The Beautiful Voice of Muna

Originally from Pattaya, Muna had been singing in Bangkok for five years before she moved to Samui as she had got a contract for singing there. This only lasted for one month as they had financial problems so Muna decided to take a boat to Koh Phangan and never left. This was exactly one year three months ago.
“I like that it’s another world, nobody can reach me that easy, it’s too far. I can live with no TV, no bad news all the time”.

When did you start singing?
It was in 2009. I love night life, I was in Pattaya and didn’t want to ask my mum for money to drink and dance. I went to a place called Candy Shop in Walking street in Pattaya and there was a Philipino woman on stage, called CJ who totally blew my mind with her singing. I thought ‘how can I be onstage like her with all of those people watching, smiling and even crying (she was so amazing!) and with a lot of drinks given to her, so she was a big inspiration. My best friend was a singer in Pattaya also, and one day she wasn’t available for a gig but she knew I could sing and speak english so knew I could start for real, and so I did this gig for her.

Tell us about your singing career in bangkok..
At first it was a bit strange as all the people listened to only Thai music, but I love farang songs etc so it was hard for me. I sang for six months at a place called Jamaica, this was the first place I started my career for real and got paid. After this I sang at more than one hundred places in my five years of being in Bangkok, people got to know me and gave me a lot of opportunities.

What style of music do you perform?
Pop rock and RnB, Jessie J inspires me.

What are the differences performing here on Phangan and in a big city like Bangkok?
Over here is more comfy, there is no stress on the stage but in Bangkok you must be perfect because they pay you more. The people over here know my kind of music more, if I sing Tracy Chapman people like it, but in Bangkok they don’t get it because they don’t know her.

What are your current projects with your music?
Right now I have started my Bar so there I am just singing on Sundays starting from now, I’m not going to take any other jobs for a year so I can focus on this.

Tell us about your new Bar?
It is a good place for acoustic music, it was called ‘Sunny Bar’ in Haad Salad but the name is changing to ‘Bermuda’. Son who was the owner, plays guitar and sings very well, I knew he was leaving so I tried my hardest to get this Bar to carry this on. It’s a wooden bar by the road of Haad Salad, it is very comfy with nice people and a great meeting point for people who love acoustic.

Are you going to have open mic nights and live music?
Yep every Sunday. I’m very close with the Jam but I want to know that if people go on stage they can do it for real, I don’t want to upset anyone though so I am open for people who can. I want it to be professional. I think about myself before I didn’t have the chance to go on stage, a lot of people have a chance but are not good. I had this problem in Bangkok where to go on stage you have to be beautiful etc. I want people who have voices of an angels not just because you look good.

Where have you performed on Koh Phangan?
Outlaws saloon, Harp Bar, Bangers and Mash, Reggae Village, The Jam, Sky Bar in Haad Rin, Freeway Bar, Pirates Bar, Blue Ocean, Apache, Long Bay Resort, Salad Buri, Anantara and many more. One of my favourites is at The Jam, when I was there before without a band, alone, as a singer on the island I would sing Thai songs for Thai people and all the applause made me feel very warm. I made many friends there, that is my big reason, my family came from The Jam, everything started with the jam.

Where do you hope to be with your singing in the next five years?
I would like my own single and album of my own music. A lot of people help me with this but I must be ready inside of me. I’m happy they give me the opportunity but I need to be ready as I am very into my work and everything I do.

Bermuda Bar's grand opening is ths Sunday with Muna singing and many other musicians, Go join them!