Tol talks

Singer releases a lonely single

By Wasita Cespedes and Tatat Bunnag
Photographs by Varuth Hirunyatheb

Vonthongchai Intarawat (Tol) first became well known when he came second on the 4th season of Academy Fantasia. Now famous as a successful singer, songwriter and actor, the 26-year-old Tol has achieved his childhood dream of becoming a popular all-round entertainer.

After a break from making music, the busy Tol recently released a new single called “Ngao Muen Gun Rue Plao? (Are You Lonely Too?).”

Student Weekly recently caught up with Tol to ask him about his new single and his other showbiz experiences.

Student Weekly: It took you quite a while to release a new single. What have you been doing over the past year?

Tol: It took me a while to come up with ideas for my new music. I wanted to produce songs that were uncomplicated and accessible, but at the same time offer good quality to listeners.

“Are You Lonely Too?” took a long time to finish. The released song is the 12th version we recorded. We put as much detail, sound and emotion into a four-minute song as we could. I put in my best effort so that I wouldn’t have any regrets once it was released.

Student Weekly: Does the song have any particular message?

Tol: It’s about loneliness. The song has a perfect combination of lyrics about solitude and a melody that will remind listeners of past lovers or old feelings. The song is about asking an ex-lover if they ever feel the same way. If the feeling is mutual, it might be possible to get back together and give each other another chance.

Student Weekly: Is it true that you had to learn sign language before shooting the song’s music video?

Tol: Yes, that was a gimmick we used in the video. An instructor taught me some sign language, and I felt like I was in kindergarten all over again. [Laughs.] Esther, the girlfriend in the music video, has to communicate with sign language because she’s mute.

Student Weekly: Most of your songs are about loneliness. What do you do when you feel lonely?

Tol: I like spending time by myself. I rarely go out to parties because I prefer to be by myself, listening to music or writing songs. Music helps me deal with loneliness and personal feelings, which is great because every time I sing, I can really relate to the songs.

Student Weekly: Of all the different types of work you’ve done, what do you enjoy most?

Tol: Definitely singing. I grew up with music and singing competitions. Fans might like my character from a TV series, but once the series is over, the character ends. I’d prefer having fans that listen to what I love to do, which is singing. To me, success is appreciation from my fans. It’s a pleasure to know that my work can touch people’s hearts and make them happy.

Student Weekly: Can you tell us about your experience working on the comedy stage show. Vavoon 2013?

Tol: It was fun. It was based on a true story from when Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Architect was very renowned. I played Dee Nitipong, a songwriter and member of the band Chaleang. He was a playful character. I play the guitar, so the scenes where the character flirts with girls and sings weren’t a problem for me. The difficulty of stage comedies is that they’re live, so we have to be prepared to respond to jokes that aren’t in the script.

Student Weekly: What do you like most about performing in stage shows?

Tol: I love the interaction between the actors and the audience. When I sing at concerts, I see the audience singing along, which is similar to acting on stage. When I work on television shows, I can only see the camera and the production team. I can’t see who my audience is.

Student Weekly: You recently graduated from Ramkhamhaeng University’s Faculty of Law. Why did you decide to study law?

Tol: My main reason was to make my dad proud because he has always wanted me to graduate in law. I dropped out in my second year to work, so it was quite hard when I went back to university. My friends and teachers helped out by reminding me about the tests and class schedules. I tend to be very forgetful! [Laughs.]

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