Ak’s journey

TV star starts to sing

By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb

Good-looking actor Akarat Nimitchai (Ak) has become a familiar face for fans of TV dramas since his debut playing the part of the optimistic guy Pakpoom in the 2012 series, Doksok.

The 28-year-old actor has also appeared in the dramas Buang Waan Wan (Trap from the Past) and Peek Man (Evil’s Wing), and is currently working on a romantic comedy called Narak.

Aside from his acting work, Ak has been busy working on his music career, with his debut single, “Tanon Sen Derm (Long Journey),” featured on the various artist compilation album, Frontage Luggage.

Student Weekly recently met up with Ak at the Frontage music label office. The multi-talented star told us about his first single and his eventful acting career.

Student Weekly: What were you like when you were at school?

Ak: I was interested in math and was in a group that was trained for the International Mathematical Olympiad. I was also a school football player, and a singer in a school band that I formed with my friends.

Student Weekly: Did you always enjoy singing in front of an audience?

Ak: It was always great to hear the audience sing along when I sang, even though I wasn’t performing my own songs.

Student Weekly: How do you feel about having your own single, “Long Journey,” released?

Ak: I feel excited! It was unexpected, but before releasing the single, I had lessons in singing and playing guitar for more than six months.

Student Weekly: Can you tell us about “Long Journey”?

Ak: It’s about the journey of life. We all go through a lot of experiences, and sometimes we think about the something in the past and wish we could go back to that moment. But it’s not a sad song.

Student Weekly: What was it like recording the song?

Ak: It was fine. The producer and songwriter talked to me casually about music until I felt comfortable with them. When I was recording the song, I took my shoes off to help me imagine that I was travelling. The producer made sure that the song was in a good key for me to sing comfortably.

Student Weekly: Why did you decide to audition for the famous TV production company, Exact?

Ak: I’d heard a lot of good comments about Exact. I wasn’t initially interested in acting, but I thought that it might be a good opportunity.

I used to think that acting was a fake thing to do, but I changed my mind when I took acting classes. The acting coach told me to act out different situations. I came up with an imaginary situation where my artist girlfriend had died and I was at her funeral looking at a painting we’d worked on together. I cried so hard, and I’ve enjoyed acting a lot from that moment on.

Student Weekly: After acting in several TV dramas, do you still feel nervous working on a set?

Ak: Yes. There’s always something new to learn. I’ve never worked on two scenes that were the same, and the stories in the dramas are always different. I now have to learn how to act in a romantic comedy series, which is different from my previous melodramas.

Student Weekly: Which character that you’ve played has been your favourite so far?

Ak: I like the playful character Pasit in Evil’s Wing, because it was the first time my character had a girlfriend. [Laughs.] I also like my character in Narak. I play an egotistical prince who graduated from France, and who is also a fashionista. The character is funny like a cartoon character.

Student Weekly: Is it true that you learned how to speak French for the part?

Ak: I learned some basic pronunciation with a student who majored in French at Chulalongkorn University. I also asked her about lifestyles in France and what it’s like there, because I’ve never been to France. I need to create the character’s background so I can convince viewers that the character is realistic.

 

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