Spring Break
Dengue Fever emulates Cambodian pop music
BRITTANY FORRESTAL
Issue date: 4/21/09 Section: Variety
In tropical climates, Dengue Fever is the name of a viral disease that is passed from mosquitoes to humans with one discreet bite. But, for the Los Angeles-based band of the same name, the disease punctuates the memory that began the quintet's musical journey.
In 2001, Ethan Holtzman, Farfisa organ player and one of the band's founding members, embarked on a fateful trip to Cambodia during which his traveling partner was diagnosed with the disease. On the way to a hospital in the capital of Phnom Penh, Holtzman heard the country's psychedelic '60s pop-rock and was inspired by the unconventional sound.
"Cambodia … really stood out from all the other countries," he said. "I just happened to come across this music, and [it] just blew me away."
After his return to Los Angeles, Holtzman recruited his brother - guitarist Zac Holtzman, bassist Senon Williams, drummer Paul Smith and brass player David Ralicke to re-create the music he had experienced during his travels.
"We weren't that academic about it. It was very organic. It was something that was just going to be fun," Williams said.
Shortly after they began rehearsing, the group began its search for a singer. The goal was to find a vocalist to sing in Khmer, Cambodia's native language, so the band could fully emulate the classic Cambodian pop for which they had a growing appreciation.
"After trying out some singers, we found [vocalist Chhom Nimol]. It was pretty evident as soon as she touched the microphone that we wanted her to sing. She was basically miles beyond all the other singers," Williams said.
Nimol, a native Cambodian, had moved to Long Beach, Calif., and was living and working in the area's Cambodian community. She had garnered a reputation as a local karaoke singer and once she joined Dengue Fever, the band began rehearsing, recording and performing at festivals and venues across the nation.
The group has spent the past eight years building its reputation by spanning musical genres and blending Cambodian psychedelic rock music with jazz, indie-rock and '60s pop influences. The band also recently released a documentary, "Sleepwalking Through the Mekong," which chronicles a 2005 trip to Cambodia.
In 2001, Ethan Holtzman, Farfisa organ player and one of the band's founding members, embarked on a fateful trip to Cambodia during which his traveling partner was diagnosed with the disease. On the way to a hospital in the capital of Phnom Penh, Holtzman heard the country's psychedelic '60s pop-rock and was inspired by the unconventional sound.
"Cambodia … really stood out from all the other countries," he said. "I just happened to come across this music, and [it] just blew me away."
After his return to Los Angeles, Holtzman recruited his brother - guitarist Zac Holtzman, bassist Senon Williams, drummer Paul Smith and brass player David Ralicke to re-create the music he had experienced during his travels.
"We weren't that academic about it. It was very organic. It was something that was just going to be fun," Williams said.
Shortly after they began rehearsing, the group began its search for a singer. The goal was to find a vocalist to sing in Khmer, Cambodia's native language, so the band could fully emulate the classic Cambodian pop for which they had a growing appreciation.
"After trying out some singers, we found [vocalist Chhom Nimol]. It was pretty evident as soon as she touched the microphone that we wanted her to sing. She was basically miles beyond all the other singers," Williams said.
Nimol, a native Cambodian, had moved to Long Beach, Calif., and was living and working in the area's Cambodian community. She had garnered a reputation as a local karaoke singer and once she joined Dengue Fever, the band began rehearsing, recording and performing at festivals and venues across the nation.
The group has spent the past eight years building its reputation by spanning musical genres and blending Cambodian psychedelic rock music with jazz, indie-rock and '60s pop influences. The band also recently released a documentary, "Sleepwalking Through the Mekong," which chronicles a 2005 trip to Cambodia.
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