Tell us about your previous work. What subjects concern you?
As I was born in Pattani where there is a lot of political and social instability, I wanted to deliver a point of view that people can’t get from the news. My first exhibition focused on the Por Noh (local Islamic schools) which have been thought to be a place of militant training. The conflict in the South is still going on and there are so many points to clarify. My other work deals with women’s rights, as it’s tough to be a woman in that area.

How did you conceive of this new exhibition?
When I was studying at the Ecole Nationale Superieure de la Photographie in Arles, the French government banned the burqa. But to me, wearing a burqa is a matter of belief, and nobody has the right to judge it. So, I ordered some burqas from my hometown in Pattani and took photos in public places. I did self-portraits as this exhibition represents a personal view. I looked for locations to shoot at, and of course, the Eiffel Tower was the best one. When you look at the photo, the movement of the burqa in the wind explains it all.

As a Muslim, do you normally wear a burqa?
Never. My parents gave me the right to choose what I wanted. I started wearing the hijab [a headscarf without the veil]. I have some concerns about women’s rights. It’s true that people perceive that Muslim women as forced by the religion to wear the burqa but actually we just simply do it from belief.

From your perspective, how could the French law affect society?
When I was in France, none of my French friends looked down on women wearing a burqa, and all of them felt outraged by the law. There are a lot of Muslims all over the world and passing a law like this is obviously opposing us. For a long time, Muslims have been perceived negatively, and this law just strengthens that perception.

Do you think the law could make the new generation lose their faith?
The belief of kids depends directly on how they are raised, what their family looks like and in which community they live. But if they have the right to understand their religion, this law can’t affect them.

What’s next?
I want to show my exhibition in France—if immigration doesn’t kick me out.

Keeping up with  Ampannee Satoh at Burqa

What were your favorite moments on your tour so far?
I’ve played three times now at the most amazing festival in the world called Glastonbury, and twice I’ve been lucky enough to play on the main stage. For me, I can’t describe the feeling, really, looking out at something like 80,000 people in the English countryside. It was amazing.

What country impressed you the most and how?
I played in Beirut which was really an amazing place. It’s a fantastic mixture of Arab and European really—of Muslim, Christian, and Jew, and French influences. The scars of war, the amazing old buildings, people’s passion was all amazing.

In “If Time Is All I have,” are you singing to someone in particular?
Yes, really. All my songs are about real life and real experiences and real people, and I don’t name them in songs because I don’t think they necessarily would want to be named but yeah, I write about real experiences, which is why I hope an audience can then relate them to their own lives, because we all feel similar things.

Who’s your dream collaborator?
You know, I’m quite selfish in the way that I write songs normally for myself and about my own experiences in life. It’s my way of understanding the world, but you know if I were to have a band, it would be fun to have Jimi Hendrix in it. In “Stay The Night” I had a collaboration. It was Ryan Tedder from One Republic and my producer Steve Robson but we also wrote with Bob Marley which is pretty cool because we thought he was dead!

Among your songs, which one is your personal favorite and why?
There’s one called “Superstar” which is so much fun to play; it’s the song I’ve always wanted to write; it’s the song of a teenager who feels frustrated that every time he turns on the TV, there are talent shows telling him that he should try and be rich and famous, magazines telling him what music he should like or clothes to wear, and he says, You know what? I don’t want to follow this path, I want to be myself. Interview by Vasachol Quadri and Sasinipa Wasantapruek

James Blunt will be performing on Aug 9, at IMPACT Arena. Tickets cost B1,000-4,000 from Thaiticketmajor.com.

Where does your name come from?
We were looking for a name. Pierre loved the UK band Franz Ferdinand. In an interview, they were asked, “Why are you making music?” They replied, “To make the girls dance.” That idea sounded great to us.

How did you two meet?
In a gay bar. Greg was half naked and he looked awesome. Pierre put a friendly hand on his butt and the story began. No I’m kidding; we met in a club in Paris and where we were both performing solo DJ sets.

What are your musical guilty pleasures?
We are both fond of sad folk music and sad old French songs. We are a little bit like old ladies sometimes.

How would you describe your sound?
It’s electronic music with rock energy. But electronic includes pop electro.

What are your favorite things in Bangkok (or Thailand)?
It’s our first time in Thailand! We look forward to discovering Bangkok. Visiting temples and museums. No I am kidding; we are only in town for 2 days so we’ll focus on partying.

What kind of girls do you want to make dance?
Long legs, high heels, fake boobs, dressed like hookers but very smart and funny.

Where do you see yourselves in the next 20 years?
Our secret goal is to play as headliner in Coachella Festival in California. Then we will stop doing music. Greg will raise dogs and Pierre will get fatter and fatter.

What’s next for Make the Girl Dance?
Our first album is due to be released in October. Objectively, it sounds spectacular.

Last word: Lap dance or liquor?
We had a lap dance in Las Vegas last year. Impressive.

The boys are dropping hot tunes on Friday, Jul 22 at Bangkok Remix.

What inspired you to create the Hangovertini?
We got notice that they were going to shoot Hangover II here so we started thinking about a cocktail to promote the hotel. When the film crew arrived they would head up to the bar wanting something to refresh them after a long working day. We came with up something healthy which is why we use rosemary infused honey and green apple juice which has a lot of vitamin C. A kind of after hangover drink to purify your body.

Apart from the Hangovertini, do you have other cocktails that use Thai ingredients?
Customers often ask for a spicy drink as we’re in Thailand so, for example, we have gin with chili and Tabasco—that’s nice and spicy. For someone who isn’t so big on spices, we have vodka infused with chili and ginger which gives you a good aroma but less heat.

What other cocktails best represent Thainess?
I would say using a lot of Thai ingredients to create a drink like lemongrass, ginger and chili. But Thainess is not just using spices but also seasonal fruits like pink grapefruit juice, pomegranate syrup, mangosteen or even guava. Vasachol Quadri

Siam Mary

St. Regis Bar, 12/F St. Regis Hotel, 159 Rajadamri Rd., BTS Rajadamri. 02-207-7777. www.stregis.com Open daily from 12pm-1pm
Ingredients: Lemongrass, Thai basil, Thai chili, wasabi, fresh lime, coriander, tomato and vodka
What they say: St. Regis’ Thai interpretation of the Bloody Mary, the Siam Mary is inspired by flavors found in traditional Bangkok recipes. The spiciness of the chili and wasabi is nicely balanced by the sourness of the lime and tomato juice.
What we say: Cute presentation in a silver goblet, and despite the fact that it sounds like an indiscriminate mix of all things Thai, it’s better than expected. If you’re not into tomatoes or spicy food, this might be a bit scary though. But if you can dig the heat, this is a refreshing drink, rich in texture and with a nice lemongrass aroma.
Price: B290

Hangovertini

Sky Bar, Le Bua Hotels & Resorts, State Tower 1055 Silom Rd, 02-624-9999 www.lebua.com Open daily from 6pm-1am
Ingredients: Whiskey, sweet vermouth, green tea liquor, fresh green apple juice and rosemary-infused honey
What they say: Created in honor of the filming of The Hangover II at Le Bua, the Hangovertini was allegedly made for the production team at the end of long days on set.
What we say: If you’re not into whiskey, fear not. The taste and smell are masked by the apple juice and rosemary-infused honey. Three spirits in one martini might seem hardcore, but you wouldn’t know it from the taste, which is refreshing and kinda does feel like a boost to your energy levels. The green tea liquor is unusual and adds to the complexity.
Price: B400

Tom Yum Yum

Bar Su, G/F Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, 250 Sukhumvit Rd., BTS Asoke. 02-649-8888. www.sheratongrandesukhumvit.com/ Open daily from 7:30pm-2am
Ingredients: Vodka infused with lemongrass, chili, galangal and kaffir lime leaves, fresh lime juice and boiled shrimp
What they say: With the aim of creating a truly Thai cocktail, the folks at Bar Su take their inspiration from another symbol of Thainess: tom yam kung. The lemongrass, chili, kaffir lime leaves and galangal are infused with the vodka for two weeks before being mixed with the other ingredients.
What we say: This cocktail is like eating your favorite soup, but cold and boozey. Thumbs up for the boiled shrimp—it’s nice and fresh and doesn’t make the whole thing fishy. Careful if you don’t do spicy. This heat from this cocktail lingers in the throat. If you’re really into spicy food, though, try the vodka as a shot.
Price: B400

Thaijito

Bamboo Bar, The Oriental Hotel, 48 Charoenkrung Soi 40. Open daily from 11am-2am. 02-659-9000 www.mandarinoriental.com
Ingredients: Mekhong whiskey, brown sugar, fresh lemongrass, mint leaves, fresh lime, fresh ginger, lime juice and sugar syrup
What they say: This is the bar’s signature drink, created more than 50 years ago by the former bartender with the recipe handed down from generation to generation.
What we say: Refreshing and easy drinking, thanks to the mint leaves and fresh lime juice. This is very similar to the classic Mojito, except for the distinct taste of Mekhong which eclipses the lemongrass a bit.
Price: B300

Siam Sunrays

Available at hotels and resorts in key tourist destinations around Thailand
Ingredients: Vodka, coconut liqueur, syrup, Thai chili, young ginger, kaffir lime leaf, lemongrass, lime juice and soda water
What they say: Invented by Surasakdi Pantaisong, the winner of 2008 Bartender Championship hosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thai Hotel Association, this drink is a marketing campaign to create Thailand’s equivalent of the Singapore Sling.
What we say: Aromatic, easy-drinking and not too potent. The soda water gives it a pleasant lightness.
Price: B250-400

As a child: Slept a lot, ate a lot and laughed a lot!
First job: Worked at a fruit and vegetable stall!
Rule for life: Love many, trust few, and learn to paddle your own canoe!
Stupidest trend: Heavy metal—so anything black and studded!
Happiest moment: Having my first DJ mix played on Radio 1 in the UK.
Last thing that made me stop and think: Why is this dentist drilling into my head and why am I letting him!
Can’t live without: Music and contact with the people that I love.
Hum this tune in the shower: Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry Be Happy” (more of a whistle actually).
People always assume I’m: Working.
But I’m really: Working.
Best gig I have ever been to: Glastonbury Festival 2009.
Last lie: I don’t tell lies.
Most inspirational person: Seeing people with true courage inspires me.
Most annoying thing I have to encounter everyday: Toothache at the moment, as I’ve just had a wisdom tooth pulled out. Painful!
Would like to be remembered as: Someone who ‘lived the life that he loved’ and ‘loved the life that he lived.’
In 20 years: Still doing the things that I love doing and maybe a few more.

How did this project come about?
The song was composed especially for the upcoming Sad Festival, and Golf [Fucking Hero] invited me to join. We wanted to do a song for everyone who is single, so we sat down together to come up with the story. Golf said, “Single life is like the morning time. We don’t see the moon but we know it exists.” And that became the theme of the song. Golf wrote all the rap bits, while I wrote the hook.

How was it working with him?
It was my first time, even though I know a lot of his work and think he’s a talented song writer. I knew when I joined the project that it would be good, and it was.

Which is the saddest song on your own album, YKPB?
Definitely “Wan Kerd [The Birthday Song].” It’s about a man who is forgotten on his birthday. It hurts lot when some of our family members or our close friends forget our birthday. Well, I see that the problem seems to have been solved with Facebook!

What can we expect to see at the Sad Festival?
We aim to create a gloomy environment that doesn’t actually bring you down too much. It’s like coming to share a sad story, but then being able to start over in the morning. I do believe that no one can realize true happiness if they haven’t been through sadness.

It took you some time to launch the singles “Collagen” and “Ar Kard.” When can we expect to see your next solo album?
Actually, I composed other songs, for artists like Pru and even the latest single by Palmy. This year I have only this joint project with Golf. I’ll have more time to focus on my own album. If nothing changes, it should be launched three months from now.

As a child: Painfully shy.
First job: A butcher! I’m now vegetarian.
Rule for life: Give thanks for every little thing and focus on what you want, not on what you don’t want.
Stupidest trend: Smoking. I stopped eight years ago.
Happiest moment: As a child: realizing that I didn’t have to like football. As an adult: the birth of each of my kids.
Last thing that made me stop and think: Japan’s recent earthquake.
Can’t live without: Potatoes.
Hum this tune in the shower: The “Neighbours” theme song.
People always assume I’m: Clever.
But I’m really: Not clever.
Best gig I have ever been to: Muse at Glastonbury Festival with my daughter Nadia.
Last lie: To the girl at the Ryan Air counter.Told her I didn’t have my boarding pass because there was a fault online (really I’d forgotten to bring it). She didn’t believe me and charged me £40.
Most inspirational person: Dalai Lama.
Most annoying thing I have to encounter everyday: Dishwashing.
Would like to be remembered as: Someone who tried.
In 20 years: I’ll remember these days with happiness.

How did your fascination with mime start?
I took a mime class after I graduated. It seemed fun so I invited Ta, another member of the group, to join. During the class we met Glur [Babymime’s third member]. I had studied other types of performing arts and even music but there was always this gap between us and the audience. With mime, we have to suggest the message to them and they have to use their imagination to get it. I think this interaction makes mime charming to me.

What inspires your shows?
For our yearly Babymime show, we create a new story every time. Our first show was a parody of the 007 franchise, so every year we come up with a movie and pick a theme we would like to focus on. But for the Pantomime show, we’re on stage with international acts and everything is on a bigger scale. We don’t want our show to pale in comparison with the other professionals. After a lot of discussion we decided to do a show we’d done before.

Who is your favorite mime group worldwide?
We have different favorites, actually. Mine are Gamarjobat, Glur likes Shinishu Shiyoshi and Ta likes Kanikama who will also join us in this upcoming show.

All of them are from Japan. What about other groups like Germany’s Metroccolis?
Well, this is unintentional. For Metroccolis, we’ve seen them perform in street shows and they did very well, but this will be the first time that we will see them on stage so we’re kind of curious to know how they are going to design their show.

How do you feel playing with your favorite groups?
It’s our first time on stage with an international artist. I’m excited and a bit nervous. It’s an opportunity to share experiences and show what we’ve got. It’s an amazing opportunity.

What is the difference between Thai audience and other Asian countries?
It’s like when Thai people watch foreign comedy, they don’t get it because of cultural differences. When we play in Thailand we know how to make them laugh but foreigners might not react the same way. What is good is that performing abroad is a chance to improve ourselves. We look at foreign audiences’ reactions to make our show universal.

We’ve seen classics and molecular as big cocktail trends. What’s next?
I’ve been a great fan of both classic and molecular cocktails for several years; they continue to inspire me. The classic cocktail trend forced me to be aware of the why, when and how—it was very educational for me. As for the molecular cocktail trend, the imagination and skill involved brought attention and appreciation to the beverage industry. Now we are appreciated as much as chefs. What’s next? Personalized cocktails tailor-made on the spot to suit customer’s tastes and named after them.

You work at a restaurant. What do you think of drinking cocktails with food?
Food and drink are soul mates. As with wine, cocktails and food should enhance each other. The flavor should not be too similar, nor should one overpower the other. With cocktails, there are no limitations in the right hands, and in some ways, obtaining the perfect wine pairing can be more difficult and costly than with cocktails. 

How did your fascination with cocktails start?
It started when I tried to make a mojito for my girlfriend, but it was terrible! So I tried to find a place to take a cocktail course, and I came in to contact with FLOW, co-founders of Hyde & Seek

What’s your favorite drink?
It depends on where and when. Normally I love to have a Negroni or Americano, but I also love a sip of good vodka or whisky on the rocks. I like to drink on the rocks because it expresses the flavor of the spirit really well. I love trying new cocktails too, and my co-workers here are always creating new and interesting drinks, and that’s awesome.

What’s your favorite ingredient?
Really, it’s every single thing in the bar—fruit, juice, spirits, soft drink, spices, everything.

How do you find inspiration when creating a new cocktail?
There are many factors. I have to think about the fruits, glassware, spirit, methodology or even the theme of the drink. But ultimately, there is nothing more inspiring than just starting to make something and tweaking it as you go along.

Apart from making good drinks, what makes a great bartender?
The service mind—being friendly but also being respectful to guests and co-workers. Without them, we are nothing. Also the knowledge, willingness to learn and keep on improving, finding ways to make our drinks better and better!

How are you getting ready for the Diageo World Class 2011 in New Delhi?
Everyday, I read books and webpages about cocktails and try making new cocktails. There are going to be a lot of expert bartenders from all over the world in this competition. But really, first I need to fill in that complicated visa form.