All posts filed under: Music

The Lao Wave: A New Music Scene in Laos

Published by Timothy Singratsomboune

The music scene of Laos is hot with a capital ຮ right now. Every week, a Lao artist is releasing a fresh music video.  Many of these music operations – such as Mao Mun and MMR – are noticeably small, and still rely on social media like TikTok and facebook, instead of company websites. However, what they lack in corporate size, they make up for in heart. Some social media stars like BigYai Seehalad and Sophana have used their vlogging careers on YouTube to drive their music success. The tone of much of their work is that of everyday friends who just like making fire songs together. These artists even attach the lyrics and music files to their YouTube videos, which allows fans to make their own versions and join in on the fun (and/or the free promotion). This social media marketing, mixed with Lao music’s very unique flavor, is working. The music videos popping out of Laos are hugely popular. This Summer, Gx2’s song “ໃສ່ໃຈໄດ້ແຕ່ມອງ” (sai jai dai tae mawng – using your heart, …

Conversations With Sarky: Going Solo

Published by Saysomphorn Sisavatdy

This is Part Two in an interview series on Lao American music artist, Sarky Mekmorakoth. You can read the first interview, “Conversations with Sarky: The Early Years (Part One) here. I feel like I need to lighten the mood, so, I’m gonna ask, what are you most proud of during your career? Teaching. It’s an amazing feeling to be a guitar instructor because it’s something I love to do so much. So, to get to share my passion, knowledge, and love for music to a new generation? It’s like seeing yourself back then, when you first started and the progression. It’s cool what these kids are able to do. I get to share everything I went through, learned, and some of these kids really have it. That doesn’t happen everyday but when you see it and hear it–it’s an impact. I’ve been very blessed to get to do what I love and pass it on to more people. And to be able to do it for this long. It’s a dream. Considering how many of …