Prim reaches out

These days, if you want a pop hit, you need more than just a great song. It’s important to have a good music video with a story that people can enjoy. With her thoughtful music videos, pop rock singer Janthip Sangrungsri (Prim) has attracted fans from all around the country, despite having released only a few singles.

The video for her previous single “Para (The Burden),” which showed people posting their personal issues on social media, went viral, reaching over a million views on YouTube in just a few weeks. Her follow-up, the emotional ballad “Mai Tong Bok Chan (Don’t Tell Me),” comes with a video about a teenage girl who seeks help for depression following a bad break-up.

S Weekly recently met up with the 22-year-old at GMM Grammy to talk about her new song and video.

Why did it take so long for you to release a new single?

Prim: It’s true that it’s been a while since I released music under my own name. But I recently did a cover of New Jiew’s “Lop Natee Thee Mee Thoe (Erase Minutes About You).” Apart from that, I’ve been busy at university. I’m in my third year, so things are a bit hectic at the moment.

How do you manage your time between studying and singing?

Prim: To be honest, I’ve found it hard. I haven’t really been showing up to class. But I’m trying to be good at the moment. I had to beg my professors for extensions on my assignments and to let me resit the exams I missed. I got a lot of help from my friends too.

Can you tell us about the new song “Don’t Tell Me”?

Prim: It’s an emotional ballad about being in denial over the fact that you’ve been dumped by your lover. You refuse to accept the painful reality that they’ve left you.

What was it like working with producer Thana Lawasut (Pond)?

Prim: It was super exciting! He’s written and produced music for so many Thai stars, from Beau Sunita to Tata Young. Working with him was incredible. He isn’t like one of those big producers with a huge ego. He allowed me to put some of my own ideas into the song as well, which was great.

Are you personally a fan of sad songs?

Prim: Yes, very much. I prefer them to happy songs. I think a good ballad has a sort of magic that’s able to capture our feelings better than a faster song. But it’s not that I’m a depressed person or anything like that. It’s like crying when you watch a sad movie - it’s because you feel an emotional connection.

Why do your videos deal with teenage problems?

Prim: Because they’re real. These issues can happen to anybody. We all have ups and downs in our relationships. The video for “Don’t Tell Me” is about a girl who can’t deal with a break-up. She’s depressed and going through a very dark period in her life. Luckily, she realises her problem and goes to see a doctor. But not everybody has such a happy ending. I wanted to send a message encouraging people to be strong and reminding them that they’re not alone.

What music are you listening to at the moment?

Prim: If you asked me last year it would have been Bruno Mars for sure. I’m such a huge fan of his music. But now I have a new favourite - an English band called The 1975. They’re indie rock, but they include other elements like funk and electronic music. Their songs are so catchy. I’ve been listening to them non-stop recently.