Born in Bangkok and shaped by London’s music culture, pami sings in Thai, English, and Japanese with ease. Her music reflects the fluidity of a new generation—multilingual, emotionally transparent, and genre-curious. On her latest single “candydate,” she blends sweet desperation with a pulsing pop-rock edge. We spoke with pami over Zoom about her latest single “candydate”,anime memories, her love for Japan, and what it means to write honestly from the heart.
1. About You
– When did you start making music?
“I started with singing. I was around five or six years old, and I sang along to Japanese anime songs—even though I didn’t understand the language. I just copied what I heard. So technically, Japanese was the first language I sang in.”
She laughs. “I learned songs by mimicking them. Later, about three or four years ago, I began making music seriously. That’s when I went to London to study songwriting and music production.”
– What’s your favorite anime?
She laughs at the question. “I really like manga too. I used to collect a lot—so many volumes at home. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I’ve always been a big fan.”
– Who are some artists you liked or listened to a lot?
“I listen to Gracie Abrams a lot these days. She’s a singer-songwriter from the U.S. and probably my favorite right now. I even went to see her live recently—it was my first time seeing her in concert. I was so, so happy.”
– What kind of people do you want to reach with your music?
“I want to reach people who love music—especially those who care about songwriting. I put a lot of heart into my lyrics, so when someone connects with that part, even just that, it feels really meaningful.”
2. About “candydate”
– What were you thinking about when you made “candydate”?
‘candydate’ is about wanting to be one of the choices. Not necessarily being someone’s girlfriend or boyfriend—but just being considered. It’s a hot, emotional, slightly desperate feeling. But I still wanted it to sound soft and cute. So I thought, let me say, ‘Let me be a candidate’—but in a cute way.”
– What does the word ‘candydate’ mean to you?
“It’s a mix of ‘candidate’ and ‘candy.’ ‘Candidate’ sounds serious, but I didn’t want the song to feel too mature or heavy. I wanted something that felt sweet—like candy. Something soft. So we thought, let’s just say ‘candydate.’ It still sounds like the real word, but it feels more emotional and cute.”
– This song sounds more pop-rock than your previous releases. Was that intentional?
“I actually wrote ‘candydate’ before ‘kiss me blue,’ even though people think it came after. I just wanted to make something exciting and hot—something I could perform live and have fun with. I don’t fix myself to one style. I’m indie, so I do whatever I want. Sometimes it’s rock, sometimes more minimal or synthwave. I go with what I feel at the moment.
But who knows—maybe in the future, my style will start to feel more defined, more visible to people. Maybe it’ll all make sense in hindsight. But right now I’m going with the vibe.”
– You mentioned you used to love rock. Can you tell us more?
“I was a huge ONE OK ROCK fan in high school. I had a band and we used to cover their songs—‘Taking Off,’ ‘Clock Strikes,’ I went to an Ed Sheeran concert and I also got to see them open. It’s like feed two birds with one scone.”
3. About Japan
– Are there any Japanese artists you like?
“Yes! I love YUI. Her songs like ‘Cherry’ and ‘Life’—which was the Bleach anime theme—were so important to me growing up. Her voice is so pure.”
She adds, “And Utada Hikaru too—she was a big influence. I also listen to Showa-era city pop. I love Tatsuro Yamashita. And maybe she’s not exactly city pop, but I also love Akina Nakamori. Her songs have such incredible depth.”
– Some of your songs feel a bit like city pop. Was that intentional?
“I didn’t plan it, but ‘pity dirty’ ended up sounding kind of city pop. It started out as R&B, but my producer and I made it more minimal—and I guess that gave it that vintage Japanese vibe. Someone even commented that the music video felt super Japanese!”
– Did you enjoy anything during your last visit to Japan—food, places, the performance?
“I love Japanese food. I literally just went to Sushiro two hours ago!”
She smiles. “When I performed at Club Citta in Kawasaki, I went for sushi right after the show. Every time I go to Japan, I eat so much. I gain weight every time—but I don’t care! I love everything. I can eat anything in Japan.”
– Would you like to perform or make music in Japan someday?
“I’d love to. It would be amazing to play at SUMMER SONIC someday. That festival is such a dream. So many talented artists play there. If I could be part of that lineup… that would be amazing.”
4. Artist Life in Asia
– How is the young music scene in Thailand now?
“It’s really free. People are mixing genres, switching languages—everything’s becoming more fluid. The borders are fading more and more, and I want to ride that wave too. Asia is opening up in a really exciting way.”
– What do you think about the future of indie music in Asia?
“I think people are starting to pay more attention to artists who don’t fit the mold. Being ‘indie’ isn’t just about being small anymore—it’s about being yourself. There’s so much happening, especially in Southeast Asia.”
5. Looking Forward
– What’s something new you want to try as an artist?
“I’m working with my first album right now. It’ll have more minimal synths, softer textures, and guitar. I’m really exploring the space between softness and intensity.”
– Are there any festivals or places where you want to perform?
“My biggest dream is to play at Coachella someday. That’s what I’m aiming for.”
She laughs modestly, then adds, “SUMMER SONIC too—that’s one of my biggest goals in Japan. I’d love to be part of that lineup.”
pami’s story begins with childhood anime songs and now stretches toward international stages. Whether it’s emotional R&B or electric pop-rock like “candydate,” her music expresses a full emotional spectrum.
She sings, “Let me be a candydate”—but truthfully, she’s already stepping into the spotlight.