Cambodia & Music: Vuthea, the Khmer artist conquering the international scene

Third-generation artist on the KlapYaHandz label, Vuthea, a young Cambodian singer in his thirties, has been making a name for himself on the Cambodian music scene, and abroad, for some years now.

Vuthea, Artist from the KlapYaHandz label founded by SOK Visal

The singer on the label that has performed the most abroad, Vuthea appeals with a style that is both traditional and modern, drawing on a range of influences. For Cambodge Mag, he talks about his career as an artist and his professional projects.

Interview

For those who don't know you, can you introduce yourself and tell us about the path that led you to KlapYaHandz?

Vuthea: My name is Vuthea and I come from the Cambodian province of Banteay Mean Chey. I met Bong SOK Visal in 2017 and at that time I really wanted to focus on my career as an artist. So I first moved to Phnom Penh in 2018 to study and work, but I knew deep down that I wanted to make a living from music. So I later quit my job and joined KlapYaHandz shortly afterwards and here I am again today.

How did music, and art in general, come into your life?

Vuthea: I've always loved music, especially pop, R&B and hip-hop. From an early age, I realised that music was a bit like an escape route, allowing me to distance myself from the real world and any negative feelings I might have. Listening to music clearly took me to another world and I really enjoyed that.

So I started singing and listening to old songs from my father's cassettes. He listened to them every morning and I fell more and more in love with music, but also with art in general, like painting.

From secondary school onwards, I started playing guitar, but I was also very curious to learn how music production worked. At first, I started out with a very R&B and hip-hop style, notably with my “crew” in 2014, “Khmer Torsu Group”. Then I really started my musical career by writing my own songs.

You've been with KlapYaHandz for a few years now, how have you evolved?

Vuthea: I think I've evolved a lot, and that's thanks to the KlapYaHandz team. First of all, thanks to the quality of the musical production, but also with all the artists from different backgrounds and styles that I work with on the label. We help and inspire each other and that's invaluable.

My first ‘hit’ with KlapYaHandz was ‘Kromom 3 Styles’ (ក្រមុំបីស្តាយ), I had already produced this song before I joined the label, but when I joined we produced it again in 2018.

At first we didn't necessarily know the musical concept we wanted and then we just filmed it in the studio and the song went viral. I could hear it everywhere and people recognised me, it was incredible. I remember it was my KlapYaHandz debut and I was so happy and my family were so supportive and proud.

And my second hit, ‘Oun Sas Ey’ (អូនសាសន៍អី), with its reggaeton and Latino influences, produced by KlapYaHandz, also went viral. Internationally, especially in France, people were listening to it and doing their sports sessions to it, there were even group Zumba classes in front of the Eiffel Tower with this music. It was an incredible feeling to see that from Cambodia.

How does your Khmer cultural heritage inspire your artistic work?

Vuthea: Of course, I'm in love with my Khmer culture. I'm mainly inspired by Cambodian ‘West Side’ music. I love Khmer instruments and I sometimes incorporate them into my songs. I have to preserve Cambodian culture in my musical productions. In my opinion, it has a deep and unique soul.

What is your musical production process? Where does your inspiration come from?

Vuthea : It depends. Sometimes the melody comes naturally to me and I produce the ‘beat’ directly, the central rhythmic element in the composition of a song. On the other hand, sometimes I write the lyrics first and then look for the melody.

You collaborated on the “West Side” video with RuthKo, another KlapYaHandz artist. How did the idea of working together on this artistic project come about?

Vuthea: You know, the Khmer New Year is a very important time for the country and for Cambodians all over the world. Everyone is waiting for THE music that will celebrate this event. So we came up with the idea of working together last year and we started production in January 2024.

In fact, every year we take one or two trips with the KlapYaHandz team to recharge our batteries away from the Cambodian capital. So we all went to MondolKiri province at the beginning of 2024. But we'd brought all our equipment with us, and in the end we started composing and producing there together, and that's how ‘West Side’ was born.

Vuthea during the making of the West Side video clip

On the way back to Phnom Penh, we started making a few videos for social networks to promote our future collaboration and it had a huge impact even though we hadn’t yet done the whole song or made the video clip. But everyone already knew the lyrics, it was incredible.

So, just before Khmer New Year, we did a tour in the provinces and then also in secondary schools and universities for the Songkran Festival. And everyone was asking for this song and shouting: “West Side Bong, West Side Bong!”

You’ll soon be taking part as a coach in the TV show Rapper Fighter. What does this new experience mean in your life as an artist?

Vuthea: For me, it’s a new experience, it’s my very first time as a coach on this rap show, and when you think about it, it’s like being a teacher.

I’m not an expert, but I love this musical style and I know what I’m doing. What’s more, I also produce and have ten years’ experience in the music business, so I know how to guide the new generation. I really think we can all grow, learn and evolve together.

I’m very impatient and I can’t wait to discover the youth of the Kingdom who must show their talents and perpetuate the influence of the Cambodian music industry throughout the world and do more than the artists of yesterday and today.

You’ve already been to France to perform, what did you think of your audience there?

Vuthea: I’ve been to France twice, in 2019 and again in 2022 for the two editions of the KlapYaHandz Tour in Paris with Sabay Events.

I was very curious to meet my fans in France and they gave us so much love and support. To be honest, with the time difference, it was complicated, but as soon as I saw the stage and the audience, I immediately felt their energy and fatigue was far behind me.

What’s next for you? What can we wish you?

Vuthea: Of course, I’d like to take part in more events in Cambodia.

I’ve already been to Japan and South Korea for Cambodian festivals. So I want to continue to perform in my country and abroad, meet my audience and produce new music that will resonate throughout the Kingdom and beyond, especially for the Khmer New Year.

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More information about music and events from KlapYaHandz : https://www.youtube.com/c/klapyahandz  

- Instagram Vuthea : https://www.instagram.com/vuthea_official/ 

- Facebook Vuthea : https://www.facebook.com/umsovuthea/ 

- Youtube Vuthea : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIfBEK1UAzh3laxAcP6Zryg1cVojuXxzs