Chamras Saewataporn
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| Chamras Saewataporn | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Chamras Saewataporn |
| Also known as | Chamras |
| Born | December 9, 1955 Bangkok, Thailand |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Composer |
| Instrument(s) | guitar, piano |
| Years active | 1976 – Now |
| Website | www.greenmusic.org |
Chamras Saewataporn (born in Bangkok, Thailand on December 9, 1955), is an accomplished Thai musician and composer who first turned professional at the age of 18. He began his life as a musician in a night club and later joined one of the most famous Thai bands at that time(1976-1980), Grand X. In 1981, he began composing music and also started his own band "The Radio". His debut was in 1982, “Nok jao pho bin” (Soaring bird). Between 1986-1997, he composed theme songs for over 100 Thai movies. He is deeply inspired by his beliefs in Buddhism, and began composing music for relaxation, healing and meditation since 1993. While Saewataporn has clinched numerous domestic and international awards, his main motivation is in sharing his music with people worldwide.
[edit] Biography
Chamras was born in Bangkok, Thailand]] by the bank of the great Chao Phraya River and Wat Prayoon Wongsawas temple on December 9, 1955. Born to hardworking principled immigrant parents from China, Chamras learned to appreciate the value of work and the satisfaction of achievements. His parents settled in Thailand 20-30 years before his birth. His father was an expert engineer. Although Chamras was trained to be an engineer as his three other brothers were, he chose to pursue his passion in music instead.
Growing up along the riverside, Chamras had absorbed the beauty of the philosophy of this stream. He grew up with this river. He often crossed the Memorial Bridge over the river and became able to connect the solitude of Thonburi to Bangkok’s bustling civilization. It was also Wat Prayoon Wongsawas' constant reminder of death and its teachings and philosophy behind life that made Chamras even more aware of the beauty in all things-beauty he wanted to express but did not know how until music came to his life.
Despite his family’s financial difficulties, Chamras managed to graduate from Chulalongkorn University, one of Thailand’s most well-known universities. While studying at the university, Chamras worked in restaurants and nightclubs as a musician. He has never received formal training in music. His vision and imagination for music production was sparked by his experience in playing and composing music, and of course, the spiritual motivation that he has received since his childhood. It was at this stage that Chamras discovered music as the avenue for expression that he had been searching for all along. With music he is able to express the feelings of beauty he had long experienced and kept in his heart. Nothing has stopped him ever since.
Chamras has composed more than a thousand songs, of which about a hundred were played as theme songs in movies. He won many times for domestic and international awards like The Best Music from 32nd Asia-Pacific Film Festival 1987 Taipei. "But many awards and money should not be the goal of a musician."
Chamras once said that he believes his musical creation belongs to the whole world. "Should I die and be re-incarnated, I wish I could listen to my own music." He further explains, "Nothing in this world belongs to us. Not even ourselves nor our creation.. it is all duty.. some lesser some greater."
[edit] Music Profile
- His brother first taught him to play the guitar when he was in Grade 6.
- Form an amateur band with a group of friends in high school, Amnuay-Sil School
- Being a professional musician at an age of 18
- Joined Grand-X band since being a junior at Chulalongkorn University, Faculty of Economics(1977)
- Founded his own band, “The Radio”, and started composing music.
- First album debuted in 1982, “Nok-jao-pho-bin” (Soaring Bird), following with the second, “Yad-fon” (Pouring Rain), in 1983 and the third “Bot-pleng-lae-kwam-fun” (Music and Dream) in 1984.
- The curious in Buddhism and meditation inspired him to compose music for relaxing, healing and meditation since 1993 with the support of Greenmusic Co., Ltd
[edit] Awards / Honors
[edit] Thailand Oscar winning theme songs
1986 : Nam-sor-sai
1987 : Nang-nuan (also won The Best Music from 32nd Asia-Pacific Film Festival 1987 ,Taipei)
1990 : Puk-pui
1991 : Pieng-rao-mee-rao
1992 : Fak-fun-wai-diew-jar-liew-ma-aw
1993 : Na-sud-khob-fah
1994 : Fun-tid-fai-hua-jai-tid-din
[edit] Discography
[edit] Music for Healing, Relaxing and Meditation
Chamras being a spiritual person has found Buddhism to be his connection to the spirit of beauty of life. A spiritual person indeed, Chamras turns down business opportunities that would have brought him wealth and fame. "My life as the composer does not require fame and money but peace and sleep," he points out clearly. "Money and business system only destroys a musician's spirit and has destroyed atmosphere of human being." He added.
Although most of Chamras’ music is connected to his experience in the past, looking back is not his philosophy. Chamras is a man of the future and he continues to compose music to this day. And with the same faith and solace he found in his music, he declares, "My best songs have not come yet and I am running out of time."
[edit] Spiritual songs created for healing and relaxation.
[edit] Morning
The first series is called Morning, an appreciation of each one’s morning of life. As that of life can recur everyday as long as we are still breathing.
[edit] Season of Life
The second series is called Season of life, a comparison of life within Thailand’s three-seasons, rainy, summer and winter. Rainy is the season of childhood. Children are growing up, booming as the young rice plants receive the rain to keep up. Life always has freshness. Summer is for the teenagers. If the trees were not strong enough, they might die. Life is struggling and searching as the plant main root that burrowing it ways to food and water resources under the dry ground. Finally, winter is compared as the end period of life. This period, one has accrued a lot of experience from learning for a long time and the energy has regressed. What one does is picking off the plant seeds down to earth.
[edit] Whisper of The wind
Whisper of the Wind is the title of his third series, an expression of waiting and searchings of life. Many songs are gathered from different movie’s music backgrounds he composed.
[edit] Song of Leaf
These are followed by other series as Song of Leaf, a description of Thailand’s countryside by piano solo.
[edit] Music of The Chaophraya River
The Music of the Chao Phraya River, a reflection of the musician’s childhood by the riverside
[edit] Piano in The Garden
Piano in the Garden, a collection of nature’s sounds through music. The music expressed things that have seen such as butterflies with flowers, dragonflies, and bird. These again reflected his memories about walking along the ditches were clearly appeared in this music album.
[edit] The Naerunchara River
The Naerunchara River, a revelation of Lord Buddha’s enlightenment.
[edit] Nirvana
Nirvana (Enlighten your mind) The way to nirvana, there's no certain theory. Still, enlighten your mind, to find the way to the truth in your soul.
[edit] The River of Forever
The River of Forever "Sentimental and peaceful music, playing along with the sound of flowing river"
[edit] The Spell of Whispering
The Spell of Whispering "The fantastic spell of Thai music whispering, wonderful feeling on the soft harmony of Thai culture"
[edit] Mother care fairy Child
Mother care fairly Child "Bright and magnificent music, very easy to listen, suitable for mothers and children"
[edit] The Chaophraya River
The Chaophraya River "Life is traveling somewhere in the universe. Calm and stable mind will lead you to the attainment"
[edit] Piano on The Beach
"Melodious piano sound sifts through the wave's whisper a serenading orchestra of nature"
