I was inspired to be a musician by 70s-80s acts like the Bee Gees, Thai folksinger Phusming Nosavan and funk/disco band Royal Sprites.

Recording music in the analog era was more sophisticated. You had to play perfectly to get the right sound.

I had to wait until I graduated from high school to earn some money playing music at pubs. My parents would have killed me if I dropped out to be a musician.

My dad [Charoen Wattanasin, businessman and former badminton champ] didn’t care much for my music career. He only realized how famous my band, Nuvo, had become when his friends started asking for my autograph to give to their daughters.

I think a combination of good marketing and a lack of technology helped us become famous. Teenagers didn’t have too many forms of entertainment 20 years ago. Internet was 52K dial-up and cable TV like UBC only had four channels. It was just the right time for us.

Back then, if a pub didn’t have a full band, people simply wouldn’t turn up. But now all they need is a guitar and percussion. Pubs sell expensive alcohol and hire musicians very cheap.

I became fed up with the trappings of being on a big record label so I quit Nuvo after our fourth studio album, Oxygen. Sure, we had success, but I was not proud of the way we were doing things.

It’s really satisfying to create something that is all your own, even if it’s not a big success. It’s just good to have a small corner where you can come up with something that you love, and if someone else appreciates it, all the better.

My brother [J-Jetrin Wattanasin] persuaded me to join Twitter so that I could keep track of the news and follow some of my celebrity friends. But now I have over 70,000 followers.

I never use my Twitter account to promote myself. I just want to express my true feelings.

I’ve been in trouble for some of the things I’ve Tweeted [accusing someone believed to be Nitipong Hornak, veteran GMM song composer, of taking money from the red shirts]. But I’m not afraid to say what I want. You shouldn’t have to please everyone all of the time.

It’s a total mess that our politics are seemingly beyond criticism. You might as well just watch lakorn [TV series] and forget about it.

It’s kind of absurd to see some fans still going nuts about me. I’m already 45 years old, not a pop idol anymore, so please calm down.

The entertainment industry is a place where people come together to make money. But in the live music scene we meet because we love music. I can get paid B30,000 to play a gig, but I’m happy playing for free with the people I like.

I’m a big fan of Broadway productions. I love the attention to detail, everything has to be perfect for every show. I had to watch Mama Mia four times and Chicago five times just to take it all in.

I would love to do a stage play but I haven’t had the chance yet. It comes down to money and timing because of my tour commitments with Nuvo. I would like to try my hand at drama.

I also love being a music critic and I’m now writing for Kom Chad Luek newspaper. I was overwhelmed to be chosen as a judge for Thailand’s Got Talent because I can combine my passion for being a critic and for watching live performances.

I am first and foremost a musician and I will continue playing until I am an old grandpa. I may be famous but at some stage I want to go back and play at pubs in Pattaya or Koh Samui like everyone else.

I love diving so much but it’s hard to find a group of friends to go with. They are all having family or health problems. I want go diving somewhere exotic, like the Galapagos Islands.

It’s better for me to be single. I would love to get married but it’s hard to find a woman who understands that I sometimes need my own space.

It makes me sad to think I’m getting old. I sometimes cry when I feel lonely. But I’m lucky that ordinary things like playing video games or watching movies can cheer me up.

It’s kind of a pity that so many talented musicians can’t make the kind of money I do. I’m really blessed. But even if I wasn’t where I am today, I would still thank God.