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Ever since a then flat-chested Tata Young championed the cause of “Going Inter” a decade ago, Thai performers have become obsessed with overseas recognition.  Yet, despite this drive to succeed in the eyes of the international market, there’s a shyness pervading the mentality of local entertainers who assume their songs and stage persona aren’t enough for Westerners. Sek Loso is one Thai with no time for graeng jai (the notion of fearing what others may think). As Bangkok Recorder was going to print, Sek was rocking the free world, starting at Britain’s Glastonbury Festival and London’s Meltdown night, before heading further West to start a fortnight of gigs and concerts in US cities including New York, Seattle, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Houston. This is all in support of his upcoming English-language album, For God’s Sake (Grammy), which is produced by Owen Morris (Ash, Oasis) and features former Oasis guitarist Bonehead, who’s also in Sek’s touring band. The name Loso is, of course, a play on words of the term “hi-so.”
Sek’has one of those classic “hard working kid with guitar who shot to stardom through his belief in music” personas, a la Bruce Springsteen. Perhaps that’s why the record company people behind the tour believe he’ll have appeal in the US and the UK. “Sek believes in the healing and redemptive powers of rock ‘n roll in a way that people have forgotten,” said Tim Carr, the American A&R producer who got Sek in the studio with Morris and lined up the tour. “He believes it in a way that is not there any more and that’s how you become a rock star.”
Thai accents don’t fade easily. After writing eight albums in Thai, Sek may trigger some sniggering as he crosses over to English. Especially when some of the lyrics on For God’s Sake have a nearly punk rock irrelevance and randomness to them, like “Bangkok PhiPhi Phuket,” which features the lines, Wanna take you to Bangkok/I’m gonna buy you some hot dogs/We better eat before we fly/We better kiss while we get high.
To charges that these lyrics may be too silly to fly in the West, Morris responds: “Sek writes honest songs about life. Everyone’s got the same problems around the world. Everyone either wants to fuck someone or is not fucking someone, or hungry, starving, upset or really f’n happy. Rock ’n roll wasn’t meant to be brain surgery.” Rock ’n roll to Sek Loso is all about living life to the extreme. “It’s about being real and raw, but not in a way that’s hurtful to people. Rock ‘n roll doesn’t hurt anyone, it loves everyone.” Amen.
By Nak Ling With help from Manond Apanich (The Nation)
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