Tell us about your training sessions.
Helena Wong: I train up to six times a week. Prior to the run-up of a major competition, I would train up to twice a day.
Dipna Lim Prasad: I train six days a week. My training programs are a mix of track and gym workouts. I also practice hurdling every single training session.
Geraldine Lim: I train 11 sessions a week and have recently returned from a three-week training camp in Hungary.

How would you rate your chances at the games?
Wong: My current personal (combined) best stands at 153 kg. The current world record for women’s 53 kg stands at 230kg; set by China’s Li Ping in 2010. It’s a long shot for me to get to the Olympics podium, but I am not relenting or giving up. 
Prasad: It’s important to not pressure yourself at any competition. I’ve been training hard and through breaking the 100m hurdles national record, I hope my time at the games will reflect that.
Lim: I think the chances of me getting past the heats into the semi-finals are pretty slim. However, I will do my very best. It’d be a bonus if I proceed to the next round.

What can we do to improve our overall rankings?
Wong: The sport has been seeing more participation from a broad spectrum of enthusiasts, from students, PMEBs and even professionals. What’s even more encouraging is the weightlifters are getting younger.
Prasad: On an individual basis: through hard work, discipline and doing all that with heart.
Lim: I hope we can increase the culture in Singapore in a way that sports can become a part of everyone’s life from an early age.

Being able to represent Singapore in the Olympics was a dream. I was the flag bearer in the 2004 Olympics in Athens and it was an honor.

Defeating Lin Dan, the world’s number one ranking badminton player and one of China’s biggest champions in the 2004 Olympics felt good and satisfying.

All the hard work I had put in paid off. Having beaten a Chinese player in such a big tournament is something I am proud of.

One must have strong determination and perseverance to perform at your very best in the Olympics and have good sportsmanship during the whole tournament.

The local sports culture still has a lot of areas that need to be improved. Getting a good education has always been prioritized over excelling in sports so we need to overcome that barrier first.

Many individuals are not comfortable sacrificing their studies over the sports and they are uncertain of what they want to achieve, much less working towards achieving their dreams. Hence, the progress of the sport is much affected.

Badminton has always been my passion and by setting up my coaching academy, I hope to pass down my experience, knowledge and skills to enthusiastic individuals who dare to dream of becoming a badminton champion.

I hate to receive advice from people who think that they know more about the sport than I do.

If I could be 18 again, I would still take up playing badminton as my career but I would change my training methods.

My guilty pleasures are eating too much seafood and drinking soft drinks as my diet affects my body condition for the sport.

If I hadn’t been a badminton player, I would have become a doctor as most of my family members are involved in the medical profession.

I live to eat, but I definitely live to be myself and to do what I love.

Challenges turn me on. The more challenging something is to achieve, the more I would be tempted to try.

Any tips on pouring the perfect pint?
All five steps (see video below) of the Heineken Star Serve Ritual are extremely important. Among them, the skimming of the beer is often overlooked but it makes a big difference to the taste and texture of the beer.

What are your thoughts on the local beer scene?
It’s booming. When I first started in the industry, I was told that beer has to be drunk with ice and a straw! Nowadays, consumers have increasingly sophisticated and discerning tastes, make it a point to do their own research and want a complete beer experience.

How can bars here improve the way beer is served?
For a start, beers should always be served chilled. When I was in Europe, the bars had chiller pipes or even rooms to chill the beer and that provided a completely different experience in terms of the temperature. While it’s very expensive to maintain the system, I’d really like to see this implemented here.

Is the craft beer movement just a fad?
It’s definitely here to stay. There are some truly excellent selections available in Singapore today. Artisan brewers are pushing the boundaries and the brews are often full of pleasant surprises.

What are some of your favorite beers?
I personally enjoy drinking Japanese beers because of their distinct flavors and sharpness. Occasionally, I love a good pint of nice Irish ale as well.

Your 2009 album Gown began as a series of field recordings conducted in Cambodia. Do you expect Singapore to inspire you as well?
Cambodia is a stunning country with a fascinating and tragic history. I have yet to discover Singapore but I am intrigued.

How did you start creating music with the AirPiano?
I came across Omer Yosha, the inventor of the AirPiano, playing an early prototype on YouTube in 2009. I was attracted to its simplicity and the fact that it looks like you’re magically plucking sounds out of the air. I made contact with him and ended up traveling to Berlin where he made a custom prototype for me to work with. I gave feedback how it worked in the real world. It’s a partnership of sorts.

Did you grow up in a musical family?
Yes, my siblings are all very musical. We grew up singing traditional songs of the highlands and islands of Scotland in a one-room primary school with our teacher from the Isle of Skye.

Having traveled all over the world, do you have a favorite country?
I feel an affinity to Scotland. Having been brought up there, my early memories are very strongly Scottish. But the world is such a rich and fantastic place, I can’t have a favorite.

Who inspires you?
I usually draw my inspiration from things outside of music, but I do appreciate Bjork’s and My Brightest Diamond’s work. I also really enjoy watching Imogen Heap’s creative process.

Jo Hamilton performs on August 8 at the Esplanade Recital Studio

I’ve loved music since I was very young. It started with luk thoong songs on my mother’s transistor radio then international music from the 50s and 60s when we got an FM radio.

The disco sound arose in the 80s while I was studying at Hat Yai University. My favorite band at the time was called The Position; I didn’t miss a single gig.

Then this one time, the DJ stole the show. It was DJ Noo Somkiat Chuangnisai, the Thai DJ Champion at the time. He totally blew away my favorite band. That’s when I knew I wanted to become a DJ.

I asked him to teach me how to DJ after I had been to many of his gigs and got to know him.

I dropped out of school to focus on DJing but I went back at my parents’ insistence. They convinced me that I should finish my studies and hold onto my Muslim roots. I got back into the DJ scene after graduating in the early 90s.

DJ Wasana Wirachartplee’s radio show was then the only one playing the new wave of alternative bands like Blur, Suede and Manic Street Preachers.

I realized we didn’t have enough coverage of this growing music trend. So I went to see DJ Wasana and told her I wanted to start GT Magazine (Generation Terrorist). I picked the first 10 people who answered a question on DJ Wasana’s program to be the writers.

The alt-era was all about being creative. So in starting something I had to make it fresh. I’m not a graduate in journalism or mass communication, passion alone drives me. The first issue of GT was produced on a PC.

The magazine wasn’t just about music, but offering a different perspective, an alternate lifestyle, and encouraging people to think outside the box and dare to be different.

We didn’t make a profit since there was never many ads in GT. I just wanted what I was doing to inspire people.

GT stopped in 1999 because we had huge debts. I returned to being a club DJ and started writing a column at Matichon Weekly.

The 90s was a time of no boundaries. People were open to new things. Bands could be independent; they didn’t have to be handsome, they could just produce the music they liked.

Songs from the 90s helped make me who I am today: a writer, DJ, music director, lecturer, producer and remixer. I was given the chance to release my own album and spin alongside world class DJs like Fatboy Slim. It was such a great experience.

Smallroom and Spicydisc are not indie record labels anymore. But the way they started out means they have more of a music mind than a business mind. So even though they’ve found mainstream success, their music still has a touch of independence. Bands like Greasy Café and the Rich Man Toy that mix luk thoong with rock, these guys retain their originality.

No matter what you do, just be clear on who you are and you’ll be a success.

All the bars in Bangkok play the same music. It’s understandable that people aren’t open to new things when they don’t get any variety. If you’re a DJ or band that lets a businessman tell you what to play, then you’re not a real musician.

Bands in Burma and Vietnam are hot right now and take lots of influences from England. Thai bands must be wary not to lag behind.

Our music industry will become more competitive and fun after we become part of the ASEAN Economic Community. Indie will rule again because of a renewed musical focus.

I want to promote original Thai groove. Thai music master Khru Euah Suntornsanan had the most influence in introducing this sound, which combined Thai lyrics with international tunes.

We had a lot of talented musicians in the 70s like Chai Muangsing and Waiphot Phetsuphan who led the way for Thai funk. But something happened in the late 80s and now only Thai-pop remains.

Japanese rock and K-pop wouldn’t be as popular as they are today if we could strengthen our own signature sound.

I’m working with the Ministry of Culture to refresh our musical history and educate the new generation on our roots.

Artists like Amy Winehouse, even Lady Gaga and Madonna, take influence from their respective musical heritage.

We don’t have this heritage because even those in charge want to bury our own musical past.

As long as I’m still alive, I am certain Thai groove will make a comeback. I dream of bringing it back for our children’s benefit.

What’s your musical inspiration?
My experiences in life, the things I learn and my true love and passion for music—mainly hip hop.

Describe yourself in three words.
Hip hop culture.

What are your musical guilty pleasures?
80s pop and rock, as well alternative music and R&B love songs. I only consider these to be guilty pleasures because my audience probably assumes I listen to nothing but hip hop, but I love all types of music. It can be a shock for people to hear the different things I play when I DJ. They don’t understand that my music is really derived from many different genres.

Your best gig?
My mother’s party in 1982 when I was only 12 years old.

Best gig you’ve ever been to?
A show at the Apollo Theater [in New York] where I saw Stetsasonic and Big Daddy Kane.

You won a Grammy with De La Soul, are there any other awards you would love to have on your shelf?
Winning was so surreal, even though it was from a collaboration on the Gorillaz record. I would love to win more but that’s not my focus, granted being at awards shows is really exciting because I get to see so many celebrities.

What can we expect from your upcoming gig?
I’m going to play for the dancers and give them my rendition of what the B-boys and B-girls danced to when I was coming up, as well as some new stuff that I like.

Are you working on any new projects?
Yes, we [De La Soul] are working on a new album entitled You’re Welcome and I’m working on a solo project entitled DJ Conductor LP on which I will be receiving production input and direction from Ali Shaheed. Also, Ali and I plan on putting in some studio work while we are in Asia because there are a couple of artists we feel deserve a shot at the mainstream music fabric. We are hoping to be the new tag team producers in hip hop.

How would you like to be remembered?
I would like to be known as the guy who brought tremendous joy to the world through two turntables, a mixer and a microphone.

Do you think your innocent looks made you a good fit to play the character Jan Dara?
My character Jan was once an innocent boy, but his life experiences and treatment as a child influenced the adult he became. As an actor, developing my character according to the script is much more important than my looks. I should be able to adapt myself to play every character I am assigned, and leave it to the make-up artists and lighting crew to make me look the part.

What did you enjoy most about shooting the film?
I love how the movie is set in the 1930s because I find the vintage setting very appealing, from the costumes to the cars and the houses. Most of the movie was filmed outside of Bangkok. The house where we mainly shot the movie is over 100 years old, and was occupied by the Japanese during World War II. I like that the film has a long history behind it.

Did anything unexpected occur during shooting?
Everyone warned me about how hot it was going to be shooting in costume. But I thought to myself, “I’m Thai and I’m not afraid of the heat.” How wrong I was. I had to wear many layers of clothing, from an under-shirt to a shirt to a jacket. It got up to around 44 degrees Celsius, and it was pretty much the hottest summer in Thailand. I almost fainted a couple of times.

Apart from the sex scenes, what can audiences expect from this movie?
The movie illustrates how behind every action is a reason. It uses sex to develop characters, and to connect one character to another. It shows different perspectives on sex, whether it’s the beauty of sex, the grandeur or the bond between two families.

How does the movie reflect Thai society?
It reflects the old lifestyle much more than today’s society. The characters in the movie use sex as a way of exerting power, which was more common in the past. People often give sex negative connotations, but back then it was a powerful and effective way to dominate a household and to produce more children to help out around the house.

How did you form?
Day: Phu, Aof and I have known each other for a long time from working together making music for ads and soundtracks. I had some lyrics written up and asked them to help out with the composition. Then once I’d had some interest from Sony Music Thailand I asked them to come aboard full-time. We talked about our individual styles, started rehearsing and focused on carving out our own unique sound.

What’s with the band name?
Day: We simply took it from the phrase “rock ‘n roll.” We wanted to show that we’re steeped in rock music, but we found that just “Rock ‘N Roll” sounds too heavy, plus it’s 2012—you’ve got to mix things up.
Aof: That’s why we cut “Rock” out.

What inspired you to make music?
Day: I think anyone who ever picks up an instrument, even if it’s a ukulele, dreams of one day being a singer or musician and releasing an album of their own. Not everyone gets that opportunity, though, so I am very lucky. I’m very thankful for the chance.

How would you describe your sound?
Day: According to many of our listeners, we’re fashion-rock, in that when they listen to our songs they can’t help but think of fashion. Personally, I’d say we’re a mix of British rock, pop and a bit of dance.
Phu: We’re basically rock, though we all have different tastes, like American rock and British rock. We’re not interested in showing off our abilities, we make music that gets people thinking. And if that’s about fashion, then so be it.

Was it a conscious decision to enlist a female drummer?
Day: Well, once we had three members, all we were missing was a drummer. We thought it would be kind of cool to get a female drummer as it would give us a slightly different style. From the many drummers who auditioned, we chose Pui.

What sets your band apart from others?
Day: When we make music we don’t worry about whether we’re mainstream or not. That’s up to others to decide.
Aof: We stick to what we know, and don’t try to fit in by copying others. We’re not interested in trends. We just love playing music.

As a band, what are your biggest obstacles?
Day: Just a lack of time which can be put down to all our individual commitments.
Aof: I guess being in the right mood for making music. We can’t make music if the feelings aren’t there. It’s all about finding the impetus.

How did you come up with the idea for this business?
I thought of the idea when I first moved to Asia back in 2008. Having to entertain corporate clients and guests as part of my job, I was constantly looking for a reliable site with good restaurant and bar recommendations. None of the existing sites actually gave good overviews, lists of menus, promotions, quality images and provided the convenience of online booking. I felt the need for a site that provides all that and rewards loyal users.

How did you come up with the company name?
It comes from the word “Abracadabra”. The word Abra also means “I have created” in Aramaic. I’ve created a new exciting option for those looking for good food and an easy way to make reservations.

Was it difficult to leave your job in banking?
Yes, it was difficult to take the leap of faith, say goodbye to regular paychecks for a while and adjust to a whole new lifestyle. No one can prepare you to run a startup. I've gathered three degrees and worked in different organizations, but the only way to learn how to be an entrepreneur is to be one! I am still learning.

You have 42 restaurants now. How quickly do you intend to expand?
We are not looking to just add to our numbers. I do not foresee having many more than 100 restaurants in Singapore. Our diners only want to visit the leading restaurants suitable for business engagements.

What do you think of the Singapore restaurant scene?
Singapore’s restaurant scene is extremely vibrant! It has grown immensely since my first visit four years ago. It’s all about fusion where east meets west.

If I were an animal, I’d be a… cock.

I would kill for… good food.

I hate… dishonest people.

Music is… the answer to everything.

My biggest pet peeve is… when things don’t work.

I get bored when… I have to do the same things over again and again.

The biggest challenge in spinning a mix is… to keep the tension rising over the whole set.

DBN spins on August 3 at the Avalon.