What are you guys up to these days? We spend a lot of time scouring the Internet for all things MINI—the latest news, customization tips and modification ideas—content that keeps our members engaged both on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/theminimob) and the website. We also get everyone together for what we call the MINI Mob Meetups (MMU), which can be anything from convoys to doggie day outs. It doesn’t always have to be car-related; it’s also about lifestyle.

What was your last event like? We were surprised by the turnout of our last MMU! We’d hosted a convoy that saw over 50 MINIs paying tribute to the car’s British roots in light of the Olympics season, and broke the record for the largest local convoy. We drove around with flags and custom decals, receiving quite a lot of attention along Orchard Road. It was awesome!

What’s happening next? We’re in the midst of planning The MINI Mob’s first anniversary in December—we’re pretty excited about that.

Why MINI? We could go on for ages about why we love MINI. In a nutshell, there’s just something intangible about MINI—it’s such a personal car and you can customize almost every detail of it to suit your personality. This is why no two MINIs look the same. MINI also has a very strong heritage, starting from the classic Austin Coopers to the modern BM W MINI. We don’t have a particular favorite—we love them all—but we’re proud owners of a MINI Cooper S.

What do you consider most important when buying a car? The car you choose has to be a statement of expression, or an extension of your personality and lifestyle.

What kind of music do you listen to when you drive? We love hip hop, rap and R&B. These kinds of music really get us groovin’ while we’re movin’.

Complete the sentence, “Driving is like...” Life. Life is not about the destination but the journey, and being on that journey in a MINI sure makes life more interesting!

My best memory is of hot lazy afternoons with my grandmother, listening to cricket songs in the garden. Many an afternoon would be spent with her reading the newspapers aloud and me sitting by her side doodling.

The most life-changing decision I ever made was to live in the UK. My current decision to spend more time in Singapore could potentially be lifechanging as well.

In my absence, Singapore’s physical and emotional landscape has changed. There are only a handful of buildings from my childhood that remain on Orchard Road and a greater sense of worldliness and materialism in the air. I lament the loss of old Singapore. It had frisson and multitextured layers of louche.

The growth of design in Singapore means I have opportunities to contribute to events like the inaugural 100% Design show. It allows me to spend more time here. On a macro level, Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, is the most important person in my life.

On a micro level, it’s my family.

Perfection is a spring day (provided it doesn’t rain) in London, with walks in the park and visits to museums and a street market. When the sun is out in London there is nothing nicer than exploring the city on foot.

At street level, there is so much life and interest which is easily missed if one was in a car, bus or train.

I want to see the world while I am still fit! Trekking to Machu Picchu and spending a night in the Wadi Rum desert are hardly crazy but nonetheless adventurous for me. These places are the stuff of legend and don’t disappoint in terms of their awe-inspiring beauty and magnificence.

My favorite city in the world is Tel Aviv. It’s got sun, sea, architecture, food and beautiful people. And it’s a convincing blend of old and new, east and west.

My favorite color is blue. It’s the color of the sky, sea and infinity.

The greatest motivator is fear of mediocrity.

Awards mean somebody out there likes what we do. We should always be flattered by that and never take them for granted.

I’m attracted to people with a positive attitude to life and a sense of humor. I reckon these attributes can be infectious and it is better to surround myself with good vibes rather than bad.

I went to the same gym as Diana, Princess of Wales. Though I didn’t meet her personally, she was glowing, beautiful and seemed very normal.

If I could have dinner with anyone in the world, dead or living, I’d invite Leonardo da Vinci and an interpreter. I would love to pick the brain of the original Renaissance man.

If I weren’t an architect, it would be nice to do something completely different, like dog-walking or gardening.

In a word, I’m grounded.

I live for a yummy plate of chicken rice.

Describe a typical day at work.
Ben Rosen: We go back and forth with clients and advertisers about our commercial work and match music to videos.
Evan Roberts: So one day we could be doing cow-herding music and the next day rock. Sometimes, we’re given open briefs where clients just say “make it good” and we come up with a series of samples.

How do you figure out if a piece of music is a good fit for a film or commercial?
BR: You can narrow it down by genre, like say a jazz track or rock track, and then you see if it feels right. Then, you compose a piece that fits within the genre.
ER: It depends on the demographic. An ad for beauty products won’t have a heavy metal track.

What’s the most challenging part of the job?
ER: The clients don’t always say the right thing. They are not music experts and that’s where we come in. For example, sometimes they ask for very famous music pieces (there are copyright issues involved). We also have to be able to take criticism well and be objective.

What do you listen to in your own time?
BR: When I’m here I like to pump it up. But when I’m at home I listen to downbeat and mellow reggae.
ER: Music from the ’70s because it brings back childhood memories.

What advice would you give to people looking to get into the industry?
BR: Watch a lot of movies and see how the sound design emphasizes certain parts of the film. Also, learn to play a few instruments and how to work a digital audio station.

Hear some of Ben Rosen and Evan Roberts' work The Gunnery website.

Who came up with the big idea?
When Joshua was on holiday in Vienna last year, he wished he had had an easy way to understand how to navigate the local transport system. He was going to catch an opera and was so worried he’d be late because he was having trouble getting to the venue. After much discussion, an idea that combined all of our interests, technology and traveling was born.

Tell us about your App-Visors.
App-Visors is a carefully and lovingly curated list of apps that we believe will add amazing value to our customers’ time in Singapore. There are thousands of apps catering to the Singapore market and we do the hard work of selecting the most relevant, user-friendly and delightful ones for our customers. As most of the apps are relevant only to Singapore, it’s a waste for customers to purchase them on their own—with our rentals, they don’t have to.

What’s next for TouristPads?
Our priorities for the coming year are to drive product awareness, create additional value for our customers in the form of special deals and tie-ups, international franchising, as well as distribution.

Now that you’re part of the local startup scene, what are your thoughts on it?
In terms of infrastructure, setting up shop in Singapore is relatively easy. There’s not much red tape to deal with and we’re not short on talent. 

How would you describe the music you make?
I create original modern funk music and such via the record label Stones Throw, yet when I DJ, I spin boogie-funk more than any other style.

What’s the state of modern funk?
It’s still fresh. More artists are now experimenting with it and interest has risen greatly among worldwide music listeners, since the days of [debut album, the ambitious 5LP set] Toeachizown, which was released in late 2009.

Tell us about your Funkmosphere nights.
Funkmosphere, the club and brand, is now six years old. It’s a place where we tend to spin wax only and it caters to the funk, boogie and modern soul crowd. There’s a heavy lean on music, mostly rare, that was released in the very late 70s to mid-80s, but without the tongue-in-cheek corny vibe that had been attached to it so often before we came onto the LA club scene. We have two nights a week. Both are free entry.

What is your philosophy when it comes to DJing?
My philosophy is letting the songs play, without too many tricks, such as scratching or the like. I like to let the songs breathe for the audience’s sake. Just keep it groovin’. I still enjoy digging for records and I do it all over the world. Yet, collecting instruments has become more my forte these days.

What can Bangkok audiences expect from a Dâm-Funk live set?
A mix of melodic funk and boogie sounds by interesting artists through DJing, mixed with live keyboards and original material throughout. The audience is always an inspiration. I like to feel we’re all in it together and it’s not just about me.

Has collaborating with people removed from the funk sound (Nite Jewel, Ariel Pink) had any influence on how you make music?
They’ve all been great experiences. I dig all styles of music, though, so that’s why I’ve always been open to experimenting with different artists.

You often refer to your music as a lifestyle; how often do you record?
I’ve got so much unreleased material that has been recorded over the years that I could just stop now. But this is too real for me. I have to keep creating, just based on life. It’s just about staying me and, at any time I choose, creating for the universe.

I was blind from birth. My parents only noticed when I was three months old. My eyes didn’t respond when they played with me. They took me everywhere trying to cure me, but it turned out my optical nerves had degenerated.

I owe my life to education. My parents were farmers in Prae province and didn’t have many assets. So they decided to give me the best possible education they could provide.

I was lucky to be raised in the countryside. Blind kids in town are always kept inside the house, but I had the freedom to roam around without fear.

No one pampers you like your parents. Attending a boarding school for the blind taught me life skills. I learned to share things with others and picked up the skills to take care of myself on a daily basis.

My parents and teachers are my inspirations. My parents never gave into their troubles. They are real fighters. One of my English teachers was blind and another was a refugee, and both taught me to always believe in myself.

Studying with normal kids was really challenging. There were 50 students in one classroom. There were no Braille books for me so I had to use a typewriter and rely on friends and volunteers to read to me.

There’s too much pity in Thailand. It’s at the root of our misunderstandings. We overplay differences between people without really accepting them.

Don’t judge people because they are different. When you see a blind or disabled person, don’t automatically assume they can or can’t do certain things.

When I started out at Chiangmai University, they kept bringing up all these obstacles. They would say, “Can you really study here? We have no specialist teachers for the blind. How can you find your way between buildings?” My reply was that I used to sell lottery tickets on Bangkok’s streets, so this would be easy.

I challenged them by saying that if I failed just one subject, I would quit. I finally graduated with a degree in humanities, despite working a part-time job as a musician. I played guitar at pubs and even sold lottery tickets at the end of each semester.

I dreamed of studying abroad. Back then Thai education had nothing to offer blind people. I wanted to go someplace set up to serve the blind, so that I could also bring back ideas to change our society. I finally got a scholarship to study music in the US.

“No pain, no gain.” My refugee teacher told me this as I was about to go study abroad. Then I had no fears about what I was going to face.

People should be given the chance to fail or succeed on their own two feet. This is what I admire about the Western world. There is no way that Thai people would let the blind take that risk. They are too fearful that we will get hurt.

Failure isn’t scary. Experiencing it can push you to advance yourself. I traveled alone in the US and I gained so much from it. It’s such a diverse society. The more I learn, the more my mind is opened.

I’m inspired to change the perception of disabled people in our society. We want to live as normal citizens, not be seen as people who can only get by with help.

The fastest way to change society is by implementing the law. But that’s not always the best answer. To make sustainable changes, we must get to the root of our culture and alter people’s deeply ingrained attitudes. And that takes time.

My being senator is not only about pushing for faster change, it sends out the message that disabled people can also serve society. Now that I am a part of the United Nations’ Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, I hope we can improve our country’s standards for disabled people.

Don’t just accept your fate. Plan for the future. So many people live only for the present. They don’t think that someday in the future they might be disabled and need the things that disabled people need right now.

There’s more to this world than sight. People are consumed by the notion that eyesight is essential to our experiences. Our senses of smell and touch can unlock so much of the world’s beauty.

I have a good family; from my parents to my own family. I love that my Japanese wife and I accept each other and can deal with our problems without ever letting ourselves reach a deadlock.

I always teach my daughter to embrace diversity. Don’t think you’re better than anyone, but try your best to serve society.

Knowledge eradicates inequality. I have developed an electronic publication that gives blind people a chance to access all the world’s knowledge. I dream that people will no longer be limited by their age, disability or illiteracy.

I’ve given up on giving up. I created this motto while I was in the US, and it becomes more apt the more experience I gain. If we can see that there are ways out of our troubles, then we won’t feel as though our backs are up against the wall.

How long have you been a coffee street vendor?
It’s been five years now. I am from Phangnga, but I started earning a living in Bangkok by selling roti. Then I began selling coffee and drinks at yellow shirt gatherings and protests.

Why did you name your stall Starbung?
I’ve used this logo for a year and a half. At first my stall had no name, then I asked someone to design a logo for me. One day, two of Starbucks’ lawyers came to inform me through a cease-and-desist letter that I was violating the chain’s copyright. I was shocked. I told them that if the two logos are really so similar then I will take mine down, but I’ll have to talk to my lawyer first. I am prepared to make a stand.

What is your family’s present financial situation?
I have six children, one of whom has moved out to get married. My second daughter is studying and I still owe the school’s B5,000 fee. I also have a debt of around B40,000 with a loan shark. How can I pay all this if I only make around B400-500 per day? Everything’s getting more and more expensive. Thankfully, people sympathize with me. Some now know about me from the news and I guess I have to thank Starbucks for helping me make more money.

What do you make of the copyright infringement claims?
Sure, my logo may look like theirs, but I don’t see it as being totally the same. I haven’t copied them. My logo has its own identity. And it’s green because the color has always had a special significance for Muslims like me. I’m dejected that a huge multi-national company should choose to take this action. They are like a giant treading on a tiny toothpick—what would happen if the toothpick stood up and stabbed the sole of their foot? It might backfire and some people might turn away from Starbucks. It’s normal for me to feel tired of vending, but on top of that now I have all this trouble that just seems nonsensical to me.

What will you do if they win the case?
I will change my logo. I will respect the decision of the court, but for now I’m not going to make any changes. If they win I will even give them my stall and go buy a new one to continue vending here as I’ve always done. But if it’s just their word against mine, I won’t do anything. I don’t even know why they warned me. I haven’t done anything wrong to them. Personally, I think they might be hiding something.

Any final words for the plaintiff?
Stop persecuting me please. I’m just a poor guy, selling coffee on the street. Fair enough if I was the founder of a big business with many branches and posed a threat to their business—but I don’t even come close to making 10% of what one Starbucks branch makes in a day.

How do you get into character?
The whole day is spent mentally preparing for the concert. Occasionally, we play a live Beatles DVD in the dressing room (the Washington '64 concert is a real favorite).

How important is humor to the show?
It’s a vital tool for us as The Beatles were always very funny and quick-witted, with an English sense of humor.

Share a funny incident that happened on tour.
Many years back we had a “moptop-ablaze” incident. Our then Paul McCartney (who was fair-haired) was wearing a cheap acrylic wig and the lights were too close. During the first song, a plume of smoke rose from his head as the whole thing started to melt. The wig never recovered!

Have you always been interested in The Beatles?
Yes, since the age of seven. My grandmother bought me Twist & Shout and I played the thing until it was worn out. I still have it actually.

Which songs do you find the most challenging to perform?
All their music poses different challenges be it replicating the amazing energy of “I Want to Hold Your Hand” or copying the intricate vocal blend of “This Boy”. Because they changed so much over a short period of time we have to be seven different Beatle bands in one gig!

What do you think accounts for the enduring popularity of The Beatles?
Their music still sounds as fresh as when it was first released because of their changing look, voices and songwriting...

The Bootleg Beatles perform November 8-11 at the Grand Theater (MBS).

The expedition was… challenging but fulfilling. It’s heart-warming to see how people are willing to help you unconditionally.

I’ve learnt (from The Passport experience) that… a smile can take you places.
I never leave home without… my music and my phone.

My biggest pet peeve is… bad covers of the songs I love.

Asian girls are… Asian. It’s hard to label one large continent!

The universe is… round: what goes around comes around.

I get turned on when… an attractive girl shows off her intellectually philosophical side.

The one thing I hate about traveling is… crying babies on a long-haul flight.

The craziest destination I’ve been to is… Bangkok, which is chaotic but calm, in a surreal way.

As a kid, I was… a geek who read a lot on dinosaurs, animals and insects.

Follow Justin Bratton’s journey at the official The Passport website.

What makes you a king of comedy?
My 20 years of experience. This ang moh qualifies as an Asian king because I’ve lived here half my life and speak six Asian languages (which are incorporated in my show).

How did you pick up all those languages?
I spent (or misspent) my youth living in Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, India, Japan and Africa. I stayed in kampungs with people who didn’t speak English. So it was sink or swim. Also, having grown up in New York in a United Nations enclave, exposed to dozens of languages, my neural pathways were well established for language acquisition.

What’s the best part of your job?
The 23-and-a-half hours a day I don’t have to work.

This is the third installment of the show. How does it differ from previous performances?
The venue is bigger and the acts more international (with British and Canadian Asian performers). There is just enough foreign talent to make this a truly Singapore experience.

The show has played in both Singapore and KL. What do you feel is the difference between the two cities?
Singaporeans are more sophisticated, so they tend to be more discerning. They like their comedy smart and sharp. KL crowds are happy with a more slapstick approach.

What’s the worst and best part of being a stand-up comedian?
The worst part is when you “die” and the best part is when you “kill”. It really is life-and-death on stage.

Kings & Queens of Comedy Asia 3 is on November 2-3, 9pm at the Esplanade Theatre.