Sarunvut is the winner of a design contest based on the virtual hip-hop band’s songs. His 30-second clip recently won the “Gorillaz on the Playground Music Video Animation” competition sponsored by Samsung and EMI Music Thailand.

“I’ve been a fan of the band since their first album,” says Sarunvut, 26, an art designer who lives in Bangkok. “I like their music and their animations and graphics.”

For the clueless few, Gorillaz is a cartoon hip-hop group featuring the musical talents of Blur’s Damon Albarn, Tom Tom Club’s Tina Weymouth, Cibo Matto’s Miho Hatori and Dan “The Automator” Nakamura. Visuals come courtesy of Jamie Hewlett, the originator of the cult comic “Tank Girl”. Deltron 3030’s Kid Koala and Del tha Funkee Homosapien also contributed.

The “Gorillaz” cartoon features four very different musical talents: 2D, Murdoc, Russel and Noodle, each with his or her unique characteristics.

Murdoc is a Satan-worshipping bassist, 2D is the wild front man, Russel is a zombie-style, rapping drummer, and Noodle is a 10-year-old Japanese girl and guitarist extraordinaire.

Gorillaz made their debut in late 2000 with the “Tomorrow Comes Today” EP, followed up by the “Clint Eastwood” single. Their self-titled full-length debut, “Gorillaz”, was released in spring 2001. Their music videos were worldwide hits, triggering the compilation of the B-sides collection “G-Sides” and the release of the “Phase One: Celebrity Takedown” DVD. In 2002, EMI released the remix “Laika Come Home”.

Albarn took a break from Gorillaz to record Blur’s seventh album, which came out in 2003.

When he returned, he teamed with Danger Mouse (“The Grey Album”) and tapped the talents of De La Soul, Debbie Harry, Shaun Ryder and others to make “Demon Days”, released this spring. (Nakamura and Del tha Funkee weren’t part of the project.) The popular single “Feel Good Inc” comes from the “Demon Days” album.

“It’s been five years since their first album, but Gorillaz are very much part of the music trend today,” said Sarunvut.

Check out the Gorillaz website, www.gorillaz.com, which showcases Hewlett’s and the band’s visual and musical talents.

Boonrat Ongphet

Nation Junior

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Mobile World: AIS SPELLS RELIEF FOR THE CONTENTADDICTED

Leading mobile phone operator Advanced Info Service (AIS) has created a shortcut for customers wanting to download new applications.

Content-addicted clients can dial 1175 and then press 9 to be connected to a special line where staff members will say what’s in demand.

If the caller chooses an application, delivery can be made directly to his or her phone.

Currently, customers download content via the AIS portal site or order from leaflets.

Downloading from the portal site can be time consuming, requiring customers to flip through several Wap pages for a desired ring tone or a special, pre-written message. Leaflets require customers to dial in specific codes.

The new service is meant to help customers quickly download non-voice services. It also transforms AIS’s 200 call-centre troubleshooters into content deliverers.

“Our staff members are well-trained. So even if you don’t know the name of the ring tone that you want, you can hum the tune and our staff will find it out for you,” AIS assistant vice-president Suvit Arayawilaipong said.

But contacting the shortcut may be more time consuming (and expensive) than accessing the AIS portal site. The call centre’s staff will answer questions and try to persuade you to download additional applications. Contacting the AIS call centre isn’t free. Clients are billed at their standard call rate.

Sirivish Toomgum

Connected@nationgroup.com