Channthy Kak: 1980-2018

Published on Mar 23, 2018 by Luke Hunt

As lead singer of the Cambodian Space Project and as a solo performer, Kak Channthy mesmerized and arguably did more for the rebirth of the Cambodian music scene than any other performer since peace was established in the country in 1998.She died this week, aged 38, after the tuk-tuk she was traveling in was reportedly struck by a car. News of her death flooded online media with tributes pouring in from across Cambodia and much further afield.Read more..

Cross Culture: Lestari Girls

Published on Mar 21, 2018 by Luke Hunt

The Diplomat’s Luke Hunt interviews the stars of Lestari Girls.When Ningsih Millane arrived in Australia as a young wife in 1987 from Indonesia she had left behind a life and an art-loving family that spanned the archipelago from Ambon in the west to Makassar in the far east.But she also brought with her an education in traditional dance, puppetry, and fluency in five Indonesian dialects. Two years later, with more than a touch of homesickness, she established Sanggar Lestari – a studio which enjoys a formidable reputation for dance and fusion.The stars of her program are the 13-strong Lestari Girls.They will shortly tour Indonesia where Lestari is establishing a name for itself with domestic audiences entranced by the idea of....

Spirits Thrive in Nat Pwe

Published on Sep 14, 2016 by Luke Hunt

The 2016 Nat Pwe in Taungbyone attracted perhaps 100,000 people from across Myanmar’s diverse religious, ethnic and cultural groups. Some came for the food, others for the party but most came to pay their respects to the famed spirits in the hope of attaining good luck.Click here to view a the photo essay, by Luke Hunt .

As Cultures Come Together, its all in Bad Spirits

Published on Jan 18, 2016 by Luke Hunt

When Benjawan Singthuean moved into her new home in Phnom Penh after her husband transferred from Thailand for work, the 36 year old didn’t know much about the area.She performed the usual rituals any Thai Buddhist would when they set up in a new home, by paying respect to the guardian spirits. She lit incense, offered fruit and food to the spirits, and asked for protection as the new occupiers of the house.Read more from Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai in The Bangkok Post. .

Take off: The Cambodian Space Project

Published on Jan 14, 2016 by Luke Hunt

A podcast with Cambodian diva Sry Thy — also known as Channthy Kak – and Australian musician Julien Poulsen, the stars of the rock band Cambodian Space Project, which has won a legion of fans across the region and beyond for their music and politics.Tours across Asia, Europe and gigs with Australian music icon Paul Kelly and American Motown legend Dennis Coffey have cemented the bands eclectic status which has received an added boost with the release of a documentary “Not Easy Rock ‘n’ Roll”.Produced by German film maker Marc Eberle and Australian Richard Kuipers the documentary traces their rise from Cambodian rice fields to sold out rock venues in Berlin.Channthy and Julien spoke with The Diplomat‘s Luke Hunt about....