The Cambodian Space Project – Xmas & New Year Update 2024
Fifteen years of music, madness, and a cosmic ride that’s defied all odds. The Cambodian Space Project (CSP) has been many things over the past decade and a half: a band, a movement, a family, and, perhaps most fittingly, an interstellar adventure launched from the unlikeliest of places. As I write this update from Fish Island, Cambodia—a little pocket of serenity in the salt fields of Kampot—I can’t help but marvel at the journey that began in a cramped bar in Phnom Penh in 2009 and now stretches across continents, cultures, and cosmic dimensions. This year, as we celebrate 15 years of CSP, we’re not just looking back at our wild, improbable past but also forward to a bold, brilliant future.
From Alley Cat Café to the Cosmos
It all began in December 2009, in the Alley Cat Café, a dimly lit bar in Phnom Penh where the beer was cold, and the vibe was even cooler. Kak Channthy and I had only just met, but something clicked immediately. We had three or four songs in our back pocket—barely enough to scrape through a set—but by the time we reached our third round, the bar was packed, the crowd was hyped, and a ragtag group of musicians had jumped up to jam with us. That night, something electric happened. By Christmas and New Year’s Eve, we were calling ourselves The Cambodian Space Project, whipping up DIY posters, and lining up gigs around town.
By 2010, CSP was not just a band but a phenomenon. With Scott, Ken, Ratna, Irene, Gaetan, Gildas, and later Bong Sak joining the rotating roster of musicians, CSP became a kind of magical musical carousel, spinning out hits, wild performances, and moments of pure creative chaos.
Channthy’s Legacy: A Guiding Star
When Channthy passed away on March 20, 2018, it felt like the world stopped spinning. She was the heart and soul of CSP, a singer whose voice could cut through any crowd, a performer whose energy could light up the darkest room. Losing her was devastating, but her legacy continues to guide us. She left us five albums of extraordinary music and, more importantly, a spirit of fearlessness, creativity, and love.
This year, as I’ve been diving into the archives, I’ve uncovered some unreleased gems—Channthy’s raw, acapella vocals that are hauntingly beautiful. These tracks will feature on our upcoming albums, Funkee Junktion and Golden Phoenix, which I’ll be mixing in London early next year. Her voice remains the heart of CSP, and these new releases will celebrate everything she stood for: resilience, joy, and the unyielding power of music.
CSP 2024: A Year of Creative Explosion
This year has been a whirlwind. We’ve evolved into something beyond a band—a concept, a studio collective, and a live group that’s constantly reinventing itself. Highlights of 2024 include touring Australia, presenting The Rat Catcher of Angkor Wat with puppeteers A Blanck Canvas, and bringing singers like Ahwin—our tuk-tuk driver turned superstar from Kampot—to the international stage. From WOMADelaide’s massive crowds to intimate gigs in regional towns, CSP’s journey across Australia was a testament to the universal power of music.
THE RAFT AT NIGHT
While in Sydney, we hunkered down at Oceanic Studios—a sonic wonderland run by Jim Moginie of Midnight Oil. With Bong Sak, Phea Bass, and Dave Anderson at the controls, we laid down tracks for The Raft at Night, a largely instrumental album inspired by the surreal journey of abstract painter Ian Fairweather. Imagine drifting across the Timor Sea with a soundtrack that’s equal parts cosmic and contemplative—that’s the vibe. Featuring the eerie, otherworldly tones of the Theremin—played by the grandson of Leon Theremin himself—this project is just one example of how CSP continues to push boundaries.
Fish Island: A Creative Haven
The Fish Island Community Arts Centre (FICAC) has become CSP’s spiritual home. Nestled in the rice fields of Kampot, FICAC is more than just a studio; it’s a place where young Cambodians come to explore their creativity, learn new skills, and become part of a global artistic community. One of our latest projects involves introducing local kids to the Moog Theremin—an instrument so futuristic it’s hard to believe it’s over a century old. Watching these kids experiment with its touchless magic has been nothing short of inspiring.
FICAC has also given rise to a new band: The Cosmic Bongs (or, as we sometimes call it, “Bong’n’Oun’s Cosmic Cambodian Bongo Band”). With Thai Phin riffs, groovy beats, and the Theremin’s haunting tones, The Cosmic Bongs are psychedelic Southeast Asian funk at its finest. This weekend, they’ll be jamming alongside the Indigenous Bunong Singers and Dancers from Bou’Sra Mondulkiri in a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration. Think Tinariwen meets Khruangbin, but uniquely Cambodian.
Meanwhile…back in the edit suite
In 2025, most of the year ahead is all about working on Land of 1000 Dances. This is an essential new documentary for THE CAMBODIAN SPACE PROJECT and tells the CSP’s story in more depth and detail. Hopefully my own book will be published around the time of this new film’s release in 2026.
Land of 1000 Dances is an electrifying rockumentary that dives deep into the extraordinary journey of The Cambodian Space Project, tracing its rise from the smoky bars of Phnom Penh to international stages and beyond. Building on the acclaim of the BBC4 documentary Rise of a Pop Diva, this film expands the narrative, capturing the raw energy, heartbreak, and triumphs of a band that redefined Cambodian music.
With a visually dynamic style inspired by the psychedelic art of 60s rock and infused with the gritty realism of Southeast Asia’s urban and rural landscapes, Land of 1000 Dances is as much about the music as it is about the people who shaped it. The soundtrack, featuring unreleased gems from Kak Channthy, collaborations with global artists, and cosmic psychedelic arrangements, serves as both a tribute to Channthy’s legacy and a celebration of CSP’s bold creative vision.
This is more than a documentary—it’s an essential cinematic work that blends archival footage, intimate interviews, and vivid performances to tell a story of cultural resilience, artistic collaboration, and the unifying power of music. Land of 1000 Dances promises to be a vibrant, emotional, and essential addition to the legacy of The Cambodian Space Project.
Salt Fields Trash Fashion Extravaganza
Speaking of this weekend, FICAC is celebrating its fifth anniversary with the Salt Fields Trash Fashion Extravaganza on December 28–29. The event will feature sustainable fashion creations by our talented students, a cultural performance by the Bunong artists, and a cosmic dance party with The Cosmic Bongs and UK’s electrifying DJ Afrocat. Afrocat’s genre-bending sets—deep funk, dub, Afro-Latino grooves—are already legendary, and her workshops at FICAC have been a massive hit. If you’re anywhere near Kampot, this is a weekend you don’t want to miss.
Releases on the Horizon
2025 is shaping up to be a year of creation rather than touring. Alongside Funkee Junktion and Golden Phoenix, we’re working on a new documentary tracing CSP’s journey from its scrappy beginnings to its cosmic present. Expect new collaborations, including a dub reggae track with Japanese vocalist Erika Crymson and an experimental piece with the Bunong singers of Mondulkiri. We’re also diving into cinematic, funk-infused compositions inspired by Bruce Lee soundtracks.
From Spaceships to Pirate Ships
In January, I’m heading back to Tasmania for a project that’s close to my heart: The Barbarian Ship. This immersive rock’n’roll theatre production, premiering at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival, tells the story of Captain William Swallow and the 18 Vandemonian convicts who escaped Tasmania by stealing a ship. With The Green Mist providing a swaggering soundtrack, a pirate choir belting out sea shanties, and the cinematic psychedelia of CSP woven throughout, this show promises to be Peaky Blinders on water.
London Calling
In February, I’ll be back in London, working with Alex McGowan at Space Eko Studios to finalize the next wave of CSP releases. The energy in London is infectious, and it’s the perfect place to channel Channthy’s spirit into these new tracks. These sessions feel like the culmination of everything CSP has been building toward: a celebration of the past and a leap into the future.
Looking Ahead
Fifteen years ago, CSP started as a spontaneous experiment—a little band with big dreams playing for beers in Phnom Penh. Today, it’s a global force, a testament to the power of music to transcend borders, genres, and even tragedy. As we step into 2025, I’m filled with gratitude—for Channthy, for the incredible artists who’ve joined us along the way, and for every fan who’s danced, cheered, and believed in this cosmic journey.
The Cambodian Space Project isn’t just a band. It’s a story, a movement, and an endless adventure. So stay tuned, space cats—the best is yet to come.
Event Reminder: Don’t miss the Salt Fields Trash Fashion Extravaganza at FICAC this weekend. Tickets are $10 by donation, and all proceeds go toward supporting grassroots arts in Cambodia. Let’s celebrate 15 years of CSP with a weekend of music, fashion, and cultural collaboration in the heart of Kampot.
