In our latest Digital Cover Story, we spotlight Jaonaay Jinjett Wattanasin, the eldest heir of the Wattanasin family and a recent addition to Sony Music Thailand’s roster. With over 17 million views on his hit ‘Sweet Baby’, Jaonaay sits down with us during the December cover shoot to discuss his new track ‘THEM JEANS’, the inspirations shaping his craft, and his evolving path as both a performer and an artist.
#legend_th: How’s the move to Sony Music Thailand been?
JN: I’m genuinely happy and excited to finally be working as a full-time artist. Everyone at the label has been incredibly welcoming. My first release, “Sweet Baby,” received such warm support — far beyond what I expected.
#legend_th: What’s the story behind your new song?
JN: The new track is called “THEM JEANS.” It comes from two different stories.
The first one happened when I was hanging out with D!EOUT, a group of really driven young hip-hop artists I’d been working with. One day, we were trying to write together but nothing was coming to me. And one of the guys, a younger member called Jeans, didn’t show up that day. The phrase “Jeans isn’t here” just kept looping in my head (laughs), and somehow it turned into a song about denim.
The second inspiration comes from the idea that almost everyone owns a pair of jeans — whether they’re neat, simple and comfortable, or more street-style. And I also went through a phase where I was completely charmed by girls who dressed in denim. That ended up inspiring the writing of this song as well.
#legend_th: Why did you choose Charlotte (Wasita Hemaneau) as the lead in the music video?
JN: I’ve worked with her before on the series DELETE. She’s incredibly professional, knows her body, her timing for dancing and posing is spot on, and she works efficiently. She understands the brief completely, which made it easy and comfortable to collaborate. I invited her to try something new together, and she delivered exactly what I had envisioned, even beyond my expectations.
#legend_th: Any plans for your first full-length album?
JN: I’ve been dreaming about it for a long time, but the opportunity hasn’t come up yet. It’s been 8–9 years since I released “Different”, quite a while. I feel like I want to create an album for the people who’ve stayed with me, something that clearly reflects who I am. But I also want to give myself time to grow and mature before releasing it.
#legend_th: You’re both a singer and an actor, how do you see the difference between the two roles?
JN: They’re different, but in a way, they share something in common. Both roles require the same level of focus on the project. As a singer, I can always draw everything from myself. Acting, however, means stepping into someone else’s shoes. It might relate to me a bit, but the challenge is becoming someone I’m not. Honestly, I’m starting to enjoy acting more now, because I’ve had the chance to talk with industry professionals. I’ve learned to approach scripts with a different mindset and new ways of absorbing information.
#legend_th: What’s been challenging for you in your role as an actor?
JN: I don’t like to call anything “difficult,” because at every step we can prepare ourselves for the work ahead. I focus on staying mindful and keeping my eyes on the goal. Rest is important too, taking care of myself ensures my body is ready for the work.
#legend_th: How do you usually spend your downtime?
JN: I stay at home, watch movies, listen to music. I try to spend more time with my parents too. In the beginning, I spent a lot of time alone, searching for my own style, but now I’ve slowed down a bit and found a better balance.
#legend_th: Have you ever experienced burnout?
JN: Yes, but it wasn’t from giving up, it came from going in circles, repeating the same things, and losing sight of the fun in what I was doing. Now, I’ve had the chance to reflect and understand myself better. I ask myself why I do what I do, and the answer is simple: I do it for fun, and I want people to enjoy my work. So, I plan my projects more carefully and make sure to find the joy in them.
#legend_th: What’s your current balance in life?
JN: I focus on working efficiently and keeping the quality of my work consistent. When that’s in place, I feel much more at ease.
#legend_th: How do you see yourself in three years?
JN: I’ll probably have released many more songs and tried lots of fun new things. I’ve been with Sony for less than a year, two hair colours, two songs, and so many new experiences I never even imagined. I love it because I finally get to work full-time. Before, people might have thought music was just a hobby since I was studying too, but now I’m fully focused on my career. In the future, I’ll have more exciting and enjoyable projects for sure.
#legend_th: Something you haven’t done yet but want to try?
JN: I want to make a rock song. I’ve been listening to it a lot lately. I’m not sure what kind of rock it would be yet, but I really want to try, it just feels so cool (laughs).
#legend_th: Are there any other fields you’d like to try besides singing and acting?
JN: I just want to focus on this for now (laughs). When I was a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut. But if you ask me now, I’d love to learn to fly a plane. Even though I’m scared of heights, I want to try it. Other people take girls on motorcycles or in classic cars but I think taking them flying would be pretty cool.
#legend_th: Looking back at your first day, what advice would you give yourself?
JN: I’d tell myself to just enjoy it. What we do is already a reward in itself. Making music and having your own platform is a privilege. At first, you might get caught up in the excitement of success, but just stay calm, focus on your work, and have fun with it (laughs).
#legend_th: Any upcoming projects or releases?
JN: I’d like to ask everyone to support THEM JEANS, and of course all the fans of Hashtag Legend Thailand. I hope everyone enjoys this new sound, featuring my friend SEXSKI. I’ll be releasing more new tracks soon, and there are also some film projects in the pipeline. It’ll be just as fun, so I hope everyone will follow along. Thank you!
