Way conveyed this message the best.

BK: When did you start to dress like her as Shade of Gaga?
I love her so much and I want to express to others that you can be whoever you want. I first dressed like her in a cheerleader competition a couple years ago. The audience really loved the show I put on with friends from the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, so I started dressing like her and haven’t stopped ever since. I wear dramatic Lady Gaga style dress in my daily life, like when I go hang out with friends at places like Siam Paragon.

BK: What’s your day job?
I quit my job as an online salesperson at the Nation Group six months ago because I got lots of jobs working as a Lady Gaga impersonator.

BK: How much do you earn?
I charge about B18,000 for a half-day performance, but it always depends on the expectations of the host. To be honest, sometimes I don’t end up with that much money since I have to pay my team members who all take care of the various details of the show like hair, make-up, fashion styling and choreography. That’s a total of five members. The most expensive dress that we’ve made cost about B20,000.

BK: Does it feel like leeching off her success?
I don’t mind. I will always love to dress like her. I also have a rule that I will not sell my costumes like other impersonators who are just trying to make a buck. It’s really insane to sell a pair of B8,000 shoes to students who love to dress like Gaga, but have to spend their parents money.

BK: Did you have any surgery to look more like her?
I upgraded my boobs to D70 and have already had a sex change. But for my face, I’ve only done Botox to make my cheeks smaller. Other than that, it’s all real.

BK: Do you have boyfriend?
Not yet, I’ve had some interest. I always tell them that I’m not a real woman and they are fine with it.

BK: As a little monster, what will you wear for her big concert next month?
I already have the dress I’m wearing planned out, but let’s leave it as a surprise. Interview by Monruedee Jansuttipan.
Shade of Gaga’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/shadeofgaga

Watching TV shows and tons of movies as a kid made me fall in love with this kind of stuff.

Making movies is magical. It’s an art that never gets boring. It’s not like painting where you have to show your work in an exhibition.

Making movies these days is much easier than before. You make them and then you can screen them anywhere.

New generations should be warned, they can’t just churn out material, just because it’s easy. They need to think first.

Making movies is an art, but there is also a science to it. And that you have to study.

The things that make you different from others are your creativity, patience and endurance.

I make movies to touch people. They may laugh or cry, but in the end, it’s nice to know that your message may help them.

I’d be so proud to know if my audience was thinking about my movie during difficult times and found themselves better able to cope as a result.

I experienced a crisis during the time that I dropped out of the movie scene. My parents both got cancer. It was such a shock having them both sick at the same time.

Crippling fear made me lose my inspiration, I didn’t want to lose them. This is why I only did small projects like Lud See Lud or 4 Romance.

Then I realized being stressed out is just a waste of time. Something like sickness can’t be controlled. All you can do is come to terms with the reality of the situation. I finally lost my father.

Losing a loved one has shaped me. If you have things that you want to do, do them. Tell those closest to you how much you love them. I was lucky to at least have two good years with my dad before he passed away.

Death isn’t something romantic. And it’s not a joke. When you truly face it, you have to understand that a part of your life is gone.

All these experiences influenced my comeback and the focus of my new movie. It’s all about good memories in life.

I chose to shoot in Chiang Mai because it’s my hometown. All my childhood memories are there.

I love to create with new, talented people. I love working with people who are smart and have ambition. Working with someone who’s just a good looking face but has no potential to create their own work is really no fun.

When I’m fed up with entertainment, and just want to take a break from my work, I don’t have a lot of options. I don’t want to go to the movies because I make movies, and I don’t want to listen to songs, because I compose them. The only option left is to travel.

I love the sea and remote mountains. I can cut myself off from the city and turn off my phone for a few days.

Money means nothing in those places. You don’t have to act posh or consume things in order to look good in other people’s eyes.

Being with nature makes you know yourself better. And helping others can create inspiration.

I love talking to strangers. It’s very fulfilling. My life doesn’t seem to provide me with many difficult or interesting topic to discuss, but other people’s lives are so interesting.

You need to separate your feelings at work and at home. Otherwise your life is going to be a mess.

It’s beautiful to be different. If we all thought the same things, how could we really call ourselves a democracy?

I am really a geek. I always produce a system that allows me to work with others as effectively as possible—a program on our phones or emails. It really saves time.

I made my first movie [Pisaj, 2004] at 22, everyone was older than me back then.

You need to be steadfast and have a clear vision to gain credibility.

Don’t listen to bad comments and never stray from your own inner voice.

BK: Have you always liked animation?
I loved to watch cartoons on Channel 9 every weekend. It really made me love anime. I like ones that have lots of characters like Pokemon or Digimon. There are lots of hidden meanings about life in them, too.

BK: So, you started drawing cartoons?
No, not at all. My first love is actually computers but, my parents, who are both farmers in Phetchabun, didn’t have enough money to buy me a computer. All I could do was pursue my interests through reading books. I used to love computer books as well as the epic myth stories about the Hindi gods; they’re so supernatural and super fun. Anyway, I had the chance to take computer classes at school and more special computer courses in my hometown. I knew how to use a computer, I just didn’t have one of my own. The first time I got a PC was when I moved to live with my aunt in Samut Prakarn in grade 10.

BK: When did you start making anime?
In my first year at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMIT). I heard that there was a Thailand Animation Contest (TAC) so my friends and I decided to enter. We made it into the final round two years running and we got to learn about how to make animation using free software. I then managed to get on the Talent Development Program for International Animation Contest (TIC). It was through this that I was able to send my work, Buddhist Elation, to the Asia Digital Art Awards 2011. There were more than 1,000 animations submitted, but I managed to get a Finalist Prize, it’s like an honorable mention. They said I am the first Thai to win this award.

BK: What is your dream?
I know that my work isn’t that great, so I will definitely look to improve both my skills and my storytelling style. I dream of making a long movie featuring characters that I love, maybe those from the Ramayana. And it must be all made using freeware. It’s kind of my personal challenge. I always hear people say that you have to have cool software to make a cool animation. But I think it doesn’t matter if you use free or expensive software. It’s all about your ability and imagination to create good work. I also dream of opening an animation studio, but it’s way too soon. I have to make money first.

BK: What do you think makes a good animator?
You must be patient because the process really takes time. Sometimes I get very little sleep for two weeks just for a 10-minute animation. If you can’t do animation, no matter your money or skill, you just have to keep practicing and build up your creativity, which is the most important part. Sure you need to be as skillful as everyone else, but it’s creativity that will ensure that you get ahead of them.

Translator Device from Sanchai Noichan on Vimeo.

BK: How do you get together?
Beer: Some of the members plus our friends from high school entered the Hot Wave music competition back in 2003. We got as far as the last ten but nothing happened, so we separated to study at university. My brother—Bee, fellow member Nueng and I went to study at Silpakorn University where were formed another band that was signed by GMM. But we never had the chance to release an album.

BK: What happened?
Beer: Lots of things. Our record label was closed down and we were transferred to another label. But the ultimate reason was we felt that our music, when produced by other producers, didn’t reflect us so we quit GMM. We continued to work the way we wanted, as an indie group until we met Mono Music. They agreed to let us work the way we want.

BK: Why choose Run Ran Run to be your name?
Beer: It reflects our passion for music as we used to run and now we’re running and we will continue to run on the music road forever.
BK: Have you ever consider quitting the music scene?
Beer: We did. We had fights and things didn’t go as we expected. But we’ve been friends for so long we finally patched things up. Then we released our first single and it got a huge response. Now we’re releasing our new single, “Ya Se.”

BK: If you could run anywhere, where would you run?
Beer: I want to run to the future. I am curious to see if I am going to be thinking the same way at 50 as I do now?
Nueng: I want to run beneath the waves. I always heard that we know more about the universe than we do about what’s in our oceans. I want to run in there to see what it looks like.
Bee: I want to run on a real running track. I’ve never run on one before. It would be a great feeling.

BK: What are you day jobs?
Beer: I’m a freelance producer. I compose songs a
nd play music at night. We play at Wink (Ratchayothin Road) every Saturday.
Bee: I’m a drum teacher but I only teach privately.Win: I work at an event organizer. We do everything from events to creating jingles for commercials.
Test: I work at The War Veterans Organization of Thailand by day and play music by night.
Nueng: I’m a music tutor at MAESTRO for students who aspire to get into music faculties at universities. I’m also a freelance producer. I once produced a song for a kindergarten. It’s a cute song for children to sing in the morning.

Kids shouldn’t be allowed to work in the entertainment industry. It’s not a place for them. Kids should go to school and socialize and play with friends.

Working at a young age can change you. It can inflate your ego because of all the compliments and pampering from others. It doesn’t need to be that way. Children should learn about the value of things and learn things themselves.

I hated it and decided to quit the industry when I was 14.

I told my parents that I wanted to quit and they said yes right away. But I had to wait until my contract with RS was over. I wasn’t interested in performing on stage anymore.

My teacher told me that what I’d done was really hard but I didn’t get her point at the time. All I wanted was to just stop working and get back to enjoying a normal life. I wanted to go to school. I wanted to wakeboard. I wanted to have a girlfriend. I wanted to grow up without having any demands on my time.

Now I understand her. I realize that I left something huge behind. I only saw things in black and white, not grey. I could make the decision because I wasn’t worried about the future or money. But I believe I did make the right choice.

I felt fulfilled to live my private life again. I’m lucky that I had good people around me. They always treated me like I was just a boy, not a public figure.

I went to New York and worked with Montonn “Jay” Jira. We released our co-produced electro-pop album Katsue in 2004. Then I went to study Media Culture in Australia for four years.

Studying made me realize that I knew nothing about the entertainment business, although I’d worked in it for years. I was innocent. I found out how the media influences entertainment with materialism, illusion and propaganda.

I had lots of ideas and enthusiasm when I came back to work in Thailand with Montonn. I tried to create a new kind of marketing by using social media for his Samutprakarn Sound. But it wasn’t that successful. It was too early to do that 3-4 years ago.

The world doesn’t run as fast as my brain. Now my big dreams and big plans are gone. And it’s hard to find people to help you achieve your dream.

It’s also hard to find someone that you love to work with. I’m lucky, I really enjoy working with Montonn.

Just do work with friends, not business. My father told me doing business with friends will affect your friendship. I don’t want it to happen with me. So I told Montonn, “I will do my work but this is your baby. You take care of it under your name but we work together.”

We are producing our new Katsue project and always DJing at pubs. I’m also building a clothing brand with my brother. It’s a new urban streetwear brand called Damien Lea. I get lots of new inspiration from doing these things.

I am loving my comeback as Raptor. The huge hype from fans isn’t my main motivation though. I just see it as a challenge, I want to make better work than I’ve done before.

It’s a little awkward for me and Louis [his fellow band member] to dance like we used to ten years ago. It’s hard to get the energy back and remember the old steps.

Our show last year was brilliant. We had a great chemistry with the audience. I never got such a huge reaction before in my life. Now I am eager to experience it again with this concert.

I want a James Bond life that has adventure, that sees me flying around the world and living on the beach. I registered to train to be a pilot but I failed the test. I might try again.

I love being spontaneous. I don’t know if something is good or not but when I do it on instinct, good things always happen to me. I think it’s a skill that i picked up from my wakeboarding.

My life is pretty rollercoaster but I’m still alive. That means I’ve done something right.

Exploring the world alone is a cliché for me now. I backpacked everywhere for about 10 years so it’s gotten kind of repetitive. It’s hard to find a destination that’s still raw and natural. Tourism ruins everything.

Now I want to travel with the one I love. The one I want to spend my life with.

It’s good to be successful and still spend your life the way you want. Not just rushing do things to get money. I want to be like that.

Believe in yourself. When you believe in yourself, the world will be your oyster.

BK: How did you become involved in this movie?
It was kind of an accident. My friend heard that the producers of the movie were casting and she wanted to go. She asked me to tag along and the producer asked me to cast, too. We didn’t take any of this seriously. We were actually just on our way to a party. But then I was picked.

BK: So what are your plans now?
I just graduated from Suansunantha University where I studied cinema. But I don’t think I’m going to fulfill my dream as a filmmaker anymore. It’s just too difficult. Now I’m going to open a mobile shop with my brothers at MBK called Avolution. Look for us on the 4th floor, on the Tokyo side.

BK: When did you realize you’re gay?
When I was about 16. Before that, I had no idea that I actually like women. I didn’t even know what a tomboy was. All I knew was that I just love to look at girls more than boys! I studied at a mixed sex school. I was so confused. I asked myself, “Am I a tomboy?” But I finally made up my mind one night. I woke up and told my mom, “I will be a tomboy.” She didn’t take it seriously. She joked, “OK, just try for three days.” But it has lasted until now.

BK: Are your parents acceptant?
Yes, I think they like it. They are so chill. All they say is that I have to be a good person, that’s it. They also trust me to do some business for them, as if I were a guy. My two older brothers are also cool with this. One even boasts to friends that his tomboy sister is in the movies now.

BK: Do you have a girlfriend?
Not now. I’ve been single for two years after I have broke up with my girlfriend of five years. I was really hurt and worried. I wondered, who is going to love me for real? My mom even teases me about going back to being a “lady,” then I will find love. But I can’t do that. I can’t change myself. Now I feel much better and understand the problem. My ex and I had both changed. And I am happy to be single now. I feel free. I don’t want to rush into having a new lover. But if I am lucky, I will find the right one for me in the end.

BK: Do you think about working in the entertainment industry?
Not really. I don’t know what the future will hold. I will concentrate on my own business like my parents always have. I dream of opening a Thai restaurant as my mom can cook lots of great recipes that are super delicious. I also love cooking as well. I’m trying to learn more recipes from her. I can do quite a few now.

Why is this the right time for your first big concert?
People, well, sponsors, thought that I could only sing sad songs. Finally, I’m being given a chance to prove that I can do more than that.

Is that “sad song” image something you would like to get rid of?
I don’t actually. It makes me keen to go out and meet people. I love to see their reactions when they find out I’m actually very different from what they thought. People always imagine that I must be this thirty-something singer who is quiet and boring. They are all surprised to learn that I’m actually young, talkative and funny.

You don’t want to try another style?
I do like R&B. I like the rhythm but I don’t have that much skill to sing like that. Also producers say my voice is good for sad love songs.

Are you often sad?
Not at all. I always think positive and am happy with everything in my life. But I am a sensitive person. I always cry during movies that others just feel so-so about. So singing sad songs is kind of a therapy for me to get into these sad feelings that I don’t really experience in real life.

What were you up to before your comeback?
With GMM, sales didn’t go that well. I decided to sing in pubs because I wanted to get over my stage fright. And also I could earn some money.

And how did YouTube start?
I stopped singing at pubs a couple years ago, but I felt my relationship with my fans had been cut. I missed it, so YouTube allowed me to get in touch, to gauge their reactions. Another reason is also the fact that I can design anything on my channel. I can sing songs that I like, even if they’re not popular.

Have you finally made it?
I think so, yes. It’s not about how famous I am or the sales of my albums. I measure success by the fans who say my songs changed their life. There was a fan who wrote me a letter and said she was this close to committing suicide until she heard “Gon Hin Gon Nun,” and that gave her inspiration to live her life again.

What about the lesbian rumors?
It’s quite annoying. But I always say to my fans that I am a pretty lady waiting for the right guy. And I hope he loves music like me.

What is the important thing for you?
Love. I think it is the only thing that you don’t have to work hard for. It’s the thing that can make you feel rich because you never run out of it when you give it away.
 

I always wanted to run a supermarket. I loved going to them when I was young. I loved to see how they ran. Why did they choose to place this product here? What’s the most popular product?

Having a dad and an uncle working at the Ministry of Finance influenced me to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford. So many important figures graduated from there, like English prime ministers David Cameron, Tony Blair and Harold Wilson.

I had never worked before I graduated. My childhood was all about studying and playing sports in school.

At my first job interview, the manager asked me “How could I trust a man who has never worked before?” I answered “I’m sure you have a keen eye for spotting talent.” They asked me back but I ended up working for a London-based investment bank. I think it was a better choice.

I wanted to come back to Thailand after witnessing how far behind our financial industry was compared to Europe or even other Asian countries. I wanted to develop our financial industry and I saw an opportunity to build my own business. I opened my own securities company called JF Thanakom at the age of 24.

I didn’t take advice from others. I was fearless and daring enough to open my own company instead of working for someone to gain more experience. If I had listened to others, I’d still be working for someone else.

I saw the financial crisis coming two years before it happened in 1997. My staff wouldn’t believe me but we began implementing methods to protect ourselves from the disaster. We were one of the few to survive.

I achieved my goal. I wanted to create a good company but I always remembered my ex-boss’s words: “Don’t fall in love with your investment.” So in 2001, it was the right time to sell. That was a big decision.

You have to go against the current if you want to be successful. If they’re selling, you’re buying. If they’re buying, you’re selling. That’s how it works.

After working for 19 years, I felt I wanted to start doing something new with my life. I was 40 and I had used my knowledge to benefit my family. Now I wanted to use it to help others, like my dad and my uncle had as public servants. That spirit is still in me.

When I told them that I wanted to be a politician, they didn’t support me but they respected my decision. They said this country would be more developed if it weren’t for politicians.

I chose the Democrat Party because I like their political ideology and I already knew some members, like Abhisit Vejjajiva who was my senior at Oxford.

I was so naïve about politics. Luckily I had good teachers who are all veteran politicians in the party.

My favorite thing about being a politician is going out on the street to meet people.

The most boring thing in politics is dealing with other MPs to push policy through. They exhaust me.

I ignore people who are skeptical of how I can work for poor people coming from an elite background. I put my best effort into creating policies that help everyone. That’s all the proof you need.

The reason the Democrats always lose might be because we are too idealistic. We think we can convince people with realistic policies. Compare that to our competitors like Pheu Thai, who just use words to stir people—well, they win.

I am one of the first Thai politicians to use social networks in the political field. It’s really a good tool to communicate with people; better than waiting for the media to give you a platform to express yourself.

I prefer Facebook to Twitter. Twitter is too short and too fast to express anything important. On Facebook, I can spend time really crafting the message.

If you ask my wife what I’m crazy about, apart from politics, she would say golf.
I love the challenge. I have to plan each shot and it helps focus my thoughts.

I’m a concerned father. My daughter was approached by a modeling agency. She’s just 14. I didn’t stop her, though.

The best thing that happened to me is my family. Especially my dad and uncle who made me the man I am today.

I planned to be a politician for 15 years but I feel I want to do something else for the next chapter of my life. I don’t know what I’m going to do, though. I just let it be.