Alumni in the Arts: ISB Graduates Achieving Success as Singers

International School Bangkok (ISB) has been extremely fortunate to have had so many talented students pass through our hallowed halls. In our "ISB Alumni in the Arts" series, we've showcased various creative alumni, including artists, painters, dancers, and designers. In this article, we focus on ISB alumni who have made a mark in the music industry as singers.

ISB has a history of producing world-class singers, such as Seiko Niizumo from the Class of 1997. Seiko, a renowned pop singer in Japan, is known simply as "Seiko." You can read more about Seiko's journey here. Another notable alumna from the same class is Sunny Kim, a jazz singer and composer who has performed with some of the world's most famous jazz musicians. Discover Sunny's story here. In this edition of Alumni in the Arts, we will look at the journeys of three other ISB alums who are currently presenting their artistry to the world.

Jace Payackapan

Jace Payackapan, a singer-songwriter and producer from the ISB Class of 2016, has been involved in music from a young age. In Thailand, she earned Trinity College London's distinction for all grades in both piano and vocals and won national awards for Trinity Pop & Rock Vocals in 2013, 2014, and 2015. In 2019, she graduated with a Contemporary Writing and Production degree from the Berklee College of Music.

Jace is a young entrepreneur passionate about improving the music industry infrastructure in Thailand to promote and expand Thai artists’ reach globally. Her experience spans both the creative and business sides of the music world with roles including:

• Singer: Pop, RnB, Jazz, EDM, Classical
• Songwriter: Pop and Electronic Top-lining
• Studio Engineer: at ISB’s very own Sound Studio
• Co-founder of Itim Music Publishing Co., Ltd.: Thailand's first independent music publishing company, aimed at educating songwriters on music copyright. Works closely with the Music Copyright Thailand (MCT) performance rights organization.
• Co-founder of Songtaew Sync: Thailand’s first Thai-centric sync agency working with labels such as Warner Music Thailand, What The Duck, LOVEiS Entertainment, New Echoes and more! 
• Vocal Producer, Arranger, and Music Educator: produces high-quality tracks and collaborates closely with singers to capture their best performances. Jace also arranges music for various ensembles and teaches voice, piano, production techniques, and music theory to aspiring musicians.

Jace currently lives in Bangkok and is actively involved in her companies, Itim Music Co., Ltd., and Songtaew Sync. We are lucky here at ISB to frequently see her on campus helping out in the new state-of-the-art ISB recording studio.

Alex Sypsomos

Alex Sypsomos, known as SYPS, is a soul/pop singer, songwriter, and producer who defies genre boundaries. Born in Florida to an English mother and Greek father and raised in Bangkok, he bridges the East and West musically. A 2008 ISB graduate, Alex earned a degree in Professional Music from Berklee College of Music in 2014. He has since written and produced music for artists in Thailand, China, Korea, India, and Myanmar, amassing over 100 million streams. Collaborating with others helped Alex develop his unique sound and refine his style.

SYPS's journey began with his self-released debut single, "Four Walls." Collaborations with international DJs like Sean Finn brought him global recognition, with their song reaching #2 in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. While forging his solo career, SYPS has shaped hits for artists such as Violette Wautier, Daboyway, and Jolin Tsai, earning a #1 album at the Golden Melody Awards. His work on the Chinese TV show "Rap For Youth" with 88 Rising included credits with Rich Brian, Z. Tao, and the Higher Brothers, producing alongside Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj's team. 

In the Indian hip-hop scene, SYPS has written and produced for icons like Prabh Deep and Raftaar. He co-wrote the upcoming Tilly Birds English album, set for a 2024 release, and has collaborated with artists like Jeff Satur, Pearwah, Fyeqoodgirl, Twopee Southside, and ISB alum Lydia. He also contributed to Violette Wautier's latest Thai album and is working with Karn from HYBS on his EP and the debut Thai girl group Empress.

The second half of 2024 marks a pivotal period for SYPS as he refocuses on his own music with plans for exciting releases. Based in Bangkok, Alex continues to write, produce, and mentor ISB students, including his friend Jace.

Saharat (French) Wongananchai

French, known as FrenchW, is a singer, songwriter, and producer currently based in Bangkok. His music blends pop, indie pop, and R&B. Influenced by artists like Ed Sheeran, LANY, and Lauv, he is known for his warm yet quirky tone and the fusion of catchy melodic movements with electronic synth sounds. French, a member of ISB's Class of 2019, started writing songs when he was 14 years old and was active in the school choir and the High School acapella club VOX.

After graduating from ISB in 2019, French released his EP "29 to 3," followed by the hit single "Hurt Yourself" in 2020, which made its way to LDN Music Magazine’s Top 5 singles on ‘ New Music Friday.’ After graduating from BIMM Institute London, FrenchW returned to Thailand and signed with a renowned record label - Tero Music, where he gained recognition and topped the charts with his single “โทรศัพท์เครื่องเก่า (Memories).” The song now has over 20 million views on all platforms. His success has led him to tour all over Thailand and abroad where he hosted a sold-out show in Tokyo, Japan, at Mumpak Bar. He has also collaborated with various artists and achieved success with the theme song for "KinnPorsche The Series,” sung by the legendary rock band - Slot Machine.  The series aired on iQIYI and proved successful worldwide after touring in Asia and South America.

French currently tours internationally and continues to create music that resonates with fans worldwide.

Join ISB and Pursue Your Artistic Dreams

If you are passionate about the arts and aspire to be part of a community that nurtures creativity and excellence, apply to the International School Bangkok today. Our supportive environment and state-of-the-art facilities provide the perfect foundation for your artistic growth. Learn more about our vibrant arts program by visiting our Arts Department page. Join us and take the first step towards achieving your artistic dreams.