Music

Nonstop style

By Ubonwan Pongpat, Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb

Four and Mod Thai up Japan

Twenty-one-year-old Sakonratt Worn-aurai (Four) and 16-year-old Chutimon Chairat (Mod) are currently at the top of Thailand�s girl-group heap. Since they made their debut two years ago, Four-Mod have been popping up everywhere � on TV, in the papers, on posters and on the radio.

Their bubblegum pop songs are popular in pubs and clubs, encouraging enthusiastic party-goers to get up and dance. The girls are keeping that energy going with their new album, Wooo!, and a hectic, non-stop schedule.

• Did you know •

Gothic Lolita, Japanese street fashion inspired by Victorian-era children�s clothing, got its start in the �70s but didn�t gain popular attention in the media until the late �90s.

Exhausted from long working hours without enough rest, Four and Mod took a break to chat with Student Weekly. The pair told us about their new album, their dramatically changed looks and what it�s like working in Japan.

Student Weekly: You look a lot different than you did for your last album. Your makeover and your shiny red lipstick seem to be the talk of the town. What�s with the new look?

♦ Four: The whole red lipstick thing is just temporary. We wore red lipstick only when we took promo shots and for the cover photos. When we do shows we wear our usual bright makeup.

Student Weekly: What have your fans had to say about your new look?

♦ Four: Some like it, some don�t. Those who like us being lovely and bright say it�s too much, too fashionable. While those who aren�t stuck on our previous image say it�s cool and chic.

♦ Mod: Most of them like it, though.

♦ Four: This time, the music is more edgy and lively. We can�t dress the way we used to.

♦ Mod: One more thing: We�re now with Kamikaze, so we have to be very fashionable to fit that label�s concept.

Student Weekly: So what are your true colours? Are you girly or sexy?

♦ Four: Not girly or sexy. I�m naughty and cheerful.

♦ Mod: I�m just like her.

Student Weekly: What are the biggest problems you girls are facing right now?

♦ Mod: My problem is that I�m fatter. I gained two kilos recently. I ate a lot during the summer.

♦ Four: I need to gain a little more weight so that we�re more equal.

Student Weekly: Your debut single �Dek Mee Pun Ha [Problem Child]� is about you guys not being able to find boyfriends. Is that true in real life?

♦ Four: It�s just like in the song. I�m too busy. I don�t have time to take care of anyone. Guys don�t like that kind of girl.

♦ Mod: I admit that boys have hit on me. But I�m not ready to think about love right now.

Student Weekly: Four, what about the rumour that you and Chain from Nice 2 Meet U have been seeing each other?

♦ Four: We�re just friends. Seriously, I�m not looking for love right now. I believe that love comes when the time is right.

Student Weekly: Why did you choose Japan as the location to shoot your album photos and your newest music video?

♦ Four: Because of our outfits, which are so colourful and Japanese-like. Where else would have been better than Japan?

♦ Mod: We had a lot of obstacles. The weather was so cold, and it was raining and windy. Our schedule was really tight. We had three days to shoot five songs � one for the video and four for the karaoke VCD.

Student Weekly: Did you have any onlookers?

♦ Four: We wanted onlookers, actually. We were shooting in the middle of Harajuku, one of the busiest areas in Japan. It was kind of funny. People were pretty bewildered about what we were doing. We were dancing like lunatics in the junction. When the traffic light turned green, we had to run away. When it turned red again, we went back to dance, and so on.

Student Weekly: Four has been an actress for a quite a while. What about you, Mod? Have you ever considered a career in acting?

♦ Mod: I�d love to. It would be a new experience that I�ve never tried. Let�s see if I can make it.

Student Weekly: Have you thought about modelling?

♦ Mod: Modelling must be fun. If I have the opportunity, I�ll definitely do it.

Student Weekly: Four, you�ve done a lot of things � singing, acting and hosting. Is there anything else you�d like to do?

♦ Four: I wanna try VJing or DJing. I like listening to the radio. Some DJs can make me laugh just with their voices. I believe I can do it. I�m talkative and funny.

Student Weekly: You�ve been busy for months and months. What would you like to do when you finally you have some time off?

♦ Mod: I�d like stay home and get ample sleep, which I haven�t had recently. I�ve worked every day nonstop � like a machine.

♦ Four: Sleep and shopping. I haven�t gone shopping in a very long time.

	hectic (adj): very busy; full of activity makeover (n): the process of improving the appearance of a person or a place chic (adj): very fashionable and elegant hit on (phrasal v): to start talking to somebody to show them that you are attracted to them obstacle (n): a situation, an event, etc. that makes it difficult for you to do or achieve something onlooker (n): a person who watches something that is happening but is not involved in it bewildered (adj): confused lunatic (n): a person who does crazy things that are often dangerous ample (adj): enough or more than enough Idioms at the top of the heap: high up in the structure of an organisation or a society your true colours: your real character, rather than the one that you usually allow other people to see and so on: used at the end of a list to show that it continues in the same way