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Music Going soloBy Suwitcha Chaiyong, Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb Wan produces a winner
The excitement that surrounds the Academy Fantasia contests is usually well and truly over once the programme has gone off the air. Being a finalist or even the winner doesn�t necessarily assure fame and fortune for the participants.
Thanakrit Panichwid (Wan) is one of the few AF2 contestants who has managed to shine in showbiz. Since the programme ended, the 22-year-old has been busy as a singer, actor, TV host and DJ. Throughout his hectic schedule, Wan kept writing lyrics and presenting them to company executives. That persistence paid off when he was finally given the green light to work on his first solo album. With help from veteran producers Big Tanut and Jugg Chawin, Wan crafted his hit album Soloist. He even managed to earn an executive producer credit � quite an achievement for such a young artist. The album�s first single, �Ra Ya Plod Pai (Safety Period),� has dominated music charts in the kingdom since last year, and the second single, �Khae Krai Sak Khon (Just Someone),� has been receiving plenty of radio play, too. Wan recently dropped by for a chat with Student Weekly. With infectious optimism and humour, he told us about his inspirations and how he came to be the executive producer on his debut album.
Wan: Plam was a special AF2 band project. The style of music wasn�t exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to work on something that I felt more comfortable with. Student Weekly: What was it about your style that you wanted to change? Wan: Plam was a pop-rock band, but I prefer easy listening tunes. Student Weekly: How did you manage to release an album before most of the other AF2 participants? Wan: I worked on my songs every day and I kept giving demos to our executive, Num Kititkorn. He gave me constructive criticism, and I worked at improving them. Eventually he said that I could start working on Soloist. Student Weekly: How did you manage to earn an executive producer credit? Wan: Actually, I feel a bit shy with that position, but I really worked on the record from scratch. I came up with the original ideas, wrote the lyrics and made decisions at every stage of making the album. Student Weekly: Why did you choose to work with Jugg Chawin and Big Tanut? Wan: I was already a fan of Jugg, and Big was an impressive voice director on the AF programme. They�re friends, and I like the way they work together. Student Weekly: Where does the inspiration for your songs come from? Wan: Everything in life is my inspiration. I wrote �Tor Pai Nee Lok Ja Yud Moon Duai Kwam Rak [Because of Love, the World Will Stop Spinning]� for a girl. I didn�t want to make it too simple, so I added some things about high tide, low tide and food chains. Student Weekly: When is the best time for you to write songs? Wan: When I�m alone and the atmosphere is quiet. I wrote one song when I was sweating with fever. It was a song on Plam Plam called �Kuen Thee Hay Jai Mai Khoi Oak [The Night I Can Hardly Breathe].� Student Weekly: What do you plan to do next? Wan: Soloist is my first solo production. I�ll keep working on writing lyrics and creating songs. If anybody asks me to produce their work, I�d be glad to have a go!
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Wan likes girls
with light eyebrows.
Student Weekly: Your first album was Plam Plam with your
AF colleagues Joe and Mine. Why didn�t you continue work with
them?
