Los Angeles-based band Dengue Fever has released a new studio album, Ting Mong (Tuk Tuk Records, USA), their first for eight years. The release marks the Cambodian-US band’s 20th anniversary since their acclaimed self-titled debut in 2003.
Dengue Fever began after brothers Ethan (keyboards) and Zac Holtzman (guitars and vocals) independently discovered the joys of Cambodian pop and rock from the 1960s and 70s, Ethan while travelling in Cambodia and Zac from working in an indie record store. They formed Dengue to perform covers of songs by Cambodian pop stars like Sinn Sisamouth, Pen Ran and Ros Serey Sothea.
In Little Phnom Penh in Long Beach, California, they found former refugee and Khmer singer Chhom Nimol, added saxes and electric bass, and the six-member outfit was born.
Although Dengue Fever began their recording career by covering Cambodian pop classics, right…
