Bangkok Jungle

JUNGLE EXCLUSIVE: Mint – A Breath of Fresh Air November 21, 2009

Mint is Back – Fresh and Ready…
An Exclusive Jungle Interview!

She was, and still is a sweetheart of the Thai people but her once devoted audience – mainly girls of her own generation and lots of love-struck guys – may have felt a little cheated when she disappeared ‘off the radar’ to study abroad in London nearly a decade ago. She re-appeared briefly and ‘vanished’ again but now she’s back in the spotlight with her sights once again fixed firmly on a music career. A new record deal with Sony-BMG is giving her  fresh impetus and her fans the chance to see and hear her once again and delight in her unique voice and sweet personality – the girl-next-door with a story we can all identify with. We caught up with Mint between recording sessions and asked her if she was really back!

How do you feel about such a reaction or reality among your fans?

It is understandable and I can only hope that my fans understand the choices I make in life. It is undeniable that singing is my passion… it is something that I love doing… singing is where I am at my happiest for as long as I can remember. But there are also other things that one must pursue in life, such as finishing my studies, that’s why I went to London. Only people in my family and those who are close to me know that it was not easy juggling career and studies back then. One is what I love to do; the other is what I needed to do for my personal growth. For my second album with GMM, Grammy, I was traveling back and forth, being a full time university student over there and a full time artist here, recording and promoting my album when back in Thailand. It wasn’t easy.

What do you want to say to your fans about your time away and your return?

I am back now and am pursuing my singing career full time. This is my life and my career.

How best can you win their hearts again?

My work will speak for itself. What it will say is my devotion and determination as an artist. In this album, the fans will get a look at who I really am – a look into my heart. How do I win the fans’ hearts? By being honest with them through my music – music that’s from the heart.

Who are you now…no more little-girl-lost, girl-next-door…or?

Not a little girl. Not a girl next door. But still a girl, not unlike any other girl. Certain at times. Confused at times. That’s why I named my album “Girl Talk” – the music, the lyrics, the feelings is from one girl to another – all the goods and bads that come with being a girl. Plus, it will help the guys who listen to the album to understand more about girls.

It’s great to see you writing too – alone and with John Dang…

Thank you. It really was an enjoyable experience when you click with someone creatively and share that same energy and vibe to create magic. John was just fabulous and ever so positive, encouraging and supportive.

Why did it take so long for you to write?

I co-wrote the lyrics of a couple of songs – one in English and one in Thai on my third album, Closer. For “Girl Talk”, I decided to take it a step further and also compose some melodies, which I did with John for two of the tracks. Why did it take so long? Because I had to dig deeper into myself, understand more about myself, for the lyrics and melodies to come out. That’s why in this album, the audience gets to listen to Mint, pure and unadulterated.

Were you just too shy before, or intimidated by the great songwriting talents in Thailand?

It’s not about other songwriters. It’s about who I am. I’m a perfectionist when it comes to my work. If I don’t feel the work is right, I will redo it. If I feel that it can be better, then I will make it better. As an artist, I don’t really compare myself to others; instead I set standards and expectations for myself. I have to meet my own standards, if I don’t, then I’m cheating my fans.

What do your songs have to tell your fans or any listener?

“Girl Talk” gives a more realistic approach to life and in love. My work represents how I’ve grown up and matured. In previous albums, my lyrics were more idealistic – eternal love, cannot live without love, and all that – and if one is disappointed with love, it’s like the end of the world

The songs in “Girl Talk’’ tell of how I have grown up and matured. The view I have now on life and love – it’s more realistic. “Girl Talk” is about living and learning, accepting and understanding. The end of a relationship isn’t the end of the world. You live and learn and you move on to better days as a better person. Life goes on. But that doesn’t mean “Girl Talk” is all hard and real. The album communicates “real” issues in a playful, yet thoughtful way, from the delicate viewpoints of a girl.

There’s also a plot in this album, showing how relationship progresses. The first two tracks (not in the order listed in the album) are about courtship. The next two tracks look at different perspectives of a relationship. The final two tracks cover the feelings when you are out of the relationship.

Are you better able to express yourself now after your own special relationships; or your more worldly experiences?

Listen to the album and you tell me…

Have you learned enough about love and life to pass advice or lessons on to your listeners?

One can never learn enough about love or life. But one can learn about love and life from everyone around you. I hope my experiences, my thoughts and my feelings have made music that will give my fans a perspective on love and life that they feel connected to.

Are you trying to build bridges with your audiences through your songs?

Music is art. You don’t “try” to build bridges. The bridge will create itself if the audience feels connected to the song. It’s a feeling, an intangible thing. That connection depends on if the song speaks to the hearts of the audience. If it doesn’t, then your music is just background decoration… like paintings in hotel lobbies. If it does, then it’s the song that when comes on the radio, everyone in the car starts singing or humming to.

Do you have a special ambition now that you are so well-established?

As an artist, my ambition is simple: to make good, honest music the best that I can.

Who do you see as your audience? Your audience…not Sony-BMG’s!

Any girl, any woman… doesn’t matter who you are or how old you are, as long as you are not afraid to stand up and speak up for yourself then you will identify with my music. Even when you’re 60 years old, there’s that bit of you inside that’s still… just a girl.

Career-wise, are you closer to Marsha or Tata in your ambitions as a singer now? Or neither?

Like I’ve said before, I don’t compare myself to others. I have my own path, my own way. Artists aren’t products in the market to do competitive analysis. Having said that, career-wise, I would love to do musicals.

How about songs for the international market. Any plans to branch out abroad?

Everyone wants to branch out abroad. Not everyone can do it successfully. Will I be able to do it? We both will have to wait and see…

Married? Single? Plans?

Single at the moment but I do want to settle down and start a family when the timing is right. At the moment I’m prioritizing on my career.

Fans can visit www.sonymusic.co.th for my show updates. My website is being renovated at the moment – further details and links will be posted on the sony website. Please help request the single ‘Love needs Love’ on radios. The music video is out on Youtube under ‘Mint Love needs Love’. Keep an ear out for my latest single “Uncertain” on the radio.

For “Girl Talk” digital download, ringtones and calling melodies (applicable for all mobile networks) – call *4965 and press 27 to select songs.

2009 copyright Alexander John Pithie/www.bangkokjungle.com