Some of the best things in life come unexpected and for Numcha, it's been her success as an artist.

Since the release of her single 'Keep Cold' in 2019, the Thai singer-songwriter has been a rising name in the regional music scene, enchanting music fans across Asia with her soothing, delicate melodies and endearing storylines on life and love. As a doubtful fresh college graduate, Numcha released the heart-touching track not only as a thesis project but also as a her leap of faith into being an artist. 

And now, a whole album and EP, the 'Butterfly' singer continues to warm the hearts of listeners everywhere, playing stages all over Asia—a reality she only used to dream of. 

Following the release of her latest EP, hewantscoffeebutiamtea, Bandwagon caught up with that Thai act to talk about writing her "diary," living out her dreams, and rocking her golden life.

Congratulations on the EP! Before we get down to the story of it, I want to talk about the name of it: hewantscoffeebutiamtea. What inspired that? 

I really wanted to name some EP 'he wants coffee but I am tea'. but I didn't find the perfect timing yet. But for this EP, it's quite different. I wrote the four songs on it before which I dedicated it all to myself so I thought it's finally time for 'he wants coffee, but I am tea' to shine. I named it that way and I've got a lot of good feedback, like everybody loves it. 

Now, the story. You describe the EP to be a “rollercoaster” of feelings that you and other people have been on. What was it like riding that rollercoaster again while working on the record? Was it easier getting through the ride this time around?

I just feel so relieved. Every song has a different meaning and it's like a diary of myself. I wrote this journal of me in like six months and when it was finished, I can like totally see what I was feeling in the six months before, it is really cool. This is the first time that I wrote things for myself.

Do you have a favorite song from the EP?

Actually, it's 'cup of tea' because I made it for me. If you hear my previous stuff, like the first album Bloom or whatever collaboration I have, 'cup of tea' is a different style. There's so much new stuff on that song and it's alternative rock, a genre that I've never tried before in life. So, it's quite interesting. And when it comes to live performances, I was performed this song for the first time [at Pentaport Rock Festival in Korea] and it was really nice. Like, I can see the Korean fans vibing and hyping [me up], even if they don't know the lyrics or haven't listened to cup of tea yet. It's really nice.

Speaking of Korea, you've gotten to perform at many cities all over Asia. What’s your favourite thing about performing in cities outside of Thailand? Do you have a favourite memory from your musical travels around Asia?

It feels so great! I can totally see the difference of the audience, like the way of they vibe is totally different. I really live to absorb that kind of energy and that kind of energy has influenced me a lot. [I feel like] I need to develop my show, like keep it better and better for the audience because I didn't expect that the audience would be that hyped. Thai people usually like being like a little introverted I would say, but they would feel the vibe but they just don't act it out.

But yeah, audiences abroad really feel it, it's really insane. They're just yelling at me (laughs), like I was like, 'oh, I can't hear you guys, can you repeat that?' and they would just be yelling. It's really cool and I just want to keep it that that way, it feels so, so good as the artists on the stage to have some engagement with the fans. I don't want to perform and they're still and stuff. I love the way they don't care about anybody like they're vibing by themselves and that is the best thing that I have ever seen.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Numcha (@hewantscoffeebutiamtea)

Do you have like a favorite memory from your travels around Asia?

My most favorite moment was last year, LUCFest in Taiwan cause that was my very, very first stage abroad. I didn't expect anything because this is my first time and I didn't want to pressure myself. I just wanted to go there and express myself and my radiation to the audience, that's all. I was playing in the theater and I saw a bunch of people [outside this] little door at the end of the theater, like 15 to 30 people who were waiting outside. I was so curious so I was like 'Hey, what are you waiting for? Just come in'. Then, when my set was finished, the staff told me 'you know, your venue was full' and that so many people stayed outside because they couldn't get into the show. I told the staff like 'Are you kidding me?', that never happened in my life before, even if in Thailand. I've never played a show with a full audience, it's really, really insane. I thought like 'oh, this is the moment'.

When I got back from Taiwan, I just kept thinking about that scenario. I just feel so thankful and grateful for the audience who came that day cause it's really [inspired] me as an artist, I just want to keep releasing music for the audience because they were so supportive.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Numcha (@hewantscoffeebutiamtea)

That must have felt amazing. Did you ever think you would get to this level of success when you first started out?

Not really. When I graduated from college in Thailand, I went to [Berkley College of Music]'s open house, to see everything there. When I got back, I thought if I wanted to be an artist, why not just make music right away instead of studying and keeping myself from being an artist because I was too shy and too scared to be an artist. Back then, I just graduated and was thinking what I wanted to be in this world, so I decided no more hiding, no more being scared. 

That's why I made 'Keep Cold' for my thesis project, it is my most favorite song. I just released it without doubting myself anymore, with no pressure. I absolutely had zero expectations with that song, I just wanted to go with the flow and didn't want to expect anything to come but from it, I gained a lot of fans. That [experience is] what really guides me, how I know I have come the right way. I keep telling myself to just keep releasing music and making music. This was in my bucket list since I was a kid and I'm so grateful for myself that I totally beat my fear and just became artist and rock my golden life. 

Are there any more like cities, stages or festivals you want to perform? 

My dream festival is Coachella, but the place that I want to visit the most is the Philippines and Indonesia. I always check my Spotify listeners and I have so many fans in Taiwan, which I've been there before, but also Philippines and Indonesia. I've never been there, [I want to go] just for travel and have a gig.  I'm really looking forward to having my gig there, like so bad. Me and my tour manager were planning about that.

Let's go back to the EP! What do you hope your listeners take away when they listen to hewantscoffeebutiamtea?

I hope it's a piece that you guys can easily relate with, in all situations in general. If you are dealing with a bad time, I feel it too and I know that you can deal with it like I always do.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Numcha (@hewantscoffeebutiamtea)

When making music, like whether it's for this EP or just in general, what is most important for you and your creative process?

It's not about writing songs or just like going to the studio and making music. One of the things that I really loved the most is that I can engage with people, with my team, with my producer and arranger, like I really love to talk about the topic or anything in between. Before we start to make music, we like to brainstorm and share some ideas—not just about music but also about living life and stuff, it's really nice. That became my influence when writing songs. I love to engage with people as much as I can, I love to observe and find some new energy, find some new inspiration by talking with people. 

I can see that in your collaborations as well, with ADOY and Kuo from Sunset Rollercoaster. Is there anyone else you hope to collaborate with in the
future?

Actually, I'm really a big fan of Tom Mitch. I love his music. I know that he does the mixing and mastering of his music on his own, and that's why I love him more. If I have a chance in life, [I would like] to like just make some stuff or even just sit with him and talk about his hits and his process of making music.

What's next for you?

For now, I keep writing songs as I do, and I plan to release music again next year if I can (laughs). During this time, I also started to collaborate with other artists abroad, so please stay tuned for that. Before another EP is released, I'll have a show in Taiwan and Singapore this year and some upcoming ones [I cannot say yet] but please keep an eye on me!

Listen to Numcha's hewantscoffeebutiamtea here.