As heartthrob singer and teen idol Supon “Bell” Puasirirak finally releases his first album, Good Afternoon, he tells us how a recent chat helped him gain a new attitude to life and how his life has imitated the movies.

I was very naughty as a child, but could be very quiet with strangers. When I grew up and got to work with different people, I learned to approach people first, instead of waiting for them.

I’ve loved music for as long as I can remember. My parents told me that when I got upset, I would stop crying and fall asleep easily after my nanny turned on the radio.

Suck Seed, the movie, was my life. I was just like any other normal teenager trying to form a crap band and play crap songs.

It’s was only when I got to ABAC that I had a chance to mingle with friends who shared common interests. I love my high school friends but when it comes to movies and music, college friends are better to talk to. That was where I got to sing in front of lots of people, which I never felt confident doing before.

Zita Zalai told me I could be a singer after she saw my performance at the faculty’s annual concert. She was just a training artist at GMM Grammy back then.

I used to hate people who were star wannabes. I had a silly perception that if you’re great, opportunities will come to you. Apparently I was wrong. One day I was contemplating my future and realized that I really wanted to be a singer. I decided to ask Zita to get me an audition.

But my start wasn’t really pleasant. I was the lead singer of a band called Pi, which didn’t really make any big waves.

We were too bland to stand out from other artists at that time. After one album, all the members went their separate ways. I decided to continue as a solo artist.

I knew it was time for a solo album after gaining years of experience on projects like D.I.Y by Narongvit and Sleepless Society 3. I’ve also grown up.
I never thought I could write a song until Pi’s producer forced our band to write our own. We ended up composing five songs on the album.

Writing lyrics is way harder than composing melodies. Because when I listen to a song, I usually focus on the melody, which I think is the foundation for a song. It is also difficult to artfully narrate a story.

My view on love has changed. When I was young, I expected a lot, but now I think that love is more about accepting and understanding. Love takes time; it’s not about possession.

Singing songs other people write is like cooking food. I’m not the one cooking but I shop for ingredients or say how much sauce I need for each dish. I take part in the production process, choosing the styles or musicians I like for each song. Waiting for the chef to fix a meal for me isn’t my style.

My new songs show a brighter side of love—it’s my intention. Before I was disappointed with love but now that moment has passed and I want my fans to also see the happy side of me.

I don’t let others’ opinions have an effect on me. As long as I like it, I’ll do it. That’s all.

My happiness is to work and for my stuff to come out as well as I hope. Always improving myself is my main goal, so I get really upset if I feel that I’m not getting better with my performance.

I still feel excited on stage. If I know what the audience is like and I have time to prepare, it’s a good, fun excitement, instead of a nervous one.

A recent chat with an acting trainer was actually a turning point in my attitude. I used to be a hot-tempered man and expect a lot from others. I had a five-hour conversation with him and it changed my perception of life.

I have two sides—just like normal people. What people see is just one part. I don’t know how to, and why I should reveal it. Only time can help people know who I really am.

I like to fantasize, but that also helps when writing songs. I usually worry about how I’m going to perform on stage. Or whether my voice is good enough.

Pod Moderndog makes me really want to sing. The way he sings affects me emotionally.

Having fans who scream the loudest doesn’t mean I’m more famous than other artists. I’m happy about it, but it’s not a good way to judge artists. If you’re not there on stage, you can’t know what it’s like.

I can do anything on one condition: give me time to prepare. If you want me to do a special Korean dance, I can, but give me time to practice, because I don’t like to suck.

Being an artist is to be honest with yourself and never underestimate the audience. We have to do our best for them. Interview by Rattikarn Suwithayaphan, Kanyanun Sunglaw and Top Koaysomboon

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