Never leave home without: Stuff to connect to the world via internet and my music

Stupidest Trend: Too many to try to find one

Favorite audience:  A happy, smiling one

Happiest moment:  When you have that new song you love, play it for the first time and it gets the crowd crazy—magical!

All time fave song: Change feat. Luther Vandross, “The Glow of Love”

On a night out you… Stay home! I’m out so much as a DJ that I do it reverse!

Last lie: I swear it wasn’t me

Rule for life: Try to live it in style

First job: Office clerk

Idol: Sean Connery

Favorite Bangkok sound/noise: The street food vendors scrapping and banging their woks

The path to inner peace: Find yourself first, then you can find the rest

Most annoying thing I have to encounter everyday: Grumpy taxi drivers

Last thing that made me stop and think: Plastic bags, do we really need that many?

Listening to: Too many things, but always soulful and musical

Best DJ groupie story: Groupies are for rock stars; you’re knocking at the wrong door

Make them think you’re cool: Why, didn’t I yet?

Most inspirational person: Quentin Tarantino

House music never dies because: It’s disco in disguise, and there hasn’t been anything better to get your groove on

Dimitri will be showcasing his trademark style at Polly Bar (see +nightlife previous page) on Friday, Dec 22. Advanced tickets B1,000 (call 08-5917-3616) or B1,500 at the door. Doors at 9:30pm.

I stand between the artists and the audience. My duty is to bridge the masses and the art.

When I stepped into this job, I felt Tadu was a white room that seemed quite cold and even unwelcoming. What I expected was to make it a space for everybody. It’s getting closer to that point now.

I like it here because you can drink water or coffee when you browse around, so people can feel relaxed.

Life is short but art lives on. This saying was proven after the first seven years at the old venue in RCA. The restaurant in the Yontrakit showroom changed continually with the trends of the time, but Tadu stays the same.

When I was a schoolboy, I walked past an exhibition in River City and got a chance to meet an artist. He was very cool with a beard, white hair and a dark blue outfit. It was Pratuang Emcharoen. I didn’t know where the future would take me, but he made me feel interested in art.

I was nervous when I first took this job, as I had no solid knowledge in art. I only knew that whether it was art or culture, it needed management.

I didn’t feel afraid—I just felt that I didn’t know much about art and I wanted to learn more.

Attracting people to art is a hard job. Art stands on people’s expectations, and when it’s not what they expect, they just don’t care anymore.

Tadu tries to hold workshops so that artists and audiences can meet and get to know one another. If the audience is interested enough, they might get inspired to create something when they go home.

I am ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with the audience. These workshops are something I want to attend, as well. I want to grow with the audience.

Our goal is to support new artists and to walk along with the audience. We try to educate people, for example how to distinguish video art from a short film.

Art always gets ahead of us. Whenever you think you are getting the concept about color or a certain style, trends switch to something not color or style-relevant. The management part in me needs to better foresee these trends and shorten this gap.

I never think that other galleries are my competitors. In the bigger picture, we all are working together.

Tadu doesn’t make good money at all comparing to other galleries, but it expresses our goal and what we are doing. As we have Yontrakit as a supporter, artists don’t have to pay for space rental. This helps relieve their burden. The gallery is also open for all art-related use, which gives the place life.

There are so many well-know artists, emerging artists and international artists, but our audience is very small.

Sometimes even if you don’t understand art, try observing it without understanding and see what happens. You might find a message the artists have hidden in the pictures or something the artists didn’t intend to express at all.

Each exhibition needs lots of time to perfect. There’s a lot of labor and money put into it for the audience, so don’t be afraid to check it out.

How do you know one another?
First: Kak and I were old bandmates and we got the other three to replace the leaving members. Yuth was introduced to me through our first album’s producer and he brought in Vit and Auto, his friends.

Why is your sound on this album so different?
First: We didn’t really express ourselves on the first album. Back then, we didn’t have enough experience, so the producers wrote the songs for us. With this band and the new members, we spent two years learning about making music. This album came out the way we wanted it to be.

How was it working with Scott Moffatt as your producer?
First: When we finished all the songs and were ready for recording, we realized that it is a process we had little knowledge about. Scott arrived just at the right time.
Yuth: He helped make the sound more international.

Do you tour a lot these days?
Yuth: We do about three to four concerts a week, but before it was like seven days a week.

You must be rich.
Kak: We only get paid two out of every 20 shows.

On your album, some songs are very accessible but others are not.
Kak: Accessibility is never in our mind when we make music. We never think that we have to make this song commercial or make that song artistic. Every song is Slot Machine-style.

Last words?
First: We put all our effort into the album. I think it’s worth buying. Please don’t buy pirated CDs.

For a while now, rock groups Astreal, Tiramisu and The Great Spy Experiment, and DJs Akien and Debbie Chia, have been wooing music lovers with good and loud music. We grabbed these Motorola Street Style Awards 2006’s music nominees for a quick banter and give you the lowdown on these acts.

Astreal

What’s the one song that says everything about your band?
Ginette Chittick: It would probably be “This is Dormant.” It’s got its quiet bits and its sonic assault, and that’s the epitome of our sound.

Who are your current music heroes?
Chittick: Enon, Cansei de ser Sexy, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, Editors and Curve.

What is your secret weapon to winning the Motorola Street Style Awards?
Chittick: Good shows and an original sound!

Complete the sentence. “A good song is like…”
Chittick: Beautiful afternoons that never end.

Debbie Chia

What’s the one song that says everything about your band?
There isn’t one that exists currently. But I will make a song that says everything about me!

Who are your current music heroes?
DJ Soulja, Alex Smoke and Kerri Chandler.

What is your secret weapon to winning the Motorola Street Style Awards?
Putting my cards on the table.

Complete the sentence. “A good song is like…”
A living entity.

Tiramisu

What’s the one song that says everything about your band?
Rizman Putra: “Mr Fantesticles.” The song is about a man who loves to carry balls with his bare hands and feels proud of it at the same time.

Who are your current music heroes?
Putra: Stephanie Sun, Kit Chan, Dick Lee, Tanya Chua, Dreamz FM, Hardy Mirza and Rui En.

What is your secret weapon to winning the Motorola Street Style Awards?
Putra: Vote for yourself, just meddle around with different IP addresses, and you can get as many votes as you want!

Complete the sentence. “A good song is like…”
Putra: Doing the “running man” in reverse and giving yourself a sudden gyration from out of nowhere.

Akien

What’s the one song that says everything about your band?
Aldrin and Akien’s “Dig This (Original/Regrooved Mix).” It’s a big room sounding track and the vocal line is “I wanna see how you all dig this in.” This is precisely how I want to express my music.

Who are your current music heroes?
They are Trentemoller, BT, D Ramirez, Switch and not forgetting, our homegrown talent Electrico.

What is your secret weapon to winning the Motorola Street Style Awards?
Working hard and following my motto, which is, “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can also achieve.”

Complete the sentence. “A good song is like…”
A journey through life that has been compressed into a short span of time.

The Great Spy Experiment

What’s the one song that says everything about your band?
Fandy Razak: It would be “Dance With Me” because that’s exactly what we want to do to people. We want to make them dance like they’ve never danced before when they are at our gigs.
Saiful Idris: Errr.. On a personal note, “Late Night Request.”

Who are your current music heroes?
Razak: We are Scientists, Stellastar* and The Cure.
Khairyl Hashim: All hardworking musicians in the future, past and present.
Magdalene Han: Goldfrapp, Ladytron and Peaches, to name a few.
Song: Duran Duran, New Order, Depeche Mode and Camouflage.  Yes, I’m on a ’80s synth-pop trip. Don’t you judge me now!
Idris: Chuck Schuldiner. 

What is your secret weapon to winning the Motorola Street Style Awards?
Idris: Having computer expert friends.
Han: The only thing I can reveal is that we are true believers.
Song: The sexy bassist.

Complete the sentence. “A good song is like…”
Han: Recreating a bygone era. The song that the next few generations will play or remix and it will still get everyone dancing.
Razak: Good sex.

Besides her work on TV, Paula also presented several radio programs in Malaysia, and she has also acted on stage. One of the highlights of her career was her being featured in a special episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show that went around the world and profiled successful women who were 30. We had a little chat with her amid her busy schedule.

What is your current state of mind?
I’m feeling extremely excited, optimistic and chaotically peaceful at this new stage of my career at ESPN STAR Sports.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a cheese maker, seriously.

What is your biggest achievement?
If I had to choose, it would definitely be getting my former job at Channel [V] and now landing a job with STAR Sports.

What inspires you?
It really inspires me to see hardworking, passionate individuals living their dreams successfully.

What personal trait do you appreciate the most in others?
Definitely punctuality and honesty.

Do you have a cause or do you support one?
I’m still trying to find the one that I can seriously commit to. But I like causes for children and am hoping to find one that will truly allow me to contribute as much as I can.

Which living person do you admire most and would like to invite for dinner?
I have a lot of respect for the Sultan of Brunei (His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah). I think he has done great things keeping Malaysia safe and would like to find out what his plans are for Brunei.

What are you reading?
A Time To Dance, No Time To Weep by Rumer Godden.

How do you spend your Sunday mornings?
I usually jog for an hour. My Sunday morning is also filled with the guilty pleasures of TV.

What is your idea of hell?
A karaoke bar.

What is your guilty pleasure?
That’s easy: Reality TV.

How do you recharge?
I recharge by not seeing anyone and watching a DVD box set.

What’s playing in your iPod/MP3/CD player?
Lionel Richie, Corinne Bailey Rae and Wham!.

What do you collect?
Bills and rings.

Where would you like to live?
In an igloo. In Singapore.

What is your favorite item of clothing?
My pajamas.

What accessory sets you apart?
My rings.

What about you that scares others?
My bluntness.

If you had to play a character in a movie, which movie and which character?
Scarlett O’ Hara in Gone with the Wind.

What did you believe in at 18 that you wish you still believed now?
Father Christmas.

A new animation form called machinima is taking flight. With this, you can play computer games and make a film at the same time.

Can you tell us briefly what machinima is?
“Machinima” is derived from the words “machine” and “cinema” and is about creating films using video game engines instead of live action or traditional animation. You treat the 3D game world as your “set” and the game characters as your “actors,” manipulate them, record the footage, and then edit it just as you would a video production. There are other ways to make machinima, but at some point, it all involves “recording” or “shooting” 3D environments.

So what video games are most often used?
The popular ones are Sims2, Halo, Quake II, Unreal and Battlefield 1942.

Has any machinima maker put their stuff up on YouTube and got famous yet?
Yes, there are numerous clips uploaded by enthusiasts on YouTube. Popular machinima clips include “Better Life,” “Silver Bells and Golden Spurs” and a clip on male restroom etiquette which currently has a view count of 2.8 million!

How do you think machinima is going to change the animation world?
While the techniques may be different, the key essence of animation and machinima is the same; which is good storytelling. In many ways, machinima is complementary to animation. It can help to develop a better appreciation for animation and build a stronger talent pool for the animation industry.

So Pixar won’t close down?
Ha ha. I believe Pixar will get only stronger, due to the complementary nature of machinima and animation!

In your pocket: Candy.

Never leave home without: Cellphone.

As a child: Loved singing.

In 20 years: I’ll keep singing.

All time fave song: Garota de Ipanema.

On a night out you… : Go somewhere to listen to music.

Last lie: I told my sons that Santa Claus really exists.

First job: Singer.

Idol: Antonio Carlos Jobim

Reading: Harry Potter.

Remembered as: A singer touching hearts.

Most annoying thing I have to encounter every day: Junk mail.

Love that job: Cleaning the house.

Most inspirational person: Dalai Lama.

Close your eyes and listen to my music, you will see: Peace.

Bossa nova never dies because: It can heal the heart.

Three words for your performance at Bangkok Jazz Festival: First experience, togetherness, easy listening.

Lisa is performing at the Bangkok Jazz Festival (www.bangkokjazzfestival.com/2006) on Sat, Dec 16 (see concerts, page 24).

With an entire stretch of venues that cater to the in-crowd, Lang Suan is a great place to scavenge for good food. So it’s not surprising that one of Singapore’s acclaimed restaurants, Ember, has decided to open its Bangkok baby here. Located in the front of Lang Suan Balcony near Soi 5, this fashionable eatery is located in a three-story house. The third floor, which will house a room for private parties, is under construction. The all-white ground floor has all glass walls with a bar in the center.

As is the case in the Merlion City, European with a touch of Asian is what you’ll find here—naan instead of pizza breads, for example. For starters, crisp-fried Japanese oysters in a buttery vegetable sauce (B450) and fried soft-shell crab in a creamy wasabi sauce (B250) are both recommended. Or, for lighter palates, a spicy gazpacho soup with onion pakoras (B265) will jumpstart your tastebuds.

Fans of foie gras will want to try not one but four different foie gras dishes (not on the same day, though), starting with the signature crispy foie gras with pear chutney and beet-orange chili reduction (B650). And while we’re on the subject of politically incorrect foods, the Chilean seabass with mushroom and bacon ragout in truffle-yuzu butter (B650) is another delicious choice. There are also meat dishes ranging from B570 for chicken to B880 for a ribeye steak, as well as a lone pasta: linguini with seafood and Thai basil pesto (B510).

Desserts are vicious killers at Ember. Highlights include a warm banana tart with homemade lavender ice cream (B250) and an extremely chocolatey warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream (B280).

At lunch, Ember offers very reasonable two- (B345) and three-course (B370) sets, which include coffee or tea.

After our superb tasting and tour, we sat down with Suif Ahmad, operations manager of Ember Bangkok, and Chef Haikal Johari.

Why did you decide to open a branch here in Bangkok?
Suif Ahmad: The opportunity was given to us by Dr. Bhichit Rattakul, who helped us find the place to expand our restaurant. It is our first branch outside Singapore.

How would you describe the food? Is it fusion?
Chef Haikal Johari: We are making modern European dishes with an Asian touch. We are not a fusion restaurant. I think the term is misused a lot these days. Fusion brings up the image of throwing different types of food together without any identity, but here we are focusing on the European while also adding in Asian flavors to make them distinctive.

What are your signature dishes?
Suif Ahmad: Crispy Foie Gras (B650), Pepper Crusted Australian Lamb Rack (B850) and Chilean Seabass with Mushroom and Bacon Ragout (B650).

Are the customers here different from ones in Singapore?
Suif Ahmad: They are different here. In Singapore though our restaurant is located in a hotel, the customers come from all over. But here in Bangkok right now the customers are mainly the people who come to Lang Suan and when they see us they walk in. Our target customers are mainly foreigners and businesspeople.

Enjoy European with Asian accents at Ember, 99/11-12 Lang Suan Balcony, Ploenchit Rd., 02-652-2086. Open Mon-Sat 11am-2:30pm, 6:30-10pm.

I found my love in music through praying. I was in a Buddhist school and we prayed after lunch every day. Though it was monotonous, it sounded like a song and felt so peaceful. Music also combines silence and rhythm.

I was so shy as a kid. I think music gave me more confidence. If you want to sing, you have to be confident to perform well.

The only thing that makes a good singer is practice. I have one goal and it’s to keep practicing. It’s necessary for stage performers to ward off nervousness and fear of doing something you’ve never done before.

I think we all are gifted because each of us has a voice. Maybe it’s just that not all of us have learned to use it well.

I don’t think I am that gifted, but I really love music and I have the patience to keep with it. When I won a prize at the 1989’s Nissan Award, I was terrible. But they told me, “It’s good to know you are really patient and are trying to make something from what you like.” Maybe that’s why they chose me.

After that competition I decided to go to the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts and majored in classical music. It was painful but it was also a good learning experience.

At Berklee they taught us how to make a living out of something we loved. While there, I learned about contemporary music, soul, blues, jazz and R&B.

To be a singer, you need more than just skill—you have to be able to manage yourself.

The voice is the best musical instrument. You don’t have to buy any equipment; all you need to do is just take care of yourself. It’s good for your health, too.

I don’t regret all the money I spent on studying music at all. If we have money, we should spend it on the things we love. We can’t take money with us when we die.

Experience is something you can’t buy; but studying is something money can give you time for.

I think it’s better to sing for people who appreciate music. I like singing for people who want to listen to my kind of music because they are more attentive to what you are doing.

Still, it’s fun to sing for the masses. They welcome you like one of their family. Even when they are not all positive, they still make me happy.

Singers and musicians are thankful for every baht you spend on us. It allows us time to practice. We are very honored when you come to listen to us.

I only like the funk songs on my albums. The other songs I don’t really think are me. Half of my albums are what the record company wants me to perform because they want the album to be commercial. The other half is songs that I like.

Everybody says, “If you are rich, you can study music.” That’s something we need to fix. I am running a free workshop for teenagers at Centerpoint with Music Clay on the weekends. I’m now at the point where I can help, even if it’s just a little bit.

How and why did you become a puang maalai seller?
I was a farmer in Huay Tubtun, Sisaket, but it’s really tough earning a living there, so I came to Bangkok to get a job. Some of my friends used to sell puang maalai in Bangkok, and since I couldn’t find a job right away, I decided to do this, as well. I’m really old and it’s not too heavy for me to carry.

Where was the first place you started selling puang maalai?
I started at Sala Daeng, but it was not a good location so I moved here to BTS Siam Square. I’ve been selling it here for five years now.

Where do you live and how do you get here?
I live in Bang Sue. I pay B70-90 to come here by taxi every day.

How do you look after your puang maalai when you eat lunch or need to use the toilet?
I take food from home every day and when I need to use the toilet I just leave it here. Nobody is going to steal it—it’s just puang maalai!

How much profit do you make per month and what do you spend it on?
I make B3,000-4,000 a month. I have to pay for the Farmer’s Bank loan and the living expenses of my nieces and myself. One of my nieces is doing a Bachelor’s Degree, but she only studies on the weekend so I give her B400 a week to spend at school.

Have your nieces ever helped you sell puang maalai?
No, they never have. They said it’s not good for them to be puang maalai sellers here because it’s an embarrassing job. It doesn’t matter to me because I’m addicted to puang maalai—I can’t stop selling it. One time, the police did not allow me to sell here for three months and I was dreaming about selling it the whole time. I missed it and my clients so much, as if it were drugs! Puang maalai is a holy flower garland because you use it for religious purposes and to show your respect for people.

How long will you sell it?
I will do it as long as I have enough energy to do it.