I’m out maybe two to three times a week. Because everything is moving so fast in this market, guys are opening up new bars, there are new concepts. If you miss the boat, things move on with or without you.

My old friends from school ask me, “Bart when will we get the chance to see you?” Well, there are 3,000 coffee shop owners in Singapore and about 1,000 bar owners, so there are not enough days to go around.

I’m quite free and easy. I’m not very formal.

I was first at Proctor & Gamble for 10 years then five years at Johnson & Johnson. After marketing to a core audience of mums, and skin care products, it was a good switch to selling things to normal guys like you and me.

You only get one crack at life.

The move to the beer industry, people said, “Are you sure? You have a very stable career in a sector that you’re keen on. What happens if it goes really wrong?” No looking back, no regrets. The principles for marketing any product or brand are essentially the same. It’s just the final execution of it. First you need a fantastic quality product or service—the core must be right—and after that you have to send the correct message to the target audience in a meaningful and relevant way.

A woman looking for a skin care product is looking for hope, looking for assurance. A guy buying a beer just wants to have a great time with his pals, something that will take him through the night after a long week. We just have to communicate that slightly differently.

You know how marketing works: It takes six times before consumers actually get the message.

My favorite spokesperson is Steven Gerrard. Obviously we are affiliated with him, but this guy sticks with his club—tough times, good times, crazy times. Money is not the key issue that drives him. He leads by example. He’s a good role model.

I was asked this question: “Who is your idol? Who do you really respect?” I respect the simple guy who constantly does his work, is responsible, brings home the bacon, takes care of the kids, the everyday guy.

I don’t do too much Tweeting and sharing. It’s a way of staying connected, an extra medium to SMS and phone calls. But I believe it should be a means to an end. The actual interaction should be out there. You still want to meet up with the guys.

If you make a mistake, learn and get over it quickly. Just try not to do it again. No need to belabor it. No need to get down about it. If you need to apologize, quickly apologize to the people you have let down. Say it sincerely. I think people can feel it.

I have this theory: Everyone wants everyone to succeed. When you do a presentation, actually everyone in the audience is rooting for you. Sometimes you beat yourself up. ”Will I do well? How will they see me?” They want to hear a good presentation.

I admire Mercedes Benz. Five years ago, they had to change its positioning. It was for the mature successful 50-year-old guy, your dad’s car. But now, it’s sharp, it’s cool. The young private banker is happy driving her coupe, top down. At the same time the very successful businessman in his 50s is happy driving his S class. Everyone is comfortable, everyone feels at ease with the brand and says “This is me.” They’ve done fantastically well shaping their future without ignoring their roots.

If I were PM for a day, I would declare a National “Get Outdoors and Play” day. Singaporeans should seriously remember to slow down and smell the roses once in a while … and remember what life should be all about!

The problem with golf (well, one of its problems) is that you often need to spend a fair amount of time, effort and money before you figure out if you even like the game (or are any good at it). But it’s not necessary to wake up before sunrise and drive long distances to expensive courses. If you’ve been thinking of taking up golf, you may want to use the rainy season to develop your swing at one of these downtown facilities.

Wilding Golf

By far the most advanced center of its kind in Thailand, Wilding is an ultra modern, almost clinical facility that resembles a bunker control room with all its high-tech equipment. There are four swing bays outfitted with AboutGolf simulators that can measure and record distance and trajectory but also stats like club head and ball speed, carry and spin. Like huge video games, you’re hitting balls into a hanging “screen” that can show a virtual driving range or one of 32 courses. The two putting “studios” are similarly wired. Instruction is by a team of around 10 international pros (including one Thai). Other services and facilities include equipment performance testing, massage and other treatments and a café corner.

Who goes there: Serious and established golfers who can afford the very best. Very few beginners. They claim a 65% Thai clientele, and you’re liable to see young stars with PGA hopes whacking the shit out of ball after ball.

Birdies: The AboutGolf simulators, which can show frame by frame comparisons with famous golfers (or yourself). Video analysis is “live” (no downloading) and with two cameras from different angles. On-site club customization services, and really nice loaner clubs for use for free. Air-conditioning.

Bogies: The price. Small and popular, so don’t even think about just “dropping by” to play in the evening or other peak times.

The price: Lessons (swing, putting or on-course) are B2,500/hr, packages (including equipment performance analysis, swing instruction, putting instruction and, in some cases, practice time) are B15,000-74,000. Practice time starts at B1,400/hour, with discounts when you buy packages of five (B5,000) to 100 (B60,000) hours.

Ocean Tower II, 75/1 Sukhumvit Soi 19, 02-661-7115. Open Mon-Fri 8am-9pm, Sat-Sun 8am-8pm. www.wildinggolf.com.

Doug Hood Golf School

Opened in 2002 but recently renovated, this facility sits on one of the rooftops of the Dusit Thani parking lot, in what was once a tennis court. The fence-enclosed “range” features bright green artificial turf, with a real flag sticking out of the ground providing a target for chipping from either of the two covered outdoor bays. American owner / pro Doug Hood gives lessons and provides computer  / camera-aided assessment.

Who goes there: Mostly expats, including a fair number of Japanese, hotel guests and the occasional young Thai.

Birdies: Great location. Though only 30 yards long, you still get the outdoor feel and you can see the trajectory of the ball. It’s also quiet and fairly private. Free use of locker room in the hotel fitness center.

Bogies: The bays are covered, but to some extent you’re at the mercy of the elements. Though the camera-computer setup works, it’s outdated. Clubs for rent are old.

The price: Trays of 40 balls are B50. Club rental is B50 (irons) and B100 (woods). Lessons start at B2,000/hr (B1,500/hr for beginners), packages from B10,000/6 hrs.

Dusit Thani Hotel. Rama 4 Rd., 089-924-2071. Open Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat-Sun/holidays 8am-5pm. www.doughoodgolfschool.com.

Fitcorp Asia

In the Fitcorp Asia Golf Fitness program, you work with a personal trainer to create a dedicated program of exercises and routines that can get you swinging smoother. Certified by the Titleist Peformance Institute (TPI), assessment involves 12 simple physical tests that are used to assess your body’s flexibility, strength, balance and stability and how these will affect your play when out on the course.
Who goes there: All ages (as young as eight all they way up to 76), but mostly male expats.

Birdies: It works! For us, the test identified a tendency to favor one side of our body, which explains why we can never drive straight. They claim that by following the exercise program you can start hitting the ball 10-50 yards longer.

Bogies: You can feel pretty stupid doing the routines and you don’t actually get to play any “real” golf.

The price: B2,500 for the assessment, though it’s complimentary if you sign up for a program of 12, 24 or 36 sessions; prices start at around B1,500 per session. Half-day workshops are B4,000, full-day workshops B7,000; these include TPI assessment, a Golf Specific Warm Up Program, Strength and Flexibility Programs.

Fitcorp Asia. 20/F Ocean Tower II, 75/34 Sukhumvit Soi 19, 02-661-7900. Open daily 9am-6pm. www.fitcorpasia.com.

TopGolf

Located in the Piyarom sports complex, the three-level, 60-bay TopGolf is like many other driving ranges, only out in the field are huge holes in the ground, like bombed-out craters. Originally the gimmick was balls that are implanted with microchips that can be used to gauge distance and location. There is a choice of electronic games that are displayed on monitors in each bay, with the interactive experience being similar to bowling. Now they also offer normal balls as a cheaper alternative.
Who goes there: Mostly Thai clientele, pretty quiet during the day except during school breaks.
Birdies: Games help with motivation and can be a good practice tool. Black Canyon-style restaurant and a True Café. Real putting green.   
Bogies: Opened in 2005, the facility is showing its age.
The price: For one game (two trays) it’s B100, B200 for four games. Or you could go all the way with 20 trays at B700. There are also packages from B1,000-5,000. Lessons start at B800/hr, packages from B7,000/10 hrs.

Piyarom Sports Club. Sukumvit Soi 101/1, 02-393-8228. Open daily 9:30am-10:30pm. www.thaitopgolf.com.

Grand Millennium Sukhumvit

When it comes to urban golf it’s hard to beat the set up at the Grand Millennium Sukhumvit (30 Sukhumvit Soi 21, Asoke, 02-204-4000). Based on a whim of the golf-mad general manager, they’ve gone and stuck an 18-hole putting course on their roof. Very nice and pretty demanding it is, too. The astro turf course is broken into three sections with six holes on each and plenty of steep slopes and contours to challenge even the most professional of putters. There’s also a small driving range where you can practice your chipping and of course the all important 19th hole complete with bar and sofas for you to relax after your round. The one downside is that it is currently only open to guests at the hotel, though you can book the space for a team building session or even a private party. However, there is talk that they might be opening it up to the public in the not too distant future, so we can all enjoy some sky-high putting practice.

A is for alcohol and advertising

A match, for better or worse, which may soon be no more.

B is for bomb

Perhaps jealous of all the attention separatists were getting in the South, “someone” (he/she was never caught) left a bomb in a car near the former prime minister’s home. The bomb never went off, though there was an explosion of finger-pointing.

C is for cats, and the men who eat them

Imagine being so poor that you’d eat a cat to survive. That’s the premise behind “Poo Boa Kin Maew,” a luk thoong song that became a surprise smash hit, no doubt due to its controversial subject matter. Now, if we could only find a group that enjoyed dining on dogs, our stray animal problem in Bangkok might be solved. (Just kidding.)

D is for demonstrations

In 2006, the people took to the streets and demanded that their voices be heard. For some it was out of conviction, for others an interesting way to pass the time (“fun for the whole family!”). Not only were the demonstrations for the most part peaceful, there were also numerous displays of heartwarming generosity and comradery.

E is for Erawan Shrine

In the midst of Thaksin madness, a mentally ill man took a hammer to the revered Erawan Shrine and left the statue of Brahma in pieces. His penalty for his attack on the god of creation? Death, by an angry mob.

F is for flooding

The jury is still out on whether the problem was an extraordinary amount of rain or extraordinary stupidity on the part of humans, but flooding made the lives of many Thais miserable this year. Let’s hope we won’t need to build more portable floating toilets in 2007.

G is for gay

Out of the closet and into BK! In June we launched our special gay issue, G Magazine (Jun 23, 2006), which was full of fashion, travel, nightlife, events, resources and more. Don’t worry if you missed it: You can look forward to two more in 2007.

H is for health

Bird flu is still a problem. Despite previous success in the fight against AIDS, a recent study suggests that the rate of HIV among gay Thai men has increased to “epidemic” levels. And public enemy number one? Alcohol.

I is for IQ

In July, Education Ministry officials broke the disturbing news that Thai children are below average when compared with their counterparts in other countries. But not to worry: Officials announced a five-year “intellectual development” plan that would help raise the average IQ of Thai children from 88 to 100 by 2008. Uh, isn’t 2008 minus 2006 two years?

J is for Jigme

With His Majesty’s 60th anniversary, royalty from around the world visited Bangkok in June. The youngest visitor was the then crown prince of Bhutan, dubbed Prince Charming by the press. Within days, posters of the handsome 26-year-old, who is now King Jigme, were being sold on the street to his adoring Thai fans.

K is for King

His Majesty the King celebrated his 60th year on the throne this year, and with this auspicious occasion came a number of notable celebrations including art and photo exhibitions, a royal barge procession, concerts and a who’s who of visiting dignitaries. We love our King!

L is for letters

And who was Thailand’s #1 letter-writer? Then Caretaker Premier Thaksin, who sent letters to several Asian heads of state explaining why he was taking a break and then another to “W” Bush in which he blamed his political opponents for the turmoil here but insisted he was in control. Oops! Then came the coup and his resignation letter.

M is for malls

You know what Bangkok really needs? More Mammoth Mega Malls. This year saw the blooming of the Siam Square area into Bangkok’s unabashed orgiastic epicenter of capitalism. With Siam Center, Paragon, Discovery, MBK and CentralWorld all within a 5km radius, the temptation to throw yourself into a whirlwind of debt is stronger than ever.

N is for New York

It is said that if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. But what if you don’t? The former prime minister found out the hard way. His visit to the Big Apple began with protesters and ended with him desperately declaring a state of emergency before he joined the ranks of the unemployed.

O is for o-ver

Not “over” as in English but “o-ver”: The Culture Ministry’s crusade against coyote dancing (see “T”), then going after Somtow Sucharitkul’s opera. Banning all forms of alcohol advertising. Shutting down websites. Warning labels on snack food. At least they didn’t chop the end off The DaVinci Code.

P is for promises

“The airport will be ready in time.” “I will protect democracy with my life.” “There will not be a coup.”

Q is for quiet

In 2006 a group called the People Who Love Quiet Club emerged following a “test run” of TV monitors showing ads in Skytrain carriages. They pleaded with BTS officials to cut the audio, but their calls fell on deaf ears.

R is for Royal Flora

“What could be more simple that a little flower show?” the organizers must have thought. But then along came plant thieves, plastic plants, too few toilets (see “S”) and flowers that wouldn’t bloom. And what’s with the translation of “Ratchaphreuk” as “Golden Shower” tree?

S is for Suvarnabhumi

After years of anticipation, scandals, test runs, leaks, toilet shortages, encroachment and a BK fashion shoot, the new airport finally opened. People are still so excited about it they come to Suvarnabhumi just to walk around as if it’s a shopping mall; others park on the side of the highway and watch planes taking off and landing.

T is for Tanks

The coup not only provided what was ostensibly a solution to the political deadlock, but it also gave us the coolest photo opps of the year. Who wouldn’t want to be a tank girl or boy for a day and pose next to those big, strong, camouflaged men? Even coyote girls famously—and controversially—got into the act.

U is for UN job

As in the one formerly occupied by Kofi Annan that was not filled by Thaksin’s Thai hopeful. Oh well, maybe next time, Surakiart.

V is for violence

We wish that this year we could use “V” for something else (“victory,” perhaps), but the violence in the three southern-most provinces of Thailand continues despite the best efforts of government officials, religious leaders and other parties.

W is for World Cup

World Cup fever raced around the world and Thailand was no exception to the rule, even if we did have to watch all the big games after midnight. Consider yourself lucky if you weren’t in prison, as they showed the games but not live.

X is for xenophobia

In 2006, bird flu was blamed on a “neighboring country”; in the wake of the John Mark Karr spectacle, tougher visa rules were introduced for foreigners; and, though better described as “ignorance” than “xenophobia,” we made films that offended the sensibilities of Laos and Cambodia.

Y is for yellow

Polo shirts commemorating the 60th anniversary of HM the King’s accession to the throne were the essential fashion item of the year. When they were first introduced to the public there were shortages and allegations of counterfeiting, but now they can be found in (slightly) varying shades, styles and price points.

Z is for Jay-Z

He actually came to Bangkok to the surprise and delight of hip hoppers the city over—at least the ones who had B3,000 to spend on a ticket to the show.

Up until recently, the only wines labeled “organic” were bad wines. This is not to say that there weren’t excellent organic wines out there—but they weren’t labeled as such, because to the average consumer, “organic” meant hippie health food that you consumed for the sake of ideology, not taste. So even if you were a winemaker who did follow organic practices, you would only hurt your sales by advertising this fact.

In the last few years, with increased concern about health and the environment, organic foods have moved into the mainstream and more and more consumers are asking questions about organic wines. “Organic wines were considered inferior, a ‘green’ fad, an anti-establishment statement. But now there is a clear trend in the demand for cleaner, purer products, and so the marketing of wine has gone in that direction,” says Alain Chabanon, who makes organic wines in the Languedoc region of southern France.

What exactly is organic?

Originally all wine was organic—before man started messing around with chemicals. So really this “new” trend is a return to old methods. But there isn’t agreement on what organic means in the modern day. Standards, rules and enforcement (if any) are different all over the world. In some countries the government decides; in other countries a private certification organization sets the rules.

In general terms, an “organic” wine is made without any chemical fertilizers or pesticides—that applies to the grapes growing in the vineyards as well as to the winemaking in the winery.

Depending on the country, the percentage of organic grapes required for a wine to be considered organic can vary from 100% to as little as 70%. In some countries, winemakers are not allowed to add sulfites and still call their wines organic; in others this is OK. In some countries, the organic standard must also apply to sterilization of the equipment, bottles and corks used; others aren’t so strict. And not every wine that is labeled organic has been independently certified.

“Because there isn’t one set of guidelines or rules, it can be really confusing. But as long as people get a rough idea of what organic wines are, that’s the important thing. More and more people want to put less chemicals in their body, and that’s where these wines come in,” Niall Keddie, resort sommelier at the Evason Hideaway and Evason Hua Hin Resort, says.

What do you gain?

There are three main reasons why you might want to go organic. The first is concern for the environment. “The decision to make organic wine is part of my life philosophy. I try to do my part by not adding pollution to an already polluted planet earth,” says Mr. Chabanon, who would eventually like to go beyond organic and make biodynamic wines.
The second is for your health. “People are better informed, they want to put healthier things in their bodies and expose themselves less to chemicals. And the lack of manmade substances can only be a good thing,” Mr. Keddie says.

The third reason is simply because they are better—or they can be, in the hands of a skilled winemaker. According to Mr. Chabanon, organic grapes make better wine. “The taste is better due to the reduced yield,” he insists.

What do you give up?

An organic wine will nearly always be more expensive than a comparable non-organic wine. Without the use of herbicides, winemakers need to spend more time taking care of the plants, which means higher labor costs. Also, by not using chemical fertilizers their vines won’t produce as many grapes as they would if they did use them.

Another disadvantage for consumers is that you have fewer choices. Most of the wines on the market are non-organic. And those that are organic are not always easy to find.

How do you find them?

With over 20 organic wines on their list, the sister Evason properties in Hua Hin most likely have the biggest selection in Thailand. This is no small feat. You won’t find “organic” stickers on bottles in wine shops or supermarkets. We even called two of Thailand’s leading wine importers and asked them to recommend some of their organic wines. Neither could—or was willing to—identify even one. “We’ve never thought about it,” was one response.

“It takes some detective work. Most organic winemakers don’t advertise this fact. When I was making this list I asked our suppliers, but most didn’t know if their wines were organic,” explains Mr. Keddie. Also, remember that some winemakers make organic and non-organic wines.
In the end you’ll have to decide whether it’s worth the extra effort. “There are no guarantees, of course. But I think that organic wines are very exciting and in the future they are going to become even more important.”

Resources

Wines from these six producers are available in Thailand: Domaine Alan Chabanon, Languedoc, France (www.domainechabanon.com); Alois Lageder, Alto Adige, Italy (www.lageder.com); Frankland Estate, Frankland River, Western Australia; M. Chapoutier, Rhone, France (www.chapoutier.com); Wittman Westhofener, Rheinhessen, Germany; Vietti, Piemonte, Italy (www.vietti.com).
Importers of their wines: Wine Care, 9/7 Sukhumvit Soi 33, 02-261-4602; Take Fin, 8/22 Soi Sammitre, Ratchadaphisek Rd., 02-653-0154, www.take-fin.com.

The old-fashioned way

Some facts about winemaking at Domaine Alain Chabanon

No fertilizer or pesticides are used in the vineyards
They prune the plants a lot to keep yields low
The grapes are picked by hand and only in the morning
After picking, the grapes are immediately taken to the winery in shallow (so they don’t get squashed), open-weave (so they can breathe) baskets
The grapes are sorted by hand
The grapes are not pumped into the tanks—gravity does the trick (the tanks are in the basement and are filled from above)
The grapes get a foot-massage (really)—pigeage in French
The wine is not filtered
The wine is not fined (adding something to make the wine more clear)—collage in French
They do not add yeast

Gaia Gaja inherited her passion for wines from her legendary father Angelo Gaja. Founded in 1859, the Gaja Winery is renowned for making some of Italy’s best wines in Piedmont and, more recently, Tuscany. Gaia will be hosting a 5-course wine dinner (B4,600) at Biscotti (Four Seasons Hotel, Ratchadamri Rd., 02-250-1000) on Nov 6 at 7:30pm.

What is the main reason for Gaja’s success?
Five generations of determined people have worked on making their dream come true.

How is Gaja different from other Italian producers?
It’s innovative, but at the same time has a long history. The work of previous generations is still part of what Gaja is, but innovations and experiments are just as important.

Which wines are you most proud of?
Barbaresco and Gaia & Rey. Barbaresco because it represents the winery’s best and is the only wine having been produced over three generations. Gaia & Rey because that was the first Chardonnay planted in the Piedmont, a region known much more for its powerful red wines than for whites.

Which 3 words would you use to describe your wines?
Artisan, ever-evolving, and capable of maturing in the glass.

What’s so great about wine?
Because in a bottle of wine you don’t just find a beverage. A great wine is the light of a dinner, brings conversation and sociality to the table.

Thailand is such a small market—why bother?
Because I’d love to come to Thailand once in a while! If I succeed in making Thailand a more important market for us, I will have a good excuse to come!

What’s the secret to choosing the right bottle of wine?
When I go to a restaurant I choose the wine that I like best, then I choose the food I like best. I don’t care if it’s “right”—the main thing is that I’m satisfied with my choices.

Pick a wine for BK Magazine.
Barbaresco, because it has a lot of personality. It’s the same with wine as with people: Those with a strong personality won’t always please everyone, but they surely won’t leave anyone indifferent and they just might make someone fall deeply in love!

LG M6100

This small, sleek slider offers average functionality for ladies with small hands. It’s not the most stylish phone, and looks alone can’t justify the price. However, taking sophistication into consideration (this phone has bits of everything in it), this could just be the item for you. B12,900. http://th.lge.com

What we like…

• Light and very compact—only 88 grams in weight.
• Good for carrying around the neck.
• Cool look and groovy slide.
• All interface connectors—whether to charger, earphones or computer—come with solid plastic covers and attach to the phone with elastic, keeping them dust free and protected.
• Bluetooth, global clock, SMS and MMS, plus a decent digital camera.
• Very user friendly and easy to use.
• The quality of the sound for MP3s is quite good.

What we don’t like…

• The screen is small, so it’s not good for shutterbugs.
• The navigation buttons are far too small for a guy’s hand, and even pretty small for a standard lady’s hand.
• Just 128MB for a multimedia phone? You’re kidding.
• No slot for memory card.
• The stereo headset seems like a kid’s toy.
• Basic organizer and small phonebook make it inappropriate for business use.

Sony Ericsson W810i

Sony finally live up to their reputation as audio pioneers with the W810i. The latest in the Walkman series is the best so far, offering obviously music but also a 2-megapixel camera, an easy-to-use interface and handsome looks—all in one small package. B19,900. www.sonyericsson.com

What we like…

• Great sound out of the box, even better than our iPod, thanks to Sony Mega Bass and snug earbud headphones.
• Can be used with any standard headphones—not just Sony Ericsson—or even plugged into external speakers.
• Made for music with access to functions from side buttons, including a dedicated music player button.
• High-resolution camera, smooth panning on clear display.
• Can downloads songs via USB or Bluetooth.
• Flashlight and SOS mode.
• Cool graphics.
• Comes with 512MB memory card, upgradable to 2GB.

What we don’t like…

• Sony Ericsson jack is annoying: difficult to connect, exposed wires can get bent and it pops out when you don’t want it to.
• Can’t plug headphones or speakers directly into phone without special jack.
• Playlist software isn’t nearly as good as iTunes.
• Sound quality as a phone is disappointing.
• Not compatible with Mac.
• Price.

Motorola RAZR V3i

If you can’t wait for Apple to come out with a phone, here’s the next best thing. Well, almost: It can only hold 50 songs. But music or no music, the sleek design is sure to get you noticed. B13,900. www.motorola.co.th

What we like…

• Looks awesome. Plus the blue model will help you stand out in a crowd (if you hurry).
• Thin shape.
• iTunes. Works just like our iPod.
• Sounds just like our iPod.
• Compatible with Mac.
• Did we mention how cool it looks?

What we don’t like…

• Limited memory equivalent to about 50 songs.
• Metal keyboard doesn’t work well when covered with just a little moisture (i.e., your sweat).
• Can’t use standard headphones.
• They insist it’s spelled “RAZR,” not “Razr.”

LTJ Bukem has been known in the drum ‘n’ bass scene for a long, long time. A legend? He should be one. With a background in classical piano and as the founder of Good Looking Records, he has played a pivotal role in the rave scene as a producer and DJ almost since its inception. His album Logical Progression helped to forge an entirely new type of music, “intelligent” drum ‘n’ bass, which is a lighter, jazzier, and more ambient form of the popular dance genre. Soon he’ll be here for the first time to showcase his unique mixing talents (see +nightlife p20).

Seriously, how does it make you feel to be spoken of with such reverence?
It's an honor that people suggest such a thing. I never thought we as a scene and myself as a part of that scene would last so long. For people to think maybe we have had an impact with what myself and GLO has done for 15-20 years is just great. And I thank the many different people that have encouraged and helped my journey.

First time in Thailand? Why the wait?
Just haven’t been there, haven’t got around to it. We do so much touring in any one year, it’s actually hard, believe it or not, to get to each place even just once a year. The world is a big place.

From the name of your label, people might get the impression that you’re pretty full of yourself, but in fact you’ve been known to put the interests of other artists on your label before your own. What’s up with that?
Just a way we decided to do things a long time ago, use me to get unknown people known, plus at the same time try to cultivate a music style and sound... and grow a label. Times have changed now and I would not do it at this time. We spent so much time on other people and I think the worst thing in life is when you give everything to someone and not feel appreciated at the end of it. I’m not bitter in any way or regret doing any of the things I did, I just understand people and human nature perfectly now. An enlightening journey... maybe my 2nd album should be called this.

Would you do a remix/ produce for a pop artist? Why or why not?
Of course yes, our music needs to be heard by a lot more people, and this is the chance to do it. As long as the company you do the mix for doesn’t change everything you have done, and what you hand in for your remix doesn’t quite sound like that when it goes out, which happens a lot.

You started on vinyl. Now you have DJs mixing on CDs, computers, even iPods. Is it the same thing?
You’re joking… in a word, no! There is no format sounding better than vinyl. Mp3 on a CD… please, club goers are being sound-cheated. The producer of this track would be hurt after he has spent all his time in the studio… and then hearing it compressed to f*%$ on a big system missing all the wonderful frequencies that were there in its original, correct format. If there were a format sounding as good as mastered vinyl, I would be the first to try it.

Where is drum ‘n’ bass headed? How about dance music in general?
Big question. D&B is definitely going through a peak musically. There is no scene right now that has better music, music with so much life, energy and feeling, make no doubt about it.

Can you give us a little insight into your next solo release?
I have been working on various bits over the last few months. I’m going to release a track called “Switch” as the next thing starting on an album. GLO has lots of things to release in the coming months.

If you thought the True “Sip ‘n’ Surf” outlet in Khao San was pretty neat, check out the company’s latest and biggest effort. Far more than just a place to pay your phone bill (though you can do that, too), the True Brand Concept Shop is to us, one of the highlights of Siam Paragon. It's an all-in-one “lifestyle” center where you can chill, shop and check out technology that will make you go “wow!”

The store occupies a huge space, more than 600 square meters, with a dark and cavernous nightclub feel. Compared to the retro warmth of the Khao San branch, the new flagship is stylish in a much more modern way, from the furniture to the attractive, black-clad staff. The first thing you notice as you approach the glass-fronted shop is the sign, a towering black-and-red flip dot screen, the biggest of its kind in Asia, we are told. Step closer to it and you can hear the “dots” flip and feel the air blowing out of the holes, which is impressive enough until you notice that your shadow is being “projected” onto the screen—and not only that but it moves as you move.

You know those “virtual” aquarium screen savers or those DVDs that turn your TV into a fish tank? At this shop an entire wall is the screen, and what you see is a live broadcast from Siam Ocean World. More eye candy can be found in the open kitchen, which is backlit on three walls with a changing rainbow of colors.

Unlike most “concept” stores, the technology here enhances the experience but it isn’t meant to be the whole experience. So customers will come back for other, more practical reasons, which can be as simple as grabbing a snack and a took lae dee cup of coffee (B60-80), made with True’s own special blend of beans grown in the North, or to check their email. They even sell flowers.

There are officially several different zones, but they’re all open to each other and not always all that distinct. In the “zone” that most closely resembles a cafe, you can plug your iPod into one of the docks built into the tables and charge your battery while listening to your music through speakers enclosed in a plastic dome that hangs from the ceiling. In the future, if things go according to plan, you’ll even be able to share your music with the cute girl across the room who has her head up her own dome. If you don’t have your own iPod, don’t worry: There’s a rotating cast of DJs on hand to spin tunes for the whole room to hear.

As you would expect there is a multimedia area, where you can surf the Net while watching UBC or a DVD on flatscreen monitors mounted on poles at different heights and angles. Projected on a wall is another giant screen that displays SMS messages (sent to 84000).

In addition to cakes, smoothies and other quick foods for your stomach, you can feed your mind and soul with books and CDs. Stocks are limited to 600 or so books and 1,000 CDs, but many items are rare or limited edition. Similarly, the selection of tech toys for sale—phones, iPods, digital cameras and accessories—is much smaller than what you’ll find at MBK or Panthip, but limited to high-end, hard-to-find and the newest products, from car GPS systems to Blackberries to Doraemon and Hello Kitty phones. The prices aren’t the lowest in town, but they’re competitive. Plus the little extra that you might pay is worth it for the pleasant atmosphere and level of service.

Shopping at the True Brand Concept Shop is the way shopping should be. There’s no hard sell, and the staff, who seem genuinely happy to be there, know what they’re talking about (and if they don’t, they’ll try to find someone who does, as opposed to the usual “mai roo”-“mai mee”-“mai dai” routine).

If you have a problem or question about your laptop or phone, there are people on hand who can help—even if you didn’t buy it there. Honest. They’ll let you touch and try out the products, and in most cases you can listen to the CDs or read the books and magazines before you buy. And if you want to sit down and charge your iPod, no one is going to give you dirty looks if you don’t buy a cappuccino.

If it all sounds impossibly warm and fuzzy, remember that this is a “concept” store. It’s different because the goal is not to squeeze as much money as possible out of every person who walks through the door. Instead, True is using it to try out new ideas, to gauge customer preferences and to get visitors to like and trust the brand. So later you’ll happily part with your cash—no squeezing necessary.