The name “Anusorn Joralie” probably does not mean
much to the average Pattaya resident, but by his nickname “Pop” he is
known to anyone in the music and entertainment field, be they musicians or
just nightclub patrons. Pop is a local guitar playing virtuoso and singer
with his own band Satin Soul, currently playing at the Winchester Spot in
Walking Street.
Pop
was born in Bangkok. His father was musically minded, being a violinist,
and his mother was a Thai classical dancer; however, neither of Pop’s
two brothers nor his two sisters followed the musical side of the family.
Following his mother’s interest, he began his musical
career playing Thai classical music at school when he was 11 years old.
This early start to a musical future was jeopardised by a motorcycle
accident which left him with multiple fractures in his left hand and
forearm. Rhythm and music was in his blood, and even if he was unable to
work the frets on the guitar he could always try something else. “I
tried to play the drums.” But bones heal and Pop continued with his
guitar. “Music was just for fun. There were always plenty of young
ladies. I played the Top 40 numbers and Thai songs.”
When he was 18 the family shifted to Pattaya, and Pop
became a little more serious about his music, playing in the Photisampan
School band. He also learned English from a teacher who insisted they
“poot Angkrit only” for one hour every day.
By this stage he and his friends were good enough to be
able to play at weddings and birthdays. These “professional”
engagements did not bring much money, the teenagers being satisfied with
the opportunity to perform in public. “We would get 10 or 20 baht, but
we didn’t care.”
When he was 20 years old, the carefree world of Pop
suddenly changed. His mother had died and his father lost his job.
Suddenly Pop faced the responsibilities that occur in the close knit Thai
families. He had younger brothers and sisters. “I had to take care.”
He tried “waiting at the table” in hotels but the money was not good
enough to support the family.
It was at that point that a watershed occurred for the
young Pop. An older friend, who was a professional musician, asked him why
he was not playing music as the way to earn enough money. The way was not
easy, but there were opportunities. He would work in hotel lobby bars till
10 p.m. and then start again in another venue at 11 p.m. and play into the
small hours. “In the lobby you have to play soft music, but in the
second job I played rock and roll.” With his two job days, Pop played at
many venues in Pattaya, including the Siam Bayshore and Bayview hotels,
the Grand Sole and even the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. But it was the
second venues that Pop enjoyed the most. It was there he could really
unleash his musical expression, with thumping numbers from the 60s to 70s
rock and roll.
After a few years, Pop was well known locally and his
playing could support a wife and a young daughter, who unfortunately is
autistic. These children are very demanding for parents, and although
autistic children enjoy music, Pop said sadly, “I cannot teach her.”
I asked Pop what his advice would be for young
musicians hoping to climb on to the ladder of success. He replied, “You
have to give the time to your instrument. You have to practice. When you
are starting you have to practice three to four hours every day, but
everything about music is good. It makes you a good heart and a good
brain!” And those are the words of a very dedicated musician. He does
heed his own advice too, and in fact still practices for two hours every
day. In addition, he and his band sit down and critically listen to
recordings of their gigs. “It’s like homework. It helps you do
everything better.” He continued, “There are so many styles - you have
to open your mind. You have to entertain. Some people like jazz, or rock
and roll or the blues. You have to be able to play all styles.”
Now with his own band and strong following, does Pop
consider himself to be a success? Typically he tried to evade the question
by relating stories of being in awe of other great Thai guitarists as he
grew up, but when pushed, he came back with “I don’t know what success
is.” An honest man!
Pop is certainly not one to wear the trappings of
success. No flashy jewellery, no satin outfits, no extreme fashion shoes,
just plain black T-shirt and pants and well worn sneakers. But when he
begins to work the guitar there is nothing to take your eyes away from the
flashing fingers on the frets or the blur that his right hand becomes as
he plays the more frenetic numbers. As mentioned at the start of this
article, the man is a virtuoso.
His ambition is to play in a large open-air concert in
Europe and to do English versions of Thai rock and roll. These would also
be his own compositions, as he is much more than just a guitar player. He
should work towards that.
The guitarist he has the greatest admiration for is the
legendary and late Frank Zappa. “He could do everything. He was out of
this world.” Zappa definitely is out of this world, having passed on in
1993 but Anusorn Joralie AKA “Pop” is very real, and here and now.
There is still time to catch him while he continues gracing the performing
stages in Pattaya. If you enjoy guitar artistry, you will be impressed.
