BK: How would you describe your music?
Noth: We try to put new things in our songs, so we call it experimental pop. We started off as electronic but we now want to be something special, something more than that. We are trying out new instruments, not just guitar, bass and drums, but we still remain electronic. We haven’t changed our style completely. We’ve just added something on top of our old way of doing things.
Name: I tried to introduce a Britpop theme to my solo album in 2006 but it didn’t really work. Now we want to engage our fanbase with this new style, so that they accept the way we are. Obviously, we’ve taken a lot of influence from UK bands, because we caught many gigs while living there, from small bars to big stages. Noi Pru and Pod Moderndog also inspired me to become a singer because of the uniqueness of their music and their personalities.

BK: How has London influenced the band?
Noth: Like Name said, we’ve been to a lot of concerts. When we released our first record, some people said we have a very similar style to British indie band Bloc Party. It took some time to prove that we aren’t just a rip-off. Life in London is very fun and exciting because you have so much freedom—you have to be a responsible adult, though.

BK: What do you think of people saying you’re just a hi-so band?
Name: One thing I believe is that no matter who you are, from a poor peasant to a billionaire, everyone has a dream. It’s a once in a lifetime thing to follow your own dream. Family background doesn’t matter. It is about how much effort you put into what you love.

BK: What’s the hardest thing about making music?
Noth: Writing lyrics is the hardest part for me because I only want the best lyrics in our songs. We do have the label’s composers, but we want to do the music ourselves as much as we can. That’s why our band takes a long time to release a song. Another obstacle is that we change producers so often. It’s hard to find one who has the same style as us and then it takes time to connect and get to know each other. Another obstacle, of course, is that Name and I are based in London and the others are in Thailand.

BK: Do you have any projects outside of music?
Natee: I’m running my family’s business, which produces energy drinks like M-150. I’m also an assistant manager of Osotspa Football Club.
Noth: I used to be involved in my family’s business but right now I’m only focused on my music career.
Name: I have a production house. I do everything from video shooting, logo design and art layout. I’m also responsible for various projects for S&P Bakery, my family’s business.

How would you describe your band’s music?
I normally like to listen to jazz, electronic, rock and ambient; music that makes me feel surreal. Radiohead is my favorite band and they have inspired me a lot. As I have so many influences, it’s difficult to really define my style—and I don’t want to try. People always feel the need to apply labels to everything. It’s unnecessary. My songs are alternative in that they’re just something different for audiences to enjoy.

What’s the hardest part about making Jrytanakai happen?
I used to be a one-man band. I wrote all the lyrics, composed all the sounds and even recorded the songs all by myself. I’m not used to being part of a team. When it comes to the band, I just have to accept the differences and uniqueness of each member. Of course, we’ve all had arguments but we always make things right. I generally bring my voice recorder along to rehearsals, then listen back to what we’ve said and done and try to bring those feelings into the songs I write.

What makes for the perfect gig?
There are two sides of it for me. First is the audience; a full crowd makes you feel so good. Regarding this, I really enjoyed our concert at 7th Fat T-shirt Festival. The second is the band performance. We once performed at Harmonica Bar and it was great. Everything went perfectly, from the sound, to the stage and audience—we try to put our best effort into every performance.

When can we expect a new album?
Well, we’re going to release a split single soon, with So On Dry Flower from the So On music label. As for the album, I think it will show our growth as a band. Each member will bring their own style and characteristics to the music, which is formed from improvising at rehearsals. I think it will be quite different from our previous material. I’m working on a solo project, but it’s not completed yet. I study film, and I like visuals and everything about the senses, so I’m also planning on making a movie.

What’s your biggest career dream?
I want to be a part of the world’s biggest music festivals like Glastonbury and Coachella, or play at a cool place like Madison Square Garden or Wembley Stadium. I also dream that one day I will be the opening act for Radiohead. However, for now, I’m just focused on gaining experience and improving my music.

How does performing in a stage play differ from playing in a band?
There are a lot of differences. First of all, you can be yourself when you’re on stage as a musician. You can let your music do the talking. However, in a stage performance, speaking is so important to build a rapport with the audience. The message has to be loud, precise and clear. I think acting is harder than many people think. Personally, I like both but in different ways.

What do you make of the production’s portrayal of a love hexagon?
I was like, “How can I perform this?” when I first saw the script. I can’t begin to imagine what being in a love triangle, or hexagon, is like because I’ve never fallen in love with two or more people at the same time. And none of my friends have had this kind of experience. Personally, it doesn’t seem like a particularly sustainable form of relationship.

Tell us a bit about your role.
My character is Boo Gates, who’s a talkative and annoying nerd. I even did some research about Bill Gates to learn how to portray his personality. But in the end I realized my character is not Bill Gates but Boo Gates.

What’s the hardest thing about acting?
Body language. I haven’t really mastered it yet because I’m used to having an instrument in my hands when I’m playing at a concert. Speaking is also a bit of a problem for me as I tend to shorten words when I talk. I don’t mind if people criticize my performance as that’s just part of the learning process. And the target audience is my fans, after all. It’s meant to be entertaining.

What else have you been up to?
One thing my fans might not know is that I’m really into business. I’m always talking to my friends about investment opportunities, especially House (Sorasak Chanmantana, Slur’s new guitarist and owner of Onion Shop) as he’s already a successful businessman. I recently launched my own business, bigfootsocks, which is all about imported socks. I did this because I think it’s time to do something else apart from being a musician.

When can we expect some new Slur material?
We’ll be back soon enough, I promise. We’ve finished recording 5-6 songs, which we’re probably going to release as singles rather than as part of a full-length album. They are a little more alternative compared to our old songs as we have done a lot of growing up lately. Prepare to be a bit surprised.
Monthakan Chantra

I dreamed of being a diplomat because I loved the idea of traveling abroad and learning the history of a country. I also love languages so I chose to study political science.

I’m so proud, when I’m abroad and I get to talk to foreigners. I always try to convince them to visit Thailand.

Studying gets my adrenaline flowing. It’s fun. I love learning new things. That’s why I’m currently taking a master’s degree, also in political science.

I love giving things a try. At first I didn’t want to work in the entertainment industry but Channel V was auditioning for new VJs, so I thought, why not? Out of some 500 entrants, I was one of six selected to become a VJ after a five-minute trial in front of the camera.

I don’t want to be the center of attention. I never think of myself as an actress. I’m a person who is lucky enough to do many things in life, and acting is just one part of that.

The media is so powerful today. They can decide who is a star and who is a flop with the stroke of a pen.

People tire of their everyday life. That’s why celebrity news is so popular now.

You must work hard to be truly famous. You can’t survive on a pretty face alone. You have to really invest yourself in your work to ensure it’s of the highest quality.

Don’t judge people until you’ve met them. And don’t put on an act to get close to someone. These are some of the biggest things I’ve learned from being in the business for over a decade.

Thai society today is driven by people only thinking of themselves. I mean, we don’t all need to drop everything and help each other, but a little more sharing would be a good start.

Education is the only way to improve society. It might not happen in our lifetime, but serious changes need to be made. Now kids only learn what the system tells them to, so by the time they grow up they don’t know what they really want. Students should be given more freedom of choice.

I don’t mind that people aren’t reading much. It doesn’t mean that they are lazy. The most important things are being able to distinguish between right and wrong, and being able to analyze a situation.

I used to see love as a fairy tale. Everyone would live happily ever after. Now I understand you can’t change someone to be who you want. However, I still dream of finding a soul mate.

There’s not necessarily any right or wrong in a love triangle. I was caught up in one and it was very distressing. I couldn’t choose between the two as I had feelings for both. I was afraid to hurt the other’s feelings.

I don’t have a clear picture of my life at this point. Many women measure themselves by whether they have a good job or a good marriage. Those who are lucky might have both, but I feel like I have neither. I’ve tried so many things, but I don’t know where my true passion lies.

Money isn’t everything. I don’t want to force myself to do things I don’t like for the sake of money.

I pick and choose my work according to my instincts. I don’t make extravagant demands nor do I necessarily need big budgets or top directors.

I like being a DJ best of all. It’s me. I don’t need to wear make-up. I can dress how I want and be myself.

I’d like to work as a coordinator between the government and the entertainment sector to promote our movies in the international market. Thais shouldn’t just accept foreign culture to the detriment of our own.

I love running. You don’t need any gadgets. It’s all about improving yourself. I had a go at car racing but it wasn’t really me. I have no interest in controlling things. I just want to control myself.

Every day is a success. I think like this in order to keeping moving forward. I don’t know how far I’ll go tomorrow but I know it will be a progression from yesterday.

How did you get your start in showbiz?
After finishing my bachelor’s degree in computer engineering in the USA, I moved back to Thailand and appeared in Ploy’s music video for “Dream On.” That’s how I discovered that I enjoy acting, so I decided to learn more about it. My parents don’t mind that I haven’t gone into the engineering field as they realize this is a great opportunity for me.

What projects do you have lined up?
I’ll have a lead role in a new stage performance entitled Wun Fun Tuen this month at M Theatre alongside my sister, Chereen (Nachjaree Horvejkul). Recently an Indonesian cosmetics brand held a poll on who their customers would rather meet, me or Korean singer Kim Hyung-jun. I got more votes so they set up a fan meet in Korea. Afterwards, an Indonesian entertainment company contacted me and asked if I would play a Korean doctor in a new movie because I have a Korean look. That’s my next big project.

How did you become known in Indonesia?
I was very surprised to discover that I have Indonesian fans. I think they know me as Nichkhun’s brother because 2PM once toured there. K-pop is very big in Indonesia. It’s good to know I have international fans who admire me and my work.

Do people often compare you with Nichkhun?
Definitely. People have compared us ever since I entered the entertainment business back in 2009, but we are not the same person. Nichkhun and I both studied abroad yet we’re very close to one another. I still keep in touch and support him in every way possible, though he’s usually in Korea rehearsing. I really don’t mind if someone compares me to him. I’m determined to just do my best and time will tell.

What do you make of your brother’s latest scandal (a DUI vehicle crash)?
It was a huge mistake, I think. He really needs to use it as a big life lesson and move on. It’s the type of thing that will make him stronger and help him become a better man. I’ve talked to him about the accident and told him it’s going to be okay, just don’t give up. He didn’t kill anyone. We’re all beside him, his family and his fans. If he was charged with a serious crime or fired from the band, I would be sad, but we have no right to call for anything to be done to him.

What are your future plans?
I will continue to work hard as an actor because I want to be a movie star. But if I can’t make it, I wouldn’t mind working with my mom in her pharmaceutical business. It would be great to find fame throughout Asia like my brother, so that more foreign people get to learn about Thailand. Interview by Monthakan Chantra

How did you become Mae Baan Mee Nuad?
I just did it for fun. I started uploading pictures on my personal Facebook account and my friends suggested that I created a fan page of my own. I think there are a lot of people who have ideas like mine but they don’t have enough courage to execute them. But I’m beyond hesitating. I want to be a housewife and I have moustache. That’s all.

Do you work on this alone?
Many people think it is some huge production. They always ask me what camera I use and how I edit photos. But the truth is I only use an iPhone and a few applications like Camera 360 and FilterMania 2. There are just three people on my team, including me. I even cut all the costumes by myself.

What is your artistic message?
I think my message is that you don’t need to be a woman to be a housewife. There are no rules for living your life. For example, the light and composition are carefully studied, but the model is not perfect.

Is your family supportive?
My parents, who are in Satun, have no idea that I am Mae Baan Mee Nuad because they don’t get involved with the digital world. But I think my sister knows, maybe. Anyway, my boyfriend knows it’s just what I do for fun and he’s happy for me.

What are you doing these days?
I just graduated in film and video at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang and I’m continuing a master’s degree in strategic communication. I’ve also just applied for a job.

Will people at your workplace know about Mae Baan Mee Nuad?
I want to separate Mae Baan Mee Nuad from my real world because not everyone can accept it. I once had a job interview and they said they hate gays. I walked away from the room when I heard that. But I normally don’t get bullied because people around me accept who I am.

Where do you think Thai society stands on these issues?
Thai society tolerates homosexuals, but it does not fully accept us. Thai people realize and respect our abilities, especially in the fields of creativity and entertainment, but when it comes to careers in government, they don’t accept who we are. I also don’t like how most people expect us to be funny all the time. I want society to see what we can do apart from having a hilarious personality.
Find Mae Baan Mee Nuat at http://on.fb.me/MaQJM8