I grew up poor but I never thought it was that bad. I lived in a small barn my father built for me and my grandma in Buriram. I quit school to start working in a lathe factory with my dad because they had no money to keep sending me to school.

Beau Sunita (famous singer) is the best thing that’s happened to me. I saw a TV show where she talked about her dream of becoming a singer. It’s like she passed on her dream to me. I was working in the factory and she lit a fire in me. I thought, wouldn’t it be great if one day I had a story like hers to tell.

I don’t believe in luck. I wasn’t going to wait around for some agent to pluck me from obscurity and sign me to a record label. There is no such thing as luck, especially for someone with a face like mine!

I’m just like I was back then, a boy who believes I can be anything I want. I even tried to flirt with the factory owner’s daughter! Sure, she wouldn’t have a bar of it, though.

I always throw myself into things I like. At the factory, I spent my lunchtime playing guitar while the other workers slept in their rooms. I also continued my education at weekends, graduating from twelfth grade.

My friends and I did walk-in auditions to perform music at pubs but no one wanted us. Just as I was about to go back to work in the factory, a pub called us to come play. There, I met members of the band Mono who asked me to join them. We released two albums with RS, but they weren’t really a big success.

I fell in love with life on the beach when I visited Koh Chang years ago. I went there with my bandmates and saw some musicians playing by the sea. I thought that’s fucking right for me. I dreamed of playing music on the beach.

If you think too much, you will never get what you want. I didn’t bother myself with all the consequences when I decided to leave Mono to move to Phuket. 

Most people are afraid to follow their dreams because they think too much. They can’t handle all the questions from others, like who are you going to live with? What about your parents? How will you take care of yourself when you’re sick? My instincts told me that I could live in Phuket.

I knew so much of my life was ahead of me so I wasn’t afraid of losing my chance at signing with a record label. I knew my life was just beginning, so I packed my bags for Phuket right away.

My friends in Phuket are like the high school friends I never had. We are so close and always help each other out. I met Pong Monotone there and he asked me to put out an album on his new record label, Pollen Sound. The result was my debut release Singto Numchoke in 2010.

There’s always a way if you’re really determined. And to be honest, Google can help you. I had no idea what a ukulele was when I first saw a foreigner play one. But after searching on the internet I found tons of information. I started playing and then I won the big prize at the first Thailand Ukulele Competition: a B16,000 ukulele. I was really happy.

I’m proud that people compare my songs to big artists like Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz and even Bruno Mars. Wow! They are world class! I’m just a normal singer. I’m sure that if people listen to my music deeply, they will know that it’s just the same genre, not a copy.

Playing a guitar is like talking for me. Wherever I go, I have to play guitar for at least five minutes every day. If I don’t have one with me, I have to borrow someone’s to play.

I never get bored of what I’m doing. Those who do, should ask themselves: what are you actually bored of, yourself or your work?

Heartbreak always hits me hard. Nothing else makes me so sad. One time after breaking up with my girlfriend, I lay down on the sidewalk and cried out loud. It’s kind of funny when I look back at it now.

I love to see life in the simplest terms possible. No matter what you encounter, it’s never that big a deal.

I’m currently trying to learn piano. It’s such a beautiful instrument. In my free time, I love to check out the new instruments at Woeng Nakhon Kasem and the market behind the Interior Ministry. It’s my happiest hobby. I also have a small custom-design bicycle project called Stickie Ride.

I’ve achieved my dreams already. It happened step by step. I dreamed of being a singer; it happened. I dreamed of playing guitar; it happened. I dreamed of writing my own songs; it happened. I’m already happily living my dream as a musician.

I still get excited every time before I jump on stage. I’m worried for a moment, but once that passes, it’s real fun.

I wish to spend the rest of my life releasing new songs. It’s the only thing I want. I’m releasing an English-language album to sell internationally as Universal Music found my music interesting.

Never give up on life. Always remember that good things are waiting for you. You only need to compete with yourself, not others, to make yourself better.

Trust your instinct. I love following mine. It’s the best thing about me. It always leads me in the right direction.