Ink releases her first EP

Thai pop music is a singles business. This is especially true nowadays as most fans get their music online rather than buying records or CDs. As a result, not many Thai singers get to release albums. But Waruntorn Paonil (Ink) has recently become one of the few Thai pop stars to release her own EP.

Bliss is Ink’s five-track debut EP. It features her chart-toppers “Insomnia” and “Cloudy” as well as her most recent single, “Young Rue Suek (Old Feelings).” Released last month, “Old Feelings” is about being confused about your feelings toward an ex-lover. It’s a theme that many listeners can relate to. The video has received more than 1.5 million views so far.

S Weekly had a chat with the 24-year-old singer at a café where she told us about her singing experiences and her new EP.

How did you feel during your first singing competition?

Ink: I was 7 years old, so I was very excited. I remember I dressed up in a costume and sang a song from an animated film. My parents were very happy for me.

What did you learn from taking part in competitions?

Ink: It helped me to build confidence. I learned how to be creative in coming up with outfits to go along with my performances. I had to manage my schedule so I had enough time to practise. When I didn’t win, I learned how to deal with disappointment. I used it as motivation to improve and do better in the next competition.

Why did you choose to study opera?

Ink: I always liked singing. I majored in western music at university and I had to choose between studying an instrument and classical singing. So I took an opera lesson to see how I felt about it. I really enjoyed it. It was challenging  totally different from singing pop songs.

How do you feel to be releasing an EP?

Ink: I’m very happy. When I was young, I liked to buy cassettes and CDs. I’m happy that Boxx Music see value in releasing a collection of my songs. When I’m old, I’ll have it as a memory.

Why did you name it Bliss?

Ink: My producer asked me to think about why I sing and what I want to give to listeners. My answer was happiness  I’m happy to sing. And I like the word bliss so we chose that as the title.

Do you still enjoy singing as much now that you do it for a living?

Ink: I’m under more pressure now. And sometime it’s stressful. Every time I go onstage, I have to make the audience happy. But the difficulties don’t affect my happiness while I’m singing.

Is it more difficult to sing an emotional song like “Old Feelings” than a fun song like “You?”?

Ink: No, “Old Feelings” is easier to sing because it’s a slow song about confusion. It’s an idea that I found easy to understand. But “You?” is about feeling shy when thinking about a crush. It was hard for me to remember feeling that way. I had to smile while we were recording so that it would sound fun.

How did Tan Liptapallop from Lipta end up working with you on “Old Feelings”?

Ink: I’ve been a fan of his for a while. He’s written songs for several artists, so I asked him to work with me and thankfully he said yes.

Was it difficult to come up with the melody?

Ink: I didn’t think I’d be able to create my own melody, but Tan told me to give it a try. He played some chords and I improvised. After about three hours we came up with something we liked.

Is it true that you like to read during your free time?

Ink: Yes. I like short stories the most. I like to read about love and relationships to get inspiration for songs.