He may only be 11, but hip-hop artist Mr D has taken Thailand's musical playground by storm. Last year, he got straight A's for his debut album "Go Inter", which sold more than 100,000 copies.

His surprising success attracted the attention of music giant Sony-BMG Entertainment, which released his sophomore record, "D-Day".

Now, he's the idol of today's young set.

"I almost died young," says Mr D, recalling an incident in Songkhla last year.

"I was sitting on the back of one of 20 bodyguards who was trying to break through the audience when a fan tugged hard on the silver chain I always wear round my neck. I struggled for breath but fortunately the necklace broke.

"I was sorry to lose the chain, though. It was a present from my fan club in Chiang Mai."

Mr D, whose real name is Disatorn Disayanon but is known to his friends and family as Nong Well, doesn't really mind the lack of privacy.

"Actually, I like it," he says in an affected drawl.

"Previously when I came home from school I did my homework and had some time to play computer games before I went to bed.

"Now I have to do my homework in the car because I have to work, work, and work."

He giggles. "No, I'm only kidding."

Brought up to speak both Thai and English - his nanny is a Filipina - Nong Well has attended the International School Bangkok since kindergarten. At age six, he entered Grade 1 and started Thai lessons in earnest.

At eight, he was picked to sing a soundtrack in the iTV children's programme, "Wai Son Khon Mahassajan" and also do a number for Channel 7's animation "Son 100%". Soon after, he recorded "Go Inter".

"It took me an hour to get the first song right because I had difficulty pronouncing the Thai words. It was hard, but in the end I sang it in karaoke language. Now, I can read and speak Thai really well," says Nong Well, who has received training from voice coach Rungroj Dullapand.

"It was exciting. Whenever I heard my voice on TV, I walked away."

Back then, Mr D was like most children, interested mainly in pop and dance music. His favourite artists were Blue and Westlife.

His debut album reflects his early tastes, serving up mainstream pop with hints of hip-hop on tracks "Go Inter" and "Mai Lor Tae Lao Jai".

The new album, produced by music director Dusit "Boy" Phoethong, the man behind the success of such famous artists as Thongchai McIntyre and Yayaying, has a more hip-hop bias.

"At that time, I was in Grade 3 and didn't know a lot about hip-hop. Now I'm in Grade 6 and the genre is very popular," says the youngster, who admires Eminem, DMX and Buddha Bless.

For this second outing, he's moved from his brother's music company, Alchemist, a subsidiary for Katana Group, to Sony-BMG.

"It's a good move as it will give me more experience and take me to another level," he says.

"I'd love to duet with the label's other singers like Tata Young, who has an excellent voice and is very sexy, or Ben Chalathit who sings on my track 'Yaak Pen Fan Ther'."

"D-Day" features 10 tracks including "Download", "Kla Fun Tong Kla Tha" and "Do You Know?"

The lyrics talk about love.

" 'Do You Know?' is about a mature kid who wants to know what love is. To me, love is powerful and emotional," he says.

"But I don't have a girlfriend yet."

His favourite track is "Dee Thi Sud".

"It's good lyrically and musically. I listened to it 12 times before recording the rapping."

And the youngster also has other talents. He plays the backing piano on powerful ballad "Khon Khong Ther".

Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul

The Nation