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Music
Two timing
By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Songmakers make their mark
Last year was a big one
for songwriters Sarun Wongnoi (Mac), 29, and Jirawat Tantranont (Ping), 33. The
dynamic duo wrote and produced a pop project called Love Maker by am:pm.
Featuring guest artists like Jennifer Kim, Dunk Punkorn and Ford Sobchai, the
album received high praise from music fans and critics alike.
Mac and Ping first struck gold with the 2004 hit, "Jao Chai Ni Tra (Sleeping Prince)," written for ETC's self-titled debut album. For their work with ETC, the guys came up with the pseudonyms am (Mac) and pm (Ping).
Following the success of Love Maker by am:pm, the duo were given the green light to create the follow-up album, Love Maker II by am:pm. This time the guest stars include Tattoo Colour, Lipta and Jugg Chawin. The album single, "Tang Chee Wit (My Whole Life)," is a stunning duet between former Crescendo vocalist Bee Peerapat and R&B princess Lydia Sarunrat.
Student Weekly recently met up with Mac and Ping to ask them about their musical lives and their songwriting inspirations.
• Did you know • |
 Mac wrote Am Fine's hit
song "Ma Rak Tham Mai Thon Nee (Why Do You Love Me Now?)." |
STUDENT WEEKLY: When did you guys write your first songs?
PING: When I was 14 years old. It was just a joke for my friends � I changed lyrics of a popular song to make it funny.
MAC: When I was a member of the band A cappella 7 in 2001, the band leader told everybody to try and write a song.
STUDENT WEEKLY: What inspires you to write?
PING: Several things. Inspiration can come from a conversation with a friend, or some come from your imagination. Mac's imaginary heartbreak always sounds real. [Laughs.]
MAC: I just use my imagination. I also get inspired by reading and watching movies.
STUDENT WEEKLY: Has anything
particularly unusual ever inspired you to write a song?
PING: ETC's romantic track "Jao Chai Ni Tra [Sleeping Prince]" was written when I was working alone and saw that everybody else was asleep. I was being a bit sarcastic about the fact that nobody woke up to help me write the song!
STUDENT WEEKLY: Which song are you most proud of?
MAC: "Thoe Kue Krai [Who Are You?]," by ETC. That song was a turning point, because we'd finally developed our own style. We found a unique formula for creating melodies and lyrics.
STUDENT WEEKLY: Do you guys ever fight when you're writing together?
MAC: Often. Fortunately, we like similar types of music. We always manage to talk things out.
STUDENT WEEKLY: What's the biggest challenge that you face as songwriters?
PING: Time is limited. Songwriting is an artistic activity, so you can't really do it like a routine job.
MAC: We're better at dealing with limited time these days. A senior songwriter suggested that we practise writing a song every day to improve and to make the process easier.
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STUDENT WEEKLY: Do you have any advice for rookie songwriters?
PING: Be observant. Try to find an unusual perspective to bring into the song.
MAC: Listen to the work of veteran songwriters. I develop my lyrics by listening to lots of different songs. Reading and watching movies can also help.
Whenever you get inspired, just write it down. And don't be shy about letting your friends hear your songs!
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dynamic (adj): forceful, and having a lot of energy praise (n): words that show approval of or admiration for something pseudonym (n): a name used by somebody, especially a writer, instead of their real name green light (n): permission for a project, etc. to start or continue stunning (adj): extremely attractive or impressive inspiration (n): something that is the reason why somebody creates or does something sarcastic (adj): expressing sarcasm by using words that are the opposite of what you mean in order to make fun of somebody or something turning point (n): the time when an important change takes place, usually with the result that a situation improves talk something out (phrasal v): to discuss something in order to make a decision, solve a problem, etc. rookie (n): a person who is new to an activity and has little experience observant (adj): good at noticing things around you perspective (n): a way of thinking about something veteran (n): a person who has a lot of experience in a particular area or activity IDIOM |
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