Music

Boys Next Door

In the midst of massive success, I-Nam win hearts with their down-to-earth music and easy-going outlook on life

By Suwitcha Chaiyong, Photographs courtesy of  Melodiga

Did You Know : Fluke plays a beach volleyball player in the new comedy movie Match Point alongside Sara Malakul Lane.

Bass Guitarist Kob

Guitarist Fak

Drummer Mai

Guitarist Air

Vocalist Fluke

With the current No. 1 song on the music charts, a hit follow-up album and the attention of music fans across the country, life isn�t just heating up for I-Nam � in fact, it�s absolutely steaming.

The five lads from Buri Ram � vocalist Jittrakorn Boonsorn (Fluke),19, guitarist Kasit Ponlawan (Air), 20, bass guitarist Udomchai Boonpromon (Kob),20, guitarist Metha Pilerd (Fak), 20, and drummer Mai Sukadecha (Mai), 20 � are the current darlings of Thailand�s music industry.

I-Nam released their first album, I-Nam, two years ago and the track �Thee Nueng Mai Wai (Can�t Be Number One)� spent considerable time on the charts. Their latest track, �Rak Khon Mee Chaokong (Love the Unavailable)� from the album of the same name, is currently sitting on top of the music charts.

But with all of the success and time in the spotlight, the guys from I-Nam still maintain their image as the boys next door. All still find a comfortable T-shirt far more fitting than the latest trends, and the guys aren�t above riding the bus around town.

Student Weekly recently sat down with I-Nam for an interview, and the guys� personalities are exactly like their music � straightforward and down-to-earth. The fan favourite Fluke took the lead through most of the interview, answering almost every question. Mai added an occasional comment, while the rest of the guys simply nodded in agreement or laughed along with their band-mates. Here�s what they had to say: 

Student Weekly: Your single �Rak Khon Mee Chaokong� is a huge hit. In real life, have any of you ever fallen for a girl who is unavailable?

Fluke: I�m sure everyone has had the same experience, whether you�re a member of I-Nam or one of our fans. It happens because you don�t know that the girl has a boyfriend. Sure we like her, but we would never try to steal anyone�s girlfriend.

Student Weekly: There is an interesting dance move in the �Rak Khon Mee ChaoKong� music video that many viewers recognise and like very much. Who came up with it?

Fluke: Actually, it was just a funny move that we came up with together. A fan asked me whether they had to dance like that at our concerts � not at all. You can dance any way you want so long as you�re having fun.

Student Weekly: I-Nam are known to fans as a friendly and easygoing band. When fans approach you and you�re in a bad mood or having a rough day, what do you do?

Fak: If we�re really tired, we just tell them directly how we feel. Our die-hard fans usually buy us energy drinks when they notice we are tired. We never lose our tempers with our fans. It wouldn�t be fair to them since they didn�t do anything wrong.

Student Weekly: Because you guys are so down-to-earth, some people criticise you by saying you�re unfashionable. What do you think about comments like that?

Fluke: We agree. We aren�t trendy at all. We dress casually and we still wear free T-shirts. 

Mai: I personally don�t like brand name clothes. I don�t feel good wearing the same thing as so many other people.

Student Weekly: So where do you buy your clothes then?

Mai: I always buy second hand clothes from Khao San, Saphan Bud and Chatuchak. Before wearing them, I wash them with hot water. 

Student Weekly: You guys toured around the Kingdom for two years promoting your first album. What was the most impressive place?

Mai: In Ubon Ratchathani there was a big tree in the middle of the concert area. I was joking that if there was no tree, more people could watch the concert. I didn�t mean it seriously, but after that, someone told me that the tree was cut down. I�m so sorry about it.

Student Weekly: Last question. None of you has a girlfriend. So why don�t you tell us what kind of girl you would absolutely not date.

Fluke: I can�t stand spoiled girls and girls who would dishonour me.

Air: I dislike selfish girls and girls who don�t care about others.

Fak: I don�t like girls who aren�t sociable   and who aren�t  well adjusted.

Kob: I�m not interested in material girls and anyone who comes to me just because I�m a celebrity.

Mai: I hate girls who always like to follow me around. I sometimes need my own privacy.

Vocabulary

darling (n): in this use, a person who is especially liked and very popular
straightforward (adj): honest and open; not trying to deceive somebody or hide something
down-to-earth (adj): sensible and practical
approach (v): to come near to somebody in distance
temper (n): a short period of feeling very angry
well adjusted (adj): (of a person) able to deal with people, problems and life in general in a normal, sensible way