Long Beach resident Chhom Nimol, is the lead singer for Dengue Fever, a band that is putting Cambodian American psychedelic surf rock on the map. Chhom, took a break from a crowded touring schedule to visit home for Cambodian New Year before she and the band embark on a West Coast Tour to promote their new album "Cannibal Courtship." (Brittany Murray / Press-Telegram)
MUSIC: Voice of Dengue Fever prepares for release of latest
album, band tour.
By Greg Mellen,
Press-Telegram Staff Writer
Posted: 14th April, 2011
LONG BEACH - As Chhom Nimol sits at Sophy's Restaurant, it's a rare slow day for the Cambodian lead singer of Dengue Fever, a unique band with an ever-growing fan base.
The Signal Hill resident has been in a whir of activity as her band prepares to release of its latest album, "Cannibal Courtship," which hits the shelves Tuesday, the same day the band begins a West Coast tour at the Troubadour in Los Angeles.
"My schedule with Dengue Fever is so full," says Chhom, who brings along a friend to interpret but rarely needs help. "Today is my day to relax."
It being the first day of the three-day Cambodian New Year, it's a good time for reflection, something she has little time for with her band's growing popularity and hectic tour schedule.
"I'm very happy with the band," Chhom says. "We travel around the world. Dengue Fever has helped me see the world."
Which is something for the woman who for much of her life was better known as Chhom Chorvinn's little sister. And in many ways, she still sees herself as that.
"I don't know about being famous or making money," she says with a laugh.
The ascent of Chhom and Dengue Fever is an unlikely tale.
Chhom was born in Battambang province in the wake of the Khmer Rouge's regime that left 2 million Cambodians dead.
The Chhom family was split up, and Nimol and her parents fled to a refugee camp. It was there she learned to sing, taught by her brother Monychot.
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"There was really nothing else to do in the camp," Chhom recalls.
Chhom's parents, Ou Sarin and Chon, also had been renowned as ayai singers, a popular, playful rural folk style of music.
It was also in camp the Chhoms heard Chorvinn on the radio and learned that not only was she still alive, but had earned fame as a singer.
The Chhom family later returned to Cambodia, and Nimol gained her own renown, winning a national singing contest.
"Everyone knows our family in Cambodia," Chhom says.
In 2000, the singer made her way to the U.S. to ply her trade in the Cambodian music circuit.
Meanwhile, brothers Zac and Ethan Holtzman became enamored of the 1960s rock music that came out of Cambodia prior to the rise of Pol Pot.
In 2001, they chanced across Chhom, who was singing Cambodian songs and karaoke at the Dragon House in Long Beach.
At the time, Chhom spoke virtually no English, and one can only imagine the confusion as the brothers tried to describe the odd idea they had of doing covers of psychedelic retrorock of Cambodia.
"It was crazy, that's what I'm thinking," Chhom recalls. "What are these guys trying to do, playing Cambodian songs?"
Although it was a gamble, Chhom went in with Dengue Fever and hasn't looked back.
Since inception, the band has earned critical raves for its eclectic blend of Cambodian, Afro, garage, surf and psychedelic styles.
With Cannibal Courtship, the band refines its style, while incorporating more English.
Although Chhom jokes she would sometimes have to spend a week to record one line of English lyrics, the music sounds seamless, natural and unique to Dengue Fever.
As the Americanized Chhom prepares to get her nails done and later go to the gym, she hasn't forgotten her Khmer roots.
Chhom and the band still do charity work for Cambodian causes, such as Cambodian Living Arts, the Wildlife Alliance.
Despite a crowded schedule the next day, Chhom said she planned to find time to go to the Cambodian Buddhist temple of Long Beach and receive a water blessing before embarking on tour.
greg.mellen@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1291
MUSIC: Voice of Dengue Fever prepares for release of latest
album, band tour.
By Greg Mellen,
Press-Telegram Staff Writer
Posted: 14th April, 2011
LONG BEACH - As Chhom Nimol sits at Sophy's Restaurant, it's a rare slow day for the Cambodian lead singer of Dengue Fever, a unique band with an ever-growing fan base.
The Signal Hill resident has been in a whir of activity as her band prepares to release of its latest album, "Cannibal Courtship," which hits the shelves Tuesday, the same day the band begins a West Coast tour at the Troubadour in Los Angeles.
"My schedule with Dengue Fever is so full," says Chhom, who brings along a friend to interpret but rarely needs help. "Today is my day to relax."
It being the first day of the three-day Cambodian New Year, it's a good time for reflection, something she has little time for with her band's growing popularity and hectic tour schedule.
"I'm very happy with the band," Chhom says. "We travel around the world. Dengue Fever has helped me see the world."
Which is something for the woman who for much of her life was better known as Chhom Chorvinn's little sister. And in many ways, she still sees herself as that.
"I don't know about being famous or making money," she says with a laugh.
The ascent of Chhom and Dengue Fever is an unlikely tale.
Chhom was born in Battambang province in the wake of the Khmer Rouge's regime that left 2 million Cambodians dead.
The Chhom family was split up, and Nimol and her parents fled to a refugee camp. It was there she learned to sing, taught by her brother Monychot.
Advertisement
"There was really nothing else to do in the camp," Chhom recalls.
Chhom's parents, Ou Sarin and Chon, also had been renowned as ayai singers, a popular, playful rural folk style of music.
It was also in camp the Chhoms heard Chorvinn on the radio and learned that not only was she still alive, but had earned fame as a singer.
The Chhom family later returned to Cambodia, and Nimol gained her own renown, winning a national singing contest.
"Everyone knows our family in Cambodia," Chhom says.
In 2000, the singer made her way to the U.S. to ply her trade in the Cambodian music circuit.
Meanwhile, brothers Zac and Ethan Holtzman became enamored of the 1960s rock music that came out of Cambodia prior to the rise of Pol Pot.
In 2001, they chanced across Chhom, who was singing Cambodian songs and karaoke at the Dragon House in Long Beach.
At the time, Chhom spoke virtually no English, and one can only imagine the confusion as the brothers tried to describe the odd idea they had of doing covers of psychedelic retrorock of Cambodia.
"It was crazy, that's what I'm thinking," Chhom recalls. "What are these guys trying to do, playing Cambodian songs?"
Although it was a gamble, Chhom went in with Dengue Fever and hasn't looked back.
Since inception, the band has earned critical raves for its eclectic blend of Cambodian, Afro, garage, surf and psychedelic styles.
With Cannibal Courtship, the band refines its style, while incorporating more English.
Although Chhom jokes she would sometimes have to spend a week to record one line of English lyrics, the music sounds seamless, natural and unique to Dengue Fever.
As the Americanized Chhom prepares to get her nails done and later go to the gym, she hasn't forgotten her Khmer roots.
Chhom and the band still do charity work for Cambodian causes, such as Cambodian Living Arts, the Wildlife Alliance.
Despite a crowded schedule the next day, Chhom said she planned to find time to go to the Cambodian Buddhist temple of Long Beach and receive a water blessing before embarking on tour.
greg.mellen@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1291
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