Amp takes the microphone

Saowaluk “Amp” Leelaboot celebrates three decades in the entertainment business this year with “I Am What I Amp”, a pair of back-to-back shows at Royal Paragon Hall on June 2 and 3.
Amp burst onto the scene back in 1981 as one of the all-girl trio Sao Sao Sao, which scored with such hits as “Pratu Jai” and “Ruk Kue Fun Pai”. When the girl group disbanded in 1990, Amp embarked on a successful solo career, with hits that included “Kod Dun”, “Kwam Song Jam”, “Chan Neung”, “Yahk Suay”, “Chan Laew”, “Kid Theung Kon Plak Nah”, “Kon Klang keun” and “Kreung Neung Kaung Chee Wit”.
Today, she looks back with fondness at her 30 years in showbiz, saying that her career has been satisfying and happy on the whole. The distressing parts, she adds, have served to make her more patient and disciplined.
Asked to define herself and her career in one word, the singer laughs and says that would be difficult, but if pushed, the title of one of her albums, “Any Amp”, probably best illustrates her career. “I know that’s two words but throughout my 30-year journey, I think I can say I’ve tried everything and done it all.”
And if she hasn’t, it’s not for want of trying. She’s gone from a member of a trio to a solo star and she’s changed fashion, hair and singing styles more times than she can remember. “I look back at my past work and I realise I've experienced many highs and lows too.”
Although Amp’s appeared as a guest at several concerts over the past few years, this is her first solo show in more than a decade.
She’ll will be singing hits, both sad and encouraging in a show that will be divided into three different sections – songs she wrote for myself, songs she wrote for others and a segment with guest performers, among them Marsha Wattanapanich and Mai Charoenpura as well as “10 others whose identity is a surprise”, she says.
“The concert is a thank you to the fans who’ve been faithful to me over the last three decades. There’ll be medleys and rearrangements so we can squeeze in as many songs as we can in the limited time. And we’re also including some numbers that have been forgotten.”
Though best known for her heart-rending songs, Amp says she’s not aiming to draw any particular emotions from the audience.
“My message is ‘let the concert take you’. It up to the audience whether they get what they come for.”
Asked what she sees herself doing 10 years from now, Amp shrugs and mentions responsibilities towards her parents. “But if I were completely free, I would love to find a peaceful place in the countryside and settle there.”
  SUMMER NIGHTS
- “I am What I Amp” takes place in Royal Paragon Hall on June 2 and 3 at 7pm.
- Tickets cost from Bt1,000 to Bt2,500 and come with a CD of songs chosen by Amp to celebration her anniversary. They’re available at www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.
- Part of the proceeds from the concert will be donated to Thai Red Cross for helping people with hearing disabilities in poor rural areas