Luk Thung singer Lamyai's hectic life

What's life like for Lamyai Haithongkham, the most in-demand luk thung star of the moment? Lots of work and little sleep.

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The way she moves

Melalin Mahavongtrakul

What's life like as the most in-demand luk thung star of the moment? After an unexpected catapult to national fame following PM Prayut Chan-o-cha's comment on her twerking, after a frenzy of media coverage sensationalising her stage name and persona, and after becoming an accidental symbol of youth and freedom, 19-year-old Lamyai Haithongkham has only one simple wish: more time to sleep.

Lamyai in her earlier days pictured with her best-known critic Prime Minister Prayud Chan-o-cha

"All my free time goes to sleeping on the van nowadays. I use my voice a lot. And if I don't take a rest, my voice will go," said Supansa Wedkama, the Isan-born singer behind the stage name Lamyai Haithongkham.

Supansa, and her Lamyai persona, are best known for sexy, hip-thrusting twerks and revealing outfits, as well as her dance hit Phu Sao Kha Loh (Fun-Loving Girl), which has garnered 300 million views on YouTube since its release. The song is sung entirely in Isan dialect, and is now a hit at every club, pub, karaoke bar and party all over the country.

Video by Jetjaras Na Ranong and Melalin Mahavongtrakul

When Life recently met Supansa before a concert in Rangsit, the singer said she'd just flown back from the North that morning to attend a photo shoot in the afternoon. At 7pm, she was scheduled for the Rangsit concert. Later that night, she hopped on her van for Si Racha in Chon Buri for another two gigs, taking her well past midnight.

Supansa's manager said her schedule is booked every day until next year. She's also due to appear in two movies: one with Sahamongkol Film studio, the other Phu Sao Kha Loh The Movie – an independent film and spin-off from her hit, to be produced by the singer's label.

In short, she's one of the hardest-working 19-year-olds in Thailand.

Before stardom took over, the singer was just a student who would sing part-time at events and weddings. That is, until she was discovered by Prachak Naowarat – managing director of Haithongkham Record and now Supansa's manager and producer – and became famous with her Fun-Loving Girl tune.

Cutting down on the hip-thrusting moves, the singer now features the 'bending bridge' in one of her songs. Photo by Jetjaras Na Ranong

When Prachak first met his would-be star, she was singing at a beer garden.

"She was dancing onstage, making, like, 300 baht a show," he said. That was all in the past, of course. A full show with Supansa and her team of musicians and dancers now costs about 90,000 baht. Recently, the singer was able to purchase a new home for her family after living in an old rental house.

But not everyone is a fan of her hip-thrusting show. Back in June, the luk thung superstar made headlines when Gen Prayut criticised her to the media for all the twerks and inappropriate attire. Following the PM's outcry, the Ministry of Culture sent a letter to the label asking for its cooperation to be more decent. Suddenly, the coverage of Lamyai Haithongkham's clothes became a national matter that raised eyebrows in amusement.

Supansa and the label readily obliged the PM's words. In her shows now, all the hip-thrusting moves have been toned down, her clothes less revealing, in an attempt to produce a show more suitable to all ages.

While she accepted what she called "constructive criticism" from the military junta, it was quite clear during our talk that all the sexiness was never a problem for her. It's not something degrading or outrageous. She is just going with the industry flow.

You can read the full story here: http://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/social-and-lifestyle/1329151/the-way-she-moves

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