As the popularity of rock ‘n’ roll surpassed the 60s, this freshness reached each and every corner of the world, including Cambodia.
Rock ‘n’ roll radio waves enjoyed by the U. S. militaryU. S. citizens in Vietnam were intercepted by young Cambodians astonished by what they heard. The country’s young singer-songwriters have taken notice, covering the pop music of the Western world with a classic Khmer sound. It was a colorful new pop movement in the Khmer Republic, but one that would unfortunately end the Khmer Rouge era of 1975 to 1979.
In the 90s, Khmer rock encouraged Los Angeles keyboardist Ethan Holtzman to travel to Cambodia, which led to the formation of the band Dengue Fever in 2001. The band includes his brother Zac Holtzman (guitar), Senon Williams (bass), Paul Smith (drums), David Ralicke (horns) and Cambodian-American singer Chhom Nimol.
Dengue Fever will be held Friday at Pappy and Harriet’s home.
Since its incarnation, Dengue Fever has released five albums, 4 EPs, a recording and a soundtrack for the band’s 2007 documentary “Sleepwalking Through the Mekong”. The band has also been acclaimed by vocalist Peter Gabriel, Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett and Kinks’ Ray. Davies.
Dengue Fever has played on stages in Europe, Asia, South America and the United Arab Emirates, as well as performing at several music festivals. In 2012, the band played at the first Desert Daze festival. Williams said the popularity of the music alludes to the adoption of other rhythms. and melodies and doing anything out of the ordinary.
“When I was a kid I was into rock music, hip hop and all that other stuff, ‘world music’ wasn’t necessarily a smart thing to do,” Williams said. gimmick. In our early days, when other people listened to our music or saw us play, they learned that we were original and true to ourselves when performing that music. A lot of bands now can mix cultures and rhythms in an honest way. “
Williams estimates that the organization has done five tours in Cambodia and conducted them in a variety of places such as cultural centers, university campuses and schools, temples in the countryside and a loose concert in between. He described reception in Cambodia as “wild” and every broadcast as “completely unpredictable. “
“We went as cultural ambassadors and there was a tour funded by the U. S. government. We did a lot of educational things, but we also played cool places in the middle of the street and a mini festival showed up on the fly. . In our spare time, we visited places, made friends and ate smart food. “
According to a 2018 article on Medium, peak recordings through prominent Khmer rock musicians such as Sinn Sisamouth, Ros Sothea and the Drakkar band were destroyed by the Khmer Rouge government. But the global has been reintroduced into the genre thanks to copies of those records bought as souvenirs through tourists or hidden through Cambodian citizens. Projects like the Cambodian Vintage Music Archive search for copies and create high-quality virtual transfers.
Many of those albums have been released on compilations or as full-length albums, and are popular with music lovers around the world. Williams said this resurgence and interest is due to the Internet.
“It’s not just Khmer music, it’s music from all over the world,” Williams said. of not knowing what it is, (you find out) through (the music app) Shazam. The next thing you know, you transmit that rabbit hole of music, you may never have figured out what it’s like before. I think young people are influenced by music from all over the world and that informs their musical tastes. “
Dengue Fever hasn’t released since 2015’s album “The Deepest Lake”. Williams said the band toured for two years and spent the next year on hiatus. Recording sessions for a new album were interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but were later resumed. and a new album will be released next year.
“During the pandemic, we were given a combination to figure out what our long-term arrangement would be and then we thought it was silly,” Williams said. “We thought, ‘We love each other. ‘ We make music, we don’t want to make decisions and [we can just] create when and how we want to create. Inactivity is the result of not being in a hurry.
The band has played Pappy and Harriet’s house in the past, and Williams called it “one of my favorite places in the world. “
“A close friend has a cabin that’s not too far from Pappy’s, so I bump into it every time we play,” Williams said. galaxy of the Milky Way, which is rarely very visual from Los Angeles. “
What: Dengue fever
When: 20:30 on Friday 14 October
Where: Pappy and Harriet, 53-688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown
How much: $25
More information: pappyandharriets. com
Brian Blueskye covers arts and for the Desert Sun. Se can be reached on brian. blueskye@desertsun. com or on Twitter at @bblueskye.