Returning to Cambodia this week is Brett Perkins, an American singer-songwriter who was here for the first time only a couple of months ago. LengPleng caught up with him just before he packed his bags and headed for the aeroplane.
LP: Let’s get you introduced to those who didn’t cross your path earlier this year.
BP: I’m based in Copenhagen, Denmark, but I’m originally from Los Angeles. I’ve always been a songwriter, not always full-time pursuing the career – I’ve had many odd jobs to survive, like a lot of musicians, mostly in advertising and promotion, while I could still do gigs. I came to Denmark in 1997, and it happened because I met a Danish girl in 1996, in Ireland. We have a daughter who just turned 16.
LP: This time around you’ve already booked gigs at Little Susie (Friday 19), Cloud (Saturday 20) and The Deck (October 3) in Phnom Penh, and set plans in motion for a Phnom Penh Songwriters Festival – tell us about that.
BP: I’ve got a lot of experience in this. I set up Listening Room International Songwriting Retreats in 2002, and the weekly Copenhagen Listening Room Open Stage, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and I’m involved with annual songwriter festivals in Denmark, Arizona, New Mexico, Ireland, California and Tuscany. I’m always looking for new places, and Phnom Penh seems to fit the bill. The model is this: we pick a week on the calendar, acknowledging and providing free promotion for all the related things going on at the time, and putting on one show that I curate and host. I usually tie it to a charity – in Denmark they don’t need that, they’re so well off there’s no charity that needs support. But in the US and Ireland there are plenty.
The Phnom Penh Songwriters Festival is happening in November – the dates have now been chosen, and I’d be freaking out about the lateness if it was in the US, where they plan way ahead, but in Cambodia it’s different. No one’s bothered by the closeness. I may do another workshop in Phnom Penh, but I’m more focused on the idea of the festival. I had a great turnout for the first one, and I’ve been glad to see that Summer Lee Carlson picked up the initiative to start something.”
LP: With you coming back so soon, Cambodia must have charmed you.
BP: My first time in Cambodia was amazing. I was on an eight week tour that started in Thailand – which wasn’t about music in Thailand, it was just to visit. But Thailand didn’t grasp me the way I thought it might, the way that Cambodia did. I came through Vietnam, and had some great shows, and I’ll be back there for shows this time. Then Cambodia welcomed me, I think at the beginning of June. This time I’m sticking around and expanding in Cambodia.
LP: And there are a couple of dates in Siem Reap this time also?
BP: I’ll do a songwriting workshop in Siem Reap at Level Up Café on the afternoon of Friday 27, and then a show that night at The Mended Drum followed by Tuesday night at Embargo.”
LP: And you’ll be around a little longer this time?
BP: My plan is to stay through to December 1, but I might end up leaving early because my daughter has passed two auditions for the X Factor in Denmark, and I want to be back for that. December is quite cosy in Denmark, then after that it’s dark and cold – so I’ll go to California for a couple of months. But this is a good time of year for me to get to Cambodia.
This weekend find Brett at Little Susie on Friday and Cloud on Saturday 20.
And for a sample of his material, check out his YouTube channel.
