Andy Zua, also known as Protozua, is a force to be reckoned with in Thailand's art scene. Best known for his work with the hip-hop group Rap Against Dictatorship, Zua crafts politically charged music that has resonated with millions and earned international acclaim. But his creative pursuits extend far beyond music, encompassing visual art, zine-making, and even a monthly book club.
Zua's musical journey began after a brief stint in engineering. 'I graduated in engineering. But, after half a year, I felt like I wasn't so good at it,' he recalls. 'So I started learning how to make music from people.' His stage name, Protozua, is a nod to both his childhood nickname and his fascination with the microscopic world. 'At the time, when I was thinking about the rap name, I was a nerd. I knew that protozoa was the name of the bacteria,' he explains.
While Zua proudly identifies as a nerd, his music is far from academic. Rap Against Dictatorship tackles serious issues, primarily focusing on politics and social justice. 'The latest work right now mainly focuses on politics. I don't do party songs. I don't do hook-up songs like, Oh, girl, you sexy. No, no. Only serious stuff,' he states. Their mission: 'Freedom of people? Peaceful life, the freedom of being oneself.'
The group's formation was a direct response to political turmoil. 'There was a coup at that time,' Zua recounts. 'And we had a network of rappers in our generation. They're the ones who do some battles, and we remembered each other.' The project began with a simple question: 'Hey, can you say what you feel about politics right now? Anything?'
Zua’s involvement started with their first song, 'My Country Has,' and he’s been a core member ever since. The group's bold stance has attracted attention, both positive and negative. One member faced arrest and was targeted with government malware. 'Mostly the people who got hacked were the activists on the front line,' Zua explains. 'In my group, only one person got hacked.'
The group has also faced censorship, with their videos being banned on YouTube multiple times. 'We just re-upload,' Zua says. Despite these challenges, their music continues to reach a vast audience. Their most viewed video has garnered over 100 million views.
Beyond music, Zua is a multidisciplinary artist deeply involved in the zine scene. With his collective, Moving Weird-nest, he aims to showcase Thai artists globally. 'We want people around the world to see the work of Thai artists,' he says. 'In the future, we aim to be the middleman, to move the zine art prints of Thai artists and place them in some shops around the world.'
His art style is self-taught and idea-driven. 'Uneducated,' he describes it. 'Focusing more on the ideas. Less focus on the craftsmanship.' He finds inspiration in his personal experiences, using different mediums to express various facets of his life. 'When it's about politics, I mainly express it through rap,' he explains. 'On other mediums, I lean more on the personal side of life, to have the space to express.'
Zua also hosts a monthly book club at Arai Arai Cafe, where he selects books based on monthly themes. 'Every month, I select the books that I like, and I think about the themes of every month,' he says. 'Yeah, I pick four to six books and read four or eight pages of each while playing guitar.'
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Want to explore Andy Zua's multifaceted world? Read the full interview in CONFLUENCE, the 5th volume of INTERLUNAR's zine.
