Hunz solo

Dancing star hits the big time

By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb

Isariya Patharamanop (Hunz) may not have come first in The Star 8 competition, but the third place winner’s popularity is definitely on the rise.

As an experienced back-up dancer, Hunz stands out onstage with his energetic moves. His singing, which was strongly criticised during the competition, has since improved dramatically.

With his captivating performances and solid fan base, Hunz managed to recently win music awards at both the Seed Awards and the Gmember Awards, where he won prizes for artist to watch and best group for his album Live2Dance, which he made with Grand Panwarot The Star 5.

Student Weekly recently caught up with Hunz at the Exact office, where the friendly singer told us about his increasingly busy showbiz life.

Student Weekly: What was the most difficult thing about working as a back-up dancer?

Hunz: Having to deal with unexpected circumstances. When I was a dancer at Bird Thongchai’s concert, there was a 30 minute medley and every dancer was exhausted. It was tough because we were responsible for entertaining the audience, so we couldn’t show that we were tired.

Student Weekly: How did you feel when performing at the Live 2 Dance Concert as a profession singer for the first time?

Hunz: I was very excited because I didn’t expect to see such a big audience. I practised so hard to prepare for the concert. I was worn out during the last song, but seeing everybody smile and jump along with me was such a beautiful moment. I’d dreamed about that since I was a back-up dancer. I was overwhelmed to see my dream come true.

Student Weekly: How did you feel about signing a lot of cover songs on your album?

Hunz: It was challenging. Covering a song in your own style isn’t easy.

Student Weekly: How did you improve your singing skills?

Hunz: I had singing training. Making an album is similar to taking an exam. I did my best to develop my singing style. My weaknesses are singing techniques and improvising, so I try to focus on entertaining the audience.

Student Weekly: Can you tell us about the ballad “Pa Wa Wang Pao (State of Emptiness),” which you wrote from your own experience?

Hunz: I think everybody has experienced having a broken heart. During lonely days, we might think of our ex-girlfriends and what happened in the past, knowing that we can’t return to how it was before. It took me about five days to finish the song.

Student Weekly: Was working on a ballad different from recording a dance song?

Hunz: It was a lot different. I worked in the studio for several days, because sometimes I concentrated so much on signing techniques that my vocals lacked emotion. Good singing requires the ability to express feelings as well as great technique.

Student Weekly: Is it true that you rode a bicycle all the way to Bang Pa-In?

Hunz: Yes. I like exercise, and riding allows me to exercise alone late at night, which suits my schedule.

Sometimes I ride with a group, and once we rode to Bang Pa-In. I was very fatigued when we arrived and I thought about catching a bus home. But one of the other riders told me that riding was about exercising the mind as much as the body, which encouraged me to keep riding.

Student Weekly: Do you have any advice for readers who are interested in dancing?

Hunz: Open up your mind and learn different dance moves, even if you don’t like them. I didn’t like jazz dance, but I later found it very useful to know. Take notice of every tip and technique that you come across, and eventually you’ll become a good dancer.

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