As she releases the second single “Rueng Kong Rao” from her fourth album, Thanida Thamwimon aka Da Endorphine, describes her long hard fight to becoming a singer—and her apocalyptic visions for the future.

I was about four when I moved to Bangkok. I was actually born in Uthaithani.

My parents were strict when I was a kid. My mom is a teacher and my dad is a cop. They were both busy at work so I was mostly raised by my granny in police housing.

My musical career started with a big “no” from my parents. I formed a girl band with my friends at my junior high school and it created problems at home. I had to stay late at night to practice and my parents didn’t get the point. They wanted me to quit.

My dad used every possible method to stop me from making music, like cutting off my pocket money. Still, I tried every possible way to keep playing music. I made up my mind that nothing would stop me from doing what I love.

I would sneak out of my house at night to play gigs at pubs. I would make about B150 per night. One day, my dad walked into a pub in police uniform and dragged me out.

He even hit me hard once because I went home so late. I cried so hard that night, and he did too. He thought I was just being a bad girl. But my granny kept me on track. She always supported me and my love for music.

The Royal Thai  Navy Band School was where my dad wanted me to study. He thought it might good for my future to work in the military. I refused because it sounded boring.

I joined Endorphine after meeting them at an event. My ex-bandmates had stopped playing music when they enrolled in university.

Our debut album happened so quickly. We went to a studio to make our first demo and the studio owner asked us to burn him a CD. It was later given to a GMM producer who called us to sign a contract the following week. My dad was shocked and relieved that I was on the right path.

I decided to drop out of Endorphine after the second album because I wanted to move on to another level, while others in the band weren’t so keen. Two of them quit to work with their parents.

People say my music has changed since my first album. It’s true. Music never stops changing. It’s dynamic, like me.

I don’t think of myself as a superstar. I would rather be known as a role model. It feels good when I get letters from girls who say that I’ve impacted their lives positively.

I plan to open a music studio. Studios in Bangkok are all depressing square rooms. I want my studio to be in a garden, a living space that has a kitchen, living room and recording space.

The Netherlands is my dream country. I want to go backpack there for a month.

I used to feel being famous stole my teenage years. Now I feel lucky that I’m not stuck with a desk job. My career gives me the energy to live my life and have fun. I do what I love and take care of my family while my school friends still complain that they can’t find a job.

I used to be depressed. I didn’t go out for six months when I broke up with my boyfriend. Luckily, work kept me on track. Now I am single.

I don’t like guys with big egos. I don’t want a guy who is famous or handsome, but he must understand life and be outspoken and friendly.

I think women today are bolder in relationships and sex. We talk more openly about it with friends, like in Sex and the City. It’s a good thing. It creates more sex education and increases awareness about women’s rights.

I believe there will be a doomsday but not in 2012. Our world is so tempestuous now. The next generations will face the worst disasters. They might be survivors.

I want Bangkok to have more bicycle lanes and green space. I want to organize things to make Bangkok’s standard of living better. We can do better than this.

Keep smiling no matter what you’re facing. You can create energy on your own. Interview by Nat Tantisukrit

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