I started packing goods to make extra money and that’s when I was looking around for fabric at the factory to make tube tops for women. I just wired up a sewing machine and started sewing for fun. Quite unsexy but it sparked off my interest to make bigger and better garments.
It is not easy to run a label. Travel is a killer, money management is tough and doing the nitty gritty is really time consuming. Some people also don’t understand how the business works in terms of product development and meeting minimums.
Getting the team to gel and look out for one another is just as important as cooking up new ideas.
I love making clothing, but the manufacturing industry is a far cry from the bright lights of the fashion industry.
Jakarta influenced me to see way beneath the surface of this industry. Working at a factory and seeing a garment materialize will give you clearer vision to understand the entire industry. It’s a better perspective on fashion that focuses on the core of the industry. Going back to what it’s all about. It’s a solid education that you can’t really buy.
I like the Black Keys because it’s a great soundtrack to muffle the sound of 650 sewing machines in the factory. When I’m at home with my wife it’s all Jose James. That guy’s got a voice that would make any lady melt (and most men, too).
I have this terrible habit that I still haven’t given up. I am severely addicted to candy, gummies and jelly beans. It is quite alarming. But it keeps me at peace so I don’t think I am ready to give it up.
I love making clothes for the masses but if Charlie Sheen liked our gear, I wouldn’t mind him wearing it. He’s tearing it up right now with his whole self-destructive frenzy he’s got going. That would be fun and much needed press. Although on a more somber note, I think Jose James would be a solid spokesperson for our brand. Classy, cool and supremely talented.
I tend to read a few fashion magazines and I always see a lot of people vouching for all of these world famous brands that don’t really need any endorsement. In their quest to be unique by endorsing a highly sought after product (Chanel 2.55), they’re actually falling into that category of “cheerleaders.” Why be a cheerleader for something or someone when you’re not getting paid? Why endorse something that’s already so successful? If you want to be unique, why not endorse something that people have never seen?
I don’t really have any personal heroes. I’m not so big on idolizing. I bet they wouldn’t be too happy about us idolizing them in the first place.
I do however look up to my father: A great combo of street-savvy, downright toughness and brains; he is a real man. He was never formally trained in garment manufacturing but ran a factory nevertheless, despite all the pressures of running one.
I spend a lot of time with my wife. She is a great person to be around with. There are not many people who will always have your back.
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Tell us about your experience during the 48HFP.
It was a crazy, mad rush from the offset. We were lucky we had a good team of actors (everyone was an actor) and we’d worked together before and therefore had great working chemistry.
How did your team come up with the concept for Cut?
We basically sat up till about 2am in the morning brainstorming various storyline scenarios, given the constraints we had, and some that we imposed on ourselves—keep locations to a minimum, keep dialogue to a minimum and maintain spontaneity in the performances using a lot of improvisation.
Tell us more about Cut.
A social gathering goes wrong and it turns into a bit of a horror movie! We had drawn the “horror” genre and that completely threw us off any other ideas we had explored prior to the briefing.
What factors do you think led to your team’s success?
Preparation, preparation, preparation! We’d hired our equipment for a full 48 hours only to find we simply didn’t have a good enough story until the second night. Given that our tale happens at night, that only left us with about six hours to shoot before daybreak! Giving ourselves, as actors, a creative challenge that was manageable and within our individual strengths as performers was key—we didn’t have time to rehearse.
How has the competition affected you as an actor/filmmaker?
Well it’s certainly shown us what we can achieve when push comes to shove, we burnt ourselves out totally and came up with a week or two’s worth of work virtually overnight thanks to an amazing team performance and inhuman effort from our team mate Waikit who had to continue his work as editor, right after having been Director of Photography through the night!
You can watch Cut at www.tinyurl.com/48HFPcut. The 48 Hour Film Project takes place Apr 29-May 1. $140. For more information and to sign up, visit www.48hourfilm.com/singapore.
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Whereabouts are you now?
We’re at home in San Diego, California, in the studio. We’re working on a new album, Vice Verses.
Does Vice Verses contain material from the four albums worth of material you wrote right around Hello Hurricane?
There are a few songs from that period a couple of years ago. The majority of the songs were written in the last few months and we hope to release it this summer.
We heard about how you promoted your last album by hiding copies of “Mess of Me” around the world. How are you going to promote this album?
We’re talking to astronaut friends at NASA to see if we can perform from a space station.
The band has been known to be uncomfortable with being labeled as Christian. Why is that?
Well, I’m honored to be committed in the name of Christ and I’m a believer, but I think when you put your music in a box, it makes your audience feel left out. We make music for everyone, for an audience from all different ethnic and religious backgrounds, from all walks of life. I think that’s the beauty of music, that it’s universal and not belonging to a label or category to keep people apart from each other.
What would you like to do that you haven’t been able to?
There are a lot of things that we’d like to do with music and a lot that should be done hasn’t been yet. You know, we kind of view music as a vehicle to do things, like there are things that you can talk about in a song that you can’t really talk about with your best friend. I think you can talk about new things with music. I think for us Vice Verses is an opportunity for us to have a conversation with our audience and maybe with ourselves.
Will we be getting a sneak peak of what’s in Vice Verses in your gig here?
Yeah, I’m sure we’ll play a couple of new songs. We’ve been in the studio for a few weeks now, locked indoors. We’re really looking forward to coming over to Singapore, get back on stage and have that crowd interaction, get out there to rock shows.
Catch Switchfoot on Apr 28, 7:30pm. Rock Auditorium, #03-063 Suntec City Mall, 3 Temasek Blvd., 6333- 8280. $58-98 from Sistic.
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From its early roots in the 80s as one of Bangkok’s most accessible and relevant street labels to its current status as one of Asia’s most contemporary menswear and womenswear brands, Greyhound remains a force to be reckoned with. Founder, chief designer and creative director Bhanu Inkawat gives us the lowdown on contemporary fashion today and what makes his 30-year-old label quintessentially Thai.
What’s the biggest shift in menswear and womenswear you’ve observed of late?
In both Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter 2011, I notice that many designers are going back to the past and drawing inspiration from there. Luxurious elegance, traditions, tailoring and meticulous hand crafting are back in style with creative, new interpretations. I also see a big movement in colors—I don’t know whether it’s a sign to the world to say “cheer up?”
What about the shift in your personal design style and aesthetics?
Greyhound’s style is all about “basic with a twist,” and each season we challenge ourselves by selecting things that surround us to inspire our design; be it art, music, people, stories or lifestyle trends. In recent years we are drawn to the fact that we have been living too long in the fast lane and that we need to slow down a bit and spend more time to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of life. You could say that we are also yearning for the beauty of the past. For example, our current Spring/Summer collection is about exploring the “untouched” nature with the theme “Wish We Were There,” while the diffusion Playhound collection is inspired by the wonderful work of Jean Michel Basquiat.
Would you say that your design has gotten more contemporary, and even European, over the years?
We have always been a street and contemporary brand, but more European or not, I don’t know. However, it could be the influence of the European buyers. Now that Greyhound is available in Paris, Moscow, Switzerland, Sweden and Berlin, we have to comply with their requests on certain items, especially Winter pieces.
How has being Thai influenced your vision and collections?
One could define Thai style, especially Bangkok style as “Beautiful Chaos.” Everything and anything goes and we live together in harmony. Greyhound style is also a sort of mix-and-match with a twist—we don’t really like a complete total look but prefer to mix things up a bit for something more intriguing. We are inspired by the idea of combining chaos with beauty.
Can you give us details about your upcoming Autumn/ Winter collection premiering at the Audi Fashion Festival?
The collection represents a symbolic troop of the new generation, getting together on a mission called “White Troop” with the hopes of changing the world. It reflects our point of view towards how the world is fast changing due to man’s consumption and greed. The collection consists of mainly white, ivory and light grey pieces to suggest that a new balance is needed. Many statements and wishes are also written, screen-printed and embroidered on T-shirts and jackets, creating a new uniform called “White Troop.”
What are some of the pieces we should be looking out for?
Basic T-shirts with various statements like “Silence,” “Make Love Not War” and “Peace Please,” and lace pieces which incorporate the peace motif.
What inspires you?
Things in general that are not derived from famous brands but from great ideas and design. People also inspire me. That’s why I love to sit in a café and watch people and the world go by. Stories too because they make things much more interesting and meaningful.
Famous last words.
Backward is the best way forward.
Greyhound’s Autumn/Winter 2011 collection premiers May 16, 9pm at Audi Fashion Festival, The Tent, Ngee Ann CIty. The current Spring/ Summer collection is available now at Front Row, #02-09 Raffles Hotel Arcade, 328 North Bridge Rd., 6224-5501.
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It's an exciting time for Singaporean cinema. From Cannes to Jeonju and everywhere in between, Singaporean films have become a fixture. While Singapore's first Palme d'Or, Golden Bear or Golden Lion may still be some years away, it's a better time than ever to take a look back. What is our Citizen Kane, Casablanca or The Godfather? Has any one film characterized Singaporean cinema as Rashomon did for Japan and Infernal Affairs did for Hong Kong? Is there a definitive Singaporean film?
We spoke to the who’s who in the Singapore film scene—those who set the gears in motion and those who will shape the industry in years to come—and asked them to tell us about their favorite films. The result: Not one outright winner, but a pantheon of the best films this country has produced.
Eric Khoo’s second feature revolves around the residents of an HDB block. Ah Gu (Jack Neo) copes with the expectations and discontent of his China bride (Quan Yifeng), San San (Lucilla Teoh) lives a sad, solo existence and Meng (Koh Boon Pin) tries to take control of his siblings’ lives while their parents are away. The Eric Khoo Box Set (Mee Pok Man and 12 Storeys) is available from the Sinema Online Store. A new box set which includes Khoo’s other features Be With Me and My Magic will be available soon.
Nicholas Chee
Founder and Managing Director of Sinema Media
My favorite Singaporean film so far has got to be Eric Khoo's 12 Storeys. It is probably the most important film piece for me and made me see Singapore from a different perspective; a view from the outside looking in.
Most memorable scene: There are too many great scenes but the most memorable one for me would have to be the one where the older brother, Gor (Koh Boon Pin), questions his sister Trixie’s (Lum May Yee) “ah beng” boyfriend Eddy at home while she is getting ready to go out. Both have very contrasting views of what defines success and morals. The scene clearly defines the contradictions of a nation in development.
Royston Tan
Director, Chuan Pictures
My favorite film has to be 12 Storeys by Eric Khoo. Being someone who lives in an HDB flat, I can feel the suppression of individuals living in pigeon holes. It was also the first time that HDB flats were captured so beautifully in a film.
Most memorable scene: I think it has to be the long take of the elderly woman scolding the fat girl—the monologue is intense and cleverly executed.
Wee Li Lin
Director, Bobbing Buoy Films
When I first watched 12 Storeys I was in a multi-narrative movie phase. Do the Right Thing and Short Cuts were films I was very inspired by and I thought 12 Storeys was right up there with them in terms of script, performances, editing and execution. I liked the pathos and tragi-comedy of the characters.
Most memorable scene: When Meng was quizzing Trixie's boyfriend on how many “O” Level passes he had. It's hilarious.
In this documentary (or mockumentary), the eccentric director and film enthusiast Toh Hai Leong laments Singapore’s “zombie-fied” nature before planning to make a snuff film. Watch it online at tcchew.wordpress.com/2009/09/09/zombie-dogs.
Tan Pin Pin
Director
Zombie Dogs is a portrait of film buff Toh Hai Leong, and how he juggles his daily job as a security guard and his diabetes with his desire to make a soft porn film with the help of a few friends. The tone switches from pathos to prurience to bittersweetness with a note of dark humor under it all. Sometimes it feels that Hai Leong is being taken advantage of too. The twists and turns kept me riveted; I had no idea where each cadence would end. The pacing and the control of tone are constructed in the edit (this film is edited by Chew Tze Chuan). Above all, Zombie Dogs feels genuine and it does not try too hard, or take itself too seriously. It just is.
Most memorable scene: The most memorable scene for me was where Toh Hai Leong was cooking another packet of instant noodles for himself because that was all he could afford. It was funny, yet incredibly sad too. The film often flip flops the fine line between humor and pain, between our discomfort and our empathy.
In non-linear narratives, 17-year-old Rachel and her two friends follow an abandoned railway track while an older Rachel reconnects with one of them nine years later. A poignant study of youth and its waning, it documents a side of Singapore that will soon be lost. Red Dragonflies opens at Filmgarde Iluma on May 5.
Fran Borgia
Director and Producer, Akanga Film
My favorite Singapore film to date is Red Dragonflies by Liao Jiekai. I feel it captures a very important essence of Singapore’s transforming history, and it is a very personal film on our youth and our past.
Most memorable scene: Near the end of the film, the camera shows us, very innocently, a group of young students enjoying what will soon be only part of their memories. Those few beautifully shot frames transmitted so many feelings and emotions to me.
Eight years have passed, but Royston Tan’s portrait of teenage gang culture is as powerful and influential as ever—if you’ve been able to see it in full, that is. It remains a symbol of censorship’s suffocating effect. Where to wa tch it: If previous un-bannings are anything to go by, we’re probably about 10 years away from being able to buy it on DVD. Until then, a DVD run to Australia or the US is your best bet.
Philip Cheah
Editor of BigO, critic, curator and festival director
This film is so real that you feel that you're being slapped in the face. No other Singaporean film portrays the youth of today so potently and exists as both fiction and documentary at the same time. Making this film happen was a miracle. The fact that the original cast failed to show up on the first day of shooting, meant that the project would collapse immediately. So 15 the feature was improvised by slapping 15, the original short, onto the front of the film, and then continuing with an improvised cast.
Most memorable scene: 15 has a scene where the boys are staring at well-known Singapore buildings and wondering which would provide the best suicide jump. The rapid cuts and fast music pump your adrenalin and when you catch your breath, you wonder for a split second what all Singapore's progress amounts to. Take note that the DVD is not for sale in Singapore and having it shown uncut in a Singaporean cinema is like taking a flying leap.
Jeremy Sing
Founder and Editor of local indie film blog SINdie
15 is an old film but it captured a fresh and raw voice before the avalanche of filmmaking caught on in Singapore. It spoke strongly to me because it disregarded conventional filmmaking structure and latched on the freewheeling adventures of three ah bengs in a deep and honest way. In 15, Royston has an unparalleled grasp of visuals and aesthetics that no other filmmaker comes close to. It is even funny, which is rare among independent filmmakers in Singapore—everyone is afraid of making mistakes and wants too badly to be taken seriously.
Most memorable scene: The one with the ear-piercing. One of the boys sheds some tears and his “brother” pats him on the shoulder and says it's alright to cry, because men's tears are more precious. It's a beautiful line.
The man with no name strolls into the Queenstown wasteland. Think A Fistful of Dollars with ah bengs. Look out for it at The Substation’s next series of short film screenings. In the meantime, find out more about Nelson Yeo at nelsonyeo.wordpress.com.
Aishah Abu Bakar
Program Manager, Moving Images, The Substation
Who would have thought of making a minimalist Western in Singapore, filmed in empty and dilapidated spaces? The score is fantastic, the cinematography brings you to the space and the lack of dialogue works very well with the story-telling.
Most memorable scene: When the protagonist, Nobody, decides to treat himself to a feast after he's paid his dues. He meticulously aligns his plates of food across a table, only to pull them all towards him as he chows down without self restraint.
In Royston Tan's short Careless Whisperer, a vocally inadequate man tries to win over the girl of his dreams. Locate the hard-to-find DVD Royston's Shorts or hold a Royston Tan retrospective. Objectifs Films is the film's distributor.
Leong Puiyee
Assistant Manager, Objectifs
This film never fails to make me laugh. It has a timeless and classic feel to it. With its simple story and comedic touch, Careless Whisperer still strikes a chord as nothing beats a film with a good, yet simple story.
Most memorable scene: The scene with the character, Patrick, practicing his singing skills to various people. It shows how earnest he is in wanting to sing to the girl he likes that it does not matter how silly he looks—or how people are judging him.
The second effort from husband and wife writer-director team Colin Goh and Yen Yen is a stirring take on the trials and tribulations faced by an average Singaporean family. The film is not readily available, but check out your local DVD store.
Adrian Pang
Actor and Artistic Director, Pangdemonium Productions
My favorite Singaporean film is probably Singapore Dreaming because it was well-written, well-directed and well-acted; it took common “Singapore” themes and put a fresh and evocative spin on them.
Most memorable scene: Probably the one where the father dies— very simply filmed but very effective and moving, and Richard Low is great in the role. He’s much too good for Channel 8.
Joanna Dong
Vocalist and Actress
Singapore Dreaming was a very familiar story. It had strong actors in the cast who pulled off the difficult feat of playing characters that are almost stereotypical with a great amount of authenticity and complexity.
Most memorable scene: The scene at the Father's funeral, where they were talking about the "Elite Package" paper offering which included many luxuries such as a Mercedes complete with chauffeur! I think it's marvelous how even though ancestral worship may be an age-old practice, the burnt offerings have always kept up with the times.
Back in 1998, a young chap named Adrian Pang almost single-handedly made us all want to go back to 1977. Pang plays Hock, a kung fu-loving grocery store employee who wants a motorbike. The route to the bike? A disco contest. Where to wa tch it: A limited edition box set of Glen Goei’s Forever Fever and The Blue Mansion is available from www.thebluemansion.com.
Neo Swee Lin
Actress
Forever Fever is still my favorite Singaporean film. It was one that I watched in the cinema (I usually watch them on DVD on a small screen) so it's still very big in my memory.
Most memorable scene: I can never forget that one shot early in the film, of Hock riding his bicycle home at twilight, along a Chinatown street with The Majestic cinema in the background, with the poster of John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. So beautiful; so evocative of old Singapore.
Michael Burke
Chair, Graduate Film Department, New York University, Tisch School of the Arts Asia
Forever Fever is uniquely Singaporean. It captures the dialects, the food, the culture and heritage. It’s a film that shows the conservative nature of the society but more importantly it shows the Singaporean sense of humor. A lighthearted comedy, it is at once entertaining and complex. Adrian Pang’s character is at first embarrassed by his social status and heritage but arcs to being proud of who he is.
Most memorable scene: The scene where the father discovers that the beautiful young woman in his kitchen is actually his son dressed in drag. The emotions are incredibly complex, moving from attraction to confusion, to disbelief and repulsion. It is a beautifully acted moment.
Boo Junfeng’s debut feature follows En (Joshua Tan), an 18-year-old about to commence his National Service. It’s a tumultuous time during which he experiences love, illness, death and the inevitable passage of time. The film has just been released on DVD, so you should find it at any video store near you.
Lim Kay Siu
Actor
I just love Jun Feng's story-telling. True to himself, and beautifully told. Any story that shows the beauty of life through love, fragile though life is, gets my vote.
Most memorable scene: I don't really have a favorite scene. I love the whole, I guess.
Commissioned for the 2011 River Hongbao, Anthony Chen’s The Reunion Dinner is a heartwarming story about the continuing relevance of the traditional Chinese reunion dinner. Clips from the short are available at www.riverhongbao.sg.
Jack Neo
Director and Actor, J Team Productions
I fully understand kampong life, before HDBs, and I really like the way Anthony Chen portrayed it. When I see it, I really like it. It gives good feelings, and it brings back memories. The research is very well done; all the small details are there. Not just props but the language and mentality.
Most memorable scene: The firecracker scene. It's one of my childhood memories, and that's exactly how it happened.
Billed as a “motorcycle kungfu love story,” Eating Air is about Boy and Girl, two very different people who fall in love over high-speed motorbike rides. Long sold out, a re-release of the DVD can’t be too far away now that we all know who Kelvin Tong is.
Kelvin Tong
Director, Boku Films
We all can never forget our first times and Eating Air was my and Jasmine Ng's debut feature film. It was a totally rock 'n' roll experience. We were young, crazy and absolutely refused to take no for an answer. I think Eating Air captured a certain magic of freewheeling youth in Singapore.
Most memorable scene: The very last shot of the film—a long tracking shot of Ah Girl walking alone through the CTE tunnel. It's a simple and devastatingly tragic shot. When I watch the film now, I get a lump in my throat as the music begins. Maybe it's the breathtaking banality of the CTE tunnel. Maybe that shot was also the last frame me and Jasmine shot on the Eating Air shoot. Good old-fashioned nostalgia—never fails to work on me.
Tan Pin Pin's hour-long documentary about people who document things— journalists, photographers and archaeologists—explores the fragility of history through memories and aging images. You can buy a box set of Tan Pin Pin’s films from Objectifs Films or try your luck at Kinokuniya, HMV and Gramophone.
Boo Junfeng
Director
Invisible City is one of my favorites. Through the stories of different individuals who attempt to immortalize their memories, we discover a beautiful and poignant portrait of a Singapore that we don't often see. It is one of the most honest and reflective films about Singapore that I have seen.
Most memorable scene: The scene where Ivan Polunin's narration of his footage of the 1950s is placed over a black screen. We hear very clearly that his own memories are also fading, yet he desperately wants to document them before they disappear completely.
In this four-minute semi-animated short film from Pok Yue Weng, a young man on the toilet draws a giant penis on the cubicle door which attacks other “dirty” drawings once he leaves. Watch the movie online at www.babelgum.com
Eric Khoo
Director and Producer, Zhao Wei Films
I can watch it over and over again and it still gets me cracking. It’s the most original thing I have ever watched and I told the director to send it to Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes. He did, and it was immediately selected. I recently saw a French commercial that stole his idea!
Most memorable scene: When Super Dong whacks about all the other smaller graffiti pricks on the walls of the toilet cubicle!
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How did you become a photographer?
I got a Bachelor degree in Computer Science but decided that science is not what I wanted to do for the rest of my life; art is what I really like. So I decided to pursue my dream and study art at Savannah College of Art and Design in the form that I’m most familiar with, photography.
What is the inspiration for this exhibition?
The question of Thainess because after all it is our root, our soul, our everything. Thainess is what makes us who we are. It is what makes us different from the rest of world. Most importantly, it is a heritage given to us by our beloved ancestors
You wear traditional outfits in your self-portraits. How can someone express Thainess in modern everyday life?
For my self-portraits, I also wore sneakers and sunglasses basically because I need to point out that the Thai thing doesn’t always have to be something serious or something boring. We can also express it in a fun style by changing our point of view. In the modern world, we can mix our Thai style with modernity. If we think Thai art is old, it will definitely die.
In your pictures, you express Thainess through costumes. Does Thainess also come from the inside?
Sure, Thai identity does not always have to be something about appearance but the Thai mind and Thai thought define a lot of who we are. Our parents teach us a lot on how to behave, to be helpful to everyone. The idea is that these thoughts will automatically lead us to be real Thais. Nowadays, teenagers are influenced by Western culture and Japanese and Korean pop culture. It’s not that bad to consume their style but at least they should realize our Thainess. Let’s not lose our own identity.
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I was very naughty as a child, but could be very quiet with strangers. When I grew up and got to work with different people, I learned to approach people first, instead of waiting for them.
I’ve loved music for as long as I can remember. My parents told me that when I got upset, I would stop crying and fall asleep easily after my nanny turned on the radio.
Suck Seed, the movie, was my life. I was just like any other normal teenager trying to form a crap band and play crap songs.
It’s was only when I got to ABAC that I had a chance to mingle with friends who shared common interests. I love my high school friends but when it comes to movies and music, college friends are better to talk to. That was where I got to sing in front of lots of people, which I never felt confident doing before.
Zita Zalai told me I could be a singer after she saw my performance at the faculty’s annual concert. She was just a training artist at GMM Grammy back then.
I used to hate people who were star wannabes. I had a silly perception that if you’re great, opportunities will come to you. Apparently I was wrong. One day I was contemplating my future and realized that I really wanted to be a singer. I decided to ask Zita to get me an audition.
But my start wasn’t really pleasant. I was the lead singer of a band called Pi, which didn’t really make any big waves.
We were too bland to stand out from other artists at that time. After one album, all the members went their separate ways. I decided to continue as a solo artist.
I knew it was time for a solo album after gaining years of experience on projects like D.I.Y by Narongvit and Sleepless Society 3. I’ve also grown up.
I never thought I could write a song until Pi’s producer forced our band to write our own. We ended up composing five songs on the album.
Writing lyrics is way harder than composing melodies. Because when I listen to a song, I usually focus on the melody, which I think is the foundation for a song. It is also difficult to artfully narrate a story.
My view on love has changed. When I was young, I expected a lot, but now I think that love is more about accepting and understanding. Love takes time; it’s not about possession.
Singing songs other people write is like cooking food. I’m not the one cooking but I shop for ingredients or say how much sauce I need for each dish. I take part in the production process, choosing the styles or musicians I like for each song. Waiting for the chef to fix a meal for me isn’t my style.
My new songs show a brighter side of love—it’s my intention. Before I was disappointed with love but now that moment has passed and I want my fans to also see the happy side of me.
I don’t let others’ opinions have an effect on me. As long as I like it, I’ll do it. That’s all.
My happiness is to work and for my stuff to come out as well as I hope. Always improving myself is my main goal, so I get really upset if I feel that I’m not getting better with my performance.
I still feel excited on stage. If I know what the audience is like and I have time to prepare, it’s a good, fun excitement, instead of a nervous one.
A recent chat with an acting trainer was actually a turning point in my attitude. I used to be a hot-tempered man and expect a lot from others. I had a five-hour conversation with him and it changed my perception of life.
I have two sides—just like normal people. What people see is just one part. I don’t know how to, and why I should reveal it. Only time can help people know who I really am.
I like to fantasize, but that also helps when writing songs. I usually worry about how I’m going to perform on stage. Or whether my voice is good enough.
Pod Moderndog makes me really want to sing. The way he sings affects me emotionally.
Having fans who scream the loudest doesn’t mean I’m more famous than other artists. I’m happy about it, but it’s not a good way to judge artists. If you’re not there on stage, you can’t know what it’s like.
I can do anything on one condition: give me time to prepare. If you want me to do a special Korean dance, I can, but give me time to practice, because I don’t like to suck.
Being an artist is to be honest with yourself and never underestimate the audience. We have to do our best for them. Interview by Rattikarn Suwithayaphan, Kanyanun Sunglaw and Top Koaysomboon
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I got attacked by a group of men on Silom. I was leaving a club around 4am. One man charged me from the back and tried to drag me to his friends. Fortunately I was able to escape and jump into a cab. That spot is too dark and there’s no CCTV.
I was walking along Wireless Rd. when a motorcycle traveling quite fast raced past me and almost hit me. About 10 feet away he stopped and shot me back this evil look as if it was all my fault. Sidewalks are for pedestrians!
There is one spot on the sidewalk in Wongwian Yai area where the blocks aren’t attached to the ground. Almost every time it rains and I happen to step on them, the water always splashes up and both of my legs get soaked with that dirty water.
I was walking around Victory Monument, talking on my phone, and I walked right into this iron rod that was sticking out from some nearby construction. I was wearing flip-flops and cut myself pretty bad between the toes.
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Can we expect to see your new album again very soon?
I’m planning to have my own album launched by the end of this year. I’m also working on my family’s own documentary program called Kra-jok-hok-dan as well. This is quite a routine job and I prefer doing only one thing at a time but, well, I have to do both for now. So I need to manage my time if I want to get a new album out to my fans. Plus, I’m having another music project with May-thee, a member of Moderndog, and would love to have it done by this year as well. It will be an EP album, just like May-thee did with Pray previously.
How would you describe your sound?
During my first and second album, it was the period of grunge rock, so my sound was like that. But personally, I love a very hard sound of rock as my passion for music was inspired by the Iron maiden, an 80s British heavy metal band. So, for my next album, I’m planning to have more rock that yields deep feelings, and a sweet melodic line.
Who is your favorite band these days?
Although I am into a very hard sound of rock, sweet guitar lines really charm me. I love the band Kings of Leon. They are young but talented and their rock comes in a variety of styles.
How do you feel about playing with We are Scientists?
I’d say that it’s always a great chance to play with an international band or even with Thai bands as we can share our experience with each other and with the audience. Listening to We Are Scientists, I feel they’ll be great live. It should be fun.
What’s your dream bill for next year’s Tiger Translate?
Placebo is one of my favorite bands and I’d love to play with them. Unfortunately, I missed them at last year’s show. And, of course, if I have a chance to play here again next year, I’d love to play with Kings of Leon.
Tiger Translate 2011 is tonight, starting from 5:30pm, at AP Parking Limited (behind Esplanade). Grab your tickets now at Thaiticketmajor.com.
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How’s it rocking boys?
It has been rocking hard on every side (laughs). We’re working and enjoying life to the max. We’ve been touring the world for the past 12 years and this will be the first time ever that we’ll be in Singapore. We are very excited!
Psy-trance: Some hate it, others love it. What does the sound mean to you?
Like all things in life, different people like different things. For us the genre represents total freedom; it has no borders of age, class or race and you’ll find all sides of society that really dig it. Psy-trance can be anything from rock to classic and everything in between. The genre is constantly evolving in the spirit of the times and has remained dynamic and fresh.
What’s new or in the pipeline for you guys?
We’ve been in the studio working on different local and international projects. We are also making some final tweaks to our new album that is going to be released in early June. The album is bold and different and it’ll definitely kick ass on the dance floor. We’ve also produced five killer music videos for the singles, and the first world premier of the music video “Warrior” will be showcased on our Singapore tour!
You got a name for the album?
The name of the album is going to be decided by you and all of our friends on www.facebook.com/skazimusic. “Like” the page and think of a name for the album. Who knows, we might pick your album title!
What do you think of your fellow Israelis, Infected Mushroom?
We’ve been very close friends with Infected Mushroom since 14 years ago. They are brilliant people and gifted musicians who have gathered big respect from the Israeli electronic scene and across the world. It’s always funny when we meet because we get really crazy and all hell will break loose.
You’ll be making your debut at Zouk. What can we expect?
Our music and everything about it is not planned by a trend or a wave of change. Our music has its own unique signature that is a mix of different styles and genres. We’ve played in the biggest rock festivals like Fuji Rock in Japan, to a jungle trance party in South Africa, to New York clubs like Webster Hall and Avalon. The Skazi experience, from the music to the total madness on stage, is different from what people used to expect.
Mosh to the duo at the Tel Aviv Party City presents Skazi “LIVE” on Apr 21, 10pm. Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988. $25-30 includes two drinks.
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