Thammarat is a self-coined “gaysian theater pop” artist weaving Broadway energy, pop sensibility, and queer storytelling into music that’s “made for the stage.” As one fan writes: “His original songs are like mini-musicals, delivering political truths and romantic half-truths in a narrative form—sometimes including a plot twist.”
Currently based in Maryland, the performing artist and songwriter got his start singing pop covers at various retirement homes around the DMV area. He took his first formal voice lesson in the sixth grade, and, within a year, was singing the National Anthem at college sports events. Soon after, he was accepted into the prestigious summer vocal arts program at Interlochen Center for The Arts, where he began studying classical voice and opera. By the eighth grade, he was competing in local voice competitions.
Thammarat continued to perform semi-professionally around DC throughout high school, singing at various fundraising events and ceremonies, including the 2018 Horatio Alger Awards at DAR Constitution Hall, and the historic Matthew Shepard memorial plaque dedication ceremony on December 2, 2019. Thammarat also leveraged his voice in service of social justice causes as a member of the GenOUT Youth Chorus—Washington, DC’s first and only vocal ensemble for LGBTQ+ and allied youth.
Thammarat expanded to songwriting during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, using the lockdown as an opportunity to write the kinds of stories he wished he’d heard growing up. His late grandfather, Jim Connell, also started hosting weekly get-togethers at Thammarat’s house, where the two of them would ‘crash and burn’ through The Great American Songbook and occasionally put on performances for relatives and friends. These sessions eventually culminated in Songs With Granddad, a six-song cover EP that Thammarat and Jim released in 2024.
While in college, Thammarat wrote extensively about his experiences growing up as a gender-expansive, gay Asian American. His explorations around heteronormativity and playtime eventually led to the creation of “Normal,” an LGBTQ+ anthem celebrating the beauty of non-conformity and the life-altering power of self-expression. With encouragement from friends and family, he started performing his original work publicly at open mics and showcases. His signature vocals and veritable gift for storytelling have helped him stand out in some of the biggest music cities, including New York, Nashville, and DC.
Thammarat graduated with departmental honors from The New School’s Contemporary Music program in May 2025. He is now pursuing a Master of Arts in Songwriting at Berklee Online.
Whether singing at local bookstores in DC or on small stages in Brooklyn, Thammarat's live shows are a brave, affirming space that celebrates listeners and insists on their visibility.
You can stream/buy his songs at this link. He also publishes a monthly newsletter on Substack, which you can find here. His Instagram is @thammarat_sings.