They’ve been around for as long as we can remember. They lurk on the fringes of society, in dark rooms illuminated only by the glow of computer screens, speaking languages undecipherable by almost anyone else! And they all look like Steve Urklel (from Family Matters)!

Or at least, that’s what we used to think.

Ever since personal computers and the Internet became an essential part of contemporary life (and Bill Gates the richest man in the world), geek culture has stepped out of the shadows into a more positive light in the public eye. Once simply regarded as creepy, weird guys with zero social skills, people are starting to understand that this stereotype isn’t as accurate as they thought.

Brendon Fernandez, 26, an actor, undergraduate and gamer, is probably one of the starkest examples of the contrast between the label and the truth. “‘Actor’ and ‘geek’ are not commonly associated terms,” he says. “I get calls from actor friends that go ‘Hey, my computer has a ... thing’ and I end up telling them how to clear spyware, clean viruses and use programs. I’m ‘actor tech support’.”

Indeed, geeks are a lot more ‘normal’ than most of us realize. But if perceptions of geek-hood have been misconstrued, then what is a geek?

“Geek, to me, has a broad definition,” explains Peter Hendricks, 24, a freelance sound engineer and music enthusiast. “The term could be used for someone who has an obsession or fascination, usually surrounding technology. Although that could apply to a variety of subjects, like role playing games or comic books.  This fascination usually outweighs every other aspect in his or her life. Yes, there are female geeks out there too ... whether they like admitting it is another issue altogether.”

And that’s what they really are: guys—and girls—who are just intellectually passionate over a certain field or subject to such a degree that we tend to mistake it for an abnormal obsession. Of course, this is a vast scope of geek-hood; there are dozens of types of geeks and each has its own unique quirks and interests. So, we scoured the gaming cafés, comic shops and other specialty haunts, and rounded up some of the not-so-usual suspects for a peek into their passions.

Species: geekus comiculus

Status: Daneshvar (or Dan, to his friends), a 25-year-old IT consultant, isn’t one of those geeks who’d huddle around their comics, completely oblivious to the outside world. Well, OK, he does do that sometimes, but he’s also very adamant about correcting some of the misconceptions, not so much of fan boys, but of the medium itself.

“People tend to think that comic readers are boring or childish and live in a fantasy world,” says Dan. “Stick a book like Blankets or Arkham Asylum in these people’s hands, make them read the medium and have a decent discussion. Then see the look on their faces.”

Cred: Aside from superhero titles from DC Comics, Dan also sings praises to other, less cape-and-tights sort of books. “Off the top of my head,” he says with a deep breath, “The Sandman, Planetary, Global Frequency, Preacher, Blankets, Brian Michael Bendis’ issues of Sam & Twitch and Spawn.”

Like many geeks, however, Dan tends to get a little too passionate for his own good. “I explained, very loudly, to my colleagues what the Multiverse was and the part Superman plays in all of it … in the presence of my managers without even flinching.”
When we look at him dumbfounded, he adds with a sigh, “Just go read Infinite Crisis and Crisis on Infinite Earths, OK?”

Activities: As far as aficionado congregations are concerned though, Dan and his friends’ gatherings are in settings that most people wouldn’t normally associate with the comic-reading crowd. “We meet in a pub, drink lots of beer and discuss the future of comics,” he says, then adds with a cheeky smile, “and whether they could draw Supergirl just a little bit hotter.”

Trivia: “For the movie Sin City, no story boarding or scripting was done. Everything was lifted and remade into live-action scenes.”

Species: geekus wrestliorem

Status: With his shaved head, scruffy goatee and macho swagger, Jamie Tan doesn’t just seem like the sort of guy who’d watch wrestling, he actually looks like he belongs in the squared circle. Then, of course, he starts talking and his enthusiastically geeky demeanor shines through clearly.

The 30-year-old actor likens being at a wrestling event to being at a rock concert … only without the actual rock band.

“Professional wrestling is popularly coined as sports entertainment,” he explains. “That is, the ultimate combination of theatrics, histrionics, TV drama, comedy, sports, talk show interviews, current affairs, news, gossip, info-entertainment and daytime soap all rolled into one. It’s a total package of everything you can find on TV and stage.”

Cred: Jamie’s love for wrestling seems to know no boundaries, not even when it comes to his appearance. He even once signed up for a celebrity look-alike contest as “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, the beer-guzzling redneck of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

“Some people feel that I already resemble “Stone Cold” by virtue of my bald head and goatee. I get left alone quite a lot as a result of that,” he says with a laugh.

Usually seen sporting his wrestling hero’s trademark garb of a black “Stone Cold” t-shirt, rugged jeans and boots, Jamie has actually had some positive responses, from time to time. But they’re usually, as he claims, “from the people in the psyche ward!”

Activities: Aside from having attended almost every WWE event that’s ever been held in Singapore, however, don’t expect Jamie to mingle with his geeky brethren anytime soon. “I’m quite anti-social,” he says, comparing himself to—you guessed it—“Stone Cold”.

Trivia: “Wrestlers Rob Van Dam, Trish Stratus and Steve Austin all share the same birthday­—18 December.”

Species: geekus bookwormbitis

Status: If you think that bookworms are nerdy, timid little girls who wear thick glasses, you haven’t met 25-year-old personal assistant Eileen David. “Most don’t believe it. I get disbelieving looks when people find out I adore reading,” she says. “They always tell me I don’t look like the type!”

“Being a book geek’s nothing really out of the ordinary actually,” she adds. “I just love reading! It’s a habit I’ve had since I was a kid, so for me, it’s kind of a natural thing.”
When her time’s not occupied with everything literary, Eileen’s just like any other woman. Well, mostly.

“I love clubbing, shopping, hanging out with friends. I don’t talk about books all the time! It’s more of a personal thing, just between my books and me,” she says. “But I do get disturbingly worked up when screen adaptations veer from the original book.”

Cred: Hell hath no fury like a woman separated from her books. “I once threw a major hissy fit that ended in tears when my parents dragged me away from a book warehouse sale before I was done browsing,” Eileen relates.

Ask her to list her favorites and you better not make any plans for the foreseeable future. “Where do I start!” she says with an alarming enthusiasm. “I have tons, and they tend to change from time to time depending on my mood or frame of mind. But there are some books I can read over and over again and still not get tired of, like Wilbur Smith’s River God and Warlock, Dan Brown’s stuff, Harry Potter! Oh, and anything to do with myths and ancient civilizations. Greek, Roman, and Egyptian—if it’s mythical, I’ll love it.”

Activities: But for all her obsession, don’t expect Eileen to get overly academic when it comes to literature. “I don’t go to poetry readings or book clubs or anything like that,” she explains. “Some of my friends are avid readers too, so we swap books and sometimes have a little chat about interesting books and storylines. But no, we don’t meet up specifically for the purpose of discussing books. It tends to come up in casual conversation.”

Trivia: “Author Clive Cussler’s life parallels that of his hero Dirk Pitt.”

Species: geekus fashionentium

Status: Most people would think that “fashion” and “geek” are mutually exclusive terms. Zaki Jufri very effectively puts that idea to rest. “I love the brand Maharishi so much that I’ve actually worked at Blackjack which sells Maharishi clothing just to get the clothes first!” he relates.

The 25-year-old Editor of Playtimes toy magazine actually stayed up all night once just to be the first to purchase the limited Nike x Maharishi line.

“If Maharishi opens a store here, I’ll be the first one to apply!” Zaki adds enthusiastically. “Hardy Blechman, the founder of Maharishi, was just here in town recently for the iDN conference and I think I was stalking him,” he continues with a laugh.

Cred: “I think that one geek stereotype is that the geek knows quite a bit about the subject he’s a geek in,” says Zaki. “And I actually know by heart some of the different camouflage patterns that Maharishi puts out and sometimes which season it’s from.”
Zaki’s geekiness doesn’t make people quite as uncomfortable as with some other geeks, but he does admit that people have been “very amused” with his extensive knowledge and collection.

Activities: You would expect a fashion geek to be out there at shows, hob-knobbing with the fashion elite. What you wouldn’t expect would be for him to be hanging out at online message boards.

“I usually chat online with other fashion geeks about the going-ons in the geek fashion world in forums like Superfuture and 5th Dimension,” relates Zaki.

Trivia: “There were actually Maharishi clothes made from ‘knife-proof’ fabric a few years back. How’s that for safe clothing?”

Species: geekus musiciorum

Status: “I still remember the first thing that got me hooked,” elaborates Peter Hendricks on his immeasurable love for music. “It was when I was 11 and watching the video for the song No Rain by Blind Melon. I still remember how it felt like [lead singer] Shannon Hoon was singing that song just to me. There is nothing better than that feeling of self-justification and familiarity that there is somebody out there feeling exactly how I felt.”

Indeed, Peter’s love for music extends well beyond the normal boundaries of bobbing your head along to the latest catchy song on the radio. On top of the emotional attachment, Peter also finds himself obsessed with factors as specific as the technical ability of a musician and music arrangement.

Cred: With such a deep-seeded passion, it’s no surprise that his influences are, to say the least, eclectic, stretching from rock to jazz to even Middle Eastern.

“Just a few that come to mind at the moment are Jeff Buckley, Thelonious Monk, Pearl Jam, Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Counting Crows, King Crimson, Pink Floyd and Herbie Hancock,” he says of his favorites.

Ask him about his ultimate geek item, however, and Peter’s answer is instantaneous and firm. “My most prized possession has to be my guitar that I got while I was studying in Australia. It’s an Ernie Ball Musicman,” he explains, showing us his guitar with the utmost care. “It’s not a ‘classic’ by any means but the first time I played it, it just felt like the guitar that suited me the most.”

“Plus,” he adds, “I got it really cheap because my teacher was sponsored by the brand.”

Adding to his music geek credibility, Peter’s performed impromptu numbers with the house band at the Crazy Elephant blues bar at Clarke Quay a couple of times and has even recorded an album with his acid jazz band back in Australia.

Activities: “We usually meet up to talk about music that we recently heard. Sometimes we get together to write or play music,” he says, of meetings with fellow music geeks.

Trivia: “The name of the band Gin Blossoms is actually the term for the bursting of the capillaries in your nose and face caused by excessive drinking.”

Species: geekus toyretis collectius

Status: Paul Hendricks, a 26-year-old freelance graphic designer, is a man of few words … but lots of toys. Action figures, that is. His reasoning behind his hobby is a simple one: “I like toys, so I collect them. My taste varies,” he adds. “I’m into almost everything from vintage Star Wars to anime figures, although I’m not really into Transformers. They never really appealed to me. Maybe it’s their lack of articulation.”

Cred: Ask Paul for the action figure he treasures the most and he answers thoughtfully, “It’s hard to pick a favorite, but some finalists off the top of my head are the vintage Boba Fett, OVA Devilman. Mandarin Spawn, all the Super Friends figures and vintage Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow from GI Joe.”

So captivated by the aforementioned Boba Fett, a cult favorite character from the original Star Wars trilogy, that Paul even has a small toy shrine set up for the character.

Activities: His interaction—in the traditional sense of the word, at least—with other toy collectors is quite limited. “Pretty much all conversations or discussions are done on the Net over forums,” he says. “The only time I’ve met other toy collectors in person is if I’m trading with them.”

Trivia: “I’m sure someone out there reading this would know more than me. We geeks are everywhere … ”

Species: geekus gameribus

Status: Just because it’s a game doesn’t mean it can’t be taken seriously—that’s the sort of mentality that Brendon Fernandez, and other like-minded gamers have. Such a firm believer in the credibility of video games is he that he’s currently writing his thesis comparing acting to role- playing in Massive Multi-player Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs).

But parallels between his passions are not the only things that draw Brendon to gaming. “It’s the social interaction. Whether it’s talking to buddies about a great game at the coffee shop, or chatting with gamers from around the world online while you’re waiting for the level to load,” he says.

Cred: You would think that as a confident (and rather handsome) actor, Brendon’s geekiness might be less pronounced. You’d be wrong. When asked if he was guilty of perpetuating any geek stereotypes, he simply replies,

“If you mean starting a conversation about something you think is really cool, then realizing halfway that no one understands you, then yes.”

And that’s on top of spending up to 14 hours a day gaming, depending on his schedule.

Activities: “We game, or we talk about gaming, or we try to do something else … but end up gaming,” he says of hanging out with fellow gamers. “Or we open a bottle of wine and talk about politics, philosophy, history and/or literature … if the server’s down.”

Trivia: “The IGDA (International Game Developers Association) has a chapter in Singapore.  We might have a games industry yet.”

Species: geekus RPGissermus

Stats: “I like power,” says 25-year-old NUS-student Tan Shao Han, with a gleam in his eyes that doesn’t seem to come from the reflection of his 20-sided-die.

“Not power over other people,” he’s quick to explain, “or power in a hobby. Rather I enjoy the exercising of individuality as power. Role playing games, or ‘RPGs’, are constructs of imagination and experience that game masters and players craft together.”

This die-hard role playing gamer (or RPGer) is an intimidating figure with a misleading monk-like calm to his mannerism most of the time. Get him into a RPG of any kind, however, and things take a complete 180 degree turn. From your run-of-the-mill, pen-and-paper type games like Dungeons and Dragons to fully-dressed Live Action Role Playing (or LARP), RPGs are Shao’s exciting escape away from the mundane.

“Within our current consumers’ scope of life, we seem to have limited the situations we can find ourselves in,” he explains. “We study, work, spend money on pursuing random hobbies, drink, f***, day after day. In RPGs, you get used to scenarios beyond the ones we have surrounded ourselves with—and in a way, you learn to see life as being a scenario you can affect, rather than passively be part of.”

Cred: If you were to ask Shao what’s the one thing he couldn’t live without as a geek, he’d scramble for a pair of anti-glare wielding goggles, which he’s used a number of times in LARP gatherings. “Because of them I got the nickname Goggleman. You cannot understand my power, mortal!” he says, with a loud maniacal laugh.

Yet with such an outspoken approach to his geek-hood, Shao rarely gets labeled as one. “It depends on how I exhibit my geekazoidry,” he says eloquently. “If I use my geek powers to explain and make things more lucid, I get lovin’ and respect.”

“Nobody likes a show-off, whether he’s a geek or not.”

Activities: Outside of LARP sessions, Shao and his fellow RPGers do meet up almost anywhere ... you know, like us “normal” people. “We live life, like you guys do,” he says simply.

Trivia: “D4s hurt like a bitch, especially if you try to swallow them and have to throw them up thereafter.” For you non-RPGers out there, a D4 is a four-sided die used in role-playing games.

In our postmodern world where there seems to be no singular truth, and where subjectivity reigns, we put everything, including the award-winning play Doubt, under scrutiny. We sit down with esteemed award-winning director Samantha Scott-Blackhall to chat about Doubt and declare with certainty—for now at least—that it is a play to look out for.

Why did you choose to direct Doubt?
When I first read the play, I found it to be surprisingly simple. I said “This play won the Pulitzer Prize?” Playwright John Patrick Shanley’s genius lies in relating the complex nature of “doubt” in a deceptively simple yet hugely absorbing drama. How could I not direct this award-winning play?

What is Doubt is all about?
Doubt is about a priest (Lim Yu-Beng) who teaches in a Catholic school, and who is accused by the principal of the school (Nora Samosir) of sexually abusing a student. The student is a 12-year-old boy. There is no hard evidence to prove the priest’s guilt, nor support his innocence. This play, however, is more than just a suspense drama. It is about the very nature of “doubt.”

Do the characters have any dark secrets they are hiding from each other?
Each character hides a dark truth he is not willing to accept, let alone reveal to others. Their personal struggles are something all will be able to identify with.

What are some of the issues brought up in the play?
Doubt probes the challenges of a progressive society and a progressive church. It highlights the need for moral clarity. It questions the role of faith in both our public and private lives. It searches for a definition of sexual abuse. It considers teaching methods in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Will the play shed light on how one should draw the line between doubting and trusting?
The play does not draw a line. Rather, it highlights how faint the line can be. And sometimes, or most of the times, things are not simply black or white.

How has it been like working with Nora Samosir, Lim Yu-Beng and Pamela Oei?
These veteran actors have pushed every boundary with me. There is nothing they won’t try. They are also insane workaholics like me! It has been an absolute pleasure working with them. A lot of laughs, a lot of sweat but no blood...yet!

How long have you been a tattoo artist?
Since 1974.

Did you learn tattooing directly from your dad?
Of course. I’m the only practicing artist who studied under him.

Would you consider this a family business?
No, but it did start out as one.

So, would you be ok if your kids became tattoo artists?
I’ll be ok, but they have to ask their mother’s permission first.

What sort of clientele would you say you attract?
Anyone who wants to get a tattoo. There was a time when only specific people got tattoos, but now everybody wants to get one. Even teachers.

What’s the weirdest client you had?
I once had this bald guy walk in who wanted to get “hair” on his whole head.

How do people normally react to the pain?
It’s a mix. Some love it, some hate it, and some don’t even finish the tattoo. There was one guy who had to go out for a smoke half way through. Some stop after the outline, some stop at the shading, some don’t even finish the coloring.

What happens if you make a mistake?
I just go “oops” and tell them what happened.

Don’t they give you shit for it?
No! How dare they! I’m holding the needle!

What’s the weirdest design that someone’s asked for?
Piss girl! It’s a picture from a fetish magazine of this naked girl who’s squatting down and pissing into a wine goblet. I gave the guy a week to think about it, but he eventually got it on his arm. He’s very happy and proud of it too.

What’s the weirdest body part someone’s asked you to tattoo?
For women, there was this lady who asked me to tattoo her nipple pink. It doesn’t work though. For guys, it would be their manhood. There was this one guy who actually got an erection when he got pricked by the needle.

Have you ever refused anyone a tattoo they wanted?
Yeah. Racist designs like a Nazi swastika; blasphemous images like an upside down cross; and facial tattoos. I don’t do facial tattoos unless you’re Maori. And if you’re not a Maori, why the hell would you want a facial tattoo?

What’s the most dangerous thing that’s happened to you as an artist?
I accidentally poked myself with my needle, but didn’t know if the guy had any diseases.

Your body’s a completely clean canvas. Why haven’t you gotten a tattoo?
I want to be different from other people. But the truth? I’m scared of pain!

Happy. That’s my motto in life. If you’re not happy, don’t do it. To be honest, there are a lot of people out there with talent but there’s a lot of hard work that goes into it.

Ever since I was a little boy, anything I saw on TV that was kind of flashy—that’s what I wanted to be. All I knew was that I wasn’t going to be a pen pusher. I was never really academically clever in school—I had a short attention span. And I knew I was going to be something like this, but I didn’t know what.

Having a little girl. She’s my biggest achievement.

I like people who are polite. It’s not that hard to be nice. I can’t stand ignorant people, who look you up and down before they reply. There are lots of celebrities like that, but I’m not going to mention names.

Will Smith. He’s achieved so much. He’s gone from Fresh Prince to superstardom, man. I look at him as an inspiration to me. He’s in a country where there are a lot of opportunities, especially for black people. Over in areas such as Europe … it’s the truth but they don’t like to talk about it.

My cause is to help people. I didn’t get here by myself—I had a lot of help. That’s what life is about—some are going to be rich, some are going to be poor. Luckily for me, I’m rich. But I come from a poor background, so I appreciate what I’ve got and I’m forever giving it away too. I invest in kids from the streets.

I’ve just finished Angels & Demons. I’ve only read two books, and they’re both by Dan Brown. They’re different. Both books have the same character, but it took ages for me to get into Angels & Demons. I liked the whole concept of angels and demons and antimatter. But then Da Vinci Code was exciting from start to finish, so I’ll probably go with Da Vinci Code.

My favorite items are my tracksuits. They’re easy at the airport because they don’t beep.

I used to believe I’d be a professional footballer. I wonder if I could see a physiotherapist or a doctor, and he could fix my injury, then I could play again. But I wouldn’t give all this up. Because people have said that my music changes their lives. And that’s a kind of power football will never have.

If you asked Vasin Srivarathanabul about what he does, the answer might range anywhere from artist, photographer, designer, businessman, website owner, lecturer to editor at Hi-Class magazine, which is his best-known career. Born in Bangkok but raised in the States, Vasin said that he is somewhere between Thai and farang, and can’t help that he might have some different points of view towards art, culture and society. His latest exhibition, Virtual Thailand, reflects this different perspective through exceptional photography and digital imaging. Virtual Thailand runs at the Four Seasons Hotel through Mar 31 .

How did you create these amazing pictures?
These images were done with joy and excitement. It took a lot of time in taking the photographs and the process afterwards. Each image was made from many hundreds of photographs stitched together seamlessly to get the whole environment in one image.
 
Where did you get your inspiration?
I really appreciate the environment where [I captured with these images]. You can feel the history as well as the future of these places. It makes you imagine whatever happened there, and what will happen next? If you remain observant, you can find charm everywhere.

How would you describe your style?
If you see the images, you’ll notice there are lots of distortions. If you have been to these places, you might not find the angle where I took the photos, because it is an image of the whole environment. These images represent the whole environment in one image: 360x180 degrees. These images can also be viewed as virtual tours through the Internet at www.at-bangkok.com. To perceive them depends on the eyes of the beholder—there are no rules.

Where was your favorite place for taking pictures?
I like places that are crowded. People are always moving, and at some point I draw attention to their motions, which pose questions to the viewer such as, “what were they doing before, and what are they going to do afterward?”

Did growing up in the US have any influence on your perception of the arts, photography, or Thai culture?
I always feel displaced—not Thai, nor farang… sometimes I feel miserable that I don’t belong anywhere. That’s why I always have the eye of an alien.

What are you working on now, and when will it be launched?
I’m working on www.at-bangkok.com, which is an online travel lifestyle guide. It’s a new, innovative media that gives a realistic impression of travel destinations, hotels, restaurants and spas. The highlight is the 360x180 degree virtual tour that you can interactively view as if you were actually in those places. This is where I get the material for my exhibition.

Partygoers in Bangkok might have hardly ever heard of this guy, but DJ Sabaii Sabaii, a.k.a. DJ P, is in high demand in Germany, Switzerland, and Australia. He is usually seen on Pha Ngan Island as the resident DJ of the Black Moon party at Baan Taai. This time around, he’s coming back to his roots in Bangkok, where he’s practically a stranger. Experience the Sabaii Sabaii sound loved by hippies, partygoers, and psy-trance lovers this week at Astra.

How did you start this DJ career?
It started 20 years ago when I went to a disco called Catier. I stood wondering what’s the DJ was doing, scrubbing the vinyl. I was attracted to it and went there everyday. Fortunately, he was in need of a DJ for an early slow session, so he taught me how to play and I worked there after school. When I finished my session, I stayed to see him play, noticing that playing dance songs is much different. I kept learning more about it and practicing. I knew that office work was not meant for me. I traveled around and played at many places, from Bangkok to Had Yai to the border at Su-ngai Kolok, and then abroad.

Before you played at hotel clubs mostly?
Yes. I was a resident at Diana Club at the Oriental Hotel. Its beauty was breathtaking, more like a castle than a nightclub. It’s quite unbelievable that I left Su-ngai Kolok to be in such a gorgeous place. I even temporarily dumped my hippie look for a clean tie and nice suit. Then I moved to the Dusit Thani and Bubbles at Shangri-La. Bubbles was the talk-of-the-town as it was the first club to play hip-hop by me and DJ Chicago.

And how did you find your real love in psy-trance?
I signed a contract to play in Japan and I was there for two years playing funk and hip-hop. One day I went to an underground club called Speak Easy. Speaking of it, I still feel goose bumps. The music rocked my soul. I didn’t know what kind of music it was, but I erased the songs in my MD and instantly recorded it live then and there. I knew later that Astreal Project from Israel played that night. Then I brought my MD to a record shop and ask the owner what kind of songs these were, and he told me they were Goa. I bought every Goa CD they had available.

How do you start playing abroad?
Well, after Japan I went to Pha Ngan Island and played monthly at the full moon party. I got hundreds of farangs inviting me to play in their country, but one of them was actually serious and sent me money to buy tickets. So I flew to Germany. After the first time in 1999, he books me every summer to play at Voov Experience, which is a three-day outdoor hippie event. The venue changes every time, but it’s always in a faraway hill or forest, because they want that panoramic feel. People camp around the dance space. They dance, eat, go to bed and get back up to dance again… they do this for three days.

What is so special about psy-trance?
Psy-trance derives from psychedelic trance and psychedelic trance from Goa music. In the ‘60s, western hippies went to Goa, India to absorb the lifestyle and culture, and brought back psychedelic rock. This has evolved into psy-trance today. In Thailand, I think not so many people like this kind of music; but most who do are in Pha Ngan. If I am in Thailand, I’m always there, too. Psy-trance relates to nature—full moon, half moon, black moon, etc. It has nothing to do with clubs. Most of the psy-trance lovers don’t have much money. We can’t afford hi-so clothes, so we dress casually. We enjoy the world and the music and we have our own lifestyle. We listen to the music all day and night.

What’s your goal as a DJ?
I want Thai people to enjoy this kind of music. Once you understand psy-trance, it’s impossible return to other kinds of music. It’s about feeling and lifestyle. I’ve made farangs stamp like crazy until the Earth is many centimeters thinner. I’m Thai, so I want Thai people to have fun with my music also.

LTJ Bukem has been known in the drum ‘n’ bass scene for a long, long time. A legend? He should be one. With a background in classical piano and as the founder of Good Looking Records, he has played a pivotal role in the rave scene as a producer and DJ almost since its inception. His album Logical Progression helped to forge an entirely new type of music, “intelligent” drum ‘n’ bass, which is a lighter, jazzier, and more ambient form of the popular dance genre. Soon he’ll be here for the first time to showcase his unique mixing talents (see +nightlife p20).

Seriously, how does it make you feel to be spoken of with such reverence?
It's an honor that people suggest such a thing. I never thought we as a scene and myself as a part of that scene would last so long. For people to think maybe we have had an impact with what myself and GLO has done for 15-20 years is just great. And I thank the many different people that have encouraged and helped my journey.

First time in Thailand? Why the wait?
Just haven’t been there, haven’t got around to it. We do so much touring in any one year, it’s actually hard, believe it or not, to get to each place even just once a year. The world is a big place.

From the name of your label, people might get the impression that you’re pretty full of yourself, but in fact you’ve been known to put the interests of other artists on your label before your own. What’s up with that?
Just a way we decided to do things a long time ago, use me to get unknown people known, plus at the same time try to cultivate a music style and sound... and grow a label. Times have changed now and I would not do it at this time. We spent so much time on other people and I think the worst thing in life is when you give everything to someone and not feel appreciated at the end of it. I’m not bitter in any way or regret doing any of the things I did, I just understand people and human nature perfectly now. An enlightening journey... maybe my 2nd album should be called this.

Would you do a remix/ produce for a pop artist? Why or why not?
Of course yes, our music needs to be heard by a lot more people, and this is the chance to do it. As long as the company you do the mix for doesn’t change everything you have done, and what you hand in for your remix doesn’t quite sound like that when it goes out, which happens a lot.

You started on vinyl. Now you have DJs mixing on CDs, computers, even iPods. Is it the same thing?
You’re joking… in a word, no! There is no format sounding better than vinyl. Mp3 on a CD… please, club goers are being sound-cheated. The producer of this track would be hurt after he has spent all his time in the studio… and then hearing it compressed to f*%$ on a big system missing all the wonderful frequencies that were there in its original, correct format. If there were a format sounding as good as mastered vinyl, I would be the first to try it.

Where is drum ‘n’ bass headed? How about dance music in general?
Big question. D&B is definitely going through a peak musically. There is no scene right now that has better music, music with so much life, energy and feeling, make no doubt about it.

Can you give us a little insight into your next solo release?
I have been working on various bits over the last few months. I’m going to release a track called “Switch” as the next thing starting on an album. GLO has lots of things to release in the coming months.

He has been recognized as the dek naew godfather, but a wise man is always humble. Though he never received a Bachelor’s degree, Yuthana has proved that learning is not limited to the classroom. He started his career as a DJ in 1982. Unlike other DJs, Yuthana preferred to play good songs that weren’t hits. Ten years later, his unique style played a major role in the music business when he founded the highly regarded indie music station Fat Radio. This 39-year-old DJ is also a co-founder of art house cineplex House, founder of DDT Magazine, managing director of Click Radio and host of Nang Na Mic on 104.5 FM.

The one thing I would like to change most about my life is that I never received my Bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts at Chulalongkorn University. I wasn’t good at arranging my time. Anyway, I would have never come this far if I hadn’t been in Chula for six years.

Things I talked about on my radio program have inspired some audiences. I always promoted looking at the world in a multitude of ways in order to figure out which one was right for them. The director of Puen Sanit, Komkrit Triwimon, told me that I helped him realize what he really wanted in life, and it was making films.

We had never intended to create the dek naew trend. Fat Radio was established to play good music that we liked. I just thought that if I like these kinds of music, other people will probably like them, too.

We never said we were an “indie radio station” or we were against pop music. We listen to all kinds of music and if we find it interesting, we play it. Our listeners also help us by voting for songs online.

I hope Fat Festival will someday be like Glastonbury, but it has a long way to go. Actually, I have never been to Glastonbury... but it’s a symbol of a great festival featuring a spectrum of music. It also attracts foreigners to visit.

I am now a cultural ambassador of Fukuoka, Japan. My duty is to visit Fukuoka three times a year and come back to inform Thais about their culture. We plan to have music exchange programs. People in Fukuoka are creating a program in Thai to introduce Japanese bands that will broadcast on Fat Radio this year. Likewise, we will record a program in Japanese to introduce Thai bands over the air in Japan.

I was initially surprised about the response of Thai moviegoers to House Theatre, but I now understand that Thais don’t pay serious attention to movies. Few moviegoers are willing to travel farther than the closest mall to see a film. In any case, we won’t give up, even though it’s not worth running in a business sense.

It’s really important for me to do what I like so I can make it excellent. If I had to do what I didn’t enjoy, I would never know what to tell my staff to make things work. The risky part is whether or not what you enjoy can actually succeed and sustain you.

My ultimate dream is to be a film director. I’ve dreamed about it since I was young, but making a film isn’t a hobby. It takes a lot of time and money. I can’t leave the company to direct a film now, but I will someday. I may achieve my dream when I’m 67 years old, but that is fine with me.

How long have you had this job? Why have you chosen to be a motorcycle taxi driver?
I have been doing this for eight years. I chose to do it because I was unemployed at that time. I like it because my family and I can live on this job, and it’s my own business—no stupid boss. Most of all, making more money depends on me being diligent!

How do you become a motorcycle taxi driver?
First of all you have to deal with an agency that you want to work with. If they agree to work with you, you have to register at the Department of Land Transport and get a motorcycle taxi license. You can’t just sit on a corner in a motorcycle taxi uniform any more.

How many clients do you service per day? What’s your income?
Normally I work from the late morning until 9pm. I give about 100 rides and make about B300 per day. I prefer to drive on main roads because you can make more money there than in the smaller sois. I also have an overtime job picking up people late at night.

Have you ever had trouble with gangsters?
Not with gangsters but my friends and I had an encounter when a big agency tried to take us over… But I have no idea if other motorcycle taxis have had trouble with gangsters at all. I think the problem has actually been fixed by the policy of the Thaksin government, so it should be better now.

Have you ever had any weird clients?
Some. This well dressed guy once asked me to give him a ride to MBK and when we were almost there, he just jumped off and ran away! I didn’t want to lose my wage so I tried to catch him but he got away. It was a waste of time. Another time a client asked me up to his place and offered to give me more than I charged him. It was weird! I said, “no thanks.” I’m always afraid of thieves robbing my motorcycle when it’s dark.

What’s needed to be a good motorcycle taxi driver?
Being a skillful driver is absolutely necessary. Moreover, you should be judicious, safe, and always take good care of your customers and yourself. The job is quite dangerous so you have to be focused at all times. I don’t give rides to drunks because it’s just too dangerous. I always tell them to take a taxi instead.

How do you think people perceive motorcycle taxi drivers?
I think most of people look down on me but there’s nothing I can do about that. I don’t understand why they walk all over me while others treat me well by giving me more money.

With her heavenly vocals, singer- songwriter Eddi Reader grew from a little girl who washes the stairway to a woman who creates heartrending songs. With saintly smiles on our faces, we tied fluffy glittery wings to our backs and caught up with this angel.

How did you get started in music?
When I was a little girl, I stayed in this place where my neighbors and I shared a stairway. Everyone had to take turns to wash the stairs. I would sing in the stairway and later became known among neighbors as the girl who sings while washing the stairway. They gave me pennies for washing the stairway, and extra pennies for singing songs. Gradually, people asked me to go to their homes to sing for them.

You’ve released many solo albums. Which are your favorites and why?
I like the latest album Eddi Reader Sings the Songs of Robert Burns. I got to play with the Scottish National Orchestra and the top folk musicians in Scotland. I was also invited to sing at the opening of the Scottish Parliament. I made friends in high places.

Do you think the style and vision of your albums has changed or evolved over the years?
All the albums have the same roots, although some more jazzy, some more acoustic. In every song, I have to communicate a story. Sometimes you don’t even have to understand the language of the lyrics, and yet the feeling behind the music will move you. That’s the most real and the most important.

Do you miss being in the highly successful group Fairground Attraction? Any plans to regroup again?
Not really. That was my first birth to success. But I won more success from my independent albums. Fairground Attraction is great, but people in the band left and I couldn’t continue with it.

You’re still perceived as an indie chanteuse after all these years—what do you have to say to that?
I am glad to be in that umbrella. I guess the opposite of going independent is being commercial and stereotypical. I don’t want to be tied to any major commercial label. I just want to do what I do. I’ve been on major labels before. I find that they usually like what you do initially. But once they’ve signed you up, they want to change you. It’s difficult for me to wear makeup or clothes I don’t like, or sing songs I don’t like. I really like where I am now.

Whose music do you respect the most?
I like people such as Frank Sinatra, Babyshambles and Nic Jones, but I really respect Tom Waits. He’s a remarkable musician and a fantastic songwriter. He’s got a great philosophy about being a successful musician as well—such as avoiding traps like thinking too much of yourself.

What can we look forward to in your concert at the Esplanade?
I am going to tell stories, and if anyone wants to hear anything … I’ll take requests. I’ll be singing songs about the heart, love and the human condition. I’ll be singing melodies that were produced when I was in Fairground Attraction as well.

Any tips for budding songwriters?
Trust your instincts and never think you are wrong when someone tells you that. You are on the right way when you really sit down and ask yourself. Don’t do anything for money.