Teen singer releases a love song
By Tatat Bunnag
Photographs by Varuth Hirunyatheb
and courtesy of BEC-Tero Music
Did you know
Grace’s older brother is actor Ratchanont Guy Suprakob.
Anybody who has saw the last season of the hit television show Thailand’s Got Talent will surely remember 18-year-old Riya Suprakob (Grace), one of the show’s semi-finalists. Grace greatly impressed the judges on the show with her unique voice, her self-effacing natural charm and her beautiful cover of Adele’s hit song, “Chasing Pavements.”
Grace is now embarking on a singing career after signing a recording deal with BEC-Tero Music under the name Grace Riya. Her debut single, “Rak Amata (Immortal Love),” is a catchy pop dance tune about the power of love.
Student Weekly recently caught up with the young singer to talk about Thailand’s Got Talent, her new song and her burgeoning career in entertainment.
Student Weekly: Can you tell us about your new single, “Immortal Love”?
Grace: It’s my first single. “Immortal Love” has a funky rhythm that makes you want to dance. The song is about the power of teenage love. The first time you experience love and affection for somebody, everything seems so new and exciting.
Student Weekly: What did you do before becoming a singer with BEC-Tero Music?
Grace: I love singing. I’ve wanted to be singer since I was 5 years old. I grew up in California, and I always took part in school talent shows. I had some singing lessons when I moved back to Thailand a few years ago. I later decided to sign up for Thailand’s Got Talent, and the rest is history!
Student Weekly: There were so many talent TV talent shows at the time — why did you decide to go for Thailand’s Got Talent?
Grace: I didn’t audition for shows like Academy Fantasia and The Star, because I wouldn’t feel comfortable being on a reality show where you have to live in a house with other people all the time. [Laughs.] I like The Voice a lot, but at the time I didn’t know that The Voice would be coming to Thailand.
Student Weekly: What was your experience on the show like?
Grace: It was fun, but much more challenging than I expected. We practiced very hard every day before each performance on the show. It was awesome to make it into the semi-finals. I was extremely grateful to all those who voted for me.
Student Weekly: Who are your personal favourite bands or artists to listen to?
Grace: I enjoy listening to rock bands like Green Day, The Killers, Thirty Seconds to Mars and My Chemical Romance. But my musical idols are pop singers like Britney Spears, Beyoncé and Jessie J.
Student Weekly: If you weren’t singing, what would you want to be doing?
Grace: I’m studying psychology, but I still have no idea what to do when I graduate. [Laughs.] I love animals, so one of my dreams is to one day open a shelter for stray or unwanted animals.
Student Weekly: Is there anything else you’d like to say?
Grace: I’m excited about my new song, “Immortal Love,” and about performing it live to audiences. I’m very thrilled to be working as a singer. This is the highlight of my life so far, and I plan to do my best.
Vocabulary
- self-effacing (adj): not wanting to attract attention to yourself or your abilities
charm (n): the power of pleasing or attracting other people
embark on (phrasal v): to start to do something new or difficult
burgeoning (adj): growing and developing quickly
affection (n): the feeling of liking or loving somebody very much and caring for them
challenging (adj): difficult in an interesting way that tests your ability
awesome (adj): very good, impressive, etc.
psychology (n): the scientific study of the mind and how it influences behaviour
shelter (n): a building, usually owned by a charity, that provides a place to stay for people without a home, or protection for people or animals that have been badly treated
highlight (n): the best, most exciting or most interesting part of something
