A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Our CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND Musicians
written by the Jungle Theater
The cast of Cambodian Rock Band is made up of some incredible musicians, on and off stage. Check out some of our talented cast's personal music projects, and don't be surprised if you feel the urge to add them—and the whole Cambodian Rock Band soundtrack—to your playlist this summer.
Mayda
Based here in Minnesota, Mayda is a Korean adoptee and multi-musician/artist/producer. Her unique pop sound has led her to tour globally with successful self-DIY tours in Europe, Asia, Southeast Asia, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. Mayda's sound has been featured on shows from Good Morning America to Jersey Shore. In addition, she also coined herself as a "wanna be jingle writer," working with MyTalk 107.1 FM: The Weekly Dish, the Minnesota Twins, Target campaigns, and more.
“Her R&B-infused pop is undeniably fresh, as she swings between pared-down acoustic struts, full-band funkadelic blasts, and electronic drumbeats and synth flourishes that would make the Purple One proud. The result is a slick, expansive, and evolving pop sound. … The prolific young soul singer is just beginning her journey, but it’s hard not to anticipate big things from the petite yet larger-than-life pop songstress.” —Andrea Swenson, the Current
Shawn Mouacheupao
Shawn is a Hmong American composer and drummer based in Saint Paul. Before you listen to some incredible arrangements and partnerships on Shawn’s YouTube channel, learn a bit more about how he approaches his music:
“Being a drummer for a long time, immediately you can hear that most of my compositions are rhythm heavy and repetitive. My songs are meant to be simple, catchy, and thoughtful. Producing music was something I did not expect to fall in love with. In the future, I would like to open my own public space where I can continue teaching music. In the meantime, you will find me working on projects, creating with friends, and exploring life.”
Danielle Troiano
After attending school in the Twin Cities, Danielle Troiano now jumps between NYC and Minneapolis to pursue their artistic career. Danielle is a queer Filipina, singer-songwriter, and actor currently working on releasing her first EP eponymously titled D’LOURDES. D’LOURDES is scheduled to be released May 8. Check out their Seed & Spark page for visuals and a deep dive into Danielle’s music.
“D'LOURDES is my personal war cry for honesty, authenticity, & freedom. With this project, I want to be a beacon of expression for the artistic & unsure queer POCs that I never had growing up. I strive to create visuals that uphold the stories of love, lust, trauma, & heartbreak in my music.” —D’LOURDES mission statement
Christopher T. Pow
In addition to acting, Christopher is a multi-instrumentalist based in Chicago. You can check out a number of incredible covers as well as touching originals on his Instagram account.
To experience this rock star cast live, get your tickets to Cambodian Rock Band, running Jun 8-Jul 31 at the Jungle Theater. This co-production by the Jungle and Theater Mu goes on sale May 11. As always, tickets are Pay As You Are.