Video & Arts and Music: Medha, Cambodian drumbeats

Known and applauded throughout Cambodia, the seven musicians of the Medha collective have made their art a philosophy. Meeting with these women of talent and character, whose rhythms resonate like an ode to freedom.

Medha, Cambodian drumbeats

Anyone who has seen Medha, even once, will never forget the moment during which the first bars resonate. The power of their music amazes, shakes the guts, gives the impression of being on the crest of a gigantic pulsatile wave. The fervor they show in their playing only adds to the feeling of witnessing a special moment, leaving us speechless when the group leaves the stage to cheers. However, it took time, and above all immeasurable will, before Medha achieved such mastery of sound and stage.

Men Mao, founding member of the Medha collective

Back in 2016, in the villages around Siem Reap.

Sang Sreypich and Men Mao perform in musical groups, one as a dancer, the other as a musician. For both of them, it is clear that the score of their lives will be written in music, but in what way? If the doors seem naturally open to men, it is much more difficult for a woman to escape from the usual roles in which they find themselves confined.

“I always wanted to be part of a group,” says Men Mao.

While chatting, this 35-year-old single mother glances at her toddler who is slaloming while running among the drums. « It's difficult to keep him, so he accompanies me during » rehearsals, apologizes the young woman while continuing the course of her story. « Almost everyone around me is a musician. My career choice therefore shocked no one, unlike other families where the reactions turned out to be much less understanding... Parents and spouses sometimes violently opposed the decision to make our art a profession. »

Pheak Cheung, in front of the Cambodia Living Arts rehearsal room

Complicated beginnings

Medha members are unique in many aspects. It's still okay for them to be musicians, but hitting drums was a taboo that they decided to happily break.

« For many of us, it was just about fulfilling a passion that was important to us. We didn't choose percussion because it was a male instrument, but simply because we loved playing it. On the other hand, forming a group composed entirely of women immediately concerned us », remembers Pheak Cheung, also a founding member of the group and traditional dancer since the age of 11.

Very quickly the idea gained ground, bringing together seven artists ready to do battle with preconceived ideas.

“However, they were a difficult start, remembers Men Mao. Bringing together so many people, scattered throughout the province of Siem Reap, for regular rehearsals was an absolute headache.”

If she laughs about it now, the percussionist remembers all the times she turned into a taxi, picking up her friends on a motorbike and taking them back to the four corners of the city once the sessions were over. « We also had to each choose an instrument and learn the basics, which we often did not master. »

Backstage

“Supports without which we would never have arrived”

It will be the Skor Thom for Pheak Cheurn, then the Skor Sangkream, a war drum which I am proud to no longer announce armed conflicts, but other forms of battles. These are quite physical percussions to play, which give off a very powerful sound.

“We wanted to use traditional instruments, and everything that makes up our orchestra has been around for centuries. We had the chance to meet Cambodia Living Arts very early on.”

This association, which promotes the arts in all their forms, has given us immense support, particularly in the person of its director, Mr. Song Seng. The latter provided us with a rehearsal space and allowed us to give our first stage performances.

The writer and playwright Jean-Baptiste Phou helped us write most of our pieces, after questioning us at length, wanting to create a work that was as close as possible to our personalities.

As for the percussion, it was Patrick Kersale, musicologist specializing in old instruments, who helped us choose and create them. We had to not disappoint all these goodwill, which placed a lot of hope in us. I also wanted to get there to pay some form of tribute to my deceased father, who was also a percussionist. I moved closer to him every time I took the drum, it was a bit like saying a prayer to him. »

« Medha, it's like family. There we find support, complicity, tears and laughter. »

Give rhythm to life

Trials and error of the beginnings gave way to a real mastery of the show and the instruments, ensuring them numerous performances first in Siem Reap, then throughout the Kingdom.

“That women, coming from difficult family conditions and leaving the education system very early, can brilliantly succeed in a hitherto mainly male field is incredible » testifies Pheak Keo, their impresario”.

“When I discovered them on stage, I started crying with emotion. And I'm not the only one this happens to! They live their music intensely, with incredible passion. Most of them left school very young and found their way into music. This is not an easy choice, as rehearsals and variable performance times prevent additional activity from taking place. We use our free time to teach percussion to the younger generation, who are enthusiastic and offer much hope for a more inclusive future.”

Pheak Keo has managed the group for 2 years. « I am proud of what they do and what they represent. »

Much more than a musical ensemble

When asked why Medha is such a special group, Pheak Keo responds straight away: « Because they live from their passion, because they represent a fight for women's freedom, because they form a real family, because they participate in the influence of Cambodian arts, or quite simply because their music is really of very high quality. 

“This is also what the spectators and the jury of the television show Cambodia's got talent think, in which the six members of the group are currently participating. We are taking this wonderful opportunity to make ourselves known to the Cambodian public, but also, perhaps, to an audience that goes beyond borders. This will, I hope, be the group's next step. It would also be important to find one or more sponsors, which would allow us to reveal our full potential, freeing ourselves from the financial difficulties we face.”

Last rehearsal before a show in the presence of the United States Ambassador

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Watch and listen to Medha

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