Nakarin "Pang" Kingsak is an elder statesman of Thai rock. Not that he possesses an air of know-it-all pride or strokes his proverbial white beard while passing on pearls of wisdom. Nakarin instead has earned admiration through his long-term contributions to Thai music and his sombre, quiet personality as well as moderate lifestyle considerably at odds with the usual debauchery of rock 'n' roll. With his respectable reputation, his peers and younger artists are often in awe when they chance upon him backstage.
"Not many musicians come and talk to me. They usually just greet me politely. I don't know why. Maybe, they're scared of me," he said.
Respect, maybe _ not fear. At 46, Nakarin doesn't look his age, thanks to a healthy regimen and regular exercise, but he definitely acts like it. Never conventionally handsome, there's a certain intangible quality that makes Nakarin rather attractive. He is not long winded; although good natured, Nakarin has a way of inserting himself without sounding cold or distant through a few choice words.
For 21 years, Nakarin has been working constantly throughout musical changes and his career charts the map of the modern Thai rock scene. From the pre-alternative boom with Hydra to a successful solo career that started in the 1990s and continues in the current digital age, Nakarin has seen it all, and this Saturday at the Indoor Stadium, Hua Mark, will see the culmination of his experience in a full-scale concert - his first in 15 years.
The "Come Of Age At 21: Pang Nakarin" concert marks the musician's more than two decades in the business.
"We always hear people celebrating 20 years in the business. Never 21. I just think 21 is a beautiful number. And when you're 21, you're legally of age too," he said.
"For this concert, first of all, there will be a lot of songs. These days, I play about an hour or an hour-and-a-half, and I always feel frustrated because I want to play more.
"Also, I'm bringing in artists that I like as guests. Not scripted, natural. These are die-hard fans, there's no need to force anything on them. And, yes, I will need short breaks here and there!
"I am quite excited as I haven't done a full-scale concert on my own for a long while now."
Asked to look back on his career and how much he has changed, Nakarin is quick to point out the obvious.
"Of course, I am older. I am in my 40s and I've changed physically. I need to take care of myself more. Luckily, I have gigs all the time, and that helps me keep fit. As for music, I am still doing what I love to do, and I am just happy that I can still do this for a living," he said.
Nakarin found his calling at a young age when he asked his mother for money to buy his first guitar, which he cradled to sleep on that first night. Nakarin passed an entrance examination to study marketing at Chulalongkorn University as a way to reassure his mother that he would be able to survive in the real world. During his sophomore year, he formed an in-house band as an extracurricular activity, and that was when he met Thana Lawasut, who later became his other half in Hydra.
Hydra's first and only album, Utsajaeree (Exclamation Mark), came out in 1992. It might not have enjoyed as much success as the record company would have liked, but the album has become one of the classics that people still go back to today. It's full of timeless tracks like Klai Tao Derm (The Same Distance), Wai Jai (Trust), Duek Laew (It's Late) and Tua Plom (Fake) that are still played regularly.
''Of course, there's always the possibility to release new Hydra songs. We talk about it a lot, but we're always so busy that we have yet to find the time to get it done,'' he said.
After he amicably parted ways with Thana, who is now an executive producer at GMM Grammy, Nakarin decided to embark on a solo career. In 1994, at the height of Thailand's alternative rock music boom, Nakarin came out with Kai Pang (Pang Fever), which sounded completely different from his Hydra material. The success of his solo debut launched his career, and established him as a musical forerunner.
''The transition wasn't difficult at all. Hydra consisted of two people, so it wasn't me 100%. We compromised and we listened to each other. When I went solo, it was even easier because it was just me working on it. Now it's still just me,'' he said.
Nakarin has released five more albums to varying degrees of success. In 2010, he switched format and produced five new singles instead of a full album to cope with the way the music industry has been going. This year saw him releasing another five song mini-album, Klang Khon (Middle Age).
''At first, I was quite bummed out over this digital age of music, and I saw a lot of people leaving the business. But I've adapted.
''Now I don't care much about the formats as I still write music for my fans. I actually enjoy that we don't have to have 10 songs to have a full album. Now I don't have to wait for 10 songs to come to me before I can go into a studio. If I have something, I can go ahead and record it now.
''The downside is now I don't have a place for more arcane numbers. Fortunately, the feedback on my singles and mini-album has been great, and the fans are asking for a full album now. So we'll see,'' said Nakarin.
Not only has he adapted to the new music world, Nakarin has enjoyed the availability of social media. Initially, he was rather reluctant to jump on the bandwagon, but later caved in, finding it enjoyable and useful.
''Yes, I post everything myself. I love it. I've never been able to talk to my listeners this much before. Honestly speaking, this whole social network has made it possible for this concert to happen since you can see a demand from the fans. They're very specific about what they want from me, which is a great thing.
''As for the whole keeping a rock star aura to create intrigue, I don't see the point. This is fine with me as I've always been a regular Joe. I've always viewed this 'rock star' thing as far removed from my life. I don't have any mysterious air. I am like the guy next door. But having said that, the public does not influence my music and content. It's still very me, and I hope that's what they want to hear.''
Now married with an eight-year-old daughter whom he often mentions on his fan page, Nakarin is content with life, but also confesses that sometimes it's harder to come up with stories to tell when life is going smoothly.
''According to my wife, I'm like a sick cat when I'm around my kid. She said my eyes have no rock energy left, and she told me to go party with friends sometimes. I think it's true,'' he said.
''I've read something about grown men who spend a lot of time with children; that they can grow gentler, and sometimes too gentle. So now I find time, upon my wife's suggestion, to go out and see how the world runs to regain that energy. Sometimes I ask her to switch place so I can be with my girl all the time!''
With an education in marketing and finance, Nakarin, in stark contrast to most rockers, has always pondered his financial stability for the sake of his family, and began building a nest egg some time ago through smart investments and carefully managed finances.
''Luckily I always overthink things, so I've known since a very young age what I have to do, and what I have to avoid in order to secure my future. Also, I am a very low-key person, so I don't spend that much money on luxurious things. I'm a very much a homebody. This profession is not very stable, so I've done everything to build a firm financial foundation for my family. Now I can say that if I die today, my wife and daughter will be taken care of,'' he said.
''People try to avoid the phrase 'on the way down', but I embrace it. True, I still gig a lot and make a living that way, but I can't deny my age, and it's happening. I am just lucky that my descent is more of a gradual process, so I don't ever get bumped hard,'' he said. ''Everyone has to go through it at some point in life, so you can only just prepare for your future.''
''Come Of Age At 21: Pang Nakarin'' is on Oct 5 at the Indoor Stadium, Hua Mark, from 7pm onwards. Tickets are priced 800, 1,500 and 2,000 baht. Visit www.thaiticketmajor.com for more details.
