JEFF’S INTERVIEW FOR GQ MAGAZINE
Translation below
On the roof of a commercial building, I invited Worakamon Satur, also known as Jeff Satur, to sit and talk in the evening around sunset time. It was a very hot day. The afternoon sun made me think the summer is closer than we think. But when the sky began to darken and the sun started to fade, a breeze started to blow and made me feel that it wasn't that hot.
If anyone follows Jeff Satur, they probably know that he's being an artist since he was 17-18 years old, when he joined the Kamikaze camp and he released his own debut song. Since then, he's been through different companies till he's found his fit with Wafer Records, which is under Warner Music Thailand.
Jeff's journey as an artist has not always been a smooth one. He even took a break of being an artist to do something else. But his turning point was when he got the role of "Kimhan" in Kinnporsche the series, making the 27 years old Thai, with English-Chinese descent, artist more well-known. Not only as an actor, but also his ability to write, produce and sing songs, allowing him to sing the OST called "Why don't you stay", which has around 38 million views on Youtube.
I invited Jeff to review his career path as an artist over the past 10 years.
"How did a guy named Jeff Satur get to have millions of views on his songs, a lot of fans and an international world tour during this year?"
I think there are a few turning points, such as Kinnporsche the series. I also learned how to self-produced my own music and I started getting involved with everything, including the lyrics and the music videos. I started to be more myself and have the courage to say yes or no. Since then everything has changed more quickly than my mind is able to process.
Like when I went to Jakarta, we stopped to see the fan project. I think I've come a long way and I feel like I'm living my dream life. Sometimes I feel very overwhelmed and grateful for everything that's happened in my life.
"Are you a dreamer?"
I am a dreamer, but there are moments when we can'd dream any longer. You know, dreams and hopes are the same thing. If you're disappointed, you better stop dreaming and start thinking what you can or can't do. You don't have to do big things to be happy, just having a hobby is enough. At the end of the day, we just work for money.
There was a time when I felt very unhappy, I felt like I was just living a life, so at that time, I found my way out by writing a blog. I'm a person who has to tell something all the time, probably because my mom used to tell me stories before going to sleep and sing songs to me. I've heard/watch so many stories through cartoons, anime, and movies, and now I'm able to tell my own. I'm glad I didn't stop doing it (telling stories) even if I stopped dreaming.
"Who did you get the storytelling from?"
My dad is a businessman who's very good at telling stories and knows how to tell stories in a fun way. But my mom is the one who always tell us stories, like little things every day. She also likes to ask us questions after we watch a movie, like what we think about the story and stuff. She took part in making us critical thinkers.
"At this moment, what kind of things you are able to handle and what things you're not able to handle well enough?
What I can control is that I enjoy the concerts very much, even though at first I didn't have enough experience. But as soon as I started to do shows, I felt myself. Even if I make mistakes, I just make fun of it because I have fun with the audience. I used to focus a lot about how things were right or wrong while I was singing, but I don't care anymore. And the things I can't control... I'm a sensitive person, so when someone is criticizing you or try to take advantage of you... I don't like that. Why do they speak bad of me? I just want to work and be happy, I just want to meet good people and talk about good things.
"But it's inevitable because you're starting to get famous"
Yes, it's inevitable. But it's important to surround yourself with people who like and understand your work. Don't put yourself in a place where you shouldn't be, put yourself in a place where you belong and you and your value is recognized.
"Are you worried because your success came very quickly?"
I prepare my mind all the time. "What if everything suddenly disappear tomorrow? Will I be able to live?" Because there are so many examples of famous people whose fame have vanished and they couldn't live. The most important thing is that I'm enjoying my work and the fame has no value to me. I'm satisfied with my work and the pieces I'm releasing so even if I lose my fame, the pieces will remain. I'm just happy to know that my stories won't disappear even if I'm not famous anymore. Nothing will be different.
I don't think everyone has to listen to my music and praise me for doing good music. That's what my mother taught me since i was a kid. I just want people to listen to my music and feel happy. Don't be so depressed because life is so short, only 4.000 weeks. For those who are listening to my music or reading this article, don't put yourself on misery. Get yourself out of there.
"So, what's makes you happy at this moment?"
My happiness is being able to sing and produce music, or even doing a photoshoot. Every job I do is telling a different story. I enjoy exploring everything I do. No matter what kind of job it is but seeing how my work change people's lives is really inspiring. I read it on twitter and through fan letters all the time. Some people were depressed or suffering, they didn't love themselves or they were afraid to go out alone, but my work gave them the courage to love themselves and love others more. That makes me wake up every morning and keep working.
"Do you think your work can change people's lives?"
I think art has that power, not necessarily my work but in general. Even the darkest job has the power to inspire depending on the person who consumes it. In the same way some movies can change our lives, I belie my music, my lyrics, even the series I do can change someone's life.
"What are your sources to find material for your stories?
I like to ask very strange questions. Have you ever played a ROV game? (Jeff turns to me). Some of the sentences that the game says are "the wind is strong", but we can't see/feel it. We realized the wind is strong because the images, the dots and some colors.
"There was a time when you decided to stop being an artist. What happened?
At that time I was 25 years old and I felt I was already too old for this field. If it was any other type of work, I wouldn't be considered old at all but I had been doing this for 7-8 years already and it wasn't working out so I had to accept it and go out and do something else. I was willing to do something I didn't like till the moment I could do what I liked.
At that time I was just making music, and I wrote on my blog, but I was starting to get worried about the future, and if I would be able to live without problems. I felt like I had a lot of pressure around me so I decided to give up. But in the end, I couldn't escape my happiness because I'm a storyteller. At first, I intended to create a website and even open an ad business, but it turned to be an inspirational website (laughs). It's like our dreams take us back to what we love till one day you close your eyes and it's right there, so just enjoy everything in the meantime.
"It must have been a lot of pressure on yourself to have success at the age of 25"
So much pressure (high pitched voice). I remember I was watching Mad Men at that time, which is about an ad agency, and I couldn't enjoy it because I was comparing myself and I felt like I hadn't accomplished anything yet. I was trying to convince myself it was just work but in the end, it didn't work.
"What did you discover from the show"
I understood that there's nothing I can't do, I'm just have to be open-minded and practice. The only obstacle we have is ourselves. I think you can do it if you step forward.
"Just a moment ago, you gave an interview to the GQ's video team and you described yourself as a weird person. I'm curious to know who weird you are"
I think I have a weird though process. When I was studying, I often failed my exams because I usually interpreted the question in a different way than it should. Also, I'm a person who likes to ask questions. I don't have a religion but I like to read books related to religion just to ask myself questions. What does it mean to live on this planet? What is God? What does it mean to have knowledge?
"If you don't have a religion, what do you believe in?"
I believe in God, but I don't have a religion. It isn't easy to explain. A God with no rules, nor love or hate. I believe in doing good things. If we have goodwills, they will lead us to the right direction no matter what. If our thoughts are wrong, they'll lead us to the wrong places.
"You used to dislike acting. What made you change your mind?"
Jeff: I didn't like my face on camera. I felt like I didn't look good and someone else should be doing that job. However, I decided to try. I ignored things and tried whatever was there for me. I found out that when I opened my mind to it, it was like opening the world. It’s also another type of storytelling too.
"Do you think you can say you have achieved success?
I think it's just matter of time. If I do a good work, then the focus on the work will come eventually, Last year was just the first step, and I'm excited about what's coming next. I think it's because I'm enjoying everything I'm doing, but I still feel like I have a long way ahead.
"You once said in an interview that "Getting lost was part of the journey". Have you found the right path?
I don't know (thinking). The funny thing about this journey is that I don't know what will happen next. I don't even know if I'm lost right now. I'm just following my guts. I feel like I'm on the right path and what's happening is the right thing for me. It's important to be yourself, in front of the camera but also outside, at least 80% yourself. That's the right way to be here.
"Throughout the ten years of being an artist, what have you learned?"
Be yourself. Don't try to be someone else. No one can be you better than yourself. If you have a skill, stay where you are. One day you will succeed without giving up, but there will be moments of suffering. Let's say you have to wash a thousand dishes. Just think about washing one plate at a time. Do it one by one and one day, you will find out you finish it. It's like reaching the destination you set. Just don't give up and lose happiness about your passion.
"Your lowest and/or heaviest moment in life?"
I don't have many. If something doesn't work, I just move on. I never cry over what happened even if it was my dream of being an artist. But I did cry over not good people who like to hurt other people's feelings. Probably because I'm a storyteller so I'm always sensitive to things like this. If someone hurts me, It will stay with me for a while but I'll go through it. I would say even successful people have a point where they're down or suffer, the important thing is how you choose to deal with it. For me, I will choose to talk to myself and write songs.
"You can write lyrics, produce songs and sing them too, what's the difference with other people who only sing?"
I do everything myself. It's the easiest way not to wait, just do it. Everything that comes out it represents me and being myself if the most important thing. I think that's my biggest strength.
"How do you normally travel?
I like to go out when I'm feeling down. It makes me happy to go to places where people don't know me. I like to walk without a destination and get lost. Let's say I want to go to a jazz bar but I take the wrong way and I get to the wrong place. I got lost but I'm happy because I got out from a familiar place. I don't like to go shopping, but I like to go to a quiet place in the countryside. Once, I went to Korea with the world tour and I went to a high place and looked out at the city view. It was very cold at night and suddenly I started crying because it's was very quiet. I felt like I hadn't live like that in a while.
"What are your plans for this year?"
Actually, I've been out of my comfort zone for a long time (laughs).
One of the things is to release my album. Also I want to do a world tour to meet my fans, but I'm sure there will be more stories along the way. Just keep tuned.
