Experience another side of "Nat Thanat Danjetsada" or “Nat LYKN”, the hot young artist from the band "LYKN," whom many fans know for his confident stage presence, but behind the scenes it's completely different. On the program Woody Talk, he recounts the childhood issues that made him shy, overthink, and worry about every expression, often misunderstood because of his serious face. He also opens up about the hardest time in his life after losing his father, which became a major lesson that now leads him to cherish every moment with loved ones.
You are one of the artists in LYKN, a band that has reached global levels?
"Actually, I’m lucky to be with the GMMTV label. I feel they give a lot of opportunities, and since our fanbase abroad is large, we benefit from that. The label sends LYKN overseas; initially, we went to Japan. At first, fans didn’t know us well.
But as we visited more places, more people started listening to our music. When LYKN announced a concert and a World Tour, it happened quickly. It was a great experience that served as our practice field, allowing us to perform in various venues and develop our skills further."
If you had to choose one event in the past 2-3 years where you saw a huge audience outside of your own culture, which city and time come to mind and why?
"The first image that comes to mind is Paris, France. The concert organizer told us that the concert culture there is unlike anywhere else we had been. I asked if it was really that different, and when we went, it truly was. They had chants and cheers similar to football fans.
Suddenly, they would shout and cheer throughout the hall. I didn’t expect to have so many fans in Europe, and importantly, they sang our songs in Thai very clearly. I was so amazed that I took off my in-ear headphones to listen and dance along. The louder they sang, the more our five members gave our all on stage."
What does your nickname “Strangely Normal” mean?
"Honestly, I think I’m a bit unusual. I feel that expressing my emotions is quite complex. I don’t easily show my feelings directly. There’s a small voice in my head wondering how people listening will feel about what I express.
I tend to overthink, which sometimes makes my expressions seem strange to others, making them question if I really feel that way. For example, when a bandmate brings something for me to taste and I say, ‘This is delicious,’ I might genuinely think it’s very tasty, but my expression may make them wonder if I’m faking it. I overthink a lot before speaking."
Looking back to when you were 10, was there an event that made you go from being expressive to someone cautious and repeatedly thinking before speaking?
"I remember. It was around when I started doing cover dance. I think some people at school looked down on me, not verbally but through their actions. That gradually made me lose confidence over time."
If you could imagine what they said to you then, what would that phrase be?
"‘What are you doing?’ followed by laughter. I think they judged me as being awkward or silly. Like, ‘Are you trying to stand out?’ Something like that."
Today, what role do you see yourself playing most clearly?
"I’m someone who sits in the middle of all feelings. If anyone in the band has a problem, they sometimes talk to me. I’m mostly a good listener. I can offer advice sometimes, but mainly I just listen. If someone is stressed, they can vent to me. When I’m with LYKN, I feel like a kid. I see their eyes looking at me as if I’m still a child."
Introduce us to the real “Nat Thanat,” a side others might not know?
"Hello, I’m Nat Thanat Danjetsada. I’m very shy when talking to people and not very confident. But today, talking with Woody, I feel like I’ve learned something, discovering layers within myself I didn’t realize before.
I didn’t expect it to be so many layers. Sometimes I think I need to peel back those layers to live life better in the future. I might be someone who overthinks, maybe too much, which sometimes makes me feel overwhelmed."
"Honestly, as a child, I hardly talked to anyone. When meeting friends, I was quiet and withdrawn, even with my older brother I didn’t talk much. Maybe that shaped me into who I am now, but I feel I’ve improved somewhat."
The world expects us to express ourselves, yet we build walls to protect ourselves. How do you manage that?
"Maybe because I have a goal to be an artist. I’ve done activities since I was young, dancing, auditioning for Project Alpha, and becoming an artist. That might have helped break down those walls on stage. On stage, I feel confident, a different version of myself.
I like being on stage because I feel more confident than offstage. Plus, with LYKN being my safe space, I have four others pushing me, giving me energy and confidence to perform."
"It feels like our place. But offstage, when I’m not LYKN, I feel nervous or less confident going places alone without someone pushing me. If I crack a joke on stage that falls flat, my four bandmates laugh for me. I’m funnier with LYKN; alone at events, it feels dry."
When you’re alone offstage, is there a moment you feel uncomfortable?
"I feel tense when people look at me as I walk by. I wonder what they’re thinking. Normally, I have a serious face, which might seem arrogant if I don’t smile. I overthink a lot about how people perceive me. I wish I were more confident, able to say what I think, but sometimes there are too many layers for me."
When you were performing abroad and experienced loss, how did you handle your feelings while working and caring for your loved ones?
"Honestly, I was confused. It felt like the work was done and I was about to fly home. Then I woke up to a message about the funeral that day. I thought, ‘Really?’ and my mind went blank. I didn’t know how to act. Everything was silent. I was alone in my room, and it was completely quiet. I had never lost anyone before."
"My father was the first. Seeing my mother sad made me feel I couldn’t be too sad so she would feel okay. I felt I had to take care of my mother after my father, so I had to be strong. Dad had been ill for a long time, gradually declining. During my tour, I didn’t see him much, but he was at home with my mother and brother caring for him. I flew to America, then a week later to Europe, which was when my father’s condition worsened."
"That day, I was a bit lost wondering if this was real, as I’d never faced this before. But there was so much to do that I couldn’t dwell on the sadness. I’m not someone who likes to dwell on sadness or get caught up in it. Some people look at old photos to feel the sadness, but I feel I have to live on and fulfill my duties. Maybe I suppressed it, but I tried not to revisit those feelings much."
Did your father ever tell you how proud he was of you?
"He always followed me closely, reading fan comments and telling me about them. He was very proud of me. He used to take me to dance practice and the gym before his illness prevented him. Dad was loved by many and rarely scolded me. He spoiled me a little and would comfort me when my mother scolded. If I came home late, he’d message me saying, ‘Mom’s starting now,’ so I’d hurry back. He was very loving."
What do you miss most about your father?
"I miss his voice. He didn’t get to come to my second concert. He attended the first, but by the second, last year, he wasn’t well enough to leave the house. If he were here, he’d be dancing to my songs because he liked to mimic the dance moves, even if they weren’t perfect. Sometimes when I’m lying down, I feel like he’s in the room listening to my music. If he were here, he’d probably play my first solo song nonstop."
Is there anything you regret about your time with your father?
"If you ask, yes. In recent years, I was touring a lot and only saw him at night after he’d fallen asleep. When I returned, we didn’t talk much. I’d wake up and go to work or practice. Between ages 21 to 23, I practiced intensely while forming LYKN and had many responsibilities. That reduced the time with my father until he passed away without me seeing him one last time. But the happy times with him were many. I just feel I haven’t repaid him enough for what he did for me."
Do you have a big family?
"Right now, it’s just my older brother, me, and our mother. My brother is four years older, about 27 now. Mom mostly stays with my brother since I’m touring, but when I’m back, I spend more time with her."
What do you do with your mother when you spend time together?
"Lately, mostly watching TV, like YouTube, sitting next to her in her room. I don’t hide away in my room like before. Before, I’d come home tired and want to be alone quietly. Now, I’m alone but with her, letting her know I’m there. I’m quiet but present. If possible, I’d like to travel with her."
His first solo song: “Tasty”
"The English title is 'Tasty,' and in Thai, it's 'เทสดี' (Tae Sa Dee), a playful word. It’s my first solo song."
What does “เทสดี” mean to you when making this work?
"Fans often say I’m a 'Tae Sa Dee' guy, like a Pinterest guy, judging from my Instagram photos. I think 'เทสดี' relates to style, photo composition, and posting aesthetics that make people think this person is stylish. I really like this song. I often say 'เทสดี' in daily life, so having a song with that word fits me and my style."
Is it a wordplay implying “Nat is tasty,” and was that intentional?
"Yes, 'Tasty.' It’s a wordplay between 'เทสดี' and 'Tasty,' which means delicious, and 'Test,' meaning experiment. In the MV and other elements, there’s a sexy or alluring charm."
Looking back, what flavors do you think Nat has?
"I actually like chocolate. I feel my flavor is 'sweet, rich, and smooth.' I admit I’m quite sweet, like a caring person who makes others feel comfortable. I think I’m somewhat sweet."
In terms of sweetness, how would you describe your sweetness?
"I tend to be tender. When tired, I like to show physical closeness, like leaning my head or holding hands. I feel that’s how I express love. When comfortable with someone, I sit close, feel at ease, sometimes rest my feet on them if we’re together."
How did you feel performing the sexy parts like pulling your shirt and moving your hips in the MV?
"Honestly, it had to be a slow pull, but my legs and hips had to work, and I had to act with my face. I was quite confident with that part because it showed the hard work I’ve put in over the years. I’m happy fans responded well to both the song and MV. Many commented that they’d become my fan or more. I’m glad fans received it so well."
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