Grammy terminates Sek Loso's contract

The company’s senior executive vice president Krij Thomas officially told the press yesterday that GMM Grammy had terminated its contract with Seksai “Sek” Sukpimai. The termination of the contract, which still had three years to go, marks the end of a 16-year relationship between the musician and the music label. 

GMM Grammy held an urgent press conference yesterday after Sek admitted in an interview on Monday that he had indeed used drugs. 

Krij said his company had strict regulations in terms of drug abuse. “From now on, he is no longer a Grammy member, and after this, it is between him and the Office of Narcotics Control Board.”

The executive, who was a former musician and songwriter in the 1980s, said that Grammy had told all its artists about the company’s drug-free policy. 

Seksan has been with Grammy since his band Loso’s first album, “Lo Society”, debuted in 1996. The band broke up in 2003 and the musician came up with two solo albums: “7 August” in 2003 and “Black & White” in 2006. 

However, now that his contract with Grammy has been terminated, the company will not be promoting his latest single “Sek Love Song”, though he will still continue earning from his music copyright, which covers songwriting, producing, singing and arrangement.

In the interview at home on Monday night, Sek also said that Grammy owed him an apology, though he did not elaborate. He also told reporters about instances of him being stalked and his phone being tapped. 

Krij dismissed Sek’s claims, saying: “We aren’t that kind of the company. He might have imagined it himself.” When reporters asked the Grammy executive if the firm would at least apologise, he said Sek should speak to the firm directly. 

The “Sek scandal” started about two weeks ago in what looked like dirty laundry being washed in public when his ex-wife posted a picture of him using drugs on her Facebook page. The image then started getting widely circulated on social media, though neither Grammy nor the artist reacted to the news. 

The music company had said earlier that it had tried contacting the artist. But that didn’t happen, and Sek agreed to an interview, which sparked another round of controversies. Apparently both parties have yet to meet face to face.

In his interview, Sek admitted that he did use drugs and confirmed that the photograph posted by his former wife was him, though he was not aware that she had taken photographs of him while they were on holiday in Prague. 

“As an artist, I must use [drugs] but I strongly believe I can manage it,” he said, though he was quick to advise young people and his fans to pick his better qualities and not use drugs. 

“I am strong and that is why I can handle it,” Sek said, as he tried justifying his drug use by naming some foreign artists who are also allegedly drug users. 

Though he would not be tied down to promising that he would go for rehabilitation, Sek did vaguely mention that he would handle the problem himself. He also said he would never lead an anti-drugs campaign, as it would not be suitable. 

The artist also admitted that his former wife’s claim of domestic violence was true and said he never wanted to divorce the mother of three until she pleaded for the third time. “I believe I can handle my family problems and from now on I will take good care of my family.”

Despite his damaging scandal, some fans are still providing support on Sek’s Facebook page, yet many are also slamming him for his behaviour. 

Young artists, in particular, are worried that Sek’s comments linking the music industry with drug abuse might damage their reputations. 

Such a blanket notion is not good as people might assume we [the artists] depend on drugs to produce works,” Thai violinist Paye Srinarong tweeted. 

Singer/dermatologist Smith Arayaskul also tweeted: “Drugs are never needed by anybody and there is no such thing as ‘we can use drugs and control it’.” 

Singer Yong Armchair said a genuine artist can get a high without using drugs.