Cambodia is often known for the brutal Khmer Rouge regime that nearly destroyed a people and a culture, leaving millions dead. Those that managed to flee ended up scattered around the globe as refugees. But often overlooked was Cambodia’s music scene of the 60s and 70s when Cambodian musicians took the sounds of western rock and gave it a distinct Khmer flavor.
Los Angeles based band Dengue Fever — whose lead singer Ch’hom Nimol hails from Cambodia and used to perform regularly for the country’s King and Queen — recently journeyed to Cambodia to explore the roots of their music and perform the particular style of 60s and 70s rock and roll in the country in which it was nearly destroyed.
The final product is the documentary Sleepwalking Through the Mekong, which not only explores Cambodian music but paints a scene of modern Cambodia that has in recent years become popular with travelers, far removed from the horrors of the country’s history.
Check out Sleepwalking Through the Mekong’s website for more info.
