Why the name 3-2-1?
Gavin: It’s easy and catchy for Thais and foreigners to pronounce. It was actually the idea of the creative team. But we did try. We came up with stuff like “Bubble Pop” and “Coco-Pop.”
Poppy: 3-2-1 is like a countdown. We’re unique because we have only one girl. I get to be the most beautiful group member. I wasn’t even their first choice; the guys wanted a sexier girl.
How do you guys get along?
Gavin: In the beginning we didn’t talk to each other at all. We didn’t get along. Then one day we were like, hey, shouldn’t we get to know each other? Now we spend more than 12 hours a day together, we’re like a family.
Describe your sound.
T.J.: We represent T-Hop style (Thai-pop mixed with hip-hop). A lot of Thai musicians do one or the other but don’t combine both.
Who are your biggest fans?
T.J. My parents, especially my mom. When our first album wasn’t going well, she told me that I could still succeed. Then Boom. “Nan-Oak” comes out and bam! We’re big! Poppy’s parents are also supportive and go to see her at every concert.
Gavin: My parents are more like auditors, they never get directly involved. But they manage to find out everything anyway. They have their connections, talking to everyone from the guards, the PR team, the producers and the assistants.
What’s the best feedback you’ve got for “Rak-Tong-Perd?”
Poppy: I love the covers of the song on YouTube,. And people recognize me more, but they call me “Nong-Nan-Oak” because of the song. It’s ok because at least they remember me now.
How do you feel when people say the song is only a success because of Baitoey?
Gavin: We get that a lot. But if we didn’t have the song, the choreographers, 3-2-1 or Baitoey, then the song wouldn’t have happened. It’s about all these people coming together and making it such a great song.
How do your fans perceive you?
T.J.: Gavin is definitely a favorite with the girls. Clearly, I’m the scariest as fans won’t take pictures with me—maybe because of my tattoos and mustache. But, I’m happy to get the badass image.
What’s next?
T.J.: We haven’t planned anything yet. C’mon, we’ve only just released “Nan-Oak” and the feedback was a real shock. But we definitely want to go global. We want everyone to listen to our music.
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How did you get your start in acting?
A scout picked me out while I was walking around Siam Square, and that was my first step in the business. I starred in some Thai TV commercials and dramas, and I also worked as a model in Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. Luckily, Thailand is a very popular location with international filmmakers, and this provides a lot of opportunities for Thai actors and actresses. After I was discovered by a scout, I jumped at an audition opportunity and was cast in the film Street Fighter.
Do you have any other hobbies or interests apart from acting?
Though I’m mainly an actress, I’ve also been a dancer for about two years—once I was a backup dancer for Burin Boonvisut’s concert, and at the time Chris Horwang was a choreographer for the show. I was fascinated by his career. Now whenever I listen to dance music, moves will automatically pop up in my head, so if I wasn’t an actress I would have been a choreographer.
You’re very fit. You have any diet tips?
Actually, I love eating and I never reject any food because it has a lot of calories. But getting fat isn’t a serious problem for me because I love exercising. What works for me is eating lots vegetables and exercising daily, because working out helps you stay in good shape and keeps you healthy. If I think that I’m getting fat, I just reduce my carbohydrate intake and work out more.
What is one of your most memorable movie experiences?
In the film Scorpion King 3, I didn’t know how to fence but the producer expected me to master it in a really limited amount of time. So after a lot of effort and training by the Ong-Bak team, I felt really good about the end result, but sometimes it was difficult. When we were filming, I didn’t get to use any protective equipment or have stunt doubles so sometimes I got injured. My producer always used the first take, too! Once, I even had to do a somersault without using a protective mattress or anything. But after I watched the film, I was so proud of myself for what I had accomplished. It was a very memorable time.
What is your passion outside of acting and dancing?
Traveling is my passion, since I have traveled a lot in my childhood because of my father’s job. Actually, now I am planning to go on safari in Africa, and I’d really love to help African children while I’m there. I’ve heard about some of them being kidnapped, turned into soldiers and then brainwashed into murdering people. Fortunately, they were rescued by the United Nations and are temporarily sheltered by an orphanage. But I’d like to go and see how their lives are, where they live and if I can do anything to help them.
What’s your next ambition?
My dream is to be an international actress—I don’t want to just work in Thailand or Hollywood because I love to work everywhere. I think working in a French or Singaporean film would be a great opportunity.
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1.) Company Seal
2.) Name of the product
3.) This particular label reads “super dry”
4.) Special Ingredients
If there are any other ingredients added (usually sake is just rice, yeast, water and koji [mold spores]) such as malt (tokubetsu), there will be a special symbol here.
5.) Date of Production
In general, sake is best consumed within two to three months of production and within a couple days of it being opened.
6.) Types of sake
There are seemingly endless varieties of sake, but experts tend to break it down into five main types:
Daiginjo (大吟醸) has a seimaibuai (rice milling ratio, see right) of roughly 50%. Usually sweet, aromatic and natural tasting. Recommended for beginners as it’s easy to drink.
Ginjo (吟醸) has a seimaibuai of at least 60% with alcohol added. It’s similar to daiginjo—fruity, light and aromatic.
Junmai (純米) is pure sake—brewed with nothing but rice, water, yeast and koji (mold spores). With its strong, not-so-sweet taste, it’s suitable for hardcore sake fans. The seimaibuai varies but is mostly around 70%. Many bottles here are labeled junmai ginjo, which means pure sake with 60% seimaibuai.
Nama ( 生) is unpasteurized sake with a more intense flavor. It’s fresher and more aromatic but the quality is less stable.
Honjozo (本醸) is sake brewed with seimaibuai of at least 70%, with distilled alcohol added.
7.) Seimaibui (Rice Milling Ratio)
Rice is milled or “polished” before being used in brewing to eliminate fat, protein, and minerals that can inhibit fermentation. The percentage on the bottle represents the amount of the original rice grain that remains after polishing. Generally, the more the rice is polished, the more refined the sake’s flavor—or the lower the percentage the better.
8.) Alcohol Content
9.) Drinking Suggestion
The label gives a recommendation on how the sake is best consumed (most ranked from cold to hot): at room temperature, with ice or hot. A recommendation with two circles is advice you really should follow, while one circle is not as highly suggested.
Why do you like sake?
I’ve always loved Japanese food and sake is a big part of that. When I look at the bottle, I love discovering the little heartwarming stories behind each sake brewer.
What differentiates good from bad sake?
Sake is like wine. It all depends on your preferences. But bad sake can be recognized on an immediate level—it will hurt your throat. It shouldn’t be so strong that you can smell the ethanol.
Any bottle you would like to recommend?
Jozen Mizuno Gotoshi. I think it’s very well balanced, a bit sweet, not dry, easy to drink and the aftertaste is a bit fruity.
What makes for a good sake?
Every part of the brewing process is important. The rice, for instance, shouldn’t be the same as what you eat at the dining table. It’s important that the brewery uses natural water from nearby sources, too. A cheap sake takes only 14 days to ferment while good ones take around 40-50 days, and they’re best made during winter.
Any bottle you would like to recommend?
President Sake or Hakutsuru Daiginjo. I really love it—fragrant, quite light but with good volume. The aftertaste is amazing, too. But I would advise beginners to start with a very mild sake before moving on to a dry one and then a very dry one.
How do you pair sake with food?
Mainly, meat dishes suit a full-bodied sake, fried dishes go with a flavorful sake like a junmai, while sashimi suits a very light tasting one. Actually, I find sake to be pretty amazing in that it can be paired with any cuisine.
Ogu Ogu
G/F, Park Ventures Ecoplex, 57 Witthayu Rd., 02-108-2255. Open Mon-Thu 11:30am-10pm; Fri-Sun 11:30am-midnight
Sen Ryo
Room RG01, G/F, Nihonmura Mall, 85 Thonglor Soi 13, 081-875-2682 Scheduled to open this month.
Tenyuu
Sathorn Rd. (in front of Soi 8), 02-632-1777. Open Mon-Sun 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-midnight
O’zake
Thonglor Soi 15, 02-712-7555. Scheduled to open this month.
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We feel: The foundation lasts about six hours after using a dab of powder, giving a flawless look. It makes the skin feel smoother, but doesn’t minimize pores and smells rather plasticy.
Verdict: Almost there! Do away with the smell and Laura Mercier is a very solid option.
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We feel: Due to its runny formula, it’s very easy to apply to your face. Also, it doubles as SPF30 sunscreen. However, it left our skin feeling oily and totally unnatural. It doesn’t keep our makeup on long enough nor does it make applying foundation any smoother.
Verdict: Greasy and grey, better to stay away.
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We feel: We can’t feel it after application, its silky smooth and light texture feels so natural. Rather than a foundation, it’s more like a base that brightens your skin. Although it does not help hide pores, it does help your makeup last much longer.
Verdict: We really like the light texture; still it could cover our pores better.
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The claim: Allergy tested, 100% fragrance free.
We feel: The scent is actually not the nicest, but the chiffon texture means it easy to apply. It really does make your makeup last all day, so reapplication is unnecessary. It doesn’t brighten or smoothen your skin, though.
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The claim: An ultra-fluid lotion with special-effect silicones. Calms and soothes the skin, blots away excess oil, and evens out skin redness. Improves the laydown and application of foundation.
We feel: While this formula contains some shimmer, those who love the almost-matte look are likely to love it, as it doesn’t make your face look too dewy or shiny. It does help your makeup stay in place longer, but isn’t so hot when it comes to oil control. Most suitable for dry skin.
Verdict: The cream is just too thick and isn’t very effective when it comes to an oily face.
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The claim: Suited as a base for powders, bronzers and for smoother, flawless skin.
We feel: As with all Too Faced products, Primed and Poreless comes in cute, feminine packaging. This primer creates a nice base for your makeup: your face looks brighter and it enhances your foundation. But it has no coverage whatsoever on pores, nor does it help your makeup stay in place longer. It makes your face look oily within a few hours of applying.
Verdict: The melted-face effect is not appealing.
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How did you get this job?
Before we retired, we used to work with Pol. Lt. Col. Dr. Surasak Boonsriphirat. He knows that we have a lot of experience, so he invited us to do this job. We are in charge of criminal investigations at Chatuchak Market. We patrol every corner of the market from 5.30am to 10.30pm. Specifically, around noon, we go undercover as visitors to the market in order to protect the real visitors from crime.
How can you pick out the criminals?
General visitors and criminals are obviously different. Visitors come here to shop; they look at products and chat with store owners. The criminals always eye up the people around them, spy on people’s luggage and try to push their way into crowded places, but buy nothing.
What do you like most about working here?
It’s an opportunity to help our society, which I am very proud of. I get to take care of both Thai and foreign visitors because Chatuchak Market is the world’s largest weekend market. As so many foreigners flow into this market, so too do the criminals.
What is your most memorable case?
At Chatuchak, it’s mostly just small cases. The most memorable—and riskiest—case of my career happened while I was a policeman. I was working undercover for the Phayathai police station and my team and I were ordered to look after the pawnshops in Kingpetch Alley on Phetchaburi Road. At the time, thieves would often pawn their stolen goods there. In this one case, two thieves stole a radio and went into this pawnshop where I was hiding out. When confronted, they attacked me and I chased them out into the alleyway. When I drew my pistol, one of the thieves pointed his gun at me. At that moment, my life was hanging by a thread. We pulled the trigger at the same time, but in the end it was I that killed him. Thankfully, the criminal’s parents understood my action, that it was my duty and I had to protect myself. Their son had committed many crimes. At the time, he was on probation from juvenile court in Southern Thailand and had fled to Bangkok. I received B5,000 as a reward from my commander and I made the front page of many newspapers.
What do you think of people’s negative perception of the police?
I don’t feel anything. It’s normal. Police are humans, too. We are just like other people in society—there are good and bad people.
Do you have any advice for Chatuchak visitors?
You should be careful of your belongings like wallets, cameras, and mobile phones. You should carry your backpack on your front so you can easily look after it. Also, watch out for foreign criminals because they have more experience than Thais. Be careful!
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How did you become Stoondio?
Composing songs has been my favorite hobby since I was in high school. Luckily, I got the opportunity to work with the Monotone Group for a time. But after landing a routine job as a graphic designer, I had to keep my music as a hobby. Then, I asked Joy, my co-worker, a writer, if she wanted to join me to write songs. That was the starting point of Stoondio.
What convinced you to take your music outside of the bedroom?
I just wanted to share my songs because I liked them so much. After uploading “Untitled 001” to YouTube, I sent it to Bedroom Studio and things just developed from there. A few weeks later, people started really paying attention. I have to thank DJ Wararith “Rith” Mangklanon for airing my song on the Song of the Day and Bedroom of the Day programs on Fat Radio. The audience’s response has been incredible and has led to even more airplay.
Tell us about how you compose your music.
I’ve composed all of my songs using the GarageBand application, as other programs are just too difficult. At first, I put the lyrics and melody together by recording guitar, which is the only instrument I really know how to play, and then I randomly play keyboard sounds, like “ding ding ding” and figure out how it will best fit my song. That’s how I make music.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I am not a big dreamer; I prefer to live in reality. For example, the songs I’ve written are all derived from my real-life experiences, not dreams. I prefer the definition of music as an emotional thing that the writer lays bare. I don’t really think too much about setting goals when I write songs. I appreciate the attention I’m receiving. I didn’t expect it, but only good things can come from it.
Is music your main focus now?
I don’t think about it as my main career as such. I’d like to keep it more as a hobby. I understand that the music business often forces musicians to change their style. But if people like my song, it means that they like the real me. On the contrary, I see graphic design simply as a job. Clients can criticize it all they want and I will fix it. But for music, I want to keep it in my own personal space.
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Puak (taro) isn’t my real nickname, but I love it. My teacher just called me that for fun when I was in the sixth grade. I could go by my real nickname, which is Boy, but Puak is a part of my comic personality.
Watching funny ads is better than watching lakorn (Thai soap opera). I dreamed of becoming a creative thanks to all the funny commercials that were so popular in my childhood. It’s so inventive.
I love to act funny. It’s probably down to the fact that I just love to make people happy. Luckily, I always get jobs playing weird characters in commercials, too.
We all need free time. Though I loved being a creative, it’s demanding and I realized that I wouldn’t be able to create anything for myself. I quit and started working as a DJ at GMM. I’ve still had time for acting, too, as I’ve appeared in See Prang, ATM and, the latest one, Pee Mak Prakanong.
I was shocked when Pee Mak Prakanong became the all-time highest grossing flick at the Thai box office, making more than B100 million in its first three days, and even more so when it exceeded B500 million in three weeks.
I’m a bit bipolar. Though I love to act funny for people, I’m much more reflective
when I’m alone. I’m a little paranoid about whether I’ve done a good enough job. It can be hard to express your real personality when people expect you to be funny all the time.
I’m a homebody nowadays. People are always shocked to learn that I don’t drink. I also don’t smoke or go to parties anymore. I don’t see being jammed into a crowded bar as being fun. Now I just love to go to work and come back home.
People judge things based on what they see or what they’re told. We all do. But it’s simply ridiculous to see the media cover a story simply by saying that I have a pretty girlfriend. It’s hard when people have no chance to really know you personally.
People are friendlier to a comedian than a handsome guy. It’s a real perk of being a funny man.
Ladies love humor. I think women love men who make them feel happy and comfortable to be with, rather than some handsome guy who’s boring.
I’m addicted to criticism. I love to read all the comments online about my performances. It helps me improve myself.
Only do things you have a passion for. You don’t need to do stuff just because it makes you money. Remember that you’re trading your time for things you don’t like doing.
I love collecting old toys. It’s quite cool to play with old contraptions. Maybe it’s because my parents didn’t buy me many toys when I was young.
Everything is accelerated by social media. With everything so close at hand, anyone can type something and press enter without properly thinking.
Seeing the world can have both a good and bad impact on children. We don’t want them to become socially immune—they must know the difference between right and wrong.
I love villains. In every movie and cartoon that I’ve watched, the villain is always my favorite. I love the Joker from Batman the most.
Everyone has good and bad sides. Even though the Joker is a freak, he presents this idea that ordinary people in society have good and bad sides, too. But you have the power to choose which one you mostly go with.
Love can have an expiry date. When I broke up with my girlfriend of eight years, it was a big drama for me. I cried non-stop and got drunk for weeks.
There’s no shame in being sad. If you feel down, there’s no point storing it up inside. When you fall down again, you fall hard. I just let myself cry until I was able to move on.
Don’t use your experiences to judge others. People have their own ways of learning about life, each with their own complications and personal stumbling blocks.
Treat your bad experiences like a level in a video game. Once you’ve passed something, you’ll know how to handle it next time it comes up.
I love Japan. I love that everything is so detail-oriented, from the shops to the roads and the fonts used on their signs. It’s really cute. The most brilliant thing is their sense of public responsibility. People know their duties and that makes their country so beautiful.
Many people insist on comparing Thailand to Japan, especially in terms of development and habits. But we must remember that, as nations and peoples, we have such different backgrounds that we can never be the same. Every country has its pros and cons.
Money is not the barometer by which to measure happiness. Don’t concentrate on only making money. Spend your life as a human being, too.
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What inspired you to be a singer?
When I was a child I wanted to be like the members of The Beatles, my favorite band. I was fond of their unique songs. They introduced the whole world to a new kind of music and everyone loved it. That was so amazing.
How did you come to sign with RS?
I sang at many restaurants with friends for a living. Fortunately, one of my friends knew a producer named Pee Rojanadara, so one day I recorded a song and left it at his studio. Almost a year later, he called me up to say he liked it, which gave me the chance to work with a talented producer. After this, I presented many more songs to him. At last my dream came true with the song “Chan Kor Tod,” a collaboration with Bandit “Moo Muzu” Sae Ngo, after which I had my own album on RS. After that my life changed, though. I joined the army; meanwhile, my songs, “Chan Kor Tod” and “Nam Suem Bor Sai,” were top of the charts. I was listening to my own songs in the army and thinking, what on earth am I doing here?
Are you happy with the feedback for “Tee Rak (Ter)?”
I’m so happy that listeners love my new song alongside my other sadder songs. Perhaps, they may ask, “Oh! Can Ake Surachet really sing a warm-hearted song like this?” But “Tee Rak (Ter)” is an easy-listening love song, which captures that moment when you have a secret crush on someone.
Can you tell us about your accident last year?
After a gig, I was so tired and sleepy that when I went out to my balcony to collect some washing I accidentally fell from the third floor. I could have died, but luckily I wasn’t critically injured—just a broken wrist and a fractured hip. The clothes line on the second floor saved my life. After this misfortune, though, loads of good things happened to me. My story surprisingly motivated some people to change their lives for the better and it was the first time I really realized that I was famous because I was invited onto various popular TV shows. The most important thing was learning that my life is more valuable than anything.
What can you tell us about life as a soldier?
I volunteered for the army at my brother’s suggestion plus I was bored with too much partying and wanted to get more structure in life. From the army, I’ve made friends and really developed myself. I also learned about several types of weapons and improved my fitness.
Where do you usually play gigs?
Mostly I play at my close friends’ hangouts that I used to play before becoming famous, like About Hip (Prachacheun Road) and The Local (on Rangsit).
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What was the inspiration behind the latest single “Learn to Love Again“?
It was inspired by the question of if you did love someone but you broke up with them for whatever reason, can you ever get back together with that person?
What’s the feedback been like?
It’s been amazing actually. When we perform the song live, it goes down really well.
Are you excited about the gig in Bangkok on Apr 1?
I’m so excited! It’s the first time in Asia for all of us, and Thailand is the first stop on our tour. We are ready to go.
How has fame changed your life?
We get a little bit of attention when we’re together, but we’re really just enjoying the moment. We enjoy being with the people who like our music. It’s amazing. The main way that our lives have changed is that we so busy now visiting more places. Two to four years ago we spent our time at home trying to get gigs but no one really wanted to come and see us! Now we get to travel around the world playing to people.
How was your recent UK Tour?
It was the biggest tour we’ve done to date. We finished up about 4 or 5 days ago in Dublin, Ireland. It was so amazing. As it was the Chapman Square tour, we played all the tracks from the album. It was so much fun and the best run of shows that we’ve ever done. The people were all very nice; singing our songs. It was quite cold, though, because it’s winter over here in Europe at the moment. There’s a lot of snow outside; it was a very wintery tour.
Do you feel any pressure being compared to One Direction?
We don’t really feel any pressure from that. We are so different from One Direction, who are a typical boy band where all members sing. We’re a rock band with one singer. I’m the drummer and we’ve got a guitarist and a bassist. We are more like The Script, Maroon 5 or Coldplay. We can say that we are way more of a rock band than One Direction.
What’s the plan after you visit Thailand?
We actually have a new single that we're working on at the moment. It's not from the album Chapman Square, so there will be some brand new music out there very soon. I think it could be the best thing we’ve done so far, so I can’t wait for you guys to hear it. Interviewed by Thamonwan Poungdee and Kornkamol Porapuckham
H Music presents Learn To Love Lawson on Apr 1, 5pm, at Parc Paragon (Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd., 02-610-8888.BTS Siam)
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