We’re pretty obsessed with schools in Singapore. You guys went to Columbia. Has that helped or hindered your career?
Definitely helped: in the sense that we met each other at school. There'd be no band if we'd never met one other. Also, New York City is a great place to play music, so Columbia was definitely a positive thing.

When are you most productive?
I find I'm most productive early-ish in the morning while drinking my second cup of coffee of the day. Coffee definitely inspires me. As do my bandmates.

When did you realize you wanted a career in music?
Probably from the time I was nine years old or so. To be honest, when I was in college I wasn't sure I wanted to pursue that path anymore, but when Vampire Weekend started I felt strongly that it was the only thing I wanted in the world.

What’s your work process like?
It depends on the song, there are never any rules. Ezra Koenig and Rostam Batmanglij are the songwriters in the group so sometimes a track will start with them writing on a piano or in front of a computer. At different points, drummer Chris Tomson and I will make suggestions and bring some arrangement ideas in. On our new record, we worked with an outside producer for the first time, the mighty Ariel Rechtshaid.

What can fans expect of your next album?
Our next record is darker than anything we've done previously, but also has some real pop moments. Listening back, it also feels like our warmest record to me.

What drew you to the Big Night Out?
We performed in Singapore for the first time a little over two years ago and had a great show. All the bands in the line up are great too. I have a soft spot in my heart for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Last time I saw them was at Radio City Music Hall in 2009 and they were fantastic.

Vampire Weekend performs at Big Night Out 2013 on January 30 at Fort Canning Park.

I was encouraged to study palmistry and astrology by my grandpa, who was also a fortuneteller. He told me it would help me earn a living wherever I went.

I would use my talent to meet girls when I was in high school. I strolled around the National Library with my friends reading astrology books and waiting until the girls finished school to show what I’d learned.

Being poor forced me to be a fortuneteller. I had no money to pay my university fees so I tried my hand at being a security guard, waiter and valet. But none of those jobs could earn me as much money as fortunetelling.

Fortunetelling wasn’t considered a respectable job back then. My parents scolded me for taking such a lowly job after I had studied economics at university.

I eventually ran away from home to rent a room with friends, because I didn’t want to cause more of a rift with my family.

The turning point came when I attended a Red Cross event at Supan Buri with the Astrological Association of Thailand. There I met Jongchai Tiengtham, a high-ranking politician, who asked me to tell his future. I did a good job for him, so more and more customers came to me and I collected enough money to pay back my university fees.

My work brings me into regular contact with lots of famous politicians and other public figures, who have helped me to build my reputation.

Fortunetelling is my destiny. I never dreamed of becoming one, but it has saved my life so many times. I had no money and it saved me. I feel so grateful for that. In return, I promised myself that I would remain a fortuneteller and continue this great Thai tradition.

There are lots of lies in the astrology industry. I think it’s completely idiotic when people pay money to fortunetellers who trick them into changing mobile phone numbers or changing their names. That’s just a money-making scam.

I was born in the wrong era. I feel I can’t relate to others these days. Performing in ancient stage plays like Nang Sueng only emphasizes this belief. I feel so good every time I’m on stage and revisiting the glory of our kingdom.

People nowadays are obsessed with making easy money. That’s why there are people who worship trees and weird animals to get lucky numbers for the lottery and girls who are willing to work at nightlife venues to earn lots of money from men.

Nothing can change your life like making merit. Doing good can only help you.

I don’t believe those famous people on TV who claim they can see ghosts. Those who are the real deal wouldn’t sell-out for such commercial purposes because their powers would be diminished. The press should think twice before reporting these claims and people should judge things for themselves.

I’m pretty sad that I’ve been branded a red shirt activist because I went to a red shirt protest. I’ve received a lot of negative comments but it shouldn’t be like this. Everyone has the right to choose what they believe in without being pushed to one side and labeled.

We must remember that if we keep fighting like this, we won’t have a country to live in.

I don’t have faith in democracy. It’s the system that stole the power from the monarchy in 1932. I didn’t even vote for anyone when the last election was held. It felt so good.

Politics are dirty. People used to ask me to become a politician but I hated the idea. I can’t associate with this foul system.

I will die at 48 years old. I was foretold this by the famous fortuneteller Jaral Pikul. I’m 43 now, so I only do what I want to do these days. I’m a dedicated Buddhist. But I don’t need it to be known, which is why I never put my name on what I contribute to temples.

What’s the point of being rich if there is no real happiness? It’s upsetting to see people race to be named on Forbes’ wealthiest list, but not care for philanthropy. I’ve donated hundreds of millions of baht and only have a few hundred thousand left on which to live.

Gratefulness is the best thing a human can show, especially towards your parents. They raised you so you should take care of them when they get older.

I wish to be reborn 10 more times before reaching Nirvana.

What motivates you?
I feel incredibly lucky that I get to play music for a living. I used to work in a suit and tie and that’s life for most people. Or it can be worse: my brother works in a factory operating heavy machinery. That makes me really respect my job so I work hard to put on a good show.

Has anything funny happened to you while you were performing?
We were playing in North Carolina just before Halloween and I thought I was hallucinating. I saw something glowing like a space invader, you know, that old school video game? I thought someone had splashed me with acid. It turned out to be some guy’s glowing hat.

What would you do if you weren’t in music?
Well, I was a political science major in college, so I’d do that. Or I’d be a spy, if I had the qualifications.

What acts are you most looking forward to at the Laneway Festival 2013?
Bat for Lashes; I think she (Natasha Khan) has a great voice, and Japandroids because they’re from the same part of British Columbia where I’m from.

Divine Fits plays at the Laneway Festival 2013 on January 26 at Gardens by the Bay.

When I landed in Singapore, my first impression of the city state was that it was cosmopolitan, abundant and warm.

When the first container carrying my Style:Nordic products and private stuff arrived at the harbor, I cried. I was so excited about the new life I was about to start.

I didn’t have a book to show at my own book launch! The printer couldn’t make it in time so I had to present with flash cards bearing quotes from the book.

“Stay calm and bide your time” has got to be the worst advice anyone has ever given me. I can understand it, but as an entrepreneur, I’d rather do something about the situation.

I don’t have an actual bucket list, but I definitely want to have more experiences, both in business and relationships.

I don’t leave home without my phone, keys, wallet, good spirit and a smile on my lips.

I think the education system in Singapore follows too much of a “stuffing a sausage” kind of style. Instead of giving students a context with which they can relate to in their learning, they just teach you stuff without explaining how best to apply it.

I’ve already showcased Scandinavian design in Singapore; now I want to do it the other way round—show Europe what Singapore is about!, my first impression of the city state was that it was cosmopolitan, abundant and warm.

I get annoyed by people who aren’t curious and willing to see things in a new perspective. In today’s society, we all need to be open-minded and receptive to changes. I think Singaporeans are generally more open than Europeans.

I had surgery last July that made me understand I’m not going to live forever. A month later, my dad passed away. 2012 wasn’t an easy year, but I still love life.

Even if you plan things and projects right down to the minute, you never know what’s going to happen.

I don’t like New Year’s resolutions. But if you do make resolutions, you should stick to them. Be decisive. Own them and earn them!

I measure personal success by how much I can share it with others... the more, the merrier.

People who do something with their ideas are very admirable. We always learn something by acting on our ideas, for better or for worst.

I usually fall for someone who’s got a bigger brain than mine, someone I can learn from and have discussions about life with. Also, someone who can make me smile. 

I’ve decided to move back to Sweden. I talked about it in my book but in a nutshell, I was starting to get the “been there, done that” feeling.

Being kind and honest is really quite underrated in today’s society.

How do you choose your roles? 
Most of the time, it’s the directors. The good ones are usually not very intimidating and they’re great collaborators. So yes, it’s the director’s personality and the script.

You’ve worked with legends like Jean-Luc Godard and Claire Denis, as well as newer directors too like Korea’s Hong Sang-soo...
Yes, that’s because I’m very interested in Asian cinema and have also worked with first-time directors. As long as I feel that the directors have the right tone and rhythm, I’ll consider their projects. Every director has different methods.  I just met up with Eric Khoo recently, and I would also like to work with Kim Ki-duk and Park Chan-wook.

Are you a method actress?
I wouldn’t really say that I have a method. I usually act with my instinct... I want to make my characters understandable. Which is why collaborating with directors is so important to me to explore different points of views. The lines between good and evil are so blur these days, and the materials give me a chance to explore these ambiguities. I am also very interested in the notions of normality and abnormality.

Amour is your second collaboration with Haneke. How is your working relationship with him?
With Haneke I started by not working with him, actually. He first offered me the role in Funny Games but I turned it down. I didn’t do it because I thought that the script had no boundaries and that made me feel very vulnerable. And then he offered me The Piano Teacher and he said to me, “You won’t do it.” I took that as a challenge, and I did it! Of course, there were still certain scenes in the film that I found risqué, but there were lots of room for exploration. Haneke plans many scenes, but he also leaves room for actors to improvise. It’s a talent to be able to set limitations and give freedom to your actors at the same time.

Read our review of the five-star film, Amour.

Kids’ creativity is judged by their teacher. I hated drawing class when I was young because the teacher always said my work wasn’t beautiful. And I was graded accordingly.

I chose to study advertising because I wanted to be a creative. I thought it would be exciting to be behind all the cool ideas you see in ads.

I was scared off by the reality of the advertising industry. When I visited an agency, all I saw was stress. I thought if I do this job, it will be the death of me.

Meeting M.L. Chiratorn Chirapravati [leading Thai illustrator] lit a fire in me. It taught me that it was possible to earn a living as an illustrator. But I still didn’t believe that I was capable of achieving that dream.

No one’s stopping you from being what you want. People always complain to me that they want to be an illustrator but they studied the wrong thing, like engineering. That shouldn’t stop you. Just go for it!

Don’t reject your studies. No matter what it is, you can always learn something from it.

I’d had enough of the education system. I was fed up with doing homework and the whole grading system. So I promised myself that for my master’s degree, I would only study what I wanted.

The turning point was when I went to England to take a short advertising diploma course. I asked myself if that was what I really wanted to do, and I realized that I really wanted be an illustrator.

You’ve got to master the basics first. The university professors were highly critical of my watercolor techniques. Even if I took another year of classes, it wouldn’t have helped. I nearly dropped out altogether, but I didn’t want to lose the money I had already paid so I persevered.

Address your weaknesses. I tried all sorts of techniques to complete my illustration assignment. I started cutting up colored paper and arranging them piece by piece until I had finished my project, which was two books of fables. They were later printed as actual books and I’ve been lucky enough to keep getting jobs ever since. That’s more than 12 years ago now.

Being able to do what you love is the greatest thing ever. That’s what my dad told me when I asked him if he wanted my help with the family business. I’m thankful that my parents let me study what I wanted, even though they were completely clueless when I told them I wanted to be an illustrator.

People always confuse illustrators and cartoonists. Cartoonists are people who have a story to tell and draw that, but I’m just an illustrator who is happy to draw anything that people ask me to.

Every professional encounters problems. Many people see my profession as a happy one, sitting in Starbucks all day long drawing, but there are tough times when I have to redo my work over and over again.

Illustrating is a commercial art, so you will never completely express everything that you want to. You need to be creative but willing to compromise, too.

Joy can be found in the simplest things. I love paper. I love reading. I love drawing. There is not a single day in my life that I don’t touch a piece of paper.

I find it so beautiful when pieces of paper are cut up and spread out on a table. I take pictures of it to keep. I also love to glue it all together in a collage style. This led to my new art project, “Pa-Pang,” which is the most passionate thing I’ve worked on in ten years.

My other passion is eating. I love to eat delicious food. I’m also obsessed with collecting recipes. But the funny thing is I don’t know how to cook. I don’t even know how to use a gas stove!

Bad romance puts me in a dark mood. I cried for months when I broke up with my boyfriend. It seemed like there would be no end.

Outside troubles affect you only if you let them. One day when I was lying on the floor, I noticed that my heart was still beating and working like all the other parts of my body. It made me realize that I was still alive even though I was really sad. I stopped crying after that.

My job is amazing. I don’t need to wake up early. I’m just a normal girl who feels happy every time someone takes pleasure in my work and pays me for it. It also gives me the chance to make merit by drawing things for charity campaigns. It’s so cool!

I want to draw pictures to be displayed in hospitals. Illustrators obviously want people to look at their work. As staying in hospital can be boring, it would be a great feeling to cheer people up with my characters. 

I don’t drive. I just don’t want to deal with bad traffic or finding parking. Using the BTS is so much easier. Buses and taxis here are dangerous. But if these forms of public transport could be improved, Bangkok would be heaven. I seriously wish we had more big old trees, though.

The important thing in life is to realize that everything is uncertain. You’d better prepare for it.

How did you start singing at Stu-fe?
I love singing and have been a jazz singer off-and-on for years. I’ve been strolling around indie bars for a while now, since discovering my love of Thai music. Once I started coming here regularly, I simply asked them whether I could jam on stage with the band, and they said yes. Stu-fe is one of my favorite hangouts. I will be here every Wednesday night to perform with the band.

What type of music are you normally interested in?
My parents love classical music, so I was raised on that without knowing anything else. My music world expanded when I got to high school where my friends would share songs. Mostly it was pop songs and I didn’t like them. I found them too noisy and would walk out every time they started playing them. But one day, a friend played Modern Talking’s “You Can Win If You Want” and I fell in love. From then, I started listening to pop songs.

How did you find a love for Thai indie music?
It happened just five years ago. Tattoo Colour brought me back to Thai music. Before that I didn’t pay attention to it. I didn’t know who was big in the Thai music scene, I just listened superficially. But then I was blown away by Tattoo Colour’s “O-Gad Sut Thaai.” I’m not a teenager, but I still love it. It’s so catchy and fresh. Now I listen to a lot of Thai indie music and make sure to write down the names of all my favorite songs. I’m like an encyclopedia now. Finding good songs makes me feel blessed and happy. Pramote Vilepana is my favorite male singer. His voice makes me feel like I’m floating down a cool stream.

What’s your work situation now?
I’m a freelance French translator and teacher. I studied my master’s in France for five years before coming back to work at the Bureau of The Royal Household for eight years. I quit from there because I didn’t like the shifts. Now it’s like I’ve taken early retirement. I sing at private parties or any event for which people want to hire me. I’ve loved jazz since I was teenager and I sing mostly in French and English.

What’s your dream?
I dream of being a real singer one day, but that’s unlikely to happen. Maybe it’s down to my looks or the just fact that the music industry is hard to break into. I want people to open their minds and realize that people who love music aren’t necessarily good looking or young. Even at my age, people love music and love to sing. So, just give us a chance to show our talent.
 

How did the project come into being?
It’s part of Wellcome Trust’s “Art in Global Heath” project which aims to present health research through various forms of art. This time around six independent artist collectives from six different countries were selected, including us as the Thailand representative. The project involves photo exhibitions, art activities and sculptures, while obviously we will focus on physical theatre. 

How did you work with Wellcome Trust to create this performance?
In Thailand, Wellcome Trust supports the Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, located nearby Victory Monument, where the main research focus is on malaria. I thought it would be interesting to study the scientists, doctors, researchers and even patients at the center. During the first two months of production, I went to the center to interview them. I also visited the Malaria Center based in Mae Sot and shot some footage. Also, at another site on the Thai-Cambodian border, I met a researcher who collects mosquito samples. He would sit and wait until a mosquito tried to bite him and then collect them one by one. I gathered all this knowledge to create the show.

So what is Survival Games all about?  
After my research, I thought that if we want to eliminate malaria and mosquitoes are the cause of it, why don’t we just destroy their natural habitats. But, of course, we can’t do that. Even if we could, it would probably mean increases in the populations of other types of mosquitoes bringing with it new diseases. So, elimination of mosquitos is not the solution; rather controlling their population is. With this, the word “survivor” popped up in my mind. Mosquitoes fight for their lives, just as humans do. In fact, if we view all creatures as members of the world, might not humans look like the parasites? One day the world might fight back, by creating a transmittable disease that kills millions, just like in the past. This is the idea behind Survival Games.

What can we expect from the show?
The idea is that there’s a situation where everyone is getting infected with a killer virus and only way to survive is to get on to a big ship. It is presented in a way that the audience and everyone in the hall is already on the ship. The performance will detail what happened to the world five years ago, before everyone got infected. There will be lots of visuals and footage I took during my research, as well as shadow puppetry. Pridi Institute will also feature an exhibition, complete with light and sound, that gives you the impression that you are part of the performance from the moment you walk in the door.

What do you see as the link between art and science?
As an artist, I initially thought that we come from a totally different world from scientists. But once I got to talk to some scientists and researchers about why they chose their job, some said it’s because it gives them more freedom to think. Of course, a scientist has to be accurate, but to be able to develop fully-formed ideas they also have to demonstrate creativity and imagination. Before conducting tests, they have to conduct research, just like we did. In the end, I think science and art both require creativity and imagination, they’re just exercised in different ways.

What’s next for B-Floor?
We plan to stage another four performances throughout the year, on top of Survival Games. There are no names yet, but mine will be about violence in the family. Violence is something I’m very interested in, but over the past three years, my shows have presented violence through political situations. This year, I’d like to keep things small-scale in terms of both production and subject matter. So I picked up on the theme of domestic violence, which is something that touches everyone. Other B-Floor works will be directed by the likes of Dujdao Vadhanapakorn and Nana Dakin, who was also my co-director for Survival Games.

I was never a kid. I was very mature when I was young. I saw grown-ups as much cooler, so I liked to be friends with them more than with people my age.

For me, the 60s are when people were the most idealistic. The pop culture, the songs, the long hair and student movements all amazed me. There was a real break with tradition and sense of community.

I regret being born 10 years too late. I wanted to be born in the 50s and to grow up in the 60s. Instead, I grew up in the 70s but I was never into Saturday Night Fever or Grease.

My generation is really into Shaw Brothers Studio. The Guillotines is a throwback to that, to my childhood, to the nostalgic memories of people my age.

Nostalgia is a big thing for me. I don’t think that’s so special. Everyone is nostalgic. Woody Allen was very honest about his nostalgia. People are never really content with the present and always see the past as being better.

I’ve never liked the present, no matter what the present is. Even today, I like antiques and old cars. I like old sofas. I liked all this old stuff before people developed a fondness for it. Now it’s really hip.

My father was the biggest influence on me. He was a filmmaker who wasn’t a huge success, but I love him so much. He made me want to be a movie maker.

I ended up studying film in the US but I dropped out because I got a job in the film business which led me to other ones.

I’ve never been so creative. I started out as a production manager and a producer before I became a director. I learned the craft of filmmaking through many years as a producer. And then I slowly screwed back to becoming a director.

My happiest moment as a filmmaker is when I edit my film. Seeing the film take shape in the editing room, seeing the possibility of the film and putting it all together.

There are very different approaches to film. Some people know exactly what they want, but I’ve never been one of those. I love to shoot everything and put it together in the editing room.

I don’t think a filmmaker can really tell when they are successful because it’s a really tough business. People always look at the press, the awards, the red carpets and the box office, but we’re living in the trenches of the set every day.

Every movie is more difficult than the previous one. We are crucified by critics, the box office and investors every single day. There are only a few movie makers who are really immune from negative reactions to their films.

The Hong Kong movie industry is completely dead. It’s a classic case where we really needed to go international because we couldn’t survive on a population of 6 million alone.

The existence of Hong Kong movies came about due to Chinese people all over the world needing entertainment after the communist takeover [in the mainland] in 1949. But now the demographics have changed. [Overseas Chinese] don’t need to watch Chinese movies anymore.

The Hong Kong movie industry has found a new lease of life in [mainland] China, where the industry is really blooming. Lots of Hong Kong filmmakers are making movies in China but Hong Kong is still their identity.

For Thai films, don’t just think about going international, because it’s a very unstable market place. The Thai film industry is far better than Hong Kong’s because it has a huge local market. That’s it’s life support and backbone.

I’ve always wanted to make a movie in Thailand about my parents’ generation in the 50s. I didn’t live here long enough to have my own stories so I wanted to do theirs.

I never throw things away. I have lots of old books and still keep pieces of papers. I’m very sentimental. Sometimes I’m blown away when I find a piece of paper. Not long ago I found a jacket that had a movie ticket in there. I looked at the date. It was from my first date with my wife, 18 years ago.

I think those things are key to my creativity. It’s the kind of stuff that makes me want to make a movie.

I don’t need any hobbies because my work is already a hobby and that’s all I want. I just love to watch movies, make movies and read books that I could turn into movies.

It doesn’t matter how busy you are as a filmmaker, you still have time if you really want to make time. Now I have a daughter so I save time for my family as much as I can, to be a normal father.

The biggest quality of a movie maker is the ability to tell a story. It’s the key. No matter how stylish you are in technical aspects or camera work, you still need to tell a story that moves people.

BK: How did you guys meet?
Best: We knew each other from high school in Lampang province, but we were all in different bands. Then about a year ago, Key uploaded his song “Sam Rub Krai Kon Nan” under the name SomeMoreRooms on YouTube. It became a hit and we’ve since come together as a band while attending university.

BK: Why are you so popular despite having only a few original songs?
Key: Our music is very easy listening pop. I think our popularity can be put down to the cover song trend on YouTube. People initially came to check out the songs we covered and then learned of our own music. Then some artists started to cover our songs.

BK: Were you worried that you might lose fans by changing your band name?
Key: I was a bit afraid of losing fans from my ex-band, but we really had to change the name once we became serious about playing together. I noticed that when people said the old name quickly, it sounded like SmallRoom, the popular record label. Anyway, we’re just happy making music, and I think real music lovers will appreciate what we do regardless of what name it’s under.

BK: What inspired you to play music and who is your idol?
Best: Honestly, it was to impress girls. I tried to make up for my looks when I was in the first year of secondary school.
Key: I was inspired by my father who I can remember playing the guitar every day since I was a little boy. I like John Mayer. His lyrics and tunes are touching. They tell stories. I also like Tesla Boy from Russia.
Tonyang: I formed a band when I was about 13. Joey Boy is my idol. I like his lifestyle, his attitude and his Gancore Club record label.
Dew: My favorite artists are Maroon 5, Santana, and Eric Clapton.

BK: What is your biggest dream as a musician?
Best: I want to release a legendary song; on that people still listen to ten years later.
Key: I’m not aiming to be super popular. I just want people to like the songs I sing.

BK: What are your day jobs?
Dew: I work at the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority as a demographics information officer.
Tonyang: I’m still looking for a job. I’m interested in working in TV because I graduated from communication arts.
Best: I’m a creative at TV Thunder, on The Master Key show.
Key: I’m a broker at Kasikornthai Bank. I didn’t plan to work there. But I was offered a job and I quite like it now.