Your music has evolved tremendously, starting with country rock, then moving on to R&B and jazz influences. Why so metamorphic?
It’s change or die. As a musician you have to evolve. My taste in music was changing and I was writing things with all kinds of chords that it didn’t feel like Loggins and Messina, so that’s why I decided to go solo.

How different is writing for movies as opposed to writing your own album?
For myself, I find something within me worth writing about. For movies, the emotion is handed to me by the director, and I have to find a way to artfully underscore it to accompany the given scene.

Is it a challenge appealing to today’s young audience?
Yes. The trick is not to try to. Maybe they’ll like it, maybe they won’t. I don’t try to make records for young people to like. Young people have their music, and we have our own.

Which song gets requested the most when you go on tour?
"Footloose" is popular throughout Asia. Radio plays a part in making people like a particular song. Most people like whichever song that’s got heavy airplay.

What was your most memorable touring experience?
When I played in a club in Germany, there were only 50 people in it with guys asking me to sign records. At the end of the show, there were all girls and the audience had doubled. I haven’t played in a room with that little people in a while.

Experience the 80s all over again with Kenny Loggins on May 24, 8pm. Singapore Expo Hall 3, 6403-2160. $88-248 from Sistic.

I have never been called a pervert. My models know what I do is artistic.

I hardly buy art, fashion and photography magazines because if I did, my bank account would be pretty bare!

When it comes to fine art photography, I would rather be exposed to an environment void of censorship. Singapore still has some way to go in opening up. Also, people need to be educated that collecting photography as art can also be lucrative.

Many of us living in developed countries are very pampered and take too many things in life for granted. Clean water is one of them. If only these people were put somewhere in Africa or India for a day, they would realize how lucky they were and not complain so much!

In 10 years time, I would’ve hopefully won the lottery and retired. If not, I will still be slogging away practicing my craft as a photographer but hopefully doing it for the sake of art and not just for a living.

I want to make films. I see that as a natural progression for me as a photographer. I’m already taking film-making courses. I see myself in Asia still, but hopefully a more liberated one.

Nude photography is something I do to satisfy my artistic soul.

What makes me nervous is not being able to capture what I set out to achieve.

My first time photographing a nude was quite challenging. The session took place on a pretty deserted beach in Hawaii. I had planned this shoot and had brought with me a five meter long organza and wanted to capture the fabric taking flight as he posed in the strong breezes.

Back then, you had to be very careful with nudity. Things are much better now.

I hope it won’t be long before Singapore embraces all kinds of art. The arts scene will really boom as it will set free many hidden talents.

The most stunning model I’ve ever photographed is the aerial artist extraordinaire, The Amazing Ari. He has piercing blue eyes, a strong physique, captivating tattoos, and is very adept at posing, being the performer he is.

The worst insult I’ve ever received is “anyone can shoot what you shoot”.

I salute Robert Mapplethorpe for his bold images. He is a master of documentation photography during his era.

My mother once said to me, “As a photographer, shoot what you like. Don’t allow yourself to be restricted by boundaries.”

Pushing the boundaries could be described as one of the hallmarks of great art, and it’s certainly something I would like to do.

My personal quest for liberty has been a long and arduous one.

Tell us about yourself.
Num: I was born in Bangkok but my grandfather is Japanese. I have always been a big fan of acting since I was a kid. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Drama and Theater Studies in London before working at Bangkok Garn Lakorn while taking my Masters. I then became a university professor teaching acting, directing and physical theater. Currently I am studying for my PhD on performance practice at the University of Exeter and will come back to teach at Chulalongkorn University this year as part of my PhD.

What made you start posting clips on YouTube?
Num: I was inspired by a parody clip of Kristen Wiig from Saturday Night Live. I did a parody on Wanida, because my friends asked me, but then it became very popular and went viral. It’s now my hobby. I decided to do Dok Som Si Thong after my friends suggested I try it.

How do you feel toward Reya?
Num: I love Reya and I think the screenwriter is really good. She is a proper rounded character unlike the bland villains or nang-ake, and the other characters in the story. The audience can identify with Reya; that’s probably why so many parents complain. But I think people are giving too much attention to this issue. Lakorn is just Lakorn, that’s it.

What’s your favorite soap opera?
Num: Oh, honestly I haven’t followed any soap for a long time. I remember when I was young, I was really afraid of ghosts because I watched a lot of ghost stories. But when I watched old clips, they are not scary at all! I also liked Banlangmek. I really love Pattarawadee Meechuthon.

Which character would you most want to play?
Num: Khun Luang Akarathemwarakorn from Tawiphob because his journey through time sounds like a fantasy to me. It’s also related to history, so there’s a lot of research you can do for this character.

Can you give us an acting tip?
Num: Acting in the clip is totally different from what I’ve learnt or what I’m teaching. I want to say that anyone can do this type of acting because it’s very clichéd and stereotypical. There’s no need to study, practice or interpret.

Anything for you fans?
Num: I want to thank them and ask them to keep following my channel. If you have anything that I might make a good fun of, just send it to me. Interview by Monruedee Jansuttipan

Catch Krisana on Facebook (Numi TV Parody Channel) or on YouTube.

Thanongchai Talavanich, owner of O-Corner (6/F, MBK, 02-611-4880. BTS National Stadium) tells us about his passion for retro gaming and how he started his store.

How did you start your shop?
I was a gamer since I was young. I experienced these video games from their very first generation. At that time, I was studying veterinary medicine at Chulalongkorn University and during my fifth year, I had a lot of free time. I decided to take a Japanese language course and I began to frequently visit Japan. My friends would always ask me to bring back games. I had this Japanese friend in university and, one day, he saw me holding a bag from his parent’s shop in Japan! Selling video games was his family’s business. So, two years after graduating, we came up with this idea of opening a shop at MBK and importing new and used games from Japan.

What is your first video game and console?
The first game that I seriously played was “Mario” on the Family Computer by Nintendo, although “Pong” on the Atari is even older.

Is your entire collection for sale?
If you’re thinking of being a seller, you cannot be possessive. Maybe I’ll have a console of which only three exist in Thailand. But if someone out there wants it more than I do, I’ll sell it to them. I’d rather the game or console be with someone who really wants it. After selling it, I miss it, though. I’m also a collector that way. But I never regret it. I’ll have a chance to find more in Japan, whereas my clients only have my shop. There is this one console I’m really attached to. It’s a Gameboy booth that comes with a big screen. My friend said I could have it after we had been running this shop together for three years. There are less than five in the whole world that are still in working order.

What is your favorite console and game?
My first experiences were on the Family Computer by Nintendo which is also my inspiration for starting this business. But today, my favorite one is the NEO-GEO by SNK because you really get that feeling of playing in an arcade. The NEO-GEO is the most expensive console in this shop, though—it’s 50,000 baht. Also I’ve grown up, I have less free time, and I like games you can finish quickly. My all-time favorite game is Mario 3 though, because of the exquisite graphics. I never feel bored playing it, even though I’ve finished the games 50 times or more.

What do you think about TCDC’s Digiplay exhibition?
There’s about 40 items from my shop that have been put in the exhibition. At first, I couldn’t believe that they were really interested, because TCDC is about design. After I’ve saw the exhibition, I realized that they’re right; video game consoles have been carefully designed to impress people. I think it’s a good exhibition. It feels like a museum of retro games.

Do some people buy these consoles for decoration?
Yes. Here, we’re talking about rich people whose homes have entertainment rooms full of different consoles and they can play them on a huge screen. Sometimes they decorate their walls with these games. These people are actually pickier than game collectors because every game has to be playable. It’s like showing off and upgrading your social status. Interview by Rattikarn Suwithayaphan

DigiPlay is on display until May 22 at TCDC.

I grew up in Yaowarat which had lots of illegal stuff going on at that time. I was a pretty wild kid who broke every rule, like going to casinos and smoking when I was only 11-12 years old. The casinos let us in because they knew our parents. And our parents were just too busy to take care of us.

I played hooky to go play snooker a lot. I just didn’t like high school. I got thrown out eventually.

I didn’t tell my parents and secretly studied at an informal education school. Then I entered Bangkok University as a communication and design major because I love drawing.

After graduating, a stylist friend of mine went to Image magazine to show them his portfolio. I had shot some of his stuff and they hired me too.

After working for a couple of years, I decided to go to Chicago with a friend. I just wanted to try something new. I worked at restaurants and studied English, then moved to New York.

I chose New York because I wanted to work in a big fashion city. Being in a fashion capital really polished my style.

While working as a bartender, I decided I should do something to advance myself instead of living day to day. So I collected money to study photography courses in New York. I didn’t have a lot of money so I only did a couple courses at FIT and NYU.

I got lots of jobs in New York. At one point, I didn’t want to come back to work in Thailand.

The turning point was the terrorist attack in 2001. My mom asked me to come home so I did. I felt a little heartbroken because I was leaving work
behind but I chose my family.

I put my savings towards buying camera gear and spent the rest of it on a vacation in Hawai’i for a week before coming home. When I landed in Bangkok, I was broke.

I was surprised by the number of international and local magazines that had popped up in Thailand. But I had to ride buses to go show my portfolio to the editors.

I think my work stood out from the photographers working in Bangkok at that time, so I got two jobs about the same time.

I am not an erotic photographer. I can take any kind of photo. This reputation probably comes from my first job, where I took photos of Lookkade-Methinee Kingpayom in a bikini.

I want to try another style of photography like documentary or underwater.
I love adventure travel, going somewhere hard to reach. I can forget about my work and focus on my problems. I used to go all over the world but now I love to travel in Thailand. It’s the most comfortable place.

I saw a ghost once in Croatia. The hotel was full so I decided to sleep on a cliff above the sea. I was about to sleep when I saw this man standing at my feet. He was bright and glowing. I really freaked out. I closed my eyes and prayed in Thai until he was gone. He might have been an angel.

I am both happy and sad when I’m praised as Thailand’s leading photographer. I am happy that I can make a living in this profession but I am kind of losing my identity because so many eyes are on me.

I don’t follow trends anymore. I used to be a person who bought brand name products, changing my phone every three months. Then I realized that a few years of spending like this is equal to what someone can earn in a lifetime. Now, I don’t even have a smartphone.

I cherish my personal time. I love to read. I don’t use Facebook or any social network anymore. I am at the age when I don’t want to force myself to be something others are expecting me to be. It’s unnecessary.

I love Bangkok. It’s a big city full of sin and belongs to strong spirited people. If you can get through it, it’s the best school of life.

If I was Bangkok governor I would close brothels. There are too many places of this kind. It makes us a top sex tourism destination.

If I feel tired, sometimes, I tell my friends that I won’t be here for a while then turn off my phone and disappear. 

Other than a camera, what I need when I do photo shoots is the snacks. I love sweets.

I was offered jobs in the US but I decided to be here with my family. It’s true that you will earn more money and reputation there, but it’s far from home. My mom doesn’t want money. She wants me.

We don’t see that many Thai photographers going inter because it’s quite hard and Thais are always scared that foreigners are better than you. It’s not true. I want to tell the next generation of photographers that they shouldn’t be afraid.

You are judged by your work, not your race. Actually, I think people love to work with Thais. Interview by Monruedee Jansuttipan and Sritala Dhanasarnsombut

Why did you feel compelled to return to this painful period of Cambodian history?
I have come to understand why my family and many thousands of Cambodian were killed. I want to help Cambodians and the world understand in greater detail why this disaster happened in the hope we will not repeat history.

What has been the feedback like in Cambodia?
The film was only shown in one small cinema in Phnom Penh because the government don’t allow it to be shown widely. But those Cambodians who have seen it have been excited and I believe we are entering a new phase of understanding our history. It has encouraged them to learn more about the Khmer Rouge. The younger generation have read books and seen films and heard their parents telling them about atrocity and starvation but they don’t believe, because they’ve grown up in a more peaceful society.

Any comments on the current Thai-Cambodian relationship?
I do not want to see any fighting or killing from the dispute over the border and temple. I am a Cambodian and I have lived through many wars and I see how war always destroys people’s lives and fragments society. If we [Thailand and Cambodia] do not agree at any point, we should solve it in a peaceful way through discussion. But if that is not possible, we should go to court. There we shall have to smile at each other and accept the court’s decision. It is a good lesson for the new generation to learn.

What’s next?
The killing fields are actually a result of the political conflict that went on inside the Khmer Rouge party. We plan to show this in much greater detail in our second film, Suspicious Minds. It will feature the same people as in Enemies of the People. But it will also include others who were on both sides of the political struggle.

Enemies of the People is screened exclusively at SF World Cinema (7/F CentralWorld, Ratchadamri Rd., 02-268-8888. www.sfcinemacity.com).

What was it like putting your first feature together?
I spent half a year writing and developing the film before pre-production and the entire film took two years of my life. Making a feature film takes so long that by the time you exhibit it, some of the ideas and sensibilities you had while making it have changed.

Is it hard to find a balance between a film that will be commercially successful and something that would be considered an art film?
The commercial aspect of filmmaking is important because you have to be sustainable so you can continue to make your next film. When I made Red Dragonflies, I wasn’t thinking about the box office or about audience reception, but more about preserving images of a place that is disappearing very quickly. I always make my film first, and then try to find an audience for it. Some people think of it as selfish, but I think that if everyone makes movies that everyone loves to watch, there’s really no meaning to it.

Why do you think it’s important to capture Singapore’s disappearing side?
It’s important on a personal level because those are my own memories, and there’s a desire to capture it before it’s gone. I wouldn’t deny that there’s an overwhelming sense of nostalgia—but I also want to think of the film as a way of looking forward. Old things will disappear, but at the same time, new things will become old—it’s a cyclical process, it’s just life, and in life, things have to go.

Tell us about your next project.
The working title is “There Was Once a Mountain.” It’s a period film stretching from the early 70s to present day. It’s a historical film documenting how Singapore has changed across 40 years of time through the eyes of a family.

Where do you see yourself in the Singapore film scene?
I see myself as just another independent filmmaker. I’m very fortunate that my first film had some degree of success, but I see myself as someone still developing his craft and still learning.

Watch Red Dragonflies at Filmgarde Iluma, 5/F Iluma, 201 Victoria St., 6835-9087.

I was born in Malacca but grew up in Switzerland since I was three years old. When it comes to punctuality, I am Swiss (some might say otherwise), but when it comes to food, I am Asian.

Xiao long bao, wanton mee, chicken rice with a nice cold drink on a hot, hot day. Can you tell how much I love living in Singapore? I don’t think I could ever leave Singapore for long. I just keep coming back no matter how much or far I travel. Besides food, I also treasure love and friends.

In the business world, it can be very mentally demanding especially when you have a lot of responsibilities. Physically, the long working hours as an actor are definitely the toughest. But luckily each job has its own beauty and if you work on something you love, everything becomes half as hard.

For a while, I have wanted to create something of my own. With Supperclub Los Angeles, I am not fully hands-on but am very close to my good friends who run the show, and who are teaching me a lot about the hospitality business.

My entertainment career is my greatest passion as I have been doing it for over 11 years now. Then again, my new projects get the same attention as well, since I learn a lot from them.

I find myself happiest when I don’t have to do anything at all. I mean, don’t we all love a beach holiday with the people who mean the most to us? That’s where I get my energy to continue my professional career path with joy and motivation.

To only follow your mind without listening to your heart is the worst piece of advice I’ve ever been given.

Life is full of embarrassing moments. I can’t really talk about my most embarrassing moment but I embrace these and learn from my mistakes.

I was very shy with girls when I was a teenager. The pretty boy image came a lot later, especially I find myself happiest when I don’t have to do anything at all when I moved to Asia. It took me quite some time to accomplish an image of a successful entertainer rather than just another pretty boy. But if you follow your career with hard work, heart and passion, people will hopefully recognize your talent sooner or later.

For a long time, I really thought pick‐ up lines were just a myth but nope, they really happen. I’ve been hit on with them. Don’t ask me what those lines were. They’re not worth remembering.

To me, life is all about being respectful, caring, loving and going out there to live your dreams.

Being the best boyfriend, son and friend I can, means more to me than any materialistic achievement.

In 2002 you were awarded an MBE for "DJing and services to music." How has that impacted you as a person and your career in music?
I can’t really measure it. But it has afforded me a kind of respect from the government, establishments and royalty. Since then, I’ve been called Sir, Godfather, Your Highness, the works. It is a nice feeling to be respected for the thing that you love doing. Just last week, I got a call from The University of Hertfordshire and they will be honoring me with a Doctorate in music in October this year. It is truly an honor.

How has your year been?
It has been a fantastic year! I had my best start in three years with wonderful gigs in New Zealand, China and South Africa. Not to mention, the ones I had in UK and Europe. I am heading up to play in some of the biggest UK festivals like Glastonbury and V Festival and am expecting around 50,000 people for the party.

From helping set up KISS.FM in the 80s till now, how do you think music has evolved?
Radically. We are in the digital revolution and that explains everything. Live music is being recorded digitally in the studios and bedroom DJs and producers are manipulating sounds to create something new. I am comfortable in both areas. I never thought I would ever be reliant on technology but times have changed.

We can’t wait to be partying with you at Zouk Sir!
Come with an open mind, a big smile and a good attitude. You’ll be hearing house, some old classics, jazz, disco and even some dubstep if I feel like it.

Hail the music of Sir Norman Jay at SOUL:FUNK:DISCO:VERY, May 20, 10pm. Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988. $28-35 includes two drinks.

Has the script been changed in any way since 2003?
Yes, while the structure of the script is very similar, the text has changed since 2003. There are also new characters in the play. We have male trailing spouses, a Swiss-German and a Japanese character in this year's production.

Do you identify with your own character?
I identify with my own character in taxi rides, difficulties with language, being a stranger in a strange land (I've lived in Paris, Dublin, Scotland and London before Singapore and Hong Kong) so that feeling of "reinvention" is very familiar to me. At a certain point it becomes less of a "reinvention" than a "when in Rome...". Wisdom plays a big part in this!

Which part is toughest to play?
The part of the husband Harold isn't easy. He's got to go from small-town church choir singer to full-blown concert performer. The wives have to be spot-on in their characterizations, comic delivery and vocal ability (they took a long time to cast). The Expat Wife has always relied on slick, tight performances—it moves fast.

How do you prepare for your part?
I am so familiar with Felicity, but she is also different to me, and those differences I have to work on; accent being one. In earlier productions I always said she was more of a narrator, the Dean Martin to everyone else's Jerry Lewis. But this time Felicity is more active than reactive. I'm going to have to be on my mark!

Are the expat wife stereotypes true then?
They wouldn't be funny to an audience if they weren't ! But the play laughs with expatriates and locals, not at them. The Expat Wife was written after I came here to visit my sister and witnessed the strong bond she had with four other women from Asia and other cultures. They (and their husbands) poked fun at themselves and found humor in their situation. At the same time they missed home, loved Asia, worried about their careers, relished in the extra time they could spend with their families or partners. The number of people who have approached me and asked, "Did you hear me say that?" Husbands particularly have quoted lines to me all these years on. Hysterical!

Catch The Expat Wife through May 21, Mon-Fri 8pm, Sat 3pm, 8pm. $30-65 from Sistic.