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There are numerous music styles to be found in Cambodia
today, old and new, city and country. Before the mid-1970s, dance rhythms such as bolero, bossa nova, cha cha, madison and twist were made popular by the prolific
Sin Sisamuth, while native styles such as ram vong, ram kbach, ram saravan, lam lao, khmer ler, talong, chok kompis and pleng ka continue to be popular today. Here we present examples of many of these styles, with an emphasis on songs with folk music roots. |
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Khmer Ler and Talong |
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Music Videos |
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These styles are also known as khmer surin and are strongly influenced
by the kantrum (also kondrin) music of the Khmer-speaking
people of the border provinces in Thailand's lower Issan region.
Performers include Chan Samai, Oeun Sreymom, Phae Phongrak, Srey Roth,
Tony Lai. |
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Traditional |
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Music |
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Ram Vong |
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Ram vong is a music style played
to accompany the traditional circle dance of the same name, performed
by
Chan Samai, Oeun Sreymom, Touch Sreynich, Him Sivon,
Man Saren, Noy Vanneth, Chin Soriya, Choeun Odom, Song Vicha, Kong Dy
Nar. |
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Ram Kbach |
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Ram kbach
is also a dance style but is based on classical Khmer court music. For melodic
beauty and emotional appeal, it compares with Thailand's luk thung music.
Performers are Touch Sreynich, Noy Vanneth, Ith Srey Pin, Oeun Sreymom. |
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Saravan and Lam Lao |
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Ram saravan and lam lao
(also lam leav) are, as the names suggest, derived from the music
of Laos. Since the music of southern Laos derives
from Mon-Khmer styles, it could be argued that this was originally all
Khmer music. Performers are Song Vicha, Choun Sovan Chhay, Oeun Sreymom. |
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Pleng Ka and Traditional |
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Pleng ka is a style of wedding
music and the first sample here is performed by Touch Sreynich, who was recently granted
political asylum in the USA, following an assassination attempt in
2003 which left her almost completely paralyzed. Also featured are Sin Sisamuth,
Pichenda, Eang Sithol, Him Sivon, Noy Vanneth, Yen Sarin. |
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Bolero, Cha Cha, Jerk |
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Interesting examples of western dance
rhythms adapted to Khmer songs. The style known as jerk has a
distinctive rhythm but we are unsure of its origins. Performers are
Choeun Odom, Chin Soriya, Song Vicha, Him Sivon, Touch Sreynich. |
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Pop, Rap, Soul |
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For good measure we offer a selection of
pop music of obvious western origin but with a unique Khmer
interpretation. Some of the performers are the group Wong Kabai, Phae Phongrak and DJ Dara. |
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