Check out this fantastically cool music video, "Sva Rom Monkiss" by Laura Mam of The Like Me's. I'm an instant fan. Obviously, the song is not in English... but that doesn't make it any less kickass. You definitely don't have to understand Khmer to feel this. Take a look:
Laura Mam a UC Berkeley graduate who's trying to revive the coolness of Khmer music, and from the looks of it, doing an awesome job. She's bridging the gap. Here's a little more story behind the music video:
After 3 months of planning, creating, networking, shopping (lots of shopping), story-boarding, daydreaming and then MORE re-planning...its finally here!!!For more from Laura Mam, check out this video for "Pka Proheam Rik Popreay," an original mostly-in-Khmer song that showcases her beautiful voice. Also see her YouTube channel here, and this article from The Phnom Penh Post: Speaking through songs. (Thanks, Quynh.)
I have finally consolidated all my music--English and Khmer--with my band and will be making music with The Like Mes. This is our rendition of the infamous Pan Rons Sva Rom Monkiss. We hope that this story speaks to ending the silence between the young and old Cambodian generations. In my belief, it is about time that we make that small but necessary effort to understand ourselves by understanding each other.
This is dedicated to the incredible Cambodian musicians of the 60s, may their spirit live on in all of us and may they bless us with the ability to express ourselves once again.
A HUGE THANK YOU to every single person that contributed to making this video. It is this communitys heart and soul that you are witnessing, so please share in the love.