Leng Pleng

On Saturday evening Golden Era specialists Khmer Blind Band return to The Deck for a night of fun, rock’n’roll and dancing.  LengPleng was curious about the story of the band and sat down with bandleader Mr Chea Horn to discuss his journey, with the assistance of Un Samphors as an interpreter.

Horn got involved with music in Battambang in the mid 1990s, at the age of 18, playing acoustic guitar, then bass and lead guitar, inspired by the old Cambodian rock’n’roll of performers like Yul Auralong.  His mentor, Menh Sothyvann, a famous musician and songwriter, was impressed by his guitar playing, and taught him all about the music industry.

Despite his talents, it was difficult for Horn to get gigs due to his blindness.  Taking the initiative, he created a band with blind musicians and those with other disabilities too, but it was still hard to find work – despite the quality of the music many didn’t want a wedding band made up of blind and disabled people.

In 1999 he asked the government for assistance and was able to set up regular weekend concerts in the park next to Wat Botum, which ran for until 2004 – there was only a little money, and they were outside and had to dodge the rain.  Still, he was assisted in 2002 when they received sponsorship from Angkor Beer.  As the band leader, he took responsibility for the welfare of a large group of disabled musicians – 16 lived together in one house and they shared the duties; some could cook, some could do sound, some could drive.  After five years the concerts were cancelled and the band had to disperse, everyone returning to their home towns.  Once or twice a year he can call them back again for a special event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 2021 the band started to play from time to time at Boran House, and they have gained more attention after recent gigs at The Deck.  Currently they perform mostly as a five piece (drums, bass, guitar, keyboard and one sometimes two singers) but they can augment for special occasions – Horn likes to have troh or congas but the larger band is more expensive.  Last week he went to Battambang with the whole band including many Khmer instruments.  The repertoire consists of the Cambodian golden era canon – Sinn Sisimouth, Pen Ran, Ros Sereysothea – as well as the village musics such as romvong, Khmer surin and so on, with an emphasis on more upbeat rock’n’roll songs.

Horn’s dream for the future is to transfer his musical knowledge to the next generation – he can play many, many instruments including the more traditional.  The young people really like the songs and the sound, he says, and they are keen to learn.

Find Khmer Blind Band at The Deck on Saturday evening following The Sock Essentials.  And they stand ready to play weddings, parties, anything!