Emotional illusion

Aof sings his heart out

By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb

After coming third in the Academy Fantasia competition and notching up a decade of experience in the music business, Pongsak Rattanaphong (Aof) has established himself as masterful ballad singer. With five albums and several hit ballads under his belt, the 28-year-old singer is now one of Thailand’s big-name entertainers.

Aof recently released his latest album, Illusion of Love, with strong backing from the label GMM A. The album features the chart-topping singles “Khong Tai (Doormat),” “Rueng Jing Ying Kwa Niyai (Reality Is More Dramatic than a Novel)” and “Kwam Jeb Young Kong Hai Jai (Pain Hasn’t Gone Away Yet).”

Student Weekly recently met up with Aof at the GMM A office. Aof was just as friendly and laid-back as ever as he told us about his new album and about singing sad songs.

Student Weekly: How is Illusion of Love different from your previous albums?

Aof: This album presents a new me. I worked with different producers, including Mind’s Pae and Moo Muzu. To me, the album is like a man who experiences many different emotions.

Student Weekly: Do all the tracks have the same quality as the three chart-topping singles released so far?

Aof: Yes. We plan to release and promote every track and we expect listeners to like all the songs. My fans will have an opportunity to listen to every song before deciding if they want to buy the album.

Student Weekly: Were any of the producers you worked with different from what you expected?

Aof: Yes, Moo Muzu. I knew him from his simple songs, and his appearance makes him seem kind. But surprisingly he was very strict and serious in the studio. We discussed the song a lot so that he could make me understand his interpretation of it. I also learned a lot of new singing techniques from him.

Student Weekly: Is there a particular reason why the video for “Reality Is More Dramatic than a Novel” has Chinese subtitles?

Aof: My previous hit, “Tang Khang Lang Taloo Tueng Huajai [Stabbing in the Back and Through the Heart]” was released in Chinese language for the soundtrack of a Taiwanese TV drama starring Chin Chinawut. So there are Chinese listeners who know my music. But aside from Chinese, the video also has English and Japanese subtitles.

Student Weekly: Why did you decide to release a physical album when sales of CDs keep declining?

Aof: Releasing an album is a way of supporting the crew who work on my songs, so that they can receive some income. My main income comes from live performances, but my crew can’t make money from that.

Student Weekly: Have you ever performed at events where you had to deal with unexpected circumstances?

Aof: Chinese banquets, where there are a lot of things to distract the audience, like food and friends. I usually try to make them feel comfortable by telling some jokes. If that doesn’t work, I just try to impress them with my singing.

Student Weekly: How did your 2011 tour of the US go?

Aof: I went with just a one-man crew. I had to handle everything myself, including discussing with American sound engineers about how to play my music at the events, which was pretty hard because there were a lot of technical terms. But the performances were fun. I performed for Thai crowds who were excited by everything I did.

Student Weekly: Do you have any advice for readers who would like to know how to sing sad songs with lots of emotion?

Aof: You just have to sing your heart out. To make the audiences feel emotional, you need to understand and feel the pain of the song so that you can express it with your singing.

Student Weekly: What are your future goals for your music career?

Aof: I don’t expect to be famous. I’m fine as long as there are producers who want to work with me and listeners who support me. I’d just like to stay in the music business for as long as possible.

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