Deep Dish make clubbers dance so much that their shoes will wear out. Between their debut album Junk Science to the latest offering George Is On, Ali “Dubfire” Shirazinia and Sharam Tayebi have remixed for Madonna, Depeche Mode, Dido and Danny Teneglia, and have bagged awards including a Grammy. No stranger to Singapore, the pair returns to thrill and we grab Dubfire for a quick catch-up.

Honestly, what was your first impression of Sharam?
I was a guest DJ on a regular night he was doing. We have mutual friends and hit it off straight away. The magic of Deep Dish is that we have different personalities and approaches. We get into fights, but we meet in the middle. If we had the same likes and dislikes, Deep Dish wouldn’t be unique.

True. One of Deep Dish’s tracks we like is “Dreams.” What’s the weirdest dream you’ve ever had?
I have weird dreams every night, but I forget them when I wake up! I can’t decide which is most bizarre—they’re all weird! A lot of my dreams involve experiences with people I haven’t seen or talked to for a long time. Maybe I’m unconsciously thinking of them.

Tell us more about your solo mix album Dubfire GU031 Taipei. How is it different from a typical Deep Dish record?
It’s an extension of my influences. In a typical Deep Dish album, we infuse our individual influences into a collective identity. I tend to be into the darker, techier techno type of sound, compared to Sharam.

And what inspired your single “I Feel Speed?”
I’m a child of Love & Rocket’s new wave sort of sound. The single was an experiment to see if I could do a traditional cover with a modern sound. I put my own vocals inside to test my own singing ability.

How would you rate your own singing ability?
It’s not bad. A lot of people couldn’t believe it was me!

No Regrets, a Tribute to Edith Piaf, which revolves around the life of famous French singer Edith Piaf, was first staged in 2004 to a sold-out reception. Now Piaf fans can catch the restaging of this musical at the inaugural show of Sing’theatre. It features the original cast—Hossan Leong, Emma Yong, Leigh McDonald, Asha and French soprano Aurore—who will deliver Piaf’s story in both French and English. We stole a few moments with Sing’theatre founder and director Nathalie Ribette.

This is Sing’theatre’s first show. Why did you choose to restage this particular musical?
No Regrets was both an artistic and commercial success in 2004, so it’s great to start a new theatre company with a proven inaugural show. Also, my friends in the Singaporean theatre community asked me to restage it.

Have you gained any new insights into Edith Piaf or the production with this restaging?
Since 2004, I have had the feeling that the Edith Piaf myth has gained even more magnitude, as we realize even more how significant her artistic legacy is.

How do you think the locals will relate to the life of Edith Piaf?
Edith Piaf began as a child singing on the streets of Paris and eventually became the highest paid singer in the world. She proves that everything is possible if you want it and are ready to work really hard for it. I think that Singaporeans can relate to this message, given the country’s success story.

How did you go about picking the cast?
I wanted the best of the best! So I sought personalities and singing styles that would bring out the universality of Piaf’s songs.

Are you a complete Piaf freak and how many of her records do you own?
Yes, I am a big fan—I own at least 30 CDs and many little black dresses! I also have recordings of Piaf and of other artists singing her songs in successful or disastrous adaptations!

What’s your definition of a woman?
A woman is someone who embraces the best qualities of womanhood. She’s nurturing, generous, humorous, and that’s the type of woman I strive to be everyday.

Do you get upset that many define a woman in terms of the physical traits?
Yes, because gender is not biological sex. Whether you’re a woman or a man, you’re beautiful in different ways. Beauty is what’s inside you. But we’re such a cosmetic society these days that everything is about the way you look.

If people do not classify being a woman as having breasts or a vagina, would you still have undergone the sex operation?
Yes. In order to have meaningful relationships with men, I had to have female genitalia. I have not undergone any external surgery so I don’t have beautiful, bouncy breasts. I don’t believe in breast implants and I can’t windsurf with them anyway. They’ll burst on impact. I haven’t removed my Adam’s apple either.

Tell us about your relationships.
My relationships have always been with foreign men. The only time I had a relationship with a Singaporean male was in National Service. I’m just an ordinary woman. Singaporean men feel ashamed if people ask them whether their girlfriend has undergone a sex change. Some of my boyfriends are perfectly secure in their sexuality. Whatever others say, it doesn’t matter.

Has religion been an obstacle in coming to terms with yourself?
No. I told a nun that I’m a transsexual in England. She said, “Well Leona, congratulations. You’re the first special person I’ve ever met. Share all about your life with me.” That’s how I converted to Catholicism. There’s a difference between religion and spirituality. A father once said, “If these things were so important, Jesus would have talked about them.” Jesus never talked about transsexuals, and I don’t think he’d care. This sounds controversial but it’s true. He only talked about love.

What is AcroYoga?
AcroYoga blends the spiritual wisdom of yoga, the loving kindness of Thai massage, and the dynamic power of acrobatics. These three ancient lineages form the foundation of a unique new practice that cultivates trust, connection and playfulness.

How did you form this variety of yoga?
We played a lot, with each other mainly, also with other acrobats, yogis and massage therapists. Those play-jam sessions developed the base of the practice. Jenny had a rich background in contact yoga (“Flying”), and Jason had many years experience in partner acrobatics. When our practices came together, AcroYoga was born.

What level should you be at to get the most from AcroYoga?
All levels can gain a lot from this practice. The limiting factor of what a student can get out of AcroYoga is their ability to be open to receiving. A yogi that has been practicing for 20 years could be blown away by how great it feels to do the same postures, upside down and suspended by someone’s feet. Having a beginner’s mind, as the Zen folks would say, is the best way to enter a class.

What’s the connection between yoga and Thai massage? Which came first?
I don’t know that anyone can answer which came first with certainty—they are both very old and have many similarities. The postures of yoga and the postures that a receiver of Thai massage would go through are at times identical. One difference is that in yoga you are the one creating the posture, using your own strength to provide the asana. Thai massage it has been called “lazy man’s yoga,” because the effort or energy comes from the practitioner.

Is it strictly for couples or can someone come solo?
The majority of our students come solo, and we gear the work to be approachable to any person, not just people that already know each other. Everything in an AcroYoga class starts off slow and builds. We start in a circle where we all meet each other and a theme is shared for what the exploration will be based around. We emphasize the fact, while in the circle, that we are all partners. Little by little, people’s fears and barriers begin to melt. Separation and isolation are learned behaviors. It is natural to be close and open with each other. It does not take much to come back to this universal truth.

To be a soldier wasn’t always my dream. When I was a kid, I wanted to be an architect. It was my soldier dad who talked me into it and inspired me to apply to the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, where I spent five years training.

Life in the military academy was fun. Of course, the training was hard, but I have always been athletic, so exercises were not a problem for me.

Mental strength, physical fitness and self-discipline are what I’ve learned from being a soldier.

Military training is like sharpening a knife. You always have to keep the knife sharp so that you can use it whenever you are in need.

Soldiers have to keep honing their skills, and be ready to serve at any time.

I was very excited when I first found out I got the King Naresuan role. But quickly after that, excitement was replaced by nervousness and anxiety.

I am not a professional actor and had never dreamed of being in the entertainment business, let alone taking on a big role like this.

Tan Mui is a great teacher to me. He spent two years with me before the actual filming started. He learned my attitudes and insights, and tried his best to bring out the real me on the big screen.

No one knows what King Naresuan was like, so the King Naresuan that you see in the movie is a character born from a combination of the scriptwriter’s imagination and my own personality.

What we can’t create or modify, however, is the heroic act that the movie portrays exactly according to history.

Acting is a part of everyone’s life. We all have to act at some point. Take me, for example. I’m a soldier and soldiers aren’t supposed to be afraid of anything. But I am a human; sometimes I get scared, but I can’t let my team see that.

The most difficult thing about filming King Naresuan are the action scenes in which I also have lines to say. It’s very hard for me to combine everything that I’ve learned about riding horses, using ancient weapons and acting into one scene. Imagine having to control a horse that’s freaking out because of the bombs being set off and trying to deliver the right lines on cue.

My life changed quite a lot after I was chosen to play King Naresuan, but it was a gradual change, so I hardly felt the difference.

Though I have to do lots of interviews to do to promote the movie, I’m still just a soldier.

The only expectation I had was that King Naresuan would make Thais love and be proud of their country, like our ancestors were. The movie shows how bad things can be when we lose our national unity.

Some may think it’s not their responsibility to protect the country—that it’s a soldier’s duty. But I believe deep down inside, everyone is willing to sacrifice their life for their country when it’s in danger.

I am, and will always be, a soldier, even after I’m retired. Soldier blood runs deep in me and influences who I am. It will be with me until the day I die.

I’ll definitely go back to serve the country. Though I’m having fun in the entertainment business, the military is always my first priority. I’d love to do more acting, but if there’s a time conflict, I’ll go back to my chosen path of being a soldier.

I’d rather to be remembered as a soldier than King Naresuan.

How did you start ice-skating?
I began when I was 13, as a hobby, skating at the World Trade Center. But then I fell in love with it, so I took serious lessons for two years before entering competitions. After seven or eight years, I became a coach. But now I just teach as a favor to friends only.

What’s the difference between skating for fun and competitively?
It’s very different. As a hobby it’s fun and recreational. But for competitions, you need a lot more training, plus ballet skills. It’s very serious and you have to practice every day.

Are your parents OK with you being an ice skater?
They are very supportive. They never forbid me to skate or put pressure on me to stop because they know skating is what makes their son happy.

Where do you see this sport going in Thailand?
Not many people are into this sport. Before, when we had the World Trade Center, it was a lot better. Now there are people skating to get to a professional level but fewer people skate recreationally.

What does it take to be a professional ice skater?
It takes a lot of time before you can enter a competition, about 10 years. And most people give up before they reach that level because it’s exhausting and time consuming. You will need confidence and determination.

How did you get into Disney on Ice?
Someone asked me to go for the audition of Beauty and the Beast. I’ve always loved the show, so I thought, why not? Disney on Ice is the dream of any skater.

What makes Disney on Ice special?
Cartoons are a great escape, far from the real world and into the fantasy world. Disney on Ice will make you feel young again.

People from all walks of life converge at this busy platform we call Changi Airport, and airline customer service staff are at the front line when it comes to dealing with jetlagged, irate but (sometimes) interesting passengers, wanting to get from point A to B as fast as possible.

I followed Thai AirAsia Guest Service Officer Alan Yam for a day to discover what a typical day is like for someone dealing with these kinds of problems.

Guest Service Officer: Alan Yam
Shift: 9am-4pm
Workplace: Counter 11, Departure Hall, Terminal 1
Job: Handling reservations and complaints, answering strange questions, receiving payment for overweight baggage and receiving feedback from passengers of Thai AirAsia.

9:10am: Disheveled-looking Chinese guy alights at counter. Asks if he can board the flight at 11am. Slight dispute ensues over weight of his hand-carry luggage (only a maximum of 7kg allowed). Cool-as-ice Alan Yam punches calculator busily and tells guy exactly how much he has to pay for weight difference. Chap gets boarding pass and is mollified.

9:15am: Next—Caucasian couple stops by. Portly guy gives me funny looks. Forgets about me when his pass is issued.

9:25am: Two ladies in full uniform with scarves and nifty skirts swoop down on Alan. They are luggage handling agents. They ask Alan some questions and he answers expertly.

10:15am: Good-looking couple asks random question—the flight schedule for Japan Airlines. Alan swiftly directs them to counter 4. Cool.

10:45am: Elderly Chinese man approaches counter tentatively. Wants to get to a place written on a piece of paper. Alan examines it and tells the old man that the address is for Malaysia AirAsia, in Johor Bahru. Gives clear directions on how to get to JB. There doesn’t seem to be a question Alan can’t answer.

11:30am: Flustered woman looking like a headless chicken asks Alan to check if her son, who is traveling with a school group, is on the next flight. Alan says politely that she should check with his school instead. “It’s better for her to check with the school, because I can’t reveal the exact movement of the passengers for security reasons,” he explains.

11:30am-12:50pm: Ultra boring period where I almost doze off and contemplate catching flies. Alan says “it’s quite quiet at this time, lah,” and clears his paperwork.

12:50pm: Woman pops up and asks where the POSB ATM and toilets are located. “Common questions lah, those,” says Alan. “We are like an information counter a lot of the time,” he says with a wry grin.

1:00pm: Alan’s colleague, Sheikh arrives. Counter gets super busy.

1:20pm: Would-be passenger asks Sheikh next check-in time. It’s at 3:35pm, so the check-in time is two hours before that—1:35pm. Sheikh says with an air of resignation that it’s a dead common question too.

1:28pm: Thai male passenger asks about check-in time. Also wants to know the timing of the next flight. It’s 8:40pm, so Sheikh advises him to return at 6:40pm.

1:55pm: Two ruddy-faced Englishmen stop by. Say they had called earlier to enquire about the next flight—it’s their first time flying with Thai AirAsia. Sheikh The Expert runs through regulations—no alcohol (audible sighs of dismay), free seating, meals to be purchased on board, etc. Then swiftly prints out the receipts and itineraries for them as they pay.

2:00pm: A gaggle of Indian ladies clad in multi-hued saris gather at departure gates. “Got lots of drama at the airport if you look around,” advises Sheikh. He’s absolutely right.

2:33pm: Caucasian couple make payment for their overweight baggage by credit card. Guy asks why the weight limit for luggage is 15kg, while other airlines have a 20kg limit. Sheikh explains quickly and politely that it is done to keep costs down so that flight prices can still be cheap. Guy argues some more. Finally Sheikh blurts, “It’s to make more money.” Direct approach works like magic. Guy shuts up. Wow.

2:38pm. Grungy-looking Caucasian drops by. Wants to know how he can change the time of his flight to a later one. Alan tells him he has to buy a new ticket. Guy looks bummed out but—no choice.

2:44pm. Another no-brainer but common question is asked—where’s the AXS machine?

3:28pm: Two businessmen want to delay their flight dates by one week. Proceed to make extra payment for penalty charges and fare differences.

3:50pm:. Mysterious looking Indian dude in shades asks about the fare. Freaks out a little at ticket price but returns later for more information.

4:00pm: I take my leave of the fascinating place called the airport, where strange questions and quirky characters abound—with a newfound respect for the guys I spent a day watching.

What’s a nice girl from a proper family like you doing prancing around with two guys wearing almost nothing?
Correction, darling. Rich, not proper. And I don’t just prance, I dance circles around both of them.

How much actual swimming do you get done during your lessons?
Not much. By the time I’m done with all that flirting, I don’t really get to swim much—if you know what I mean.

What do you hope to get out of your lessons?
Let’s see, if I can master the “freestyle” and the “breaststroke,” I’d be one happy little girl. And I’m already half way there.

Don’t you think that all this parading in skimpy swimwear is a bit too Baywatch?
Well, for one, there aren’t any double D-cups. And we are just that little bit wittier.

You’re rich, pretty and smart—we’re sure you have lots of guys at your disposal. Why go for a dull, aimless fellow with a dead-end job?
Darling, have you actually seen the guy? Besides, he is actually nice.

Now we get serious: Do you think your family problems are part of the reason for your urge to seek solace in meaningless material and physical pleasures?
Yes. Anything else about my troubled psyche that you would like to delve into?

Would you agree that sex sells?
It’s relative. You can’t exactly use sex to sell baby powder, can you? Don’t even go there!

Finally, where can we get that darling red-hot bikini that you’re wearing?
I chanced upon it while shopping at Bods.Bodyknits. But don’t you dare even think of buying it.

Having performed in over 2,000 performances of the The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and Asia, theater maestro Brad Little has won over critics and audiences with his wonderful performance. Speaking to us from New York, Little gave us an insight into his role.

Is there any specific method you employ when playing the Phantom?
I don’t play him in any specific way. I let the character develop as the evening goes by. The Phantom can be angry, disgusting and sympathetic. I know my lines, but the actual interpretation is different every night.

What research did you do for the part?
A lot of the research is imagination, because the Phantom is a fictional character. I asked myself—what is it in my life that will help me relate to the character? When did I feel isolated? For me, it was during junior high—when I didn’t like what I was reading. That part of my life really helped me to understand how it feels when the world doesn’t understand you.

Are there any psychological effects of donning the Phantom’s mask?
Putting on the mask is the last thing I do before I go on stage. That’s when the magic of theater starts. When I feel the role is taking over—I’m no longer Brad—I’m taking the audience into a sensory realm. That’s when I turn to my makeup artist and say “It’s time to make magic.”

You’ve played the role of Raoul before. Has that aided or impeded your understanding of the Phantom in any way?
It’s definitely helped me. I’ve learnt from some of the best while playing Raoul, so I know exactly what it’s like to be him. The thing is—they are two different characters, but they love the same person.

Are you anyone like the Phantom in real life?
I’m like the Phantom in the sense that I’m a real homebody. I don’t think the fans know that! I love staying at home. I also have great passion for music, arts, theater—that’s another thing we have in common.

How did you get started in wayang?
My parents and aunt were wayang performers. When I was seven or eight, I started acting and stopped when I was 13. I went back to wayang as a percussionist when I was 15 or 16. I’ve stayed in opera ever since.

Wow. You started young. So what’s your most memorable acting role?
My most unforgettable role was in the opera called Ji Gong Zhuan. I had heavy makeup and I looked very ugly and fierce in that role!

Would you say young wayang performers like you are an endangered species?
Yes. You can say that. It’s very hard to find young people who are interested in wayang now. I’m the youngest full-time wayang percussionist in Singapore. The average age of wayang performers in Singapore is between 50 and 60-years-old.

But are there avenues for the young to learn wayang in the first place?
There are young people who’ll enroll in lessons in community centers. But it’s better to enroll in an opera troupe. You’ll be immersed in the environment, see how different roles get played out on stage and you’ll learn more. You don’t even need to pay fees. Most troupes will pay you. And if you are an amateur, they’ll give you the basic transport fees.

Have you ever regretted choosing this vocation?
Not really. I’ve chosen the path. I wouldn’t know what else to do even if I give up now. I’ll take one step at a time and see how long my troupe Sin Sai Hong will last.