A Big Bang!
Hey folks! I’m bringing you this little update from tiny outback Australian town of Lajamanu. This is one of the remotest places in Australia, and I’m writing from the edge of the vast Tanami Desert. I’ve been out here before, working with the amazing Warlpiri people on music, art and media but that’s another story. Right now, the closest space-related landmark is the phenomena of Wolfe Creek Crater – a location made famous in the Australian psycho movie Wolfe Creek. The local Djaru (Jaru) Aboriginal people refer to the crater as Kandimalal. There are multiple Dreaming stories about the formation of the crater. One such story describes the crater’s round shape being formed by the passage of a rainbow snake out of the earth.
The Cambodian Space Project’s Flying Turtle Australian Tour
By the time we landed in Adelaide for WOMADelaide, it was hotter than hell—a dry, unforgiving heat that could melt the soul. Even coming from Cambodia, where the humidity can choke you, this was something else. But we were buzzing. After months of prep, we were ready to hit the stage and take on a whirlwind Australian tour—an epic road trip from coast to coast. Let the CSP’s “Flying Turtle Tour” begin!
This tour was a twist of fate, brought to life by the discovery of Ahwin—the singing tuk-tuk driver from Kampot. Her voice, raw and powerful, brought a new spark to The Cambodian Space Project (CSP). Ahwin wasn’t just stepping into Channthy’s shoes; she was bringing her own vibe, her own magic. This was her first time out of Cambodia, and she nailed it, from the big stages to the backcountry pubs.
Into the Cosmic
Another brilliant highlight of our Australian tour was the addition of the talented Apsara dancer Annabel Hom. Annabel and her family have been staunch friends and supporters of CSP since we first staged Cosmic Cambodia at the Casula Powerhouse in Sydney’s West. Imagine this—Annabel was just 12 years old when she first danced with us. Now in her early twenties, she’s formed her own dance company, and seeing her front and center with CSP was pure magic. Her presence also offered a glimpse into future plans for The Raft at Night, a new music and dance show that explores the story of Australian painter Ian Fairweather’s 16 nights lost at sea while attempting to sail a raft from Darwin to Timor in 1952. Annabel’s work with CSP, especially during an impromptu session in an outback shearing shed, showed just how beautifully this fusion of traditional and forward-thinking theater arts can reach cosmic heights.
In between the chaos of touring, there were quiet moments at Fish Island Community Arts Centre. That’s where the new music was born. Two albums—The Golden Phoenix and The Raft at Night—are in the works. These records are more than just songs; they’re soundtracks to imagined futures, blending Cambodian guitar funk with cosmic ambiance. It’s a sonic journey, a reflection of where we’ve been and where we’re headed. Having music producer Dave Anderson joining the CSP not just for the tour but for full immersion into the band, playing guitar and experience the whole crazy road trip was also a great opportunity to produce the CSP’s 2024 sound – from the inside out! My favourite example of this soup cooking up to a sonic boiling point was a recording made by Paul Maybury (Rocket Science) at 3pbs Melbourne.
Much thanks Studio 5 Live! for capturing the sound of the CSP as it is right now!
Tokyo Space Project?!
Looking forward, there’s a new horizon on the radar: Japan. After a recent recording session with Japanese dub-reggae rising star Erikah, the idea for the Tokyo Space Project began to take shape. Japan has always had a place in the CSP cosmos, and the cultural exchange is set to bring an entirely new chapter to our story. Tokyo, with its blend of futuristic vibes and deep tradition, is the perfect setting for the next phase of our sonic exploration. We’re setting the coordinates for the Tokyo Space Project, and it promises to be a wild ride.
Dick Tamimi’s Gold
Then there’s Indonesia, where I’ve been diving into the country’s rich musical history. This led to Radio Jakarta—a rock’n’roll theatre piece about the birth of Indonesia’s recording industry. This project was sparked by a radio documentary I produced on Dick Tamimi, which recently aired on Phillip Adams’ Late Night Live. It’s a deep dive into Southeast Asia’s musical culture, a journey that began with CSP and continues to pull me further in.
The Wilderness Highway
Meanwhile, I’m reconnecting with my roots in Tasmania through The Green Mist—a band I formed in the late ’90s. The Green Mist is all about atmosphere, a sound steeped in the wild landscapes and dark history of Tasmania. After years of silence, we reformed in Queenstown, Tasmania, performing a live soundtrack to Nosferatu at the historic Paragon Theatre. Julitha Ryan’s haunting keyboards added a new dimension, and we captured that energy on our new EP, Wilderness Highway.
Rock-Tha-Boat-Tober with The Barbarian Ship
This October, The Green Mist will take up residency at The George Lane Bar in St Kilda. We’re diving into a new project—The Barbarian Ship. Set to debut at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart in 2025, this rock opera tells the story of the 1829 mutiny on the brig Cyprus. It’s another bold chapter in a journey that’s taken me from the backstreets of Phnom Penh to the wilds of Tasmania—a journey filled with music, history, and the relentless drive to push boundaries.
When I’m not on the road, I’m soaking up stories. I’ve been working on my memoir about life with CSP, but I’ve also been diving into other rock’n’roll tales. Hugo Race’s Road Series and Kid Congo Powers’ Some Kind of New Kick are essential reads—both tied to the Nick Cave world I grew up in. Closer to home in Cambodia, new titles like Dee Peyok’s Away From Beloved Lover and Romi Grossberg’s Hip Hop and Hope are hitting the shelves. I’m still working on my own story, but it’s hard when you’re still living it.
In the midst of The Green Mist. From spaceships to The Barbarian Ship join us me and The Green Mist this rock-tha-boat-tober at George Lane, St Kilda. Click on the link: https://www.facebook.com/events/525629616691521
For now, the journey continues—more music to make, more stories to tell. The memoir will come, but until then, I’m building a small library and listening room at Fish Island, a resource for the next generation of Cambodian artists. Stay tuned as we set the coordinates for the next chapter, whether on land, at sea, it’s somewhere out there! that’s for sure.
Printmaking at Fish Island Community Arts Centre, Traeuy Kaoh, Cambodia
And once again, thanks to all of our friends in Australia who supported our Flying Turtle tour – guest musicians, venues and promoters, recording studios, and great friends who lent us their time, accommodated the whole band at some wonderful stops, including country Victoria, NSW, coastal Ulla Dulla, Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne – without your support this would not have happened – Awkun Thom Thom!