Tan and Katto of pop rhythm duo Lipta, are going to Hua Hin on May 17 to charm their way through the Honda Summer Fest @ Hua Hin (see Escape Routes page 18) with songs from their latest album Can You See Me?

Tell us more about the album.

Tan: Lipta loosely translates as “looking from afar,” which was a perfect name when we appeared on the scene. Now it has been almost three years and we are releasing our second album, so fans should already know who Lipta is and what kind of music we play. But we still want to be sure, so we ask them “Can you see me?”
Katto: We’re experimenting with many styles of music, from hip hop to reggae. We have Way from Thaitanium rapping in “Santa Claus” and Funky Wah Wah adding an electronic touch to the album.

Was making this album difficult?

Tan: Yes. There were times when I just couldn’t write. It’s a lot easier writing songs for other artists, you know, because they tell me exactly how they want their songs to be. But for Lipta, I have to come up with music and lyrics that pleases us both. I usually give Katto songs that are 60-70% complete and let him comment and adjust them.
Katto: I change them a bit to suit me. After all, I have to sing these songs for hundreds of times! At first, there were lots of troubles because we hadn’t worked together for quite a while. But those problems allowed us to learn more about each other and to compromise. Once we managed to get in tune with each other, things just clicked and worked out fine.
Katto, you are a guest singer in many compilation albums.

How do you like it compared to singing for Lipta?

Katto: Being a guest singer is quite fun, but it’s not me. It is like going to school. You get to meet new friends and play with them, but there are rules to follow. But Lipta is like my family. I can be myself. I can be more straightforward. I can comment or even bitch when I don’t agree with something.

Which song best represents yourselves?

Tan: “Kon Thee Jeb Khwa.” It’s about how people usually pity the one who gets dumped. But if you look closely, I think the one who calls it off gets even more hurt.
Katto: “Patiset Yang Rai.” This song talks about how a guy can still smile even though he is heartbroken. It’s very optimistic and I am an optimist.

Do you consider yourself flirty or romantic?

Tan: Romantic in a flirty way and flirty in a romantic way.
Katto: I’d say I sound romantic on CD, but become flirty when I perform.

If you weren’t Lipta...

Tan: I would do something sports-related. When I was in high school, there were only two subjects that I got full marks on—music and sports. Now, I love golf.
Katto: I would be a banker or help with my family business. Thank god I’m here instead!