Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.
INTERVIEW Rising Thai pop star holds solo concert in Seoul
Rising Thai pop star The Toys poses after a media interview with The Korea Times to promote his first solo concert in Seoul, Saturday. Courtesy of SNP Media Hub Korea
By Kwak Yeon-soo
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Budding Thai pop star Thanwa Boonsoongnern, who goes by the stage name The Toys, said he was pleasantly surprised by his Korean fans and audience at his first Seoul performance last December.
“When I was performing at the 2018 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA), I wasn't sure if the audience would know me or my music,” he said during an interview with The Korea Times, recalling the last time he came here for MAMA.
“But it turned out pretty amazing. Thanks to a few K-pop artists like BLACKPINK's Lisa and GOT7's BamBam who have mentioned my name or covered my songs, I gained a lot of attention.”
Two months after taking home the Best New Asian Artist Thailand Award at 2018 MAMA, the 24-year-old musician visited Seoul again ― this time to hold his first solo concert at SM Town Theater at COEX Artium in Seoul, Sunday.
The young Thai pop star debuted in 2016 with the single “The Light” and since then released songs that blend R&B and synth-pop. A music video of “100%” from his first studio album “Sun” released in 2018 has attracted over 100 million streams on YouTube.
Before making his official debut, The Toys won first place at the Overdrive Guitar Competition in 2015 and ran his own YouTube channel, where he uploaded videos of himself performing songs he wrote.
“I started out as a guitarist. I have a soft, quiet voice compared to other artists, which is why I stick to R&B instead of rock music,” he said.
Speaking of Thai pop, The Toys said it is not much different from pop or K-pop. “The music is primarily in a different language. I think Thai pop has flowy sound and slinky beat,” he said.
The Toys mentioned that he prepared a Korean song for his Seoul gig. “I can't drop spoilers, but I practiced a Korean song that I've been listening to since I was young,” he said.
When asked about his additional plans during the visit, the aspiring singer said he wants go skiing. “I'll be staying one more night after the show to explore. I don't know what to do. What I do know, however, is that I want to go skiing. I love snow.”