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[title]From competing on The Rapper 2 to locking in with YUPP! – a Thai label driving Thai hip-hop forward – and then doubling down on her self-made story as the first Thai female solo act at Coachella in 2022, Danupha “MILLI” Kanateerakul has been on a hot winning streak and there's no sign of her cooling down anytime soon.
MILLI had us hooked from start to finish throughout this interview. She laid it all out, talking about the lowdown on her values as a young Thai artist now carrying global fame. She got real about ONE PUNCH, a punchy rolling-out track from her new album HEAVYWEIGHT, where she channels her inner Muay Thai fighter to chronicle her transformation from an atomweight starting out to the powerhouse MILLI, the Thai girl dominating stages we know today. MILLI also dished about her generation-spanning performance with FUTON and, of course, shared a splash of her Songkran memories – water fights and all.
Unapologetically Thai, striding through the rap world
As MILLI’s bars echo louder and ripple further across the world, we ask how she keeps her Thai roots at the forefront while the world watches.
MILLI says
“My Thai heritage isn’t something I put on. It’s natural. It’s my DNA, flowing through everything I create. All of my fans recognise that too and that borderless connection is electric.”
Her bilingual flow isn’t calculated… it just happens.
“The words I choose, the stories I tell. They're all naturally filtered through my experience as a Thai girl. My flows carry the weight of my heritage without me even having to think about it, even when I’m rapping in English. It just feels right.”
The sight of global crowds singing Thai lyrics
It's now a borderless entertainment landscape, and MILLI's international presence proves that music's emotional core resonates far beyond vocabulary. The crowd chanting "MILLI MILLI MILLI" and belting out her Thai lyrics on stages worldwide is a testament to that.
“I'm very happy about it… over the moon. Hearing the crowd sing in Thai is incredible, every time,” she says.
Catch the crowd syncing head bobs and shoulder shrugs. It's music's universal language in motion.
Music knows no borders. Watching the crowd sing along to Thai lyrics… That moment said it all.
MILLI’s Thai Culture 101 through Hey Hey!
We asked MILLI if she had to give someone a crash course in Thai culture with just one song, which would it be? MILLI went with Hey Hey!
“Let me go full nerd mode,” she says, “it’s got cha-cha-cha beats, or samcha in Thai, mixed with Jersey beats. It feels both familiar and unexpected.”
She breaks it down further.
“When I sing 'put your hands up in the air,' it’s in English, but I deliver it Lukthung-style. The rhythm blends American beats with Thai flavours.”
Another stage-shocking, mango sticky rice moment up your sleeve?
For fans who remember MILLI’s unforgettable mango sticky rice moment at Coachella 2022, she’s got more culture to bring to the stage.
“I’ll bring Muay Thai to the mix, especially with my new track ONE PUNCH,” she shares.
“Picture me throwing punches, dropping a kick or two – but always keeping it stylish and iconic, of course!”
Milli x Futon
MILLI collaborated with legendary Thai band Futon, bridging musical generations.
“They hit me up and invited me on stage!” she recalls excitedly.
The experience was eye-opening.
“Their music must've been revolutionary back in the day, and it's still fresh today. The stuff they've created is unreal. Futon's sound designs are timeless. Being invited as a special guest was such an amazing experience, though it did make me think, Ah, I was born just a bit too late!”
The HEAVYWEIGHT era
Her track One Punch hit the airwaves ahead of her upcoming album HEAVYWEIGHT, packed with Thai boxing themes and a fierce message about being both a fighter and a woman.
“My journey’s been a challenge. I’ve had to keep proving my strength and earning my spot. And now, I’m making it clear who I really am.”
The album title holds special significance.
For my new album HEAVYWEIGHT, it’s all about my journey, from being an atomweight to now stepping into the heavyweight ring. It's a whole new era for me!
Splashing into Songkran: A ‘MILLI-Style’ Songkran Party?
“Back then, it was Khao San Road or nowhere,” she laughs when we ask how she spent past Songkrans.
“Now? I’ll still take a little splash, but I’m more into house parties and Songkran-themed events. Just as fun, just a little less chaotic.”
We ask, if she were throwing a ‘MILLI-style’ Songkran party, what would it be like?
“Molam all the way! Water’s flying, but it’s the Molam beats setting the vibe.”
For those unfamiliar, Molam is the soulful, rhythmic storytelling music of Isan, northeastern Thailand.
Any message to the fans eagerly awaiting the new release?
“My music grows as I do, and I'm always aiming to evolve. This new album is a fresh chapter, but it's still MILLI, just with a few exciting twists. Think of it like trying a new ice cream flavour, but it's still got that MILLI, the Thai girl, my stamp, all over it.”