When was the last time you were truly happy?
Truly, as opposed to falsely? I don’t expect to be happy. I might as well expect to be a world-famous sea captain.

We can't listen to modern music anymore. Can you?
Nobody LISTENS to modern music–I don’t think that’s its aim. It’s just there, in the foreground, saying nothing, with no meaning. Music is only allowed through if it is contemptuously stupid. No modern music career is praiseworthy, and most modern pop stars are over-rewarded. We are hit over the head with them, and we are not allowed to discover for ourselves.

Are poets cursed?
I think all humans are cursed. WH Auden said “childbirth is an act of hatred”, and he wasn’t entirely wrong. Once a baby is born it is condemned. We spend our entire lives snatching pleasure because pleasure is so difficult to find. As for art, people who are content create nothing. Furthermore, we’re all cursed by the aging process, which means we are all fated to suffer. At the same time, most people do not have the basic capability to explain their true feelings … should they find anyone who cares enough to listen.

Is it ever possible to forget the past?
Who said “the past is myself”? It wasn’t me; but I would have said it if someone else hadn’t…. or even if they had.

What must one do these days to get inspired?
Avoid newspaper and award ceremonies, and stop watching the news.

The worst lyricists are often...
Given Brit Awards and Grammys.

If Oscar Wilde were alive today, he'd probably say...
Wilde was always occupied with the pleasures of living, but he’d struggle to maintain that in 2012. I don’t think he’d say anything. Mediocrity has such a firm grip on the print media, on television, on music, and this would kill Oscar Wilde all over again because mediocrity hates genius – which is why the oh-so-learned and oh-so-gentle men of the British judiciary murdered Wilde in the first place.

LA is beautiful because....
Of the sunshine playing in the trees, and because of unrestrained self-indulgence … and all without the assistance of thought. Remarkable!

In your past life, you were probably a...
Bronzed troubadour.

Rimbaud once said "Life is elsewhere." Is that true?
Yes. We spend our entire lives just trying to get settled. Thankfully we only die once.

Morrissey Greatest Hits Tour Live in Singapore is on May 8 at Fort Canning Park.

BK: How did you finally cross over to acting?
The director, Pakpoom Wongjinda, saw me in a short film project for Samsung called “Love at First Flight” last year, and he thought I might be a good fit for his character. So he called me in. Acting is really much harder than I thought. I used to act only in commercials, which are quite short, but being in a long scene is really challenging. It’s all about acting naturally; like you’re not acting.

BK: What do you do apart from acting?
I have my a band with friends. I have played music since high school. At first, I started playing because I just wanted to look cool. But it turned out I really like it. So I continued playing and we sent our songs to a GMM producer, Fong Beer. That led to the release of a single “Won” in another music project called Love Pill. Now we’re called Yes’sir Days and we just released our first single “Karn Ma Kong Ther” in January. Our full album might roll out later this year. BK: What do you like most between acting and singing?
I prefer singing because I can be myself on stage. It’s all me. I can also encourage the audience to have fun with me as well.

BK: Do you have any idols?
Yes, I love all the Thai rock bands like Bodyslam, Big Ass and Silly Fools. Their music really reflects who they are. You hear it and you know it’s them right away. I love to watch them in concert. They are really powerful acts. We dream to be like them. They believed in their dream and continued doing their music without ever losing hope. They are great artists.

BK: What did you do before getting into the entertainment industry?
I just graduated in International Economics. I chose to study it because my family faced serious financial problems during Thailand’s economic crisis in 1997. But I haven’t had any opportunities to use this knowledge that much. I guess I now use it a little bit, as I’ve started doing day trading. I think it’s a good way of making your money grow. It’s better than just freezing your money in your bank account. Interest rates in banks are really low. But playing the stock market you need to know how to invest, when to pull out, and research the stock you’re going to buy. I started with a small budget, like B50,000.

BK: What is your biggest dream?
I want to achieve my dream of being a musician and traveling around the world. Egypt is my dream country. I want to see the pyramids because they are really mysterious; we don’t know how those ancient people built them. I want to see how big they are. I want to feel the stones beneath my feet.

I loved to play music as a student. And Madiew [Chukiat Sakveerakul, director of Love of Siam] was a friend of some seniors in my high school. Madiew knew I could sing so he asked me to sing for the Khaoniew Mooping soundtrack [2006]. Then he asked me to audition for what later became Love of Siam.

I love to take risks. I was studying for the entrance exam to Thammasat University during the film’s production. It was really a challenge and a lot of pressure. Some people thought I would fail.

I figured that no matter the outcome, if the movie had flopped or if I had failed the exam, I’m still the same person. No one can take my identity away. I should just follow my desire to do the things that I want to do.

Love of Siam was so successful. Its success also made our band, August, famous internationally. Our fans in countries like China, the Philippines or Indonesia loved the movie and they wanted to see us live, so they tried to push organizers to bring us over to their countries.

Meeting fans in other countries made me realize that this isn’t a job you do just for the sake of it. We have a huge audience waiting to listen to our songs, and not just in Thailand.

Now everything is digital and it lives forever. There’s YouTube, Vimeo, etc. If we do things that suck, they will be there forever.

Many famous teen bands abandon their education but we didn’t. It was Madiew that insisted we go to university. If one day we’re not successful anymore, we still have a degree to earn a living.

The future of August is uncertain. We have a huge age gap between members where some are junior high school students some university students. We all have a different focus in life.

Now I focus on my music and acting. I am a producer for the band Sue Krong and I’ve just finished a project with the band 8 of Wands, who let me sing their latest single, “Mai Mee Chan” (Without Me).

I said yes right away when Madiew asked me to act in his new movie, Home, because the story takes place in my hometown, Chiangmai.

The Northern language is cute, and so unique. It has a grammar that is different from the central language. I haven’t had much opportunity to speak Northern Thai as I moved to Bangkok five years ago. I was happy to get to speak it again.

Bangkok and Chiangmai are totally different. Bangkokians are always rushing. But living in Chiangmai, it’s a different vibe. You can absorb and be happy with simple things, like taking your time to eat.

Living in a big city has given me focus. I plan my day before going to bed. Bangkok traffic is so bad, you need to count at least two hours on the road to get anywhere. And I write down what I have to get done before I go out.

Studying in university, I didn’t just study. But I made friends. And it builds your spirit too. At Thammasat, you’re taught that when you do something, you don’t just do it for yourself but also for a wider public. What you do creates waves that will affect society in some way. So you need to be cautious and think before you act.

Conflict is natural. Is there anywhere in this world with no conflict? I don’t think so. I’m fine with the conflicts at Thammasat. Development comes from conflict. It is what makes us see the problem more clearly. Everything has to change.

Try harder to understand others. That is the most important thing in this world.

I’m happy to make new mistakes in the process of creating new things. If something sucks, OK, but at least you tried. It makes your life worth living.

I want to work with talented people because they challenge you, and that can also make you more talented.

Do what you’re happy to do, and do it to the best of your ability. But you will never know what the outcome will be. Let life be.

I’m interested in writing now. I normally compose songs and now I write for a few magazines. I’m also interested in translating and visual arts.

I listen to negative comments only if they can make me look at my work from a different angle. I am thankful for those. But those who just hate my stuff, without reason, I think they’re the ones with a problem, not me.

I don’t care about people gossiping about whether I am gay or not. I’m always myself, and will not try to change myself to make people love me more.

Nothing in life will ever be 100% like you expect, so don’t be afraid of what is going to happen.

BK: When did your love for Lady Gaga start?
I’ve loved her since she released her first single “Just Dance” in 2008. But I didn’t truly become devoted to her until I saw her Paparazzi show on the MTV Music Awards 2009: the most epic stage performance ever, in my opinion. Before, Cher and Madonna were the only ones who could pull this off but now Lady Gaga brings us these stunning shows. I also feel that she’s clever. And I admire that she always fights for gay rights. I’m a transgender, so things that she says totally touch my heart: Be proud of what you are; we are different but we are all beautiful. Her album, Born This Way conveyed this message the best.

BK: When did you start to dress like her as Shade of Gaga?
I love her so much and I want to express to others that you can be whoever you want. I first dressed like her in a cheerleader competition a couple years ago. The audience really loved the show I put on with friends from the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, so I started dressing like her and haven’t stopped ever since. I wear dramatic Lady Gaga style dress in my daily life, like when I go hang out with friends at places like Siam Paragon.

BK: What’s your day job?
I quit my job as an online salesperson at the Nation Group six months ago because I got lots of jobs working as a Lady Gaga impersonator.

BK: How much do you earn?
I charge about B18,000 for a half-day performance, but it always depends on the expectations of the host. To be honest, sometimes I don’t end up with that much money since I have to pay my team members who all take care of the various details of the show like hair, make-up, fashion styling and choreography. That’s a total of five members. The most expensive dress that we’ve made cost about B20,000.

BK: Does it feel like leeching off her success?
I don’t mind. I will always love to dress like her. I also have a rule that I will not sell my costumes like other impersonators who are just trying to make a buck. It’s really insane to sell a pair of B8,000 shoes to students who love to dress like Gaga, but have to spend their parents money.

BK: Did you have any surgery to look more like her?
I upgraded my boobs to D70 and have already had a sex change. But for my face, I’ve only done Botox to make my cheeks smaller. Other than that, it’s all real.

BK: Do you have boyfriend?
Not yet, I’ve had some interest. I always tell them that I’m not a real woman and they are fine with it.

BK: As a little monster, what will you wear for her big concert next month?
I already have the dress I’m wearing planned out, but let’s leave it as a surprise. Interview by Monruedee Jansuttipan.
Shade of Gaga’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/shadeofgaga

I like it hard when it comes to… kicking drums in our beats.

The last time I danced… I did the electric slide.

To work up the crowd, I… play sexy music to get bodies moving.

Our last best gig was… at XS Nightclub Las Vegas, one of our favorite clubs in the world.

My poison of choice is… Voli vodka Red Bulls; about eight of them.

Girls to me are… superstars, just like us.

When the going gets tough… we work really hard.

Manufactured Superstars spin on April 21 at Mink.

Who are your heroes?
I appreciate artists such as Matta, Kandinsky, Dubuffet and Britto; but also those from the street like Os Gemeos, Tkid, Bio, Seen or Ceet.

Is graffiti underrated or overrated?
Graffiti is a very ancient way a human being is allowed to express himself. To my mind, rating graffiti makes absolutely no sense.

Do you wear high fashion?
My mother wears high fashion.

What would you like to tag on which you haven’t yet?
When I was younger I used to tag on trucks. How I would like to tag on planes or yachts now.

If you were a millionaire for a day, what would you do?
Plant trees in the desert.

From Paris with Love is on through April 27 at Dominic Khoo’s 28th Février.

How familiar were you with Twelfth Night?
To be honest, not very at all. This is like going back to school and once again cheating using Shakespeare for Dummies study guides.

The tale is about a love triangle. Have you ever been involved in one?
Oh yes, and I won!

What’s your favorite part of working on a Shakespeare play?
The language is beautiful to speak and I generally do relish the challenge of making it relatable to the audience. Having said that, my character, Feste, gets to say lots of seemingly random words—his mind is working faster than anyone else’s. It’s rather bizarre! Feste can be described as a professional schizophrenic so the role allows me to act in the wildest, wackiest manner with no fear of reprisal. If audiences don’t understand all of what I’m saying, I think I’ve done my job.

Twelfth Night is known for its comedy. Do you prefer humorous or serious shows?
Actually, I do prefer more serious stuff because I have quite a dark, twisted side to me. Comedy, particularly Shakespeare’s comedy, is hard. But therein lies the challenge; I would not have said yes to this role if I thought it was going to be a walk in the park.

Twelfth Night is on April 25- May 20, 7:30pm at Fort Canning Park.

I used to terrorize my sister. I was constantly trying to get her to play Monopoly with me. She trained me well for advocacy and campaign work.

I watched the movie Gorillas in the Mist when I was 14. Halfway through, I told my mum I wanted to be like Dian Fossey. She freaked out at the end of the movie when Dian was murdered by the poachers!

Ramba the baby chimpanzee is and will always be my biggest influence. In 1999, whilst being trained for a photography session at the zoo, she ran towards me and showed me her lips to check if they were bleeding after being punished for not sitting still. That’s when the first seeds of ACRES were sown.

I was determined to end this cruelty, stop the chimp photography sessions and reunite Ramba and two other baby chimpanzees with their mothers.

I am truly happy every day because I am doing a job that I have been dreaming of since I was young.

Nothing is impossible, miracles take time.

We’re getting so crowded here that it’s now hard to find a spot where you can get some peace and tranquility.

There is no routine to my work. That’s the best thing about it. I give talks at schools, man roadshows, attend government meetings, perform wildlife rescues, conduct undercover investigations into the wildlife trade, do inspections in zoos and more.

I love that Singapore is so efficient.

Animals can’t speak for themselves. So humans feel justified in treating them as mere objects. It is up to all caring human beings to give them a voice.

Most animal cruelty goes on behind the scenes. We will only see positive change when people become more aware of the plight of animals.

I cannot imagine doing anything else. I hate wearing a suit and a tie and can’t imagine climbing the corporate ladder.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Economic progress is undoubtedly important but we must also focus on the moral progress of the country.

I’ve learnt that it is necessary to move on. If it doesn’t kill you it makes you stronger.

How would you describe Gushcloud if it was a friend?
Gushcloud is the hot young thing that has just walked through the door and whom everybody now wants a piece of.

Where did the idea come from?
In May 2011, we were tasked to spread a video supporting a local minister during the General Elections period. We managed to share the video with close to 3,000 youths overnight, but it was a tedious process that involved emails and phone calls. It was then that we came up with the idea of a word-of-mouth marketing platform.

What do you believe drives a consumer to use Gushcloud?
Each consumer gets rewarded for doing what they do every day: sharing about brands they love and engaging with these brands. The incentives are exciting. On Feb 10, we launched the donation tab, which allows users to donate to a cause of their choice. Soon, users can redeem gifts and products directly from sponsor brands.

Where do you see Gushcloud in the next two years?
I believe Gushcloud is going places. We want to revolutionize the way people do their marketing online and become the Google Adsense for social media.

What’s your take on the local startup scene?
It’s growing, and fast. A lot of startups are contented with creating a good product for the Singapore market. There’s nothing wrong with that but if you’re trying to change the world, the only way is to do it on a regional or global scale. This market is way too small to support multiple startups doing the same thing. There are plenty of good ideas and people but we all need to work with each other to break out into the region.

I like it hard when it comes to… BASSLINES! I love the feeling of my body shaking from a loud and bassy sound system.

The last time I danced… I’m dancing right now! A good DJ should always be dancing.

To work up the crowd, I… like to create a bit of tension, play with people’s expectations, share the moment with the audience and enjoy the night together.

My last best gig was… too many to chose from, I’m very lucky to travel to so many cool places. I just finished a mini-tour of the US where I played places like Detroit for the first time.

My poison of choice is… an icey mojito. Or anything with a lot of sugar in as I have a big sweet tooth.

Girls to me are… beautiful, elegant and mysterious.

When the going gets tough… you up your game and get tougher.

Fash Bash feat. Kissy Sell Out is on April 13, 10pm at The Butter Factory.