Two major events have altered Laura Mam’s life in recent weeks: one, she has left her comfortable California life and moved permanently to Phnom Penh; two, she has just released her second full-length solo album, In Search of Heroes.
No matter what anyone tells you, the timing was no accident. And if it says anything, it says this: Laura Mam has arrived.
Mam, a Cambodian-American from San Jose, first gained popularity in 2008 with a string of video blogs on YouTube. The low-fi performances often included just her and a guitar. She spoke directly to the camera, occasionally hamming it up and ranting about the demands of university or shoddy recording equipment. She sang about Cambodia and Sin Sisamouth, her boyfriend and smoking weed.
The videos proved a perfect vehicle for her intimate dorm room manner. She was cute, funny and likeable. And when she started singing, her talent was instantly recognisable. When she started singing in Khmer, Cambodians around the world began to swoon.
After college Mam put together an all-Cambodian girl band, The Like Me’s, and started playing the Bay Area club scene. The band visited Cambodia in February 2011; they were an instant hit.
The Like Me’s split in early 2013, but the journey Mam started with the band was now her own. The pop chanteuse carries with her the musical influences of contemporary American culture. She plans to dive into the music scene and absorb all its cultural influences. And maybe even share a little American flair along the way (possibly even a lot).
Like many overseas-born Khmers, Mam appears driven by a need to connect to her parents’ homeland and contribute to its rehabilitation. More than any of her previous works, In Search of Heroes seems a musical amalgamation of Mam’s personal journey, maybe even a self-portrait.
Musically, In Search of Heroes is a departure from Mam’s earlier efforts, too. Most of her past works carried traditional pop stylings. Her new album might be described broadly as a mix between ‘80s-era synth pop and Asian electronica. Yet it is neither, and so much more.
The 10-track album begins with Buong Suong, a modern-day interpretation of the ancient royal ceremony. The song opens with Mam singing alone with a drummer. A trickle of reverb gives her vocals a soft, smooth edge. The rhythm feels tribal, with heavy, expressive percussions, traditional Khmer instruments and chanting. A thunderous dance beat comes crashing in midway through the song. But at just 1:08, the song, like a flash flood, is over quickly.
The second cut, Yusop Yulsong, is dance house Asian electronica mixed with traditional Khmer chanting and instrumentation. Like the previous track, the sound is reminiscent of Talvin Singh’s 1997 genre-defining compilation Soundz of the Asian Underground, and Yusop Yulsong easily joins the clique and mingles among its peers.
After the first two cuts, the album veers from its ancient influences and moves to more contemporary sounds. The third track is a cover of Pan Ron’s super hit Kyom Min Sok Chet Te. The fourth, a cut called Madizone Thmey. Mam’s version of Kyom Min Sok Chet Te comes with fuzzy bass, a big dance-club beat and vocals that at times border on the scandalously sensual. Madizone Thmey is straight-up Khmer wedding pop with heavy electronic undertones.
From here Mam slows down and her music takes a softer, sometimes darker tone. Kou Preng Veasna is a slow love song with brooding vocals and big refrains that would easily fit into any modern-day karaoke love triangle. The next two tracks, In Red and In the Hands of Men and Monsters, drop into shadowy introspection, the latter reflecting on the American bombings.
As a whole, the album seems to move through periods of the country’s history, each one an obvious influence on Mam’s identity. Her journey, now ours, finishes with the ‘80s synth-pop optimism of You Never Know.
Someday I’ll be a star, I’ll drive a fancy car, and everybody will love me
Oh, I’ll be on tv, and karaoke, and everybody will love me
I want a family, and they will love me, because I made it all happen
There is little doubt that Mam has superstar potential. Or that music is primed for a new pop icon. Fans are swooning already.
You have talent to save khmer, bring back what was lost and improve to its excellency. I hope that the younger generation picked up after you. I like to see cambodia grow like everyone else in the near furture. I’m a light skin cambodian just like u. I llove what you said in the article. We are cbodian with different skin colors. Nation need to view us differently. You don’t need to tan yourself, you are what you said. You are one strong patriotic person. I love that about you! I hope more of you who have those same dream about khmer. God bless you and the country!!
I’m looking forward to see real drama or movie also from you. I hope you can consider doing it. I always watch korean, I wish that cambodian can do drama too. You have the look for it! Please do it!