Kamikaze cuties

Talented teens train for showbiz

By Tatat Bunnag
Photographs by Varuth Hiranyatheb

Kamikaze is undoubtedly one of the most successful music labels in the current local pop scene. For almost a decade the label has been successful at launching the careers of many teen pop performers including Four-Mod, Faye Fang Keaw, Neko Jump, Knomjean and Waii.

As Kamikaze enters its ninth year in the music business, the label is ready to introduce Kamikaze Next, a group of 18 new singers who have been working as intern artists with the label. All of these young performers have been trained by Kamikaze in singing, dancing and acting in order to prepare them for teen idol fame.

Student Weekly recently met up with three of the Kamikaze Next singers — Chatsuda Lorniti (Creamy), 14, Naerunchara Lertprasert (Neko), 18, and Thiticha Sombatpiboon (Angie), 13 — at RS headquarters. The girls told us about their training experiences and the music they will soon be releasing.

Student Weekly: Can you tell us about yourselves and about some of work you have done so far?

Angie: I’m one of the new artists with the Kamikaze label, and my first single will soon be released. Until then, you can hear me and other new Kamikaze singers on the single, “Kla Mai (NEXT).”

Neko: I’ve been a Kamikaze trainee for a few years already. So far, I’ve done some modelling and some acting in a few TV dramas and films.

Creamy: Since I’ve been working with the label, I've had the opportunity to act in a few music videos for Kamikaze artists including “Shout” by V.R.P and “Just One Word” by Third.

Student Weekly: How did you sign with Kamikaze in the first place?

Angie: I went to an RS concert a few years back, and I had a chance to meet Mam Patcharida, who is a senior director at RS. She told me that Kamikaze is looking for new artists and invited me to audition for the label. That was two years ago.

Neko: I had a role in a movie called Saming a few years ago, and it caught the attention of somebody at the label. I told them that I love to sing, and they invited me to join the label. I started around the same time as Angie.

Creamy: I was part of RSATP, a project that trained teenagers who want to work in show business. I learned singing and acting there for a while before auditioning for Kamikaze.

Student Weekly: What has your experience working as trainees at Kamikaze been like so far?

Neko: It doesn’t feel like school at all. It’s more like home to us. Apart from singing and acting, they teach us how to talk, how to walk and even how to have good manners.

Creamy: It feels like a family because we've been together for years.

Student Weekly: Which part of the training do you enjoy the most?

Neko: I love acting classes the most. Acting is something new for me, and I find it quite challenging. I enjoy trying to understand the characters we have to play, and expressing feelings from inside. I think the acting classes also help me to sing better.

Angie: I love dancing. I enjoy being with my friends, and it’s one of the classes where we can all work together. It’s fun to dance with friends.

Creamy: I enjoy all the classes! [Laughs.]

Student Weekly: Have you ever felt discouraged during training?

Angie: Sometimes. We study quite hard, and there are tests every month or two. It can be very stressful.

Neko: When I first started training, I had trouble managing my time. I had to go to school, work on films and TV dramas, and train at Kamikaze all at the same time. But Angie has been a good friend and she helped me get through that difficult period.

Creamy: My experience was different from the other girls. I was quite chubby when I started and that put me under a lot of pressure because the other girls were pretty and had good figures. I had to work harder than everybody else.

Student Weekly: What kind of music are we going to hear from you in the future?

Angie: I’ll be the first one to release a single. It will be a pop song with hip-hop beats. I’m really into hip-hop, and I’m also going to rap on the song.

Neko: We will be releasing some music soon as well. It will either be a group or solo songs, but it’s a secret for now! [Laughs.]

Student Weekly: Who are some of your favourite artists?

Angie: I like K-pop music. I like Big Bang, and I’m also a huge fan of the singer CL. I think she's the coolest, and her group 2NE1 is amazing.

Neko: I listen to a lot of local artists, especially Faye Fang Kaew and Waii.

Creamy: I love pop and R&B. My favourite singers are Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande.

 

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