Tell us about your team. How many guys are there?
None. Unless you count our coach! We’re an all girls’ team, and it’s double the hard work. Girls do everything from basing to tossing. Yes, and the bitching. Ha ha.
Ok, so do you girls get the hunks?
Sadly, no. But we do get tons of encouragement and acknowledgement from the boys after the Standard Chartered Marathon!
Why must cheerleaders wear such short skirts?
So that we won’t trip over them. Ha ha.
What do you do when you have a sore throat, but you have training in an hour’s time?
We don’t practise cheering every session, so a sore throat’s not an excuse for skipping training. But if I’m really that “lucky,” I’ll just mouth the words and do the actions!
What is the most clichéd and cheesy cheer you’ve ever heard?
It’s gotta be the “North, South, East, West. Who’s the best?” cheer. So over used!
Last question, ever thought of acting in a movie like Bring It On?
Nope. Stunting isn’t half as easy as it seems. And neither is acting, I think!
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Leo DiCaprio did it years ago. Nick Cage just did it a couple weeks ago. Angelina Jolie did it. Colin Farrell did it. Denzel Washington and Russel Crowe are reportedly going to do it, as is Sylvester Stallone (again). These are just a few of the actors who have seen their work take them to our fair shores. And it’s not just Hollywood but also Bollywood and of course our very own ‘Kokwood that is finding Thailand an ideal place to shoot movies. According to government officials, this is great for our economy and tourism (which is great for our economy), and we can expect to see more and more film and TV productions here, including Rambo 50 (just kidding: it’s “only” Rambo 4) starring Sly Stallone and American Gangster with Denzel Washington.
What’s good for Thailand can also be good for you. How, you ask? Well, making a movie is not such an easy thing to do. It takes a whole lot of bodies, and they can’t afford to send all of them over from Los Angeles or wherever. Aside from all the stylists and best boys and prima donna directors and crocodile wranglers, they usually need regular people—like you—acting like regular people to fill out the scenes and make them look realistic. These are the “extras.”
The dictionary definition of an extra is “a performer in a film, television show or stage production who has no role or purpose other than to appear in the background. Extras often require little to no acting experience and are hired en masse with little formality.” You know, one of those people running around screaming when the earthquake hits or the first dozen people Godzilla lays waste to in the first 10 minutes of the movie or, less glamorously, the people standing around in the background while the real actors strut their stuff. Those are extras.
One reason to get into this line of work is for the money—though in general you won’t get rich unless you’re a trained actor. Pinlak Eimsa-art, who makes her living from being an extra, explains: “Basically there are two types of movie extras. Local people and students from acting school. Everyone seems to think that good-looking ones will get better pay, but that’s a huge misconception. Actually, the amount of money they get depends on their talents and their physical characteristics.”
Pay for a regular Joe picked up off the street usually starts around B500 per day, but jumps to B3,000-5,000 per day for someone who is professionally trained. There are some well-known extras who earn as much as B50,000 per day, but that is fairly rare.
Many people become extras for the rush. There is a certain indescribable feeling that comes with being on the set of a film or television show—a sense that you are taking part in the creation of some of that famous movie magic.
Manit Tanakornprapa, a university student in Bangkok who was an extra in the Thai movie Payuk Rai Sai Nha, really enjoyed seeing all the behind-the-scenes work. “You get some really interesting insight into how movies are made and the system behind a production. I’m interested in photography, so of course I like to see how cameramen do their jobs. That was exciting.”
Jacqueline Hitzler, a German exchange student, was approached on Khao San Road to appear as an extra. “It’s the eclectic mix of people you encounter on a set that makes the job interesting,” she says. “There are students next to managers who just want a break from their everyday jobs; there are tourists and sometimes people who have been flown in. There’s never a lack of interesting characters to talk to.”
Another plus to working on a movie set as an extra is that you have a chance to rub shoulders with the stars. “I had a minor part in Nicolas Cage’s new movie Time to Kill,” Jacqueline says. “He was very nice. But most celebs just ignore you.”
On this point, Pinlak agrees. “Like every society, the entertainment world has a hierarchy. You might get the chance to meet stars, but don’t expect to have a long chat with them or share a meal. The stars usually are separated from the rest of the crew on breaks.”
Finally, some extras are hoping for exposure or a shot at stardom. Hitzler, for example, got a contract with one of Thailand’s leading modeling agencies after being noticed for her work as an extra. And acclaimed Hollywood stars Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Michael Caine all got their feet wet first as extras.
Like any job, being an extra also has its minuses. The first complaint you’ll hear from anyone doing this line of work is that there’s a lot of downtime. The long delays for actors and extras is actually fairly typical of a film or television shoot, due to the unpredictable nature of coordinating the efforts of dozens to hundreds of people for a single shot to come off right. Anyone who has tried to make a movie will certainly sympathize with this sentiment, but for the inexperienced extra, it can be boring as all hell. For this reason, and the pay, Manit’s first experience as an extra was also his last. “One day I was told to be there at 9pm, but the shot I was supposed to be in wasn’t until 3am. It was a waste of time—plus, I only earned B500.”
The next biggest complaint is that the pay isn’t commensurate with the time and effort. Suphasawatt Buranawech, a government official in Bangkok who occasionally works as an extra, brings up another typical pitfall. “I’ve played in four or five TV soaps and several TV commercials, including one for DTAC. But the pay is never right. I think extras are paid unreasonably low rates compared to the time they spend working.”
Remember that it’s usually necessary to repeat scenes many times over and over. Jacqueline recalls acting in a production called The Aftermath about the 2004 tsunami. The scene involved her and a few dozen extras running up the beach on Khao Lak away from the approaching waves. Of course getting everything to look right took take after take. In 37-degree heat, this experience was more than a little trying.
Another worry is not getting paid at all. Extras, like models, are particularly vulnerable to unscrupulous middlemen who don’t deliver what they promise or, worse, disappear completely with the money from the filmmakers.
“The bad thing about this career is uncertainty. The shooting is subject to change 24/7, but that’s normal. The real risk is being cheated. Since they will pay only when the job is done, the best way to avoid this is to work with a company you trust,” says Pinlak.
There are generally two ways of becoming an extra: Either someone comes up to you on the street and asks if you’d like a job, or you go out and actively find an agent. Modeling agencies and casting agents will take you on if you fit what they are looking for, and then you will be sent out on jobs.
Finding the right agent is important as this person will set you up with work as well as negotiate your pay. You should make sure your agent is really on your side and not just trying to fill his or her own pockets. If it’s a big job or the role is a speaking part, you may be asked to audition.
“We do a lot for our models. We take the strain off them when it comes to castings, since we do them at our agency and thus don’t have to send our models to other places every few days,” says Kiril Okun of JFP Talent and Modeling. “But we also expect a lot in return: Our models have to be serious about the job. They have to be reliable, punctual and aware of the time and energy commitment involved.”
So while a lot is up to chance, a lot is up to you as well. Adds Pinlak: “To survive as a good extra, you must not only have the ability to perform but also the ability to get along with all sorts of people, ranging from the director to the maid.”
Your ticket to stardom! Just take our tips to heart.
Do be patient. Sometimes agents won’t call or offer you a job in ages. That’s not because they hate your hairstyle or think you are too fat, but because there simply are no jobs at the moment. Clients are usually pretty specific about what they want, so don’t despair if you’re not the type they are looking for—the next job will come.
Don’t be too specific—at least not in the beginning. If you are serious about building a reputation for yourself, you can’t afford to dismiss any job that comes your way. Be it standing in the background at a movie or running through the picture in a shampoo commercial—no pain, no gain.
Don’t be a diva. There is no agent, make-up artist or production manager who likes to deal with snobs, and there’ll be plenty of time for demanding Evian and white flowers in your cloakroom when you’ve ascended to the likes of J-Lo. As model agent Phromayant Chansri says: “You have to respect your job and know what you’re doing. Sometimes profit has to be the last priority.”
Do be persistent. You’ll meet plenty of people at jobs, from agents to model scouts and casting directors. Don’t hesitate to call them and ask for jobs if they’ve given you their name cards. Just not every five minutes, if you know what we mean.
Do be dependable. If you’re told to be there at 5am, be there at 4:45. “We can only work with you if you’re always on time, don’t leave the location and respect the team”, says David J. of ND Modeling. Don’t fuss around when you’re told to do something, no matter how stupid it might be. Try not to complain too much, even if there is reason to complain. As bad as it sounds: You might have to suck up to agents or producers in the beginning and give them the feeling you’ll do anything for them. That way, they’ll trust you and give you more jobs.
Don’t expect everything to come to you in no time. Unless you’ve got Heidi’s curves and Giselle’s face, give yourself a little time for your ascent to stardom. Be nice to all the people you meet on jobs, no matter of their position: They might be your ticket to more (and better) work. And the more jobs you do, the more people will know your face.
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I’ve just finished my turn, the solo experimental show Notice at Patravadi Theater, and am flying to Brazil to help my A L’Abordage friends in the carnival parade at the end of February.
I have been with Patravadi Theater almost 10 years now. Working backstage for many years gave me useful skills in lighting and sound.
Kru Lek (Patravadi Mejudhon) taught me to mix acting into the dance skill that I’ve learned. It has helped expand my range.
Ballet is a fixed art—it’s classic.
I feel better when watching performances without whipped cream or sugar, like the previous performance of String of Fragmentation at Patravadi. Audiences can get the message right away without any unnecessary makeup.
I like conceptual work. I teach my students to convey a message to the audience without them having to read the written program. I want to convey things that people can understand.
Conceptual performance forces you to think and relate the idea to your own life. In contrast, a musical is like watching someone else’s life.
I’ve learned a lot in my seven years working on the ASEAN Flagship Performing Arts Tour. Most of the other artists are masters in their field in their country and they helped teach me, as the youngest kid on the tour.
The best thing I got out of it is the way to manage myself—how to preserve my energy, how to warm up and how to be consistent in every show. It’s what I had never been taught in school or learned from books, and it’s the most important thing for every performer.
Teaching is hard in a way because sometimes teachers don’t know the limits of their students. We cannot set our ability as the standard for them. Many choreographers have the same problem.
Young dancers nowadays are very good. They have very good basic skills, so I don’t teach them how to dance but how to be a performer. What I do is try to bring the best in them out on stage.
I believe that in four or five years, there will be a dance company in Thailand. There are many quality dancers now and soon they will be ready to set another level for Thailand’s performing arts.
Part of this growing trend stems from the fact that there are more dance schools that don’t just teach students how to be a presenter or a pretty.
I like performing more than teaching. I do my show once a year to reset my program. It’s a yearly reminder of how much I like to dance and a test of whether I’ve been too influenced by the styles of other people I’ve worked with.
My body is continuously getting hurt—it’s something that happens to every ballet dancer. I have to find a way of life and style of dance that allows me to stay on stage for another next ten or 15 years.
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How did you come up with this “jewelry” masterpiece?
I was just sitting in my jewelry design class at university and daydreaming about this competition when the idea just popped into my head. Why not make a glass shaped like a piece of jewelry? So I decided to design a martini glass that resembles a diamond.
How long did it take you to create it?
Even though it took me only five minutes to think of the concept, it took me three whole days to actually complete a satisfactory model. It is just like how a diamond is made, delicately with focus on the details so the outcome can be perfect.
How did you become interested in design?
Ever since I was little I always broke things just to see how they were put together. Then I tried putting them back together the way I wanted and it never worked so I wanted to make my own.
Who’s your favorite designer?
Myself. It might sound a bit self-absorbed but if you don’t like what came out of you then you don’t have enough confidence to be a designer.
What will you be doing after Milan?
I’m going to continue my studies until I graduate. And between breaks I hope to get an internship somewhere in the field of product design or interior design so I can strengthen my knowledge and also practice with professionals at the same time. My dream is to design cars, but there’s a lot to learn.
What are your thoughts about the future of Thai designers?
Thai designers will succeed if they have enough guts and confidence to show off their ideas. They have great ideas, but they are too afraid to show them off. It also doesn’t matter whether or not you went to a fancy design school abroad. I’m coming from a small university in the Northeast that not many people have heard of. Being a designer means you must trust your instinct and basically believe in yourself. Just create it and see what happens.
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How would you describe your style?
Dementia meets enthusiastic schoolboy.
Who would it appeal to?
Errr.... I have no idea!
What is good design to you?
It is simple, witty work that inspires.
How would you define street style?
Spontaneous, raw and rebellious.
How do you think visual art is related to other aspects of urban culture?
Visual art is the most conspicuous form of urban culture. It is the tune which music, fashion and all other forms can dance to.
Complete the sentence, “I stand a high chance of winning because…”
God loves me. Haha.
How would you describe your style?
I’ve never consciously gone out to develop a personal style. So more often than not, my subject matter which I’m exploring dictates my style.
Who would it appeal to?
Anybody! Most of the positive reactions I’ve got come from the younger generation, however.
What is good design to you?
It should be balanced, meaningful and cutting-edge.
How would you define street style?
Subversive, spontaneous and extremely personal.
How do you think visual art is related to other aspects of urban culture?
Visual art is urban culture. If you look at any modern urban setting, we are constantly bombarded with images. Our culture is a visual one, so art is everywhere. Now whether it is good or bad art, that’s a totally different question.
Complete the sentence, “I stand a high chance of winning because…”
Actually, winning isn’t really part of my agenda. I’m already happy that I got nominated. Getting recognition is good enough!
How would you describe your style?
My style is youthful.
Who would it appeal to?
It’ll appeal to the young.
What is good design to you?
Good design is humble.
How would you define street style?
Street style is all things independent!
How do you think visual art is related to other aspects of urban culture?
Visual art lends a voice to urban culture. Urban culture generally revolves around youth, and visuals are a fast and easy way to document or communicate within youth culture.
Complete the sentence, “I stand a high chance of winning because…”
They are all my friends.
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The classic story Jack and the Beanstalk is about to be given a Singaporean twist. In this brand-new musical by W!LD RICE, Jack and his mother, Widow Neo, are in dire straits, with loan sharks already practicing their handwriting on their void deck. We chat up Widow Neo (played by Ivan Heng) for a lowdown on money issues and looking hip.
You look really hip. Where do you do your shopping?
Only the best for me—clothes by Gianni Bosacheng, shoes by Ferrarigamo, handbag by Herpes.
OK. What do you think makes a hip mother?
I don’t even try. Once you try to be hip, sure to fail. You got see those new MPs?
What happened to your husband?
People say the Giant made Roti John and ate him. But I think he ran away with my best friend, and they live in Batam.
Is it hard playing the roles of both the father and mother for Jack?
I work three jobs. In the day, I stuff pamphlets into HDB letter boxes —very siong now they have anti-junk lock. At night, I work at Lau Pa Sat as Singapore’s oldest Tiger Beer Girl. STB just gave me an award for balancing my big jugs. I’ve started pyramid selling—even though I have not seen a pyramid in my life.
What are your aspirations for Jack? Good grades or…
Jack is taking his N-levels for the third time. Last chance already. I think I might be barking up the wrong tree.
Well, do you believe in corporal punishment?
I have a boyfriend who likes to dress up as a corporal and he likes me to punish him. I like!!
Last question, what have the loan sharks done to you so far?
They say I die die must service my loan. So I service them lor!
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Danny Howells has been whipping up music infused with house and techno for about 14 years. Chided by some for his loud, paisley shirts (but hey, some of us like it that way) and loved by many for his ability to read the crowd, he has been touted “the clubber’s DJ.” His 10-hour sets in New York, coupled with his love for throwing the occasional obscure track, made him even more lovable. We chat with Howells about music, homesickness and his quirky fashion sense.
How did you first get into music?
All of my family members are really big music fans. They’ve been buying records for me since I was around four or five-years-old, for my birthday or for Christmas. So I’ve been collecting records since I was a young child. When I got older, it turned into a crazy obsession and so I became a DJ.
You’ve remixed for artists such as Madonna, Robbie Williams, BT, Stonebridge and more. Which is your most memorable collaboration?
Madonna. It’s a big dream to do something with her. I grew up with her music and one of my friends is a huge Madonna fan. It’s one of the more exciting challenges I had to work with her.
Now that you’re successful, does it get more stressful making music?
Making music is about the same. But for DJing, it’s more stressful. The more people know me, the more I put pressure on myself to be better. In fact, I’m more nervous now DJing than when I was first starting out!
You’ve toured around the world DJing. How do you deal with homesickness?
Nowadays, I try to not to leave home for more than two weeks. I love traveling. But if it’s for too long a period, I’ll miss my family and my girlfriend. It’s difficult. It’s boring playing in the same place, so I love playing in different countries. Whenever I can, I like my girlfriend to tour with me.
How does it feel like to be ranked as one of DJ Magazine’s “Top 100 DJs in the World” for the last seven years?
It’s a great feeling to know that people have voted for you. But DJ Magazine’s Top 100 is different now from what it was. Now it’s mainly about who can create the most amount of support in the poll. People send out emails, asking others to vote for them and saying in return, they’ll vote for them… so the poll results don’t really matter a lot to me.
What do you think you would be if you were not a DJ or a producer?
Before I was DJing, I was a nurse in a mental hospital. So I might still be doing psychiatric nursing if I weren’t a DJ or a producer!
Wow. Besides music, you’re also known for your loud shirts! Anything to say to people who dislike your clothes?
Get some taste! Haha.
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You intend to fill 2,248 seats at Suntec for your event Showdown in Singapore. Will you buy 4D for that number?
Thanks for the reminder! I hope the stadium is going
to be full. It will be a real shame if it is not as Singapore was the Mecca for boxing in Asia in ’60s and ’70s.
Do you box yourself? Do you aspire to be the next Muhammad Ali or Rocky Marciano?
I train only to keep in shape, but you never know—I might bring white-collar boxing to town and you may see me in the ring against a friend! But you cannot mention me in same breath as Ali or Marciano. I am most definitely not worthy!
We’re curious. Do boxers wear anything beneath their flimsy-looking shorts?
Oh yes! An absolute must is a groin protector. It’s where the expression “below the belt” originates. Boxers are not supposed to hit below the belt.
Kangaroos are known to be good boxers. Do you think they’ll make good opponents?
Erm, I’m an animal lover, so I rather I not fight them. Besides, I think one would get kicked more by a kangaroo. Maybe they belong in a Thai boxing ring?
What is your long-term dream for the boxing scene in Singapore?
To hold world class fights on regular basis in Singapore. And I want to start a decent downtown boxing gym. And I hope corporate companies will get behind world-class boxers who compete at top amateur level such as in the Olympics, and subsequently on a professional level.
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CNN host, reporter and celebrity Richard Quest is as gregarious, warm and eccentric in person as he is on TV. Viewers are familiar with his intoxicating and hilarious banter on CNN Business Traveller and Quest, not to mention his 20 years of business and current affairs coverage on both radio and television.
So how do you find being interviewed as opposed to interviewing?
I find it very uncomfortable. I’m nothing more than a journalist, and I’m not being falsely modest when I say that. I am constantly uncomfortable; I feel like I have sand in my underpants.
But you’re holding a press conference today, how do you think you’re going to handle that?
I feel like I’m poacher turned gamekeeper. I’m normally sitting in the audience trying to knock the pompous idiot who’s sitting on the podium off his perch. I promise you, it’s one of the most difficult things, when you spend your life trying to get an answer that the person didn’t want to give and now there’s going to be a group of people asking me questions trying to get me to say what I don’t want to say.
So are you used to the whole fame thing?
You’ve just got to remember that people, for whatever reason, are impressed or they’re slightly awed because you’re on television. It’s crap. I can assure you that when I stubbed my toe in the morning I swore like you do. People don’t realize that on television I’m prepared, I’m working. But if I’m going to the tube station in London and somebody recognizes me, they don’t know that I might have just had an argument with my mother, I might just have been overdrawn at the bank, but they expect you to be immediately the person you are on television. And that’s fine, I’m not going to moan about that. I’ve worked 20 years to get here and I’m not going to moan because I’ve finally got there. I’m going to enjoy it. The key to it is just recognizing that the rules have changed.
Tell us a TV secret.
Well, I always wear a white shirt. And there’s a reason for that: It’s for continuity. For instance, two days ago we filmed a piece on the haze. Then yesterday, we filmed the second part and I was wearing a different suit. And I suddenly realized this piece is going to fall apart because the audience is going to think, “Stupid idiot, he’s wearing two different suits.”
So what do you think of our haze then?
I’m slightly surprised there hasn’t been more anger about it. In other countries I’d think they’d probably be more strident. Possibly because they’d be more worried about having it thrown back in their face and losing an election. I don’t know, it’s not for me to say.
Can you introduce us to your travel companion, Sleepy? How old is he?
That’s a polite way of saying, “He’s a mothy old stuffed toy.” He’s about 10 years old. He came from the Travelodge in Philadelphia so I just took him home and he’s sat in my briefcase ever since. He comes everywhere with me.
What will you be doing tomorrow?
SQ 22 lifts off at 11:10am, and for the next 18 hours and 42 minutes I will be flying to New York. During that time I’ve got several articles to write, not least one for Future Summit, about whether I would want to be a space tourist.
So would you?
I don’t know. I’m a coward. I’m scared of dying unnecessarily. I don’t have such an urge to do it that I would believe that my death is justified.
What tickles your fancy?
Food that I like. A nice apple crumble with custard. And there’s nothing nicer than two soft-boiled eggs. I hear you say, “Why does that tickle your fancy?” Because I was looking forward to them. And they were just perfect. So what tickles my fancy on wider issues is something I’m looking forward to that lives up to its expectation. The converse to that is something that I look forward to that doesn’t will send me into a little cloud. A little local haze will appear just above my head.
What’s the perfect breakfast?
Two soft-boiled eggs, three to three-and-a-half minutes, a latte and white toast. Maybe a bagel if I’m feeling adventurous. I have no wish to have muesli. Why would somebody eat rabbit food for breakfast? If I do have cereal, it’s something really unhealthy like Frosties or Coco Puffs. There’s a wonderful American cereal called Cap’n Crunch; it gives meaning to life.
With all your travel, don’t you find it’s hard to get perfect soft-boiled eggs in hotels?
Yes, and room service is even worse because they boil them 15 floors below you and by the time they put them on a trolley, put it in the service elevator, and get them up to you, you could virtually play basketball with them. Allegedly Prince Charles has seven eggs cooked every morning so he can get the perfect egg. I have to say the Palace has denied this.
If you could only bring one thing on the plane with you for a long haul flight, what would it be and why?
Sleepy.
What’s the one habit that you stick to, no matter how your routine changes?
I will make sure I make time for breakfast in the morning and clean my shoes in the evening. I find it very therapeutic to clean my shoes for 10 minutes before I go to bed.
So you’ve been doing this your whole life then?
I’ve only be doing it the last couple of months. Ever since I was with Prince Andrew in Kazachstan. At the end of four days I shook hands with him, said goodbye, and he just looked down at my shoes, shook his head, and said, “Oh dear.” I was so mortified that I immediately went and bought some shoe polish, a cloth, a brush and I started doing it. I wrote to His Royal Highness pointing out that he has probably given me a complex.
Do you think His Royal Highness polishes his own shoes?
I was tempted to say, “Polish your own bloody shoes” but I think his answer would have been, “After 20 years in the Navy, Richard, I can polish my own shoes better than you can,” so I didn’t go there.
If you had five minutes to change someone’s opinion about something, who would that someone be and what would you want to change their opinion on?
When people think journalists are trouble or mischief makers, I want to make it clear to them that we have a calling, a duty, a right. In many cases the rights and liberties you enjoy are because somebody fought for them. We’re not doing it because we think it’s fun; we have a duty to do it. Watergate or weapons of mass destruction would never have been found out if it wouldn’t have been for journalists. Would you rather be lied to by politicians or cheated by businessmen?
What’s your favorite thing to do on a Friday night?
Go out with friends for dinner, but good friends, not just any old friends. I don’t want 15 people that I don’t hardly know. I want two or three close friends and a good restaurant so we can catch up properly.
How many frequent flier miles do you have?
I’ve just gone over a million this trip.
What is your quest in life?
God forbid I drop dead today, I would like people to say, “He was a gentleman.”
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I’ve never tried to create a strange or unique image. Let people think what they like. Those who know me know better.
I never think of adopting anyone’s singing style. If I listen to a song, I will try to find a way to sing better than the singer, in my own way.
I search for my way of singing from what I have—trying to challenge myself with how to use my voice on another level.
The most important thing is to have faith and promise to yourself you will never copy anyone. Only that will lead you to the confidence to create your unique voice.
The ones who don’t know me have a fixed idea of what I would be like. Many think, with my look, that I smoke and drink. Honestly I don’t do either.
Many people say they don’t know what I sing and they aren’t used to the way Sukie mixed the vocal sound to be almost inaudible. That’s why I write a guide of how to listen to my albums in the CD covers.
You have to change the way you listen to music. Think of classical or instrumental music—you don’t know its content but you know that it feels slow or fast, sad or happy, dim or lively. Don’t think of the lyrics; practice your sense of listening.
I change my singing style on every album. It’s like a memoir of my journey in the past year.
Many thought I would be extreme and wouldn’t be able to do something commercial. But I can, to earn a living, do things like TV commercial singing. I just have to make it clear to myself that those jobs aren’t mine and I’m just an employee.
Frankly, my CDs don’t earn me much money. I just want to create a cycle; I sell my album to gain some money to do the next one.
I don’t expect to get rich making music.
I am sufficient with what I do. I want to grow 20 degrees at a time, bit by bit. So that if I fall, it won’t be too high to climb up again on my own legs. I want to grow and blossom gradually in my way.
I am so annoyed that Thai students have to wear short ear-level hair. Some teachers are mental enough to cut the students’ hair. I don’t see how hair is relevant to studying.
The last time I had a haircut was 19 years ago.
I don’t know when I started to think about other religions and why no adults ever asked me what religion I wanted to be. I started to find out more about other religions and ended up being a Hindu.
At the end of my life when I don’t have anything left, famous or not, I will still have the voice in my soul that can take me to God, to Nirvana. That’s why I was born a chanter.
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