Cambodia Soundbase: Blending Cultures, Languages, and Energy Through Music
Phnom Penh’s live music scene has always been diverse, but few acts capture its global spirit quite like Cambodia Soundbase. The duo, made up of Japanese artists Hirohide and Ryoko, perform songs in Japanese, Khmer, and English, bringing an infectious mix of rhythm, emotion, and cross-cultural creativity to venues like Botanico.
Cambodia Lifestyle caught up with them to learn more about their story, their connection to Cambodia, and how they’re uniting audiences through sound.
Introducing Cambodia Soundbase
HIROHIDE:
“I’m the vocalist and guitarist of Cambodia Soundbase. It’s been two and a half years since I came to Cambodia. I’m from Japan. Originally, I was a table tennis player in Japan, but I started making music in my twenties and performed with my band NOXAH in the Japanese music scene. In my thirties, we received an award at a Japanese music competition and made our major debut with a CD release under Universal Music Japan. Since then, I’ve performed at many events and venues across Japan. Currently, I also compose songs for other artists, create sound logos, and produce music for Japanese TV commercials.”
RYOKO:
“I’m the vocalist of Cambodia Soundbase. I’ve been living in Cambodia for twelve and a half years now. In Japan, I used to perform a passionate and deeply Japanese-style dance called Japanese Traditional Trance Dance. In my teens, I played the flute, and I always loved singing, but I only began singing in front of others about five years ago.”
How the Duo Formed
HIROHIDE:
“Cambodia Soundbase was formed in January 2025. After years of music activities, I started to feel that maybe I could do something interesting and meaningful through music again. The real starting point was when Ryoko and I performed together at the Kizuna Festival at CJCC in February 2024. At that time, I hadn’t sung in front of an audience for quite a while, but when I performed, I remembered how amazing that feeling was.
Life in Cambodia and Musical Inspiration
HIROHIDE:
“A friend of mine had been living in Cambodia for about three years, and when the COVID-19 situation began to calm down, I came to visit in March 2023 just to see the place. Honestly, I never thought I’d end up living here this long. Cambodian music gives me a nostalgic feeling, something that resonates deeply even if I don’t understand the words. That’s what inspired me to try singing in Khmer and creating original Khmer-language songs, to connect with people through sound and emotion, beyond language.”
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RYOKO:
“I first came to Cambodia in 2012 on a study tour organized by a Japanese NGO. I was instantly captivated by the country’s energy and knew I wanted to live in Phnom Penh. I love Cambodian music — the unique instruments, melodies, and vocal inflections. There’s something about it that reminds me of Japanese music; it feels both exotic and nostalgic at the same time.”
Singing Across Languages
HIROHIDE:
“Even though every country has different languages and cultures, I believe that once words are carried by melody, they can connect people. That’s what we aim for — to build bridges through music. It takes time because of the nuances of each language, but we’re steadily developing our own sound here in Cambodia.”
RYOKO:
“After moving to Cambodia, I started listening to a lot of Cambodian pop and oldies. Whenever I found a song I liked, I would imitate the lyrics and sing along. As I asked my Cambodian friends about pronunciation and meaning, I gradually learned to sing several Cambodian songs. By blending those influences with Japanese musical elements, our current style was born. It means a lot to me to be able to connect with Cambodian people through music.”
The Sound and the Experience
HIROHIDE:
“We mainly play pop and rock — from ballads to upbeat songs — and we want our shows to make everyone feel united and uplifted. I hope our performances help people forget their daily worries for a moment and leave them with energy and inspiration to face tomorrow.”
RYOKO:
“Ultimately, I believe that music transcends words, rhythm, and nationality. It’s something that connects hearts and brings happiness. If we can share even a little bit of that feeling through our music, I’ll be truly happy.
Playing at Botanico
HIROHIDE:
“At first, we could only sing in Japanese, but the owner, Marco, told us, ‘That’s what makes it great!’ I remember feeling a bit nervous before our first show, wondering how people from so many different countries would react. But Botanico is such a welcoming place, a venue where we can challenge ourselves and grow. Also, I really love their honey beer and mini burgers!”
RYOKO:
“Singing at Botanico makes us truly happy. The atmosphere and the audience’s reactions always fill us with positive energy and passion. We’re so grateful to Marco for giving us that opportunity.”
Phnom Penh’s Music Scene
HIROHIDE:
“I’m still discovering it, but there’s an amazing variety here — from jazz and blues to Cambodian rock bands and DJ events. Each venue has its own unique vibe, and that freshness really inspires me.”
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RYOKO:
“I’m especially moved by songs that incorporate traditional Cambodian instruments. I love the fusion of rock, pop, and rap with traditional sounds — it’s truly beautiful.”
Performing for Cambodian Audiences
HIROHIDE:
“Cambodian audiences react so warmly to Japanese city-pop covers and Khmer song renditions — it makes me really happy. When we performed at the HOPE MUSIC SAGA Guitar Contest, we were the only Japanese participants, yet everyone listened so intently, even to our Japanese lyrics. Khmer pronunciation is still challenging, but I’m practicing to get better every time.”
RYOKO:
“Cambodian audiences are wonderfully expressive — their reactions are so direct and heartfelt. When they’re enjoying the music, they’ll sing along and dance without hesitation. That kind of open energy is something shy Japanese audiences rarely show, but both have their own charm.”
Creative Process and Collaboration
HIROHIDE:
“Since language can be tricky for us, we usually write the lyrics in Japanese first and then have our Cambodian friend Ruty translate them into Khmer. We then adjust the melody to fit the rhythm and pronunciation. After that, I practice singing the Khmer lyrics over and over before recording. I want people to one day say, ‘Wow, this Khmer song was written by a Japanese artist!’ We’re aiming to make songs that everyone can sing together, full of love and peace.”
Artists They Admire
HIROHIDE:
“In the Japanese community, I deeply respect Kubota-san, who has long supported the local scene, and DJ Moto, who’s been active in Cambodia for many years. Also, Nicomasa-san, an erhu (Chinese violin) player who joined the recording of our new song, is an amazing artist. Among Cambodian artists, I really like Sai and the band Suffer, whose songs we also cover. And 2-SETH — he’s an actor, dancer, rapper, and all-around artist. I’m sure there are many more talented people we haven’t met yet.”
RYOKO:
“I love Small World Small Band and Pen Ron. There are so many incredible female Cambodian artists that I admire.”
What’s Next for Cambodia Soundbase
HIROHIDE:
“Right now, our goal is to reach 100,000 followers on TikTok. We recently released our first Khmer song, so we’re also focusing on growing our presence on Facebook and other social media platforms. To reach more people, we’ve been performing street live shows on Walking Street. We also play regularly at Botanico, Uraetei Lite, and Stories.
Looking ahead, we’d love to collaborate with other artists in Cambodia and form a full band. In the near future, one of our dreams is to perform at The Waters in Eden Garden.”
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Author: Tom Starkey
Tom Starkey is an International Development graduate from Sussex University with 12-years of experience across 4 continents, Tom's goal is that he wants to showcase his love for Cambodia, where he lives, works and now happily calls home.
