
Layers of ugliness and masterpiece.
Layers of ugliness and masterpiece.
One thing severely lacking as an expat in Phnom Penh is a solid and exciting music scene where I look at a poster or flip to the back of a magazine and say “YES! They’re finally showing!”. There are a few local bands and groups from small punk groups to jazz quartets along with some local singers who cover Top 40 hits, but nothing compares to the smashing availability of music venues, acts, and talent that strikes my fancy like that of the Pacific Northwest- and for Ritchie the music available in Scotland.
This past weekend I worked with rising star and Cambodian singer Nikki, who I featured in my last post for her VEVO music video “Home For Dinner”. She had decided to cover Sia’s song “Titanium” to add to her growing collection of YouTube vids and wanted to create a video that showed her take on women of today and the power they hold: to please, to hurt, to change.
I have had the lovely pleasure of working with Nikki on a number of projects from the lookbook campaign for Tonlé to the opening of Paperdolls and Paperboy at Brown 57 and an upcoming video. She’s such a talent with a warm spirit, plenty of passion, and a voice that will carry Cambodia to the ears of people across the globe.
It’s amazing to see creation, vision, and authenticity coming out of a country where individuality is only slowly becoming something to strive for. I’m so proud of Nikki for the release of her own video, written and recorded here in Phnom Penh, “Home For Dinner”. Keep an eye out for more projects to come from the songstress ;)
Who doesn’t love a good performance? Especially one that engages, excites, and makes you feel like getting out of your chair and move! I danced for several years throughout my early childhood, ballet and jazz, then moved into contemporary and hip-hip into my teens so when I heard that an upcoming event was being held to showcase young talented dancers in Cambodia it sparked my interest. I’ve seen Dance World Cambodia’s performances all over town from clubs to events and was interested to see what the school had to offer this time around.
Over some chilly coconut water and iced coffee, I sat down with Laura Joy Kiddle, instructor and founder of Dance World Cambodia to hear a bit more about what’s coming up!
This Saturday the 25th of January marked a special day for the Scots in my life, Phnom Penh, and across the globe: Burns Day.
To celebrate this honored date, Little Kitchen– Cooking for Change partnered up with a few good lads to host a memorable evening in honor of Robert Burns for the first time in the Charming City. Little Kitchen provides a monthly culinary event that brings people together who share a love for food, interaction, and education while supporting social and humanitarian activities in the local Cambodian community. Held at Meta House, each event is devoted to a particular country or region’s cuisine along with presentations and on some occasions, performances.
Today began as any other Tuesday: wake up after three separately set alarms- spaced an hour apart, think about the tasks that are to come throughout the next eight hours of work-who will I need to speak with? What articles need to be written?- and drowsily make my way to the office on the back of the moto, sunglasses deflecting the sun’s bright, unrelenting glare- thin cigarette hanging despondently between my fingers. I arrived at my place of work; I turned on, clicked around, and logged in to all of my accounts and pages- awaiting the e-mails I would respond to, the edits I would need to make; but first snuck onto my Facebook only to be reminded unsubtly that “I HAVE AN EVENT TODAY”.
The Von Bondies- No Regrets
You feel buried, you feel bored
No one takes you seriously when you’re 24
So shut off your days
And turn on your nights
‘Cause the chance is for the taking
And the taking’s right
No you really haven’t lived life yet
No you really haven’t lived life
If you ain’t got no regrets
What I did last night
Is none of your concern
You know I feel right
But that’s none of your concern
No you really haven’t lived life yet
No you really haven’t lived life yet
If you ain’t got no regrets
If you ain’t got no regrets
Don’t be mistaken
For someone who cares
Oh no,
Oh no you wouldn’t dare
Your’e the path here,
The pawn I took,
The sacrificial lamb,
The spineless book
Oh no you really haven’t lived life yet
Oh no you really haven’t lived life yet
If you ain’t got no regrets
If you ain’t got no regrets
And off we go! We’re launching SEEN- find out how you can be a part of making this happen, share this link & spread the word. Words can’t describe how we’re feeling about this project right now- but soon they will.
Visit our Kickstarter page for the full story.