Everyone’s a winnner

NAKARIN “Pang” Kingsak came away with the two accolades this week, picking up Best Songwriter of the Year and Song Hit for “Khon Mee Saneh” at The Guitar Mag Awards 2017 held on Tuesday night at the Stage at Asiatique the Riverfront. 
“I have to say that I’m very surprised, because making this song ‘Khon Mee Saneh’ was hard. It’s never easy for me – and I’ve been in the music circle for a long time – to come up with a new song especially as there are so many talented new generation artists out there. I asked myself what kind of song I really needed to do and concluded that I wanted to do the easiest. Thank you for discovering the value in this song,” said Pang Nakarin, who records with GMM Grammy subsidiary Genie Record. 
“And I got good feedback from people from all walks of life and of different ages. My thanks go to them too.”
This year, the award ceremony, whose slogan is “real awards for real artists”, was held on the theme “Songs of Father” in commemoration of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol’s musical genius and passion. 
Several artists paid tribute to the late monarch, among them Sophicha “Gail” Aungkavi- mongkol from Thailand’s Got Talent Season 2 who accompanied herself on guitar on “Kwam Fun Un Soong Sud”, Boom Boom Cash who performed “Yam Yen” (“Love at Sun Dawn”), concert pianist Sek Thongsuwan with “Sai Fon” (“Falling Rain”), saxophonist Thewan “Tong” Sub- saenyakorn with “Saeng Thien” (“Candlelight Blues”) and guitarist Jack Thammarat, who performed “Waew” (“Echo”).
This year’s Lifetime Achieve- ment Award went to established songwriter, Nitipong “Dee” Hornak. 
“I’m extremely honoured and grateful to receive this prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from The Guitar Mag and I’m sorry I’m not there to receive it in person,” said Nitipong, speaking through a video feed. 

Guitar Man of the Year went to Silly Fools’ guitarist Jakrint “Ton” Juprasert for “Pae Ya Rong”, Best Producer to Gun Rujinarong and Kevin Inthawong for “Ao”, New Wave to the Rube, Best Choice to Getsunova, and Best Style to the Parkinson.
“We are dreaming right now” said Siwapong Hemwong, the singer of the Rube, which calls itself a “modern traditional” style outfit. 
“Thanks to my label Spicy Disc and my music production team, especially Pae Mild who produced our songs. Thank to our fans too who voted for us.”
The award announcement was interspersed by shows from several bands such as Flure, Cocktail, artists from LoveIS and Warner Music Thailand’s new artists such as My Life as Ali Thomas, as well as Getsunuvao in the end.
Apiwat “Stamp” Eurthavorn- suk stepped up on the stage holding his “Best Male of the Year” award. Thanida Thamwimon, aka Da Endorphine, won “Best Female” while Big Ass picked up Best Band.
“I was worried went ‘Chan Ja Pen Kwam Rak Samer’ didn’t do well when it was released last year. Today, though, I feel vindicated,” said Stamp.
“We are very surprised with this award. Thank to The Guitar Mag for giving us this honorary award, fans, and Genie Record,” said Daycha “Jeng” Konarlo, the singer of rock band Big Ass.
The Most Popular Vote went to Room 39, who were absent from the event.