Q: Jack, many Chinese fans know your music, but they may not know the story behind your band. How did you, May, and Mong first meet and start playing together?

Jack: May, Mong, and I met when we were studying at the same university. Bangkok has a very active musician community, so we knew each other and often played together at jam sessions. Years later, when I started doing guitar clinics, I needed a band to support me. I invited May and Mong to join, and that was how we started working together more regularly. Later, we even recorded an album together.

Q: May, how did you choose your instrument, and how has your musical relationship with Jack and Mong developed over time?

May: I actually started playing drums when I was 13. But at 16, due to some lineup changes in our band, I unexpectedly had to switch to playing the bass, and I have been a professional bassist ever since. When you work together for a long time, you understand each other better. You know each person’s style, personality, and how they approach music. Sometimes we have different ideas, but that is normal. The important thing is to listen to each other and find the best direction for the music.

Q: Mong, do you still remember your first major performance together?

Mong: Our first major show together was the Thailand International Jazz Conference at Mahidol University around 2017. I was quite nervous because I take my work seriously, especially for a big event. But when I played with Jack and May, I felt relaxed because they are very experienced musicians. Jack and May are legends in Thailand, so I was very honored to be part of that performance.

Q: Igor, how did you become part of this China Tour, and what was your first reaction when you received the invitation?

Igor: I was very happy when I found out it would be a live band setup. Playing with a full band is much more exciting than playing with backing tracks. You have more energy, more interaction, and more possibilities on stage. Jack and I had already met many times in Bangkok and had jammed together before, so the communication was very natural.

Q: Jack, how did Igor fit into the band's dynamic?

Jack: It was very easy to communicate with Igor. We are almost the same age, and we grew up with many of the same guitar influences. We also share many similar experiences as musicians. When we played together during rehearsals, everything happened very naturally. We could understand each other quickly.

Q: The band only had two days of rehearsal before the tour started. How did you prepare such a demanding show in such a short time?

Igor: The biggest challenge was the arrangement. Jack usually performs with a trio, but my songs have many layers, including keyboards and rhythm guitars. To recreate those parts, we needed to use backing tracks and prepare click tracks for Mong. I had never performed in this way before, but everyone was very professional. We figured out the system quickly and made it work.

Q: Mong, from the drummer’s perspective, what was the most challenging part?

Mong: The biggest challenge was controlling the playback tracks while playing drums. I needed to memorize the count-ins for every song and know exactly when to trigger each part. It required a lot of focus because everything had to stay synchronized. During the tour, everything worked smoothly, but preparing for it required a lot of homework.

Q: May and Mong, as the rhythm section, how do you approach supporting two expressive guitarists?

May: Bass and drums are the backbone of the band. We provide the foundation for the harmony instruments. If the foundation is strong, the whole band will naturally sound tighter.

Mong: The job of the rhythm section is to make difficult things feel easy. We want Jack and Igor to feel comfortable and confident when they are performing. If the foundation is stable, they can focus on expressing themselves.

Q: After working together for so many years, how do you handle different musical ideas?

May: Different opinions are normal. The important thing is not to think, “My idea is definitely better.” You need to put everyone’s ideas together, try them, and let the music decide. When you reduce your ego, things become much easier.

Q: During performances, especially during improvisation, how do you communicate with each other?

May: A lot of communication happens through eye contact. When we look at each other on stage, it is not because something went wrong. It is like having a conversation through music. If Mong suddenly changes something, I can usually understand what he wants to do because we have played together for so long. Sometimes I just look at him and smile. We are talking through our instruments.

Mong: Music itself is a universal language. Jack and Igor have different styles, but they can understand each other through music. We come from different countries and speak different languages, but when we play together, we can communicate seamlessly.

Q: After traveling across China, what were some of the most memorable moments from the tour?

Jack: I have been touring in China for more than 13 years, but Hohhot in Inner Mongolia was one of the most memorable experiences for me. It was my first time visiting Inner Mongolia, and we really enjoyed the local culture, eating lamb, and sitting together at huge dinner tables. We also had an unforgettable time in Guiyang, the homeland of Maotai. Our last night there was a bit crazy, but it was a great cultural experience! But perhaps the most important moment for me was meeting an old friend. We were young when we first met 13 years ago, and we hadn’t seen each other in more than 10 years. We reconnected at one of the shows, and seeing old friends who now have families but still enjoy doing what they love—that was a very special moment for me.

Igor: For me, Hohhot was also a very special place. It felt completely different from other parts of China. I remember seeing a huge banquet where almost 40 people were sitting together. It was something I had never experienced before. I also have to add that the ENYA kids music competition was very interesting. We saw so many young talents and met some amazing young musicians. I also want to give a big thanks to the guest musicians who joined us during this tour; sharing the stage with them was a definite highlight.

May: The food was one of the biggest surprises during the tour. In Thailand, we have our own food culture, but China has so many different traditions. We ate lamb almost every day during the tour, which was something very different from our normal experience in Thailand.

Mong: For me, the food was definitely one of the highlights. I actually asked the ENYA team to order chicken for May and me almost every day. Chicken every day! The chicken we had in Guangzhou was especially memorable. But one of my biggest surprises was actually Shanghai Pudong Airport. I had never experienced an airport where you need to take a metro train from the check-in area to the departure gate. Because I didn’t leave enough time, I ended up running through the airport to catch my flight.

Q: After years of creating music and performing around the world, what advice would you give to young musicians who are trying to find their own path?

Igor: I think young musicians today have many opportunities, but they also face many distractions. Everything is available with just one click, and social media creates a lot of pressure. People start worrying about likes, shares, and followers. Of course, having an online presence is important, but chasing numbers should not become the main goal. The most important thing is to focus on the music itself, keep improving, and build your own voice.

Jack: For me, the purpose of music is to make people happy. When I play music, I don’t only think about technique or showing what I can do. I think about whether people can feel something from the music. Music is a way of sharing emotions. If people leave the performance feeling happy or inspired, that is the most meaningful thing.

Mong: I think the most important thing is to stay focused on your own journey. There are always many things around you that can distract you, especially online "garbage" information. Sometimes you need to step away, turn off social media, return to yourself, and remember your goals. Even after many years of playing music, I still feel that I have a lot to learn.

Q: What’s next after the ENYA China Tour?

Jack: After this tour, May, Mong, and I will return to the studio in Bangkok. We are also preparing an online course that will launch in October, and I am finally focusing on releasing my new album. The album will have 10 songs, and now that I have more time to focus on it, I hope to complete it soon. Igor might even join us as a guest on some tracks, so we will see what happens.

May: I also want to continue developing myself as a musician and share more knowledge with other players through teaching and online courses.

Mong: For me, the journey continues. There is always more to learn, more music to explore, and more ways to improve.