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[W]aab [S]ite >> Music
"You can do anything you want as long as you have a balance."
"I had no dream," admitted Suradej "Joey" Tuptimsai, the oldest member of Thai pop
band, Bazoo, when asked about his childhood ambition. "All that mattered was
survival." After the divorce of his American father and Thai mother when he was six,
Joey lived with his grandmother in the northern province of Udon Thani. "My parents
had their own families and I didn't want to intrude on them," he said. "I did anything
and everything for money." At sixteen he started singing in hotels and restaurants as
a means of survival. Eventually he became part of a band called City Beat that
released an album which did not do very well. He then joined an American band, 911,
and was singing for two bands every night. "I would work for one band from six in the
evening to maybe eleven, and then with the other band until two in the morning."
Soon he was forced to choose between the two bands, as devoting time for
rehearsals had become difficult. "City Beat had another singer already and 911 didn't.
So I chose 911."
Joey stayed with 911 for five years, during which they headed off to Taiwan where
they had a one-year contract, and then the band travelled and played in Asian
countries, such as Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. They also played in Holland
and in the United States of America in cities that included Atlanta and Philadelphia.
Burma was their last stop before the band decided to take a break from each other
and reconvene in a few months. "I had to do something during the time off so I
started a small singing school. I had about ten students. I love to teach," he said. "I
love to share with others what I've learnt. They don't even have to pay me. Everybody
can sing, but to be good at it you have to understand the music and the emotions. Singing is an art. It is deep and from
the soul." At the same time, Joey was contacted by a producer of RS Promotion who requested his help for Ruangsak
"James" Loychusak's album, Siren Love. I wrote and sang six of the songs on that album and they wanted me to go on
concert with him, but at that time 911 had a contract to play in Indonesia at the Grand Hyatt so I had to decline." As
fate would have it, they disbanded after three months.
Unemployed once again, Joey would open for bands and jam with City Beat to make
money. He got in touch with the producer at RS Promotion again. "The producer told me
I had called at the perfect time because they were planning a huge project, some
dance stuff. At first they wanted a pair of singers, one male and female, but after
listening to the songs, I decided three would be a better balance. You have to take into
account Thai culture too." Auditions were opened and Deborah "Debbie" See and
Akeprapant "Gompan" Panidpong joined Joey to form Bazoo. "Debbie's friend was a
student of mine and I knew Gompan from when I was singing." As for the energetic
dancing that is the band's signature, Joey shared that although he never danced with
City Beat, 911 had some very good routines and they danced very hard. Bazoo's dance steps begin from their own
ideas, which are then offered to choreographer Piraphan. "He decides which steps work and which don't." That was two
years ago, and six months later the band released their first self-titled album. "We combine Thai instruments with dance
and techno music. Unlike other singers of RS who are bound by contracts to release an album every one or two years,
Bazoo's concept is variety. We release an album whenever we feel like it. If we have the time and an idea, we just do
it." Bazoo have recently signed with Rock Records in Taiwan and released an album with nine Thai songs and two
Chinese songs. "Some artists want international fame, but I see it as an exchange of music and culture." Joey speaks
fluent Thai and English, some Chinese, Indonesian, and other Asian languages, all of which he taught himself. "When
you open up to their culture, they open up to you. By speaking in their language, you can say what you want to say and
know that they will understand." When questioned about his fame, he commented, "If you keep striving to be more and
more, one day you_re going to end up being hopeless. Be good and maintain that quality, and know when enough is
enough." Joey claims to be very happy where he is right now.
Currently, at thirty-two, he is a second year student of business at university.
"It's never too late to study and since I am dealing in business, I want to know
more about it. When I stop singing, I have to be able to do something." He
added that after fulfilling his responsibilities with Rock Records and RS
Promotion, he will resign as member of Bazoo. "I'm too old to keep dancing like
this," he laughed. He has also informally restarted his music company,
International Music Consulting. His company deals with everything related to
music, from lessons on the piano to making a demo tapes. "Singing isn't hard if
someone teaches you the correct techniques. Schools charge a lot of money
and take a year or two to teach you to sing. It shouldn't take more than six
months if you're doing it right."
"I think the most important thing in my life is warmth and family. Everyone
wants to be close to someone. When I'm singing to my audience, I can close
my eyes and know that we share the same feelings. That's warmth." He goes on to say that it doesn't matter whether
the songs he sings are slow or fast. He prefers being able to just sing to his fullest ability and not hold back, whether
it's a happy dance tune or a sad ballad, as he loves to fully express the emotions behind each song. Waking up every
day, Joey reminds himself of balance. "You can do anything you want as long as you have a balance. Don't aim for too
much, but don't be lazy either." As we concluded the interview, he added jokingly, "I have a sign on my ceiling that says
"Get to work!" Sometimes after days of dancing, your body aches and you don't want to do anything. Then I have to tell
myself to get up and get going."
--Taken from Guide of Bangkok
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