I’m 45 but I feel like I’m 16. My heart is really into making new EDM.
I lost all my passion when I sold Bakery Music. It took me five years to get into making music again. I was like a rocket that failed to launch. I told myself that I would try for another year and if it doesn’t work, I would quit completely.
My son brought back my love of music. He introduced me to EDM. At first I didn’t appreciate it; I was like, “What the hell?” Then I realized that EDM is the sound of this generation. It’s everywhere.
It took me two months to learn how to use all my music equipment. I’d completely forgotten. It was like climbing a mountain. But since I scaled that peak, it’s been really enjoyable. I produced 20 songs in 15 months!
I hang out with kids to learn their sounds. I’m 45. I don’t know what kids today are thinking, so I choose to work with small dance music labels like Lazerface because they know what I don’t know. My son is also my number one advisor. If he says “Dad, this song sucks,” I change it.
The Thai music industry is terrible now. There’s nothing new. No creativity. My generation, Gen X, have Moderndog, Gen Y have Bodyslam or Big Ass; what about Gen Me? They don’t have a sound of their generation. I see artists playing big concerts and, shit, they’re all in their forties! There must be something wrong.
Music executives destroy new artists. Executives only think about making money, not nurturing new artists. Aspiring artists take to social media but there is no one to guide them on creating quality work. They lack the basics.
Social media is an illusion. The entertainment industry is already an illusion, but social media even more so. A million views or a million likes don’t guarantee that you’re famous. If people are willing to pay you B200,000 for a show, that’s proof that you’re famous.
Making real music is the most important thing. Many people say the music industry is dead and blame it all on downloads, but no one says that it’s really because music sucks these days. No one can write songs. It’s like making a movie. Even if you put B50 million into it, the film will suck if the screenplay is no good.
Technology cannot write a song for you. It has to come from inside you. Talent scouts should be eager to source new artists
from the real world, not music competitions!
There is a thin line between art and shit. I once saw this band that looked pretty cool but they played terribly. I asked them why and they said they just liked it that way. What the heck? You don’t even respect yourselves to play up to standard. I really hate it. It’s insulting to the profession.
You only learn when you’re down. I had a big ego when I ran Bakery Music and the worst time in my life was when I was B80 million in debt at the age of 26.
Keep punching away at your target. My mom said that if I could pass that crisis, I could pass anything, and she was right. You must stay focused on what you’re doing. I tried every way possible to find the money to pay off my debts.
All those bullshit life philosophies are true. I used to be against all those sayings like “live happily” or “love your family.” What do they even mean? But in the end, it’s all true!
Everything is grey. I was taught since I was young that everything is black and white. But since leaving music at 35 to ride bikes, do TV shows and build hotels, I’ve learned that everything is fucking grey as shit. Just look at our politics. I don’t believe what I see in the media anymore.
The thing that hurts me most about what’s going on in Thailand is that I’ve never seen so much hatred these past ten years. It will take at least 20 years for Thailand to get back in shape.
Greedy people brought us this far. It’s not about democracy, it’s about money. It’s time to change this. Be open-minded to everything.
Thais aren’t very sensible sometimes. We love our dramatic outcries. Like when dek waen race on the main road and get hit by a car; they ask people for mercy because they have no racing circuit to use. What the heck! It’s against the law. Another time a guy cut in front as I was queuing. When I stopped him, he answered “You have no generosity.” I was so pissed. It’s emotional blackmail.
My ultimate goal is to make the music industry exciting. I remember that more than 80 music labels opened up after the birth of Bakery. What I’m most proud of isn’t the label itself, but that my dream lit a fire in others.
You need to be stubborn if you want to change things. It’s a fine line between arrogance and believing in yourself. I just believe in what I do and I don’t hurt anyone.
I always trust my instincts and I’m hardly ever wrong.
