1. , 2009 / Copyright Aluna Thavonsouk 2009, journey2partii@gmail.com : / Published by Aluna Thavonsouk, Thavonsouk Resort (www.thavonsouk.com) : 13226052009, : 1,000 , , ... 2009. ,/: (+856-21) 26-3748, e-mail: dokked@veetoo.net , 9Jump 12,13,24,25,50,51,66,67,76,77,94, 95,114,115 . : (-) Dcode & OnAir Revlon Written by Aluna Thavonsouk Translation to Lao text by DOKKED PUBLISHING English text editors: Charles Martin Legrande Eastly & Soulinhakhath Steve Arounsack,Ph.D. Concept & Design: by Oudomphone Bounyavong Studio Photo by Pan Front & Back Cover Artworks by 9Jump Inside Poster Artworks p12,13,24,25,50,51,66,67,76, 77,94,95,114,115 by Soulisack Vongduangdy. Studio Stylist: Thavixay Saythilath (Tar APactS) Clothes by Dcode & OnAir Hair & Make Up by Revlon

2. Aluna 3. . , , , . ? ? . , . . . , . ! , . ... . 4. 4 Dream It is my belief that we all have within us many dreams and passions wait- ing to be discovered. However, because life has other considerations like money, time, resources and other obligations, we seem to hold back our hearts desires. We seem to have stopped searching for our lifes passions. Then, what is the purpose of life? What are we born to do? Ultimately, how do we achieve happiness? To reach such dreams may take years. Some people spend their entire life- time searching for dreams. The vast majority, however, give up. I live out my dreams by singing with my heart. The success that I have enjoyed is not simply related to number one hit songs, record album sales, or awards. Rather, success has graced me all along this road and it really started from the first day. Simply put, success is the mere fact that I followed my dream and my passion. I have been so fulfilled and happy. To those who have found your dreams, do not give up and do not betray your own heart! The places I have been, the things I have seen, and the people I have met have influenced and inspired my ways of thinking. These experiences have in turn shaped the way I write and the way I sing. They have also stirred many deep feelings and emotions I will share with you. Please join me as the dreams and passions that have become Aluna: The Journey to Part II unfold. 5. 5 The Journey begins 6. 6 My Dream with Singing I have always been surrounded by music and I have always loved to sing. People often ask who my music idols are and I respond, they are my mom and dad. In fact, they are the first people who opened up my world to music. During my childhood, Id often hear my dad singing with his guitar; my mom would sing along in her free time. They loved playing songs created by legends of the 60s and 70s like Elvis, Cliff Richards, The Beatles, and The Carpenters among many others. Those early experiences were so cool. Every now and then, I carry some of those old songs with me and sing along. Some people are surprised by my knowledge of old songs. Because my dad was a musician and singer, he always had instruments around our house with which to practice. The first musical instrument that I touched was the guitar. I was only five. At that age, it was much bigger than my body and too big for me to hold, so I held it downward on my lap and played. I was always curious about how musical instruments produce sounds and how those sounds turn into different keys and notes. The guitar, keyboard, and the harmonica were my favorites. With my minds empty canvas, I tried to differentiate the sounds, keys, and notes from only my senses. I did not learn the musical notes, however, and never had a professional training because it was too expensive. My childhood memory with music was so wonderful and peaceful that I knew that Id always want to be around it. 7. 7 . ? . , . . , , , . . , . . 5 , . ? . , . . . , . 8. 8 Though I had been surrounded by music from a young age, I never thought of becoming a professional singerthat dream never existed. During my teenage years, I really focused on school because my goal was to get a scholarship to study abroad in Australia. I achieved that goal and graduated. My life appeared to be fulfilling: I earned a bachelors degree in Business from a university in Australia and worked at my familys business, the Thavonsouk Resort. Still, I was longing for the next adventure in my life. Many questions arose. After the degree and work, did I really need a mas- ters degree? Many of my other friends were pursuing advanced degrees at that time. What was next for me? I only knew that I yearned for something new to make me happier. In 2002, I decided to look for myself (I heard this term from movies, but never fully understood it). I took three months off from work during the low season at the resort to travel to Europe. That trip changed my life forever. During the early morning of June 21, 2002, I took a bus to visit some mu- seums in Paris, France and suddenly noticed there was a special event. I heard music along the road, and I saw people spontaneously come out and play music. They sang about everything using their guitars, saxophones, trumpets, harmonicas, and accordions. They were everywhereon road- sides, in the Metro, and on almost every corner I walked past. I was so happy to be in this amazing environment. I felt like I was brought back to something familiar, but also something that I was missing for some time. It was great to hear music again. 9. 9 , . . . . . ? ? ? ? 2002 ( , ). 3 . 21 2002 , , , , , , . . 10. 10 I realized afterward that the morning event was Europes Fte de La Mu- sique (The Music Festival). Musicians from all around the world come to celebrate this festival. I saw Lenny Kravitz, Sheryl Crow, R.E.M., Bryan Adams and many more fab- ulous artists. It was so inspiring! I was about to celebrate my birthday a few days later, and I truly felt that witnessing this event was one of the most precious gifts ever. It was the answer to my dreams questions. I tuned in and silently listened, and in that moment, I felt like a bolt of lightening struck meit was in that moment that my dream was born. I said to myself, Yes, why dont I create music? Why dont I sing?! There are many ways to realize your dreams and true passions. Free your mind and look deep down in your heart, because sometimes ideas dont come right away. Part of the journey is to develop and grow by following your passion. If I can do it, you can also do it! The first step is believing in yourself. 11. 11 . . , , , . . . , , ! ? ? ? ... , . ! . 12. 12 . . . ? . . , . , , . , . , . 13. 13 Discovering my dream was just the beginning of the journey. There were moments when I worried about balancing my job at the resort and the singing. Audience acceptance was another worry. Its never easy being in the spotlight. Many questions lingered until the ultimate question rose, Aluna, if you dont sing, will you regret it for the rest of your life? The answer was a resounding Yes, I would regret it! I had a clear answer and took the first step. I have a lot to share through my music and lyrics. Even though obstacles would always test me, I never gave up because this is my true passion. ALUNA, my self-titled debut album came out in early 2005. It was the initial success of my dream. ALUNA has become a name that many Lao people are familiar with, as a result of my first single Thook Ha Na Thi. The single was the start of my work and initial recognition by the press as well as an emerging number of Lao music fans. The success of the first album gave me opportunities to travel and meet many talented and interesting people during concert tours in Laos and beyond. 14. 14 ALUNA National Tour 15. 15 , . , . (19) , , . ? . , . . , .2-.3 . , , , , , , , , . 16. 16 17. 17 The gift of music and the gift of song have given me opportunities to travel, to see the beautiful nature of my own country and to experience the beautiful faces and smiles of pure Lao hearts along my way. I participated in many concert tours with Indee artists and with other sponsors and I love them all. The most impressive one for me was the concert tour around Laos from the north to the south with Tango, a telecom company. It may have been because it was the longest road trip I had ever taken (19 days), or because it was a small team full of energy. The team members were effective and cheerful. Or it could have been because it was the tour with the smallest stage ever. The special part was the passion of the crowds singing, dancing and participating in games and other activities led by Tango. I was the sole artist traveling with three people from the Indee team and ten people from Tango. I got a call from Tango, asking if I would like to join the tour around Laos. Without a second thought I said, Yes. I was so excited! It meant, I first had a chance to meet my fans and secondly to visit places I had never been. (At that time, the farthest Id ever been outside of Vientiane was Vang Vieng). We had our first concert at the market of Thakhek, Khammouan Province . It was so much fun and the fans varied, from kids in grade 2/3 to grandmas and vendor ladies around the market. I still remember the great drink from the fruit juice lady, the Num Oy+ (sugar cane drink) after the concert finished. It was very sweet of her and has become a great thank you memory. We toured from Thakhek to Seno, to Bolikhamxai (Paksan) and on to Savanhnakhet. We then went to the very south of Laos to Salavan, Pakse, and Attapeu. We extended the tour down to the beautiful Khong Island and came back up around the mining areas in Gnommalad, Nam Theun and Sepone. 18. 18 3 05 , 19 19 . . . . . . . . ? , . . . 19. 19 . 4.30 . , . . . 10 . ( ) . . . . , , . 20. 20 . . . 4. . . . . . 6 . ! . . 19 ( ). . () . 21. 21 3rd of November, 05. Writing from Vang Vieng. The 19 day tour passed by so quickly. It was the 19 days on the road - up and down, miles and miles away from one town to another without even one traffic light (so nice). I loved every single turn of it. I loved every place Ive been and people I have met. I kept saying to myself that I am a lucky child of the universe; this is the experience that money cant buy. This trip did not just take me to meet the fans, but it also allowed me to experience the beauty of Laos. It was in the faces of the people I met, in our culture as well as in our natures. In spite of the hard work from the concerts, my team and I always managed to fit our little time to enjoy each town and place that we went to. We would always check the markets out for some unique items/products or souvenirs (mainly food ^_^), and of course we would not miss the main attractions and the nature of each town/village. I love the falls in the South. There are many amazing water falls around this area of the country - both hidden ones and the well known one, like the great waterfall Konphapheng. It is another stunning set of nature. She is so elegant, her sound is so strong and loud like all voices from all the rivers combined. This was my first time visiting the stunning Konphapheng as well as the amazing historical site, Vat Phou Champasack, which is now a World Heritage Site. Walking around this ancient place kept me wondering how big and strong were our ancestors? How on earth could they have carried all the big, big stones and rocks to construct such a well designed architecture? Is it true what they say in myths that people in the past were giants, who possessed magic? Um... definitely, something to think about? These unrevealed and Xayabouly Luangprabang Vang Vieng 22. 22 unproved things around the world. On my way out of Vat Phou, in my heart I said Thank you for leaving us such an incredible piece of art. Thank you. I am so proud to be your child. Thank you. My most personal sweet and romantic memory of this trip was in beautiful Don Khong Island. It was a late Friday afternoon around 4:30 p.m. when school was finishing and the high school kids were rushing to join our concert stage. The rainbow was gliding on the sky along with the pouring rain, but that did not stop the crowd from staying and playing with us at all. Even though it rained, they were still there, the kids were still there singing with me. Thook Ha Na Thi was their favorite song. Because of the energy of the crowd, I decided to go on with the concert, until I got an electric shock from the microphone. So then we really had to stop! That is a precious memory I keep with me. After the two long days of work with singing, playing games, and giving prizes to the crowd, we had a wonderful small party for our team at our hotel along the Mekong river (so nice!). I had my acoustic guitar (used for writing more songs in my second album), which allowed me to serenade everyone. We sang and sang and sang till the stars and the moon heard us and seemed to shine and joined us, sending their reflections on the Mekong. Everything else was pitch dark so nice, cool and so romantic. We sat there and some of us were just lying down there till late. We then stopped the guitar, and listened to the movement of the river and the sound of the nature serenading back to us. It was sad to leave as I always say it is hard to say good bye, but we had to go. The next morning, we packed up and left. I turned back to look at the balcony where we sat the night before and hoped I could come back here again someday. Our next venues would be Xayabouly, Paklai and Luangprabang up north. Vientiane Savanhnakhet Pakse Attapeu 23. 23 I am in love with the great, great mountains from the north as to the water falls in the south of Laos. I find them very incredible. The weather was quite cold in Xayabouly and Paklai, but the great welcome of the crowd just warmed me up and I had a wonderful concert with them. We moved down to Luangprabang four days later to have a big concert at Dern That Luang. I was so excited. The character of the north crowd was quite cute, quite conservative. Though they did not dance and scream out loud, they had their own way to show their happiness during the concert. I could see it from their gestures, their eyes and their smiles. As soon as the concert was over, I tried to sneak away from the team who were ready to celebrate the end of the trip by night in the well known night club of Luangprabang. but I went to bed instead (^_^ zzzzz. zzzzz.) coz I wanted to be able to get up early for the alms giving in the morning. By 6 a.m. the roads were quite busy with both locals and travelers giving-alms to more than a hundred monks. After paying respects to the monks, I went for some early breakfast Luangprabang style, having Kao Peak Kao+ (rice porridge)humyum! The tour was really something ^_^. I felt so loved and I was so happy to be there, to see the people outside of Vientiane. We brought laughter and happiness to each little town we visited, little towns that hardly had any entertainment apart from the TV at home. The 19 days passed so quickly! Happily we made our way back to Vientiane safe and sound and here I am resting in Vang Vieng (in my little comfort zone). With renewed energy, I am working and focusing more on my second album. And every now and then I have re-toured the towns that I visited on my first tour. I never got bored because every time I feel like it is my first time. And always, always, always I am excited to go back to see them again! 24. 24 Dare to dream dare to imagine the possibility and the probability 25. 25 26. 26 Along my path, there have been a lot of bonuses and the US tour was one of them. This was something very far from my thoughts. I didnt believe it would happen for many years, but as it turned out it happened very quickly. , , . Seattle Minnesota Chicago New York Utah Las Vegas San Francisco Los Angeles USA 27. 27 1st of August 05, was when my trip to the US started. My first concert in the US was confirmed in Seattle, but for some reasons, there seemed to be no seat left on the plane for me to fly out there. Seven days before the concert started, I still had no plane ticket to Seattle (panic!). So, I then had to change my destination point to Los Angeles. The long flight was not that bad, not too bumpy. I woke up one time, and by 11 p.m. I was there in LAX, the airport (I am in LA whoooo hooo***)! 1 05, . , . 7 () . . 11 ( !) 28. 28 L.A It was a good holiday (before the Seattle concert) in LA a lively city. When I think of LA, I think of movies, movie stars, Hollywood and all of the famous movie making studios, most of which I visited. I visited all the trendy attractions from Melrose Place to Beverly Hills 90210 and Universal Studios. And of course, no trip to L.A. would be complete without stopping for a visit to Hollywood, Manns Chinese Theater and the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard. ( ) , , - . , . , , ?. 29. 29 Seattle My first US concert was in Seattle. I and other Lao singers from around the States played the concert. I remember how they announced each singers name and where they are from. Most of them were from LA, Chicago, New Jersey, Florida and then they announced ALUNA, from Vientiane Laos and that brought a high to the crowd as they screamed and shouted to cheer me on (thank you ^_^). I did five songs, three from my first album and two songs in English, with one solo on my acoustic guitar. Its been almost four years and I still remember this concert perfectly. In Seattle, apart from the great support from the Lao fans, my aunt and her daughter from Canada, whom I had not seen for 12 years also turned up to support me (it was a great surprise thank you). . , , , , . . 30. 30 The TV producer for the Seaw Talk; one of the most well known Teen TV show on the LAO Cable in America Steve Arounsack Steve Arounsack and I met at my very first big concert (Lao & Thailand Friendship in 2004; hosted almost 7000 people). He came to film the concert and interview me. And could it have been destiny or was it possibility that Steve saw something in me? Or maybe he just had no idea what he was getting himself into. Whatever the reason, he contacted me the next day about touring in the US. Again, without a second thought, I said, Yes. Through Steve, I met many talented Lao musicians and singers. Also those kind-hearted people have now become a group of true friends in the US. - 2004 . . . 31. 31 ATHENIAN: a sea food restaurant where Tom HANKS had lunch (during his staring in Sleepless in Seattle - my all time favorite romantic movie). THE FIRST Starbucks Coffee @ The Pike Place Market TALAT Vientiane: so cool to see a Lao Sign here and they were selling Aluna CDs as well! Aluna Chilling time in Seattle 32. 32 San Francisco SF is a town on the vertical side. Hills after hills I walked up and down to see the beauty of the place. It forced me to take off my high-heeled shoes or I might have been rolling down this 75 degree hill. I couldnt believe I was here San Francisco; the city of my dreams. I enjoyed the cable car/tram very much around Nob Hill & Russian Hill. We then drove up to the Golden Gate Park to see the bridge, but the weather was quite cold and cloudy so I only got the misty view of it. , . . . 33. 33 Chicago The Millennium Park, Chicago , . . After a ten day vacation in San Francisco, I started preparing myself for my next concert in Chicago. This one was harder as I was the main act. 34. 34 Chicago 2 . . . . , , , . 10 . , . 35. 3535 My 2nd Concert. The Venue was Akitnas Restaurant. A lot more people turned up than we expected. It was a two hour concert of fun in this very cozy and intimate atmosphere where I could get close to the audience (I love this kind of concert). We sang, ate, played games and danced together to my Lao and English songs. I included acoustic style as well as the Lao traditional songs, where I got people up to do Lum Vong, the Lao traditional dance circle. The concert was a great opportunity for me to get to work with the local band IBU, made up of two Filipinos and one Lao with an R&B sound very impressive. 36. Surprises always came during each of my concerts. This time it was Be, my best high school friend (whom I had not seen for five years). Be flew in from Indiana. I nearly cried when we hugged. After the concert, I sat and chatted with all the fans and signed CDs and posters until 1:30 a.m. It was a great night ^_^ and I was so happy! . 5 . 1:30 . 37. 38 New York here I am in the Big Apple 38. 39 39. 40 I hunted for all the main attractions in Manhattan. Shopping in the China Town, the famous golden bull, and Wall St. We then went to witness the World Trade Center Area, which is now Ground Zero. We also enjoyed the view of Manhattan from the top of the Empire State Building. The next day, we were at Central Park, my favorite skating rink from many movie scenes like Serendipity. In Times Square, I checked out the Broadway Theaters & MTV studio. Day three, a friend of mine, woke me up very early to be on time to wave in front of the famous NBC TODAY SHOW studio. My friend loves Matt Lauer, the TV personality so much. He even tried to sneak in at the back of the studio to meet Matt in person. I, on the other hand, paid more attention to the behind-the-scenes production of the Live Show, watching the team run back and forth. We then took off to the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. Later that afternoon, we escaped the busy life and rushing hours to explore Greenwich Village, where we discovered many cool quiet corners with art galleries, cafes and coffee shops. I loved it so much, especially with the street entertainers taking over the center fountain to amuse the dog walkers, skateboarders, musicians and chess players who made full use of the park. , : , . . , : Serendipity. MTV studio. NBC studio Today show . . : Matt Lauer . . . Greenwich Village : , . 40. 41 Day four in NY we decided to explore Niagara Falls. They are far more than a natural phenomenon. We jumped on the Amtrak train to Rochester, which was quite a long way. The phrase khauw hoo suek bork struck my head! It came from the impression of the trip in traveling and touring so far basically from a thank you feeling for the fans. 4 , . , ( , ) 6 , , ! . 41. 42 Minnesota MN, Spoonbridge and Cherry and Adjacent Sculpture 42. 43 The Minnesota concert came unplanned while I was in NY. I got a call from my manager in Chicago telling me that the Lao community there wanted to have a concert there. Of course, I said, yes. My third concert was in St Paul (MN). The number of people who turned up to support me was around four hundreds. At this point, the VOA (Voice of America) contacted me for an in- terview. I was so excited. It was such a nice interview and a nice chat with sis Vannasone, the report- er. We shared a lot of interests. You can follow the interview on http://www.alunafanclub.com , . 3 (). , 400 . . . http://www.alunafanclub.com 43. 44 Vegas. This glamorous, sleepless town was next on my list. Its the brightest town with all kinds of entertainment. Here, I stayed with a very lovely Lao family who are good friends of my LA cousin. I did not reveal exactly who I was. They did not know that I was a singer until one of their young boys recognized me and asked, Hey sister, are you Aluna, the singer? I could not be silent when he was so sure and even had my album. I was somewhat embarrassed when he told his mom and everyone else. I ended up signing the CD for him. One interesting thing he got to me was when he said, Do you know that your songs make me wanna learn more Lao? I have always kept that statement with me. It is so powerful to know that my work touches peoples minds and can inspire them in a wonderful way. That is everything to me as a song writer and a singer. , . ? . . . . Vegas 44. 45 Utah ZION Park . . 45. 46 The trip to Utah State was really special to me. I went to Zion Canyon and that was such a wonderful trip. Amazing. It was the most amazing landscape that Ive ever seen! And this whole time when I was walking around Zion National Park, I asked myself, What was I doing in NY when I should have come here sooner, camping and waking up to this heaven? And it is a heaven! I will come back for more next time! 46. 47 L 47. 48 Seattle MN Chicago NYNYUtah LV SF ChicagoChicagoUtah Seattle MN aaa bb c d e f g hLVhLVh . , . , , . . . , , . . 48. 49 Seattle MN Chicago NYUtah LV SF LA a b c d e f g h Thank you for your love and support along this journey. Your faith and belief in me have done a lot for my soul. They have pushed me to reach for something better and encouraged me to achieve something beyond what I thought I could. Your love, words and tips are the gifts you have given. They will be with me always. In the days ahead Ill think of these wonderful days and memories. Everywhere I go, I will think of where Ive been and who I have met. The power of love teaches me and frees me inside. This power of love is huge and amazing. It lets me hear the music from my soul, discover peace of mind, and know who I am the qualities in me that are loved by you. Everywhere I go, I think of you, and every song I sing, I sing for you, my dear true friends and fans. This path of my life has shown me an amazing journey about how beautiful life can be. This trip was a marvelous journey and I know the camera cannot capture everything I have seen, the places I have been, and the people I have met. But they are always in my heart and mind. Knowing you all means more than just meeting new friends. You are more like family. I feel so loved and lucky to have your love and support. Though I traveled alone, I never felt lonely. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Aluna! 49. 50 Frangipani to Sakura 50. 51 51. 52 1st concert One ASIA concert @ FAB hall, Harajuku TOKYO on the 5th of September 2006 2006, ^_^ . ( ) 1 . , 52. 53 Japan I am in my contemporary Lao dress performing acoustic on Jum Pa Moung Lao song. Our very own Frangipani, the national flower of Laos is on my guitar! The audience included the members of the Lao Embassy, the Lao Ambassador to Japan, Mr. Keola, and the Lao & Japan association members. Also there were donors from the Asian Education and Friendship Association (AEFA), who are sponsoring school projects for Lao kids around the country. 53. 5454 Late in August 2006 I had my rst time performance of my song Hai Pai Doy Dee with Gypsy Queen, a rock band from Japan. After the song nished, I heard screaming, shouting and clapping. I felt I had done my job well. And then Aki San, the lead of the band, asked me if I was ready to perform in Tokyo the following month, September of 2006. I did not think twice. YES was the next word in the conversation! And the Japan tour became a reality. Frangipani to Sakura 54. 5555 Japan 55. 56 Japan was one of the main destinations I dreamt of when I was in my teens. I had heard many Japanese pop bands, groups and seen their series and was somewhat addicted to their music. And then you dream of seeing the actual places, the towns and cities, and experiencing the atmosphere, cul- ture and character of Japan. Kawaii = cute! JAPAN:TOKYO 56. 57 , . , , , , ^_^ ! 57. 5858 The 2nd concert Spirit of Asia Concert @ Y2k Roppongi on the 7th of Oct 2006 in Japan for Aluna 2 7 2006, 58. 5959 59. 6060 BMI MUSIC (meet, greet and sign CDs with the Lao & Japanese Fans) 60. 6161 61. 62 3 - 7 2007 The 3rd Concert in Japan to celebrate the twin cities Vientiane - Tahara 7th of March 2007 T A H A R A C I T Y 62. 63 About 300 people from Tahara-City turned up for the concert. I performed 12 songs; including our very own famous Yen Sa Bai Sao Na song by A Jarn Boua Ngen SAPHOUVONG. Along with this, I brought the Lao traditional Lum Vong Dance in circle on the stage and encouraged the audience to join. The whole hall stood up and followed the dance pattern beautifully. It was an unforgettable moment and a magical picture I will always keep in my mind. I am so proud that I could be a part of this wonderful cultural exchange and show our beautiful Lao culture to Japan. This experience has been a great motivator pushing me to keep promoting Lao arts and try to achieve more at the international level. 300 . 12 . , , . . 63. 64 My radio interview with TBS, J-Wave 81.3 FM~ASIENCE SPRIRIT OF ASIA and IChi FM at SHIBUYA & SYONAN FM (You can follow the link below to listen to my interviews: http://www.alunafanclub.com @ YELLOW KNIFE STUDIO recording (Miryo and Kimino Kanashimika Bukuo Kaeru) with Gypsy Queen My 1st Album Japanese Version with BMI music 64. 65 This wonderful experience of three concerts in Japan created for me a deep friendship with the Gypsy Queen Band members and left me with a wonderful memory of the Japanese fans warm and wonderful hospitality. Kob jai = Arigatou gozaimasu thank you from my heart! Gypsy Queen 65. 66 Sinking into music growing as an artist finding my own corner in the art world 66. 67 67. 68 Searching for new vocal wings ... . . . . . , . 2007, , 20 . . ( ) . , , . www.alunafanclub.com Rungroj DULLAPAN 68. 69 My love for singing comes from a deep appreciation for music and arts . This passion has helped me develop my natural voice, something which I consider a gift. Even back when I could only dream of singing in the spotlight, there was no special technique to my singing. I just sang purely from the heart. Even after my first album, while I was busy promoting and touring between 2005 and 2007, I still felt like there was something missing. I could never call myself a professional singer because I was never professionally trained. In May 2007, I found Ajarn Rodj; he had more than 20 years of experience in Thailands music scene. He teaches the Speech Level Singing Technique by Seth Riggs. According to him, I was the first Lao student in his class. The power in each of our voices is an amazing gift and also an individual talent. But how many of us know exactly how to project our voice effectively without destroying it or decreasing its ability? Everyones voice is different. There are singers out there who can go on singing all day long but Im not one of them. Ajarn Rodj taught me to sing properly; he taught me how to use my voice in a unique and special way. He is a kind and caring teacher, he shared many fascinating singing stories with me. After the training, I began to notice subtle things about the character and personality of my voice. I learned how to take care of my voice properly and answer many nagging questions like how much rest do I need before a big concert? Should I eat a bit before stepping on the stage? What is it that works best for me and my voice? What sort of songs and keys best suit my voice? One day, out of curiosity, I asked So, how long do I need to keep studying singing? Ajarn Rodj replied, As long as you still want to sing. (Find out more of what he meant from www.alunafanclub.com). 69. 70 ... , ... , , . . , , , . 1 ? , , . ? , . ! ( ). , , . . , . . 6 , , ? ...4 , 8 16 ? ... ... ! . ... . , , . Techniques for 70. 71 unique sounds I dont know much about computers. I love music and I listen to many kinds of music, but I never really learned how they manage to compose songs in the digital realm. For instance, what sort of drums and other elements represent song highlights? Is it different for pop, rock, R&B, Hip Hop, and classical? What makes the song unique and stand out apart from its lyrics? I never understood it back then. I was more into writing ideas, thoughts, and words, but less into the technical aspects. How did I create music for the first album? First, I would finish writing my songs and then recorded the demo in the studio. I then played the guitar to get an idea of the melodies I might want to incorporate. My chords were so limited then. And after a week or so, my producers would call me in to listen to what they created from my initial ideas. They would ask if I liked the way they were composed. Honestly, I felt that there were certain things that were not right, but I did not know what to tell themI didnt know where the exact spot of the fix was, what to take out or put in. It was mostly due to the fact that I did not understand how songs were constructed technically. I did not know how to clarify and polish sounds for each channel. Then I met Hamish Robertson, a music sound engineer and the first volunteer from Australia to help with music production in Laos. When I first heard, I was so excited to meet him and see if I could be a student in his class. Hamish taught me sound engineering; he taught me how to truly listen to the intricate sound of music. During the six months of classes, I listened to many kinds of songs. Hamish guided me on how to dissect music. Tempo counting, is it 4 paces, or 8 or 16 beats? I tried to reproduce and imitate original songs from these little details. For example, when does a particular sound come in, when do the drums get more serious? And that was how I learned. I also learned more about pitch, keys, and chords. I finally started to understand the proper chords for different kinds of songs. What I love was getting to know the sort of chords that fit sad songs and what chords were meant for happy ones. 71. 6 , ( www.alunafanclub.com). , . , ... : Sound Engineering 72. 74 The class ranged from composing songs to mixing them in the studio, which was a very intensive process. There is also a final check to see whether sounds should be louder or quieter to best suit the song. During this six-month class, I completed one very short production, but it is a source of pride. You can download it from my website http://www.alunafanclub.com I now know the basic steps of making music, but of course experience is what truly makes you a good producer. There is no short cut to this kind of thing. Its the same with singing. I keep telling myself that Practice is the Policy. Sound Engineering 73. 75 74. 76 Learn the world of ideas 75. 77 Musical Energy is contagious 76. 78 , , , . , . , . . . , , , , , . . 2004 . , () chorus . . ( ) , , . . . , , , . , , . ( ) () 2009 . 77. 79 I believe inspiration can come in many formsfrom observing things, going to places, meeting new people, and learning from new cultures. And all these years singing, I have met many people who have taught me and given me ideas and thoughts. Many talented musicians and singers I have met in Laos and abroad have shaped my view on not only music, but life itself. Unfortunately, it is not possible to fit all of those beautiful faces in the limited space of this book, but let me introduce some of them. Within Indee Records, I have a strong connection to the younger crew members. Whether from rock, pop, hip hop or even to heavy metal, we are like brothers and sisters even though I have not worked or collaborated with all of them. The band that I have mentored and collaborated with from the very beginning is L.O.G. Our first masterpiece together was a jingle for Tango way back in 2004, even before my first album Aluna. LOG was featured in a number of my songs and in return, I wrote songs for them: Hang, The One Lao Version, and the chorus part in their mobile phone song. Other song projects from Indee regularly came along. Kimmy was one of themI love this brother of mine. Although we did not seem very close at the beginning, I still remember on one of my saddest days, he was one of the few came up to me and said ,Its gonna be ok. Thank you, Kim. I wrote his Mi Fan La Wa song and it was also my first chorus ever in his Jeam Toi song in his first album. Modern Dance was the next in line, for whom I wrote Vei La Na Thi, Ya Ai, and also helped them polish their other six songs in the first album. Other projects included one with Nalin, another lovely sister. It is too bad I only got to write one song for her, named Kon Ni Sai Dee. Hopefully, there will be more opportunities in her next album. Im currently working on two main projects, Overdance (Ngao Tarm To) and APactS (Ka Von Ka Vai along with three other of their fast songs to be released in 2009). People I met & worked with 78. 80 2004 2006 . , , ( ). Open Up Your World . . . , . . : . . : . , , , , . , , . Special Project 79. 81 I wrote jingles for Tango, a telecom company in Laos, from 2004 to 2006 until the name was changed to Tigo in April 2007. To me, the change was a bit emotional, and I had mixed feelings of excitement towards the new Tigo, but at the same time, it was sad to see Tango gone. Some people do not cope with changes very wellIm one of thembut some changes can be good so I kept my mind open and tried to adapt to new things. This attitude fits in well with Tigos slogan Open Up Your World. The coming of Tigo gave me an opportunity to work beyond my usual scope. I was not only a theme song writer, but also the creator/copywriter for this project. My job was to translate the Tigo slogan Open Up Your World into Lao, which would be the Lao slogan for Tigo as long as the company would be operating in Laos. The project was really challenging and gave me some level of stress. I came up with three ideas for the Lao slogan. Tigo also asked their staff to come up with some ideas. We then voted and took them out for market surveys and guess what? My slogan Perd Loke Hao Hai Kouang Kai won! Perd Loke Hao Hai Kouang Kai expresses that, with Tigo, you can open up your world to new things in unlimited ways. I now had to associate the slogan with the new theme song, which was designed to be sung by the four well-known groups of Laos, namely Overdance, Aluna, LOG and Cells. The challenge was how to blend these four different groups of singers into one song. Genres included pop dance, pop R&B, hip hop and rock. 80. 82 . . . , (Cells) Solo . () 2009 . 81. 83 Perd Loke Hao Hai Kouang Kai (Open Up Your World) is a larger than life concept to me and it has been my toughest project so far. Along the way, while I was working on music and lyrics, I gathered lots of thoughts and ideas on how to express the beauty of Lao solidarity. It can be viewed as the importance of coming together as a team and be ready to Open Up to the outside world. We wanted to let the world know that Laos has dreams to share and that Laos is ready to accept and learn new thingsit is ready to Open Up Our World. I also developed the mood and feel of each groups melodies as well as the solo rap. I had two characters, Sack Cells (rock) and L.O.G. (hip hop) battle it out. My pride with Perd Loke Hao Hai Kouang Kai project grew even more when it was confirmed that the song was chosen to play during the handover ceremony of SEA Game flag. 7th April 07, TIGO Open Up Your World ... Perd Loke Hao Hai Kouang Kai Concert 82. 84 The Special Class Room For Everyone Project album in May 07. , 2007. 83. 85 The Special Class Room for Everyone album is another wonderful project sponsored by Tigo in collaboration with Indee Records and Indee artists led by Aluna, Cells, Overdance, LOG, and Sam. The goal of the album was to raise fund for schools around the country that are in need of renovations and other expenses. The album carried meaningful messages and helpful proverbs to motivate young people to do their very best in life and school. The main five tracks talk separately about love, making choices in life, friendship, dreams, and society. Perd Loke Hao Hai Kouang Kai is included as the first track of the album. I am so proud to be part of this wonderful project, especially to have the chance to help schools and kids around the country. It felt great to go on school tours and meet all of the children. My single Huck Tong Sai Vei La (Love Takes Time) from the Special Class Room for Everyone album became hit number two of the month and that helped remind my fans of my return after being gone for two years. You can listen to all the songs on my website: http://www.alunafanclub.com . , , , . , . . , , , . . . . 84. 86 Music, the true international language there are no barriers and boundaries within music. I am quite lucky to meet, greet and also collaborate with numbers of talented international artists from many countries. . . 85. 87 LEE AND: a singer and actress from South Korea who came to Laos in May 2005. We performed together during a cultural exchange night. International artists I met and worked with . , 2005. 86. 88 LOJO: a French band that combines French chanson, dub reggae, African, Arabic and gypsy flavors with a jazzy and poetic sensibility. We performed together on March 17, 2007 at the Cultural Hall. I had a chance to collaborate with them on a very famous Lao song, Yen Sa Bai Sao Na. The composition was beautifully built out of a mixture of Lum Vong, Lao traditional beats, and fusion jazz vibes. . 17 2007 . . 87. 89 4 CORNERS: a hip hop band from New Zealand who came for their first concert in Laos during the Tigo Grand Opening Concert on April 7, 2007. L.O.G. and I had the chance to work with them in the studio and perform together for Tigo. 7 2007. . 88. 90 DANA LEONG Band: a hip-hop, jazz, and electronic band who came to perform in Laos under the Jazz at Lincoln Center: The Rhythm Road program in December 2007. Together we mixed hip hop and jazz sounds and overlaid them over a Lao traditional song, Sala Van Tiear Long. We also infused traditional morlum beats. : 2007. . 89. 91 PARAN: a well-known boy band from South Korea. We performed together during the first Anniversary of Tigo event. . . 90. 92 I have always loved performing and I have the best time being on stage. To me, there is nothing more thrilling than feeling the energy and passion of the crowd. I communicate and enjoy the music along with them. I burst with excitement when I get out there-- my album comes alive! 91. 93 It was the biggest crowd I have ever seen. To me, that was another memorable concert. It was a great opportunity to perform on the same stage with Sean, a talented American artist who created a worldwide hit with his Beautiful Girls song. TIGO presents Sean KINGSTON Live in Vientiane. . , Beautiful Girls . 92. 94 Moments...ideas...inspirations 93. 95 94. 96 Moments, Ideas, . , . . 95. 97Inspirations I normally write songs from my guitar. However, the piano has always been my choice to express sad feelings. The piano is elegant and stands out maybe because of its neat design and large size, but most of the time, it stands desolately lone. 96. 98 97. 99 . . : ?, ? ? . . Making the second album was full of pressure, especially when the first one was quite successful on several levels. It received a warm reception from Lao fans both in Laos and abroad. There were many concerns while writing the second album. Of course, I knew people would be comparing the first and the second album. I hate to admit that I was scared. Many questions came along, what if my fans do not like the new me? Would they love my new songs? Would the songs be too hard to get into? What if it falls flat? It was a total departure from the first album. Back then, no one knew of ALUNA so there were no expectations. With all of these pressures, I pushed myself even harder for the second album. I told myself everyday that there is no point working on something if the result wasnt something unique, something newit had to sound new as well. As much as I wanted it to be different and unique, I was afraid of replicating the style of my first album. 98. 100 2 2005. . . . ( ). 99. 101 I started writing and developing concepts for the second album off and on since November 2005. To me, inspiration was truly from everywhere. I found them in great books, impressive movies, even from dreams at nights, or even just a good talk with a stranger that I met along this journey, in the sky, in the trees, within the flowers, shining from the sun, flowing in the air, and rustling in the wind. Ideas were added, cut out, rewritten and modified to satisfy me. Sometimes, words just came and flew nicely with the music. Sometimes, they just killed my head coz they did not come out, or come out right! I was trying to be less fussy about choices, but every time, I felt like I should add more to this and cut out that. When I work, I am more open to what it could potentially become rather than what it should be. These are some of the main reasons why it took this long for Aluna Part II to arrive. 100. 102 , , . 2 . , , 5 2 , 9 . , ,. 10 Live Like a Bird . ? . 101. 103 I wanted my music to shatter expectations. I wanted to write and showcase my best work. My first albums lyrics had more influences from external forces like people around me, whereas, my second is purely about me, about who I am, and how I think and feel about the issues around me. It is about one persons opinion on the bigger issues and how to view things from different angles. Some of the most memorable lyrics were in Track 5 Torb Kham Tham (Answer Me), where I talked about womens rights, which I have never discussed before. I also shared my view on life in Track 9 Bor Man Phieng Tare Jear Shi Kao (Not Just a Blank Page). The song expresses the positive side of life: be strong, have peace of mind, and no one or no word should bring you down. Life is not always full of sunshine, but as long as we open our doors to hope, well make it through. We all have the right to be different and we should be happy to be different. So, dont leave the page of your life blank, start writing your own stories on your own wall! Track 10 is profoundly personal. It stemmed from a deep emotional feeling that we should Live Like a Bird. I know that some of you may be unsure of what this means, but thats ok. Some ideas are better left for time to reveal when ready. You can read more on how other songs were composed and what were the inspirations, from www.alunafanclub.com 102. 104 Studio Times ? . . . . . . , ? 103. 105 Music and Lyrics People love asking me which song I love the most and which is the hardest. My answer has always been that I love every song because I have been intimately and actively involved in developing each song. I love my time in the studio. Along with my producers, I love seeing the progress of the songs. We exchange ideas and thoughts on how we could improve the sound and give it a better feel. It really is an art. Like sculpting, you need to shape it, adjust it and mold it until you feel satisfied. And Im not satisfied with just being ok. Ok is not good enoughit has to feel and sound right to me. The way I work in the studios is very dynamic. I normally take the first rough demo and work at home (my home is my little studio as well). I turn up the volume to extreme levels to hear each separate channel of sound, which I can identify thanks to my sound engineer training. Having this knowledge enabled me to communicate better with my producers as well as to be more detailed in my work and to improve the quality. My writing is very open too. There were many times when I did not finish the lyrics of the songs until I heard 50% or 70% of the song in studio production. The beats and rhythms from the actual studio production gave me more energy and motivation. And it was amazing that I just changed the direction of the songs completelynew melodies and new verses were changed on the spot! Things tend to happen naturally. Sometimes, I end up improvising and finishing songs in the studioeven in the middle of recording it. This has become my style of producing songs. 104. 106 ? ? . . , . : , . . 105. 107 Why do you have to put English in your songs? Is this your song writing style, Aluna? I am accustomed to these questions. Honestly, I usually respond with a reaction, feeling, or expression. Sometimes, I really cant find the right Lao words or sentences to properly explain my feelings in the songs. Maybe my Lao is not that strong or maybe when I find the words, they just dont flow with the melody. English lyrics were placed there and they say it all. I just feel better leaving the English lyrics in there. Another reason for the inclusion of English is that I believe the English parts in my songs draw more attention from Lao fans, who live abroad, especially the youth born or raised outside of Laos. This belief has been proven correct on many occasions. I met a young Lao male in Las Vegas, Nevada (U.S.A.) who came up to me and said that the English parts in some of my songs captured his ears and made him want to understand the rest of my Lao lyrics. Ultimately, it inspired him to learn more of the Lao Language. This incident was then expanded into an idea for this song Sor Un Sun, Track 3 in my Aluna Part II album. The song focused on Lao language. It examines how we make a word or sentence out of vowels, consonants, and the alphabets. 106. 108 : Casanova 1 . 2 , 8 2 ? . . . http://www.alunafanclub.com 107. 109 I also discovered positive reactions from some of my young fans in Laos. They express interest in the meaning of the English lyrics, and some even ask me to explain. Along with the mixing of English lyrics in Aluna Part II, I also played around with old Lao words and slang. The obvious one is my first track, Phathitho Casanova, Phathitho is a traditional Lao expression for a surprised feeling. It is equivalent to Oh My God in English or Oh La La in French. I still kept English in my songs. However, this time I did not put it in the chorus parts. English played a bigger role in the bridge sections. For the ALUNA Part II album, I played around with new techniques. For example, I adopted new vocal styles and experimented with unfamiliar chorus styles. The music side was also versatile. The very different and the most standing out one will be Track 8, Oh Kard Khang Thi Song, Mee Thare Bor? (Does the Second Chance Always Come?). What can I say about this track?. It might be my latest masterpiece and my most advanced song production in terms of the music, lyrics, vocals, and chorus style. Its tone and style were unfamiliar to me and something Ive never adopted beforeI really feel that way. The design of the song was very detailed from the beginning to end. The falsetto technique was used quite a bit in the song. The drums were very strong along with the violin. I love how these two instruments worked together in the song; I also designed the violin pattern. I took out the drums in the second pre-chorus and put the whisper beat box in as the tempo I am so proud of this piece You can read more details about each songs production style from http://www.alunafanclub.com 108. 110110 Aluna Part II The look &feel 109. 111 Where in the world did Part II come from? One day L.O.G. and I were working on Phathitho Casanova and chilling out in the studio together. We were playing around with words in the rap part and I inquired about the title of my second album. Of course, there were many names and ideas thrown around, but for sure I wanted something to do with number 2. Out of the blue, Kak from L.O.G. just blurted out PART II. I loved it immediatelyin fact, we all loved it! This is the origination of the title. ? ? () ! . 110. 112 111. 113 I had the chance to work with Tar (from the group APactS), who is also my music VDO director for several songs in this album. We looked at the nature of the songs in ALUNA Part II and came up with a theme that resembles a strong woman character. This is why there is a necktie along with a black strap decorated with a diamond line on the front. () . . . 112. 114 Natural purity - all life desire 113. 115 114. 116 115. 117 Since a strong woman character is represented, my moves or dance steps must be consistent with that image. This time, I worked with Extreme Team, led by Mr. To (whom I often call A jarn To). He has helped me improve this latest production and many fans have noticed the difference. Thank you, A jarn To. Choreography . Extreme () ( ). 116. 118 The Welcome to 2008 ? . , . Version . . . . 117. 119 Aluna Part II TV & Radio Spots During February 2008, my ALUNA Part II TV and Radio spots were released. The spots were designed to inform my fans of my comeback by asking them if they still remember the song Thook Ha Na thi from my debut album. At the same time, they were introduced to ALUNA Part IIs new single Khauw Hoo Suek Bork. The spot garnered quite a bit of exposure on both TV and Radio stations. After a week or two, there were a great number of requests to listen to the full version of Khauw Hoo Suek Bork as well as its music video. Khauw Hoo Suek Bork Music VDO: My music video director, Tar from APactS, and I had worked hard on the concept for Khauw Hoo Suek Bork. There were time and budget constraints that we had to take into consideration. The meaning of the song inspired us to come up with a pure love concept. Ideas just flowed out naturally, maybe because we were really into the song and we love the song so much and couldnt wait to express our feelings. 118. 120 The Welcome to . . 7 14. . ... . . . . , . 7 . . ........ . 119. 121 The plan was for me to sing with a piano and a guitar in an open green space, where there would be a big tree representing the strong foundation of love. The Golf Course 14k was our location. The dog and the kids were all there to represent innocent minds and sweet love. We thought it was going to be pretty straightforward and easy, but no, that wasnt the case at all! Kids and animals are considered to be the hardest objects to control on any film set. We had no idea what we got ourselves into. We started filming at 7 a.m. and by the afternoon, the kids were sleepy and started crying, and the dog was tired with running in and out of the scenes. The weather was really hot that day so we had to put them in the shade, and pamper them with sweets and bribe them with toys. It was kind of cute and I really appreciated their patience. There were also some action scenes. Since we were at a golf course, the crew often had to suddenly stop filming because golf balls were flying over our heads. The director yelled out, cut! and ran. We also had to be mindful of the golfers, which meant we had to carry the piano in and out of the scenes. By the way, it is my piano, which was carried all the way from my house. Anyway, we survived and finished around 7 p.m. I remember sitting on the bench under the big tree, watching the sunset at the golf course feeling so relieved that everything went relatively smoothly. The sunset was beautiful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the film crew and cast for all of their hard work. Aluna Part II 120. 122 14 08 . .... ... . , , ... . 1 5 1 . 1 13 . 121. 123 We then premiered the full version of Khauw Hoo Suek Bork. It debuted on radio and T.V. stations all over the country on the same day, February 14, 2008, Valentines Day. The reason why I wanted to release Khauw Hoo Suek Bork in February was that it is known as the month of hearts blossoming in love and the song fits in perfectly. The song is about pure love and pure feelings. Moreover, its the feeling deep down that is telling you that he or she is the one. Your instincts hardly lie to you. Coz love is the answer, love is a miracle loves undeniable I appreciate every single breath The reception for the song was overwhelming. At that point, I was so happy and felt that it really was worth all the effortthe countless hours writing, composing, and working in the studio. During the first week of the release, Khauw Hoo Suek Bork broke into the top 5 and jumped to number one on all the music TV and radio charts the week after. The single stayed at number one for 13 weeks, which was the first time ever for any song, according to Music Boom from Lao Star Channel. 122. 124 - 97.25 Music Lover - 97.25 Music Entertainment - 105.5 Hotwave Radio - 103.7 Ni Lare Vai Noom No. 1 Hit for 10 weeks On every radio stations and TV music channels 123. 125 - Music Boom Lao star Channel - Lao Star Music - Lao Live I love you (Hiztation in Thailand) - Pheng Yarm Bai (Lao Television channel 1) No.1 Hit 124. 126 , 3 30 2008. . . () . Today Show with Matt Lauer 125. 127 The next big thing that happened during my singing career was having Matt Lauer interview me for THE TODAY SHOW, one of the most well-known TV programs in the United States and Canada. Where in the World is Matt Lauer? is the name of the special segment of the show and Laos was his third stop for that season. On April 30, 2008, the world was treated to That Luang, Vientiane; the capital city of Laos. Matt captured the highlights of the country from the natural environment to the tradition and culture, including arts and music. And here, they chose to interview me, ALUNA, a representative of modern Lao music. I was thrilled of course! I couldnt wait to tackle this wonderful opportunity. As soon as I knew about the show and the interview, I emailed most of my friends, relatives and my fans to remind them of the show because this was not just about me, but about how our country would be viewed by the world. 126. 128 Deep down I thought that it was unbelievable that I was actually meeting Matt Lauer from THE TODAY SHOW, a TV program that I had visited three years ago when I was in New York at the Rockefeller Square (If you flip back to the NY section on Sept. 2nd, 2005, I was right there at their studio). Back then, I had no idea who Matt was and why people were so excited to be there at NBC at 7 a.m. in the morning, waving at the camera. My best friend, Be took me there and was so keen on meeting Matt. He even tried to sneak in. I mean, who would have thought that three years later, Matt would be here in Laos, interviewing me? What can I say? it was unreal. You never know what the future will bring , ( 2 2005) . 7 NBC. () . 3 ! ! 127. 129 Aluna in Malaysia Taxi Flower in Melacca 128. 130 New role as a TV presenter is one of the dreams when I was a teenager 129. 131 Safari world in A FAMOSA Resort 130. 132 My Project, Aluna in Malaysia highlighted * The heritage town of Melacca * The capital Kuala Lumpur *The Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF), July 11-13, 2008 in Sarawak, Malaysia 131. 133 Eye on Malaysia 132. 134 133. 135 Shooting the MV for Hed Dai Song in front of the Petronas Twin Towers in KL 134. 136 The Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak 135. 137 The RWMF opened my eyes to another side of music: world music. I attended the afternoon workshop and was amazed at how music knowledge transcends borders. We all clapped and swayed to the tune of music that originated from our collective, yet instantaneous thoughts. The sound of music from the jungle was a new environment to me. At night, nonstop music from all corners rang out and captured my heart. I felt so lucky to be able to meet these talented musicians from more than fifteen countries. And I was also treated to unique sounds from musical instruments that I have never seen before. Wow!, I said to myself, these experiences were pricelessI was so lucky. I also loved the energy of the crowd, which was amazing and unreal. Even the heavy tropical rains did not dampen the spirit of the audience on the opening night. This experience with RWMF inspired me even more to present traditional Lao music to the ears of the world. It drew my attention back to a unique musical instrument, called the Khaen. I am now taking the lessons for it. , . , . . 15 . . . . ( ) . . 136. 138 2008 137. 139 26 2008 . 2008 . . . ( ) . . Not very long after the release of the ALUNA Part II album, I was nominated for the Best Female Singer and my song Khauw Hoo Suek Bork was nominated for the Best Pop Song of the year at the Lao Music Awards 2008, the first-ever official music awards event in the country. The memory on Lao Music Awards 2008 July 26th, 2008 was a memorable day for me. I received awards for the first time in my singing career. I am so proud to be part of the Lao music scene as well as this first Lao Music Awards. Being one of the nominees for Best Pop Song and Best Female Singer is an honor. It was great fun to experience the red carpet and feel the energy of the screaming crowd. The fans were waiting anxiously to see all our new fashion styles. Performing for the night and witnessing the success of other talented Lao artists were wonderful. , 2008 . 138. 140 Lao Music Awards 2008 ...Best Pop Song 139. 141 More than that, the excitement as they announce your name as the winner was more than you could ever wish for as an artist. As a singer, song writer, and co-producer, I am always hands-on in my artwork and music. The hard work finally paid offthe journey was worth it. This is one of the greatest memories Ill ever have. ... - . 140. 142 Lao Music Awards 2008 Best Pop SongBes 141. 143 st female Artist 142. 144 143. 145 . () . ? . 1. 2. . ... Thank you Indee record for always believing in me. Thank you all the fans for your support. Its been a long journey. I could not have done it alone. If your support of me had not been there, the journey to Part II would not have begun. Therefore, I am writing to thank youall of youand I would like to tell you that these two awards, The Best Pop Song of the Year, Khauw Hoo Suek Bork and The Best Female Singer, belong to all of you. I love you and thank you, ALUNA THAVONSOUK 144. 146 . . . , . . , . . . Its been a long road and I must admit that it wasnt easy, and I could not have done it alone. Eternal gratitude must go to my family and friends for all their love and support. Lets not forget all of my loyal fans throughout the years; they are truly the force behind my music. The ALUNA Part II album was forged from a wide perspective of thoughts toward love, life, and society. I see music as a channel of thought exchange. This is my forum to share ideas with a larger audience. Your love frees me inside. My mind clears and I am opened to a new path. There is no shortcut to success. Even with the right cultivation, it takes time for a seed to flourish into a strong tree. Dare to live out your dreams and work hard to achieve them. www.alunafanclub.com