A and Poy start a phenomenon
By Tatat Bunnag, photographs by Varuth Hiranyatheb and courtesy of Mono Music
After performing hundreds of cover songs over the past few years, acoustic pop duo A-Poy decided to take a big step and release their first original single, “Pra Got Garn (Phenomenon).”
The duo — 28-year-old guitarist Phadha Yangyongyuen (A) and 30-year-old singer Takoon Ruangvut (Poy) — got over 200,000 followers on their YouTube channel for their covers of everything from Boyd Kosiyabong, Lula and Stamp to Justin Bieber and Jason Mraz. A-Poy eventually turned that popularity into a record deal with Mono Music, who produced and released “Phenomenon,” an acoustic pop tune about the beauty of falling in love.
Student Weekly recently caught up with A-Poy to talk about their music and recent experience filming a music video in Japan.
Student Weekly: When did you first meet?
Poy: I met A a couple of years ago when my band had just broken up. I learned that he had his own YouTube channel, and I thought it would be fun to join in.
A: I uploaded videos of me playing covers songs from many popular artists. Each song featured a different guest singer, and Poy was one of them. The people from Mono Music liked a clip of us performing together, and that was how A-Poy got started.
Student Weekly: What’s the story behind “Phenomenon”?
A: It’s a simple radio-friendly love song about a feeling you get when you’re with that special person.
Student Weekly: The music video of “Phenomenon” was shot in Japan. Can you tell us more about the video?
A: Mono Music thought the beautiful scenery of Japan would go well with the song. We flew to Japan for a couple of days at the end of last year.
Poy: The video is an 8-minute short film. It’s a love story between a Japanese girl and a Thai tourist. We also got to work with the beautiful Japanese actress and model Haruka Kamamura.
Student Weekly: After tackling many different genres on your channel, why did you choose acoustic pop for A-Poy?
A: I enjoy playing all kinds of music, but when we perform together, acoustic pop works best.
Poy: I was in rock bands and used to cover Big Ass, Silly Fools and Bodyslam, but my roots have always been in pop music. When I met A, everything seemed to click.
Student Weekly: Is it easier to write original songs or cover other people’s music?
A: I think they’re pretty much the same. Every time I cover a song, I do it in my own style and try not to copy the original too much. So when I write songs for myself I use the same method. Everything just comes out naturally.
Student Weekly: How is transition from being YouTube celebrities to doing original music?
Poy: There are definitely lots of challenges.
A: The great thing has been that the fans have embraced us and that's been incredible. All we did was covers, but as soon as “Phenomenon” came out, the fans were completely on board.
Student Weekly: What’s next for A-Poy?
A: We’re currently on a tour of high schools to promote “Phenomenon.” We’ve finished recording the demo for our next single. We promise that our fans will get to hear it as soon as it’s done!
Vocabulary
phenomenon (n): a person or thing that is very successful or impressive
scenery (n): the natural features of an area, such as mountains, valleys, rivers and forests
tackle (v): to make a determined effort to deal with something
click (v): to work well together
transition (n): the process or a period of changing from one thing to another
embrace (v): to accept an idea, especially when it is done with enthusiasm
Idiom
on board: to accept and understand an idea
