„I still want to play a lot of nice concerts and do everything so that some day people will remember the name Anthony Thet. And when people remember me, they should be smiling.“ says Anthony when I ask him about what he still wants to achieve.
Hello Anthony, many thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions:) Do you have many interview requests at the moment?
Yes. Pretty much everything- from interview requests to performance requests.
You were one of my favourites at the X-Factor show- congratulations to the 4th place!
Many thanks.
How was the reaction of your friends and family when you told them that you are applying to take part in a casting show? Was anyone critical about this or did everyone support you?
I have been doing music for a long time, so no one was wondering that I was applying for a music competition. And this was not the first time either, even though it was the first time a competition shown on Tv. My family and friends have always supported me in those matters.
“Without TV an unknown musician in some cases has to tour in clubs for about two years until he gets 2000 followers on facebook or myspace. With the help of X-Factor I was able to get that within a few weeks.”
What has changed since your life at X-Factor and would you take part again with your current knowledge and experience about it?
I would do it again, absolutely. It was not much of a surprise to me, I had a pretty accurate picture of what I was in for and I got what I wanted. Without TV an unknown musician in some cases has to tour in clubs for about two years until he gets 2000 followers on facebook or myspace. With the help of X-Factor I was able to get that within a few weeks.
“The biggest inspiration is life itself. I love to observe the beauty the world has to offer.”
Weren´t you a bit scared that people will put the „Casting-Star“ mark on you?
There was the danger of that, but being 30 I have managed to gain acceptance, in order that I was able to be onstage and do a solo. Particularly through Purple Rain and Walk This Way I have done a lot, so that in case I would bear the impress of the show, it would be in a good way at least.
Amongst other things you are the guitarist of the band Asher Lane. How was it to perform onstage as a solo artist?
It was a really nice experience. Also the band was watching with excitment and our singer was among the audience at the live-show.
On your homepage you tell that there will be some concerts soon,- as a solo artist or with Asher Lane? If as a solo artist, what kind of music can we expect- your own songs?
Solo- or Asher Lane? Both!!! I am a „thourouhbred musician“ and I will take every opportunity to be onstage. Wether as a guitarist or as a singer. Once I start to do solo concerts, I will of course also sing my own songs. Whereby I also love to interpret coversongs, but in that case it is mostly rather unknown compositions.
“Who is persistant, gets what he deserves. I have always done good jobs as a guitarist,
have always done fine concerts and worked with so many lovely people.”
I just listened to some songs of Asher Lane- really nice music. Do you have new songs and projects planned?
With Asher Lane we plan to perform in Portugal this year. To be more precise- on New Year´s Eve. We are all looking forward to that, because we have been there quite some times.
With whom do you want to perform onstage or do a record together with?
With pleasure with my dad ( Sonny Thet) again. I realised that it was something really special to share the stage with him. Maybe in the future we can do a whole album together, but nothing is planned so far. First I need and want to do my own thing.
Who or what is your biggest inspiration?
The biggest inspiration is life itself. I love to observe the beauty the world has to offer. When we take the time to just let go, we realise why we are here and the world revolves. Just then you realise the most beautiful stories that you can write down.
„I was 12 when I discovered the electric guitar. My role models were mainly American rock guitarists and therefore my parents decided early, to leave me in hands of my uncle in California, to be able to taste the source of Rock’n’Roll.“ – is written on your homepage. Can you tell us a bit about that time? How long did you live there, what did you do there and what have you learned from that time?
It was in 1995. I moved to my uncle, who at that time was the Cambodian ambassador and furthermore had a medical center in CA. Because I required to attend school I went to the Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach where I met many nice people. In particular my two cousins who played instuments as well had a big influence on me. We spent a lot of time with practising and recording. Until today both of them are still making music. The Californian music scene is great and is on an incredible high level. Driven by that I spent every free minute I had playing the guitar. However I realized soon that it would be incredibly difficult to establish myself musically over there. With that said, I went back to Berlin at end of 1996 and I realized how much I had progressed thanks to my time in the USA. Suddenly my English was fluent and practising on the guitar for almost two years in every free minute really paid off.
What do you still want to achieve musically and in your private life?
I still want to play a lot of nice concerts and do everything so that some day people will remember the name Anthony Thet. And when people remember me, they should be smiling.
Since your dad is from Cambodia, -what would you say is „typical German“ and what is „typical Cambodian“?:)
Typical German for me is that we set ambitious goals and work hard to achieve them. And being good in that, is proven for example by the fact, that in the whole world our car manufacturers are being held in high esteem. Typical Cambodian is the propensity to an extended family, a big need for harmony and the attitude to never wanting to lose one´s face.
“Typical Cambodian is the propensity to an extended family, a big need for harmony and the attitude to never wanting to lose one´s face.”
And now some of our typical C-Heads questions:
What question should I have asked you?
How well do you get along with Till Brönner and are you still in touch? Answer: Till was and still is the mentor I have wanted. I am happy that he will continue to lend me his support.
The most annoying interview question so far ( I hope not one that I have asked :)
Direct quote: Why did you enrol for X-FACTORY? ( Because I don´t want to expose the colleague, the newspaper will stay anonymous)
Was there a plan B in case it wouldn´t have worked out with the music?
Already 10 years ago it has worked out for me with music. Who is persistant, gets what he deserves. I have always done good jobs as a guitarist, have always done fine concerts and worked with so many lovely people. If you are a DJ in a small club, a band on a cruise ship or the number 1 in the charts, you have to love every moment of being able to do your job as a musician. To put a smile on someone´s face when playing a sound or singing is priceless.
5 things you cannot live wihtout?
Love, Family and Friends, Käserandpizza, Coca Cola out of a can, Tube amplifier
A short brainstorming, what comes into your mind when hearing the following terms?
Freedom: Westernhagen
Fear: is annoying
Love: is everything
Success: a question of definition
Electronic music: has power
The best life lesson so far was…? Everyone puts his pants on the same way as you.
The most important thing in life is..? Love
Many thanks for the interview! With pleasure…
More of Anthony on www.anthonythet.com
All Photos by Constanze Tran www.constanzetran.de
Interview by Sigrun Guggenberger
Hello from Berlin, Germany. I love freedom, travelling, long train rides, Stefan Zweig books, cats, colours, writing postcards, Woody Allen movies. I listen to: if I like a song, it can be from anyone really…but I really like British artists such as Peter Doherty, The Kooks, Lilly Allen, Coldplay, etc.. makes me happy: having lots of time!