In 2004, True Academy Fantasia (AF) shook the small screen as Thailand's first-ever 24-hour reality show. Over six dream-chasing seasons, it has boasted alumni such as Aof-Pongsak, Patcha, and Wan-Thanakrit. And it's not over yet. Wannabe-singers now have another shot at glory with AF7's online auditions lasting until May 31, and regional auditions also scheduled this month and in June.
AF's charming host, Setha Sirachaya, didn't have as many doors open to him when he was a teenager.
``It was a real struggle to become a singer back in the '60s and '70s. First of all, there was a stigma attached to this profession because people thought that it couldn't make much money,'' he said. ``Nowadays, parents support their kids in pursuing their dreams and we can see that as an element of reality shows.''
A member of the legendary string combo band The Impossibles, Setha is renowned as a smooth crooner. But the road to success wasn't at all smooth. He made a living from transporting musical instruments for bands and picked up guitar-playing and singing techniques from the musicians and lead vocalists.
``That's how I learned music,'' he said. ``Today's youngsters have more opportunities than my generation. They have the chance to take singing and dancing classes, whereas in those days, there weren't any music schools and dance academies around.''
Setha's singing career demanded he belt out Beatles and Cliff Richard numbers. The Vietnam War had American soldiers based in Thailand and music imported from the West became the rage. The Impossibles played Western songs at nightclubs before they won a string combo competition that saw them rise to fame, to later record Thai songs.
The golden age of Thai cinema was a turning point for the country's music industry, as soundtracks made Thai songs popular in the 1970s. The '80s were the golden era of Thai pop and a number of the decade's stars started out performing at hotels.
In her teens, Maleewan Jimena sang at the Montien Hotel, where Waen Thitima as well as Asanee and Wasan Chotikul also performed before becoming recording artists. ``Hotels were rehearsal grounds and the accumulated experiences there prepared and qualified us to grow into professional singers,'' said Maleewan.
However, it was at the Ambassador Hotel that Charas Fuengarom spotted her talent, and in 1985, together they released the album Maleewan and Charas. The album, recorded at Fiddler Recording Studio, Los Angeles, was an innovation featuring two artists and fusion jazz and fusion pop songs. It was the very first time Maleewan had to sing in Thai.
``Performing at the hotel, I would sing the songs of The Carpenters, Abba and Diana Ross, for I come from an English-speaking and artistic family,'' she recalled.
``It was difficult but admittedly challenging for me to sing in Thai but due to vigorous practice I could fluently sing Nuek Thueng Chan (Think of Me) and Phro Mee Thur (Because of You) on my first album.''
With the following release of Kub Chan, Maleewan's first solo album, her Thai became more fluent, so her songs became more mesmerising and charming. The '80s also saw the birth of music labels Nitespot, Kita, Grammy and RS Promotions that bred new faces for the music industry. Maleewan joined Grammy in 1991, where she became famous and acclaimed for hits like Songsarn Kun Noi, Kho Pieng Thee Pak Jai and Kho Khae Dai Roo.
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