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Music Bossa nova babyBy Suwitcha Chaiyong, Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb Lula breaks through with a new sound
Two of the songs featured on the album, �Took Ka Ta Na Rod (A Girl in the Front Seat)� and �Wae La Mai Chauy A Rai (Time Can�t Cure),� have received plenty of airtime on mainstream radio. Back in 2002, Lula went by the name Tookta as one half of the popular duo 2 Become 1. After a few years, she got tired of the pop life and turned her back on the spotlight.
Last year she renamed herself Lula and made her showbiz comeback, singing �Khop Fah (Horizon)� and �Ruek Do Ron (Summer)� on the bossa nova compilation Bossa Blossom 2. Lula�s love of bossa nova developed into a strong desire to introduce the style to Thai listeners. Like her music, the 27-year-old singer is sweet and laid back. She told us about her new name, her bossa nova sound and her work on Urban Lullaby. Student Weekly: Why did you change your name to Lula? Lula: When I say Tookta quickly, it sounds like Lula. The music team for Bossa Blossom 2 also called me Lula, so I decided to use that name for my bossa nova album � it�s like an alias. Student Weekly: Many Thai music fans aren�t familiar with bossa nova. Why did you leave 2 Become 1 and take up this style?
My album�s producer, Ton Sofa, told me to listen to a bossa nova album, and right away I felt that it was what I wanted to sing. Student Weekly: What is it that you like about bossa nova? Lula: The music is laid back, with complex rhythmic patterns. The singer sounds like they�re just having a conversation. It�s very charming. Student Weekly: What�s the difference between singing pop and singing bossa nova? Lula: Bossa nova requires more technique than straight pop. I have to use a lot of air in my voice, which means using more skill and energy. Student Weekly: Why did you name your album Urban Lullaby? Lula: City living is very busy and stressful. We hardly have time to relax.
Student Weekly: Does lullaby mean that you intend to lull listeners to sleep? Lula: Maybe the song �Nite My Love� could do that, but the others are just meant to soothe listeners and make them feel good. Student Weekly: Is it true that you shot a music video in Paris? Lula: We shot all of the music videos in Paris because it�s a big city, like Bangkok. Bossa nova is originally from Brazil, but Urban Lullaby has more of a French style, blended with pop, swing and jazz. Student Weekly: Did you like Paris? Lula: It�s chaos, just like Bangkok. Everybody�s in a rush and nobody cares about anybody else. But I enjoyed seeing the art style known as Art Nouveau. It features really graceful, curvilinear designs.
Lula: He introduced me to the music of French bossa nova artist Clementine, so I asked him to be my producer. He�s great at finding the right balance between being artistic and being commercial. Student Weekly: Are you surprised how well listeners have responded to your bossa nova songs? Lula: No. Our songs are different from standard pop songs, but they�re still catchy. Student Weekly: What are your expectations for the album? Lula: I�d like to just do my best and introduce bossa nova to a new audience. If listeners think that my songs are beautiful, that�s enough for me.
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The Thai music scene is dominated
by light pop, but there are plenty of listeners who are willing to accept
something new. Kanyarat Tiyapornchai (Lula) has just released a bossa nova
album called Urban Lullaby, which has become a big hit on the pop scene.
The
first bossa nova album was 1959�s Chega de Saudade by Brazilian artist Joao
Gilberto.
Lula: I was bored with pop music. Pop can
reach a large audience, but most of the albums sound the same. 
When I listen to bossa nova, it�s like I escape
and loosen up. This album puts listeners in a good mood and helps them
to relax.
Student Weekly: How did you get Ton
Sofa to produce your new album?
