Numbers up

Top trio has room to move

By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb

After releasing their debut ballad, “Nuang (Somewhat Worried),” written by Boyd Kosiyabong, YouTube stars Room 39 rocketed to stardom. As the song ruled music charts around the kingdom, the trio — 31-year-old guitarist Olran Chujai (Wanyai), 29-year-old singer Chutimon Vitchitrisadee (Mon) and 24-year-old singer Isara Kitnitchee (Tom) — became one of the most sought after live acts in the country.

However, the group’s second single, “Ra Bai Choei Choei (Just Get off My Chest),” with its sarcastic lyrics about a girlfriend who is addicted to social networking and her smart phone, didn’t get such a great response.

More recently, Room 39 were back on track with their sweet song, “Chan Tong Koo Kab Thoe (I Am Your Match).” Amazingly, the video for the song attracted more than 2 million views on YouTube in just one month.

Student Weekly recently met up with Room 39 at a radio station to chat with the laid-back trio about their new single and their live performances.

Student Weekly: What’s the main idea behind “I Am Your Match”?

Wanyai: Our fans like the songs that Mon and Tom sing together. We also thought that we should have a happy song. “I Am Your Match” is an adorable song about two different things that pair together. Aui Buddha Bless did a great rap part for the track, too. We like his playful words.

Student Weekly: Was it a difficult song to record?

Mon: We usually sing our parts in separate studios. But to suit the mood of this song, producer Kai Suthee let me and Tom sing together in the same studio. It worked out well.

Student Weekly: How would you describe your live performances?

Wanyai: We don’t have specific format. We sing a lot of cover songs, so we generally please the audience by playing whatever they want to hear. We also have our own custom — we like to take pictures with the fans at our gigs.

Student Weekly: When did you start doing that?

Wanyai: At our second Fat Festival performance. I wondered whether my mother believed that I had a following, so I decided to take pictures with my fans. I also posted the pictures on our band page as a way of thanking our fans. After that, we started taking photos at every gig.

Student Weekly: What do you do when you’re not in a good mood before a live performance?

Mon: Whenever I get up on stage, my mood changes. Even if I was grumpy before the gig, I always feel good after performing. We’re always happy to see our fans.

Tom: I keep my personnel life separate form my work.

Student Weekly: Can you talk about the misunderstanding that some people have had about Room 39?

Wanyai: Some people don’t believe that the LOVEiS label discovered us from our YouTube videos. They think that the label made the videos from the beginning, but it’s not true. When people say things like that, it might make kids think that they can’t achieve their dreams because it makes our success look fake.

Student Weekly: What do you guys miss the most about Los Angeles, since you lived there for several years?

Tom: Almost everything. My parents are still there. Driving in Bangkok is stressful and we have to always leave early to get to appointments on time. But LA has a good public transport system.

Mon: I miss some types of food and the customer service there. Sales staff in LA always treat customers nicely.

Wanyai: Customers in the US have laws to protect them from unfair treatment, and the merchandise there is usually good quality. But I’m happy to stay in Thailand because this is my home.

Student Weekly: Can you tell us about your next single?

Wanyai: It’s a song called “Rak Krai Mai Dai Ik [Can’t Love Somebody Else].” It’s about unrequited love and about feeling happy to secretly fall in love with somebody, even when there’s not much hope.

 

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