Lang or Sithpraseut Keojaraj, a rising singer and actor from the Lao PDR, became an instant star when his song "Songsaan Khontadamdam" hit the Top Chart on several Lao radio stations for more than five weeks last year. Lang's popularity is fast spreading from Laos to Thailand and soon Singapore where a TV mini series in which he plays the leading role will air in the near future.
Lang was born in Wattay, Vientiane. He started singing when he was very young and entered in many singing competitions. He later learned how to play the guitar and started writing songs. Lang told VOA in an interview by phone from Vientiane, "After I received recognition after winning the title "NoumDee & SaoDen" for male students – the equivalence of Best Behavior and Most Popular Male Student - at the National University, I started making a demo of a song that I wrote, "Songsaan Khontadamdam," and presented it to Lao radio stations. They liked it and it became an instant hit."
The CEO of SEA Art, Inc(Southeast Asia Arts), a relatively new Thai music company, who was in Laos for business saw quality and talent in Lang and offered him an album deal to be produced in Thailand. Lang grabbed the opportunity to produce his debut album in multi-languages. The deal took him to Thailand, with appearances on TV and interviews in magazines and newspapers. Lang says his debut album will be out soon. It will be in Lao and Thai, featuring songs written for him and three that he wrote himself, including "Songsaan Khontadamdam."
Lang is currently trying out his acting skills. Seeing his marketable boyish look resembling a handsome Chinese or Japanese young man, SEA Art signed him on for an acting part with a Singaporean company which is producing a mini-series TV show, called "Motorcycle Ghost," in Thailand. The show, in which Lang plays the hero, will be aired in Singapore. On the night of the interview with VOA last week, Lang said he just came back home for a weekend break from taping the show in Bangkok. Although the show is taped in English, Lang does not have any problem with it. He had mastered his English at the Lao-American University. He is currently in his last year at the Lao National University, majoring in Economics.
Lang says, "This is my very first acting role, I'd never done any acting before. It's not easy, but I give it all I got. I'll do my best. Right now, I am very busy trying to make the best of everything, whether in singing and acting. I would like to take this opportunity asking for support from everyone out there. With your support and encouragement, I will try to be the best I can be," Lang concludes.
VOA wishes Lang all the best in the career that he has chosen, and thanks him for taking time to talk to us.
For more details in Lao, listen to our interview with Lang by clicking on our audio files.
For additional info on this rising star from the Lao PDR, go to www.you2play.com/lang
