“Where is my karaoke” was a 30-minute sonic lecture performance using texts and music to give insight into my bi-cultural upbringing.

All texts included decolonial critique of some sorts: the first text chronicled my journey of reclaiming my artistry after learning about my parents’ stories, the second text (sathu.studio) factualises Khmer invisibility to the world and its deadly consequences, and the third text describes the American Western media domination of the 2000s and how this neoliberal media machine made it almost impossible to be Khmer, love Khmer music and understand Khmer collectivity that’s so inherent in our arts.

Weaving throughout the texts, I play the music I play as a DJ. I have been a DJ for years, playing predominantly for diasporic audiences, always deliberately avoiding a white gaze/ear. A good DJ listens to their crowd, and the sounds of the people have made it into my heart. I played afrobeats, Dutch hip hop and UK drill, as well as Khmer Buddhist singing called smot, and 2000s Cambodian pop music, called saravan and romvong. For the latter, I invited the audience to dance ‘the romvong’ with me - literally a round dance. This performance was about joy.

Photography by Steven Maybury