One on One: Mon Khmer

I'll always remember the day when Hammarsing Kharmar of Mon Khmer sent me his first EP, Birthplace, because I remember being completely crazed! The sound was unlike anything I had ever heard-- and the three songs soon became on heavy rotation in my music library. Since then, I've attended shows, have heard the band's sound evolve--  only to become more and more impressed.  The fearlessness of the band: in their material, mastery of instruments, and experimentation, in my eyes, has been exemplary.




I've highly anticipated the band's newest venture, Dreamers, which is set to be released next Tuesday, August 7th!  Of course, I got a little sneak peak, and once again, was blown away. 

I'd describe Mon Khmer's sound as one that is both inner and outer worldly: a dynamic fusion of culture mixed with the physics of time. Between rhythm and tone, closing one's eyes nearly transports you, and gives the listener an completely uncanny sense of the feeling behind each song.  The beautifully shot video for  the song Dreamers perhaps brings these ideas all together, as it was shot in Hammar's hometown in India.  Hammar explained to me how the town has changed a great deal over the years, and that the video pays homage to the tradition and landscape he remembers as a child.

 Thus, culture is a definite driving force behind the music. The band's name, Mon Khmer, refers to an ancient group of languages from the region in India where Hammar was raised-- and in addition, the band's members span from all over the world, each bringing something unique to the table. 

There is a specific intensity when the band performs live-- and regardless of whether the song is fast, slow, soft, or loud.  Thus, in terms of genre, one could certainly not label the band.  Mon Khmer's sound is more unique than anything, drawing upon everything from the ambient electronic to psychedelic to rock.
 

 To say that the band is on the radar is an understatement, as it is no doubt in my mind that it will achieve greatness.
 

I of course reached out to Hammar to answer a few questions about his music, influences and  the new album!!

MF

 What is your earliest musical memory?

Hammar
Watching my dad play guitar and sing at the drop of a hat...

MF
Where are you from and how has this impacted your music?

Hammar
I grew up in a beautiful little place called Shillong in the eastern corner of India. It used to be quiet and remote-- but it has changed quite a bit over the years. People from that part of India adopted western music-- rock and roll, blues-- as their own, so I grew up listening to musicians and bands like Dylan, Stones, and CRR at a very very young age. Almost every household there owns a guitar. I always see it as a strange, magical kind of place that I think everyone should experience.

MF
Who is in Mon Khmer?

Hammar
My best friends.  

MF
How long have you all been playing together?

Hammar
We have been playing together for almost four years now. Some of the guys play in other bands that tour a lot so we don't really get to spend a lot of time together these days.  

MF
What instruments can you play? What instruments do you play in the band?

Hammar
I play mainly guitar-- but I can bang on the drums and "pretend" to play piano. In Mon Khmer, I play guitar, sing and also lay down the synth parts in our recordings.

 MF
Describe the first song you ever wrote:

  

Hammar
It was called 'The Sweetest Dream--" an epic song about the collapse of an idea!

 
MF
Why "Mon Khmer?"

Hammar
Hmmm… I always ask that question too.. When I had finished touring in Albert Hammond Jr.'s band, I decided that I wanted to play my own music. At the time, all the bands had a some sort of animal name-- or something cool and ironic. I guess I just wanted something completely different but also looked great on paper... So I decided on Mon Khmer. I didn't realize how hard it would be for people to pronounce. My dads mother tongue is called Khasi and it belongs to the Mon Khmer family of languages. It's what the majority of the people in my hometown speak.

MF
In what ways do you feel your sound has evolved since your first album?

Hammar
I think, if anything, I've learned a lot about the singing process-- about how to use my voice-- since the first album. But I still don't consider myself a singer. In terms of structure, I feel like I have begun to focus less on the complexity of a song, and much more on the song's lyrics.

MF
What are some of the themes or things that inspired this new EP/Album?

Hammar
T-rex - Electric Warrior, mood lighting, the color red, and echoes…

MF
Can you describe your songwriting process? What comes first - the lyrics or the music?

Hammar
Usually the music. I experiment for a while, and then start to sing over it-- and then build more sound and lyrics out of whatever phrase comes most naturally to me. I guess it's not a very efficient method, and I guess it always changes slightly from song to song. I sometimes wish I could come up with a solid song title first-- or chorus line.

MF
What was your favorite song to write and why?

Hammar
That would have to be the song Birthplace, which is from our last EP. It has a specific rhythm that I grew up hearing, and overall, just feels happy and sad at the same time. Those are the good ones.

MF
Your favorite song on the new LP/Album and why?

 Hammar
"You Better Run." At first, the song was my least favorite, but for some reason, it just grew on me. And now I really, really enjoy it. When I first wrote it, it just seemed dark-- but looking at it now, I see that the lyrics are kind of goofy. If I look at it this way-- as not as a dark song-- I think it is really a fun little musical journey.

 

MF
What kind of role do you have in the direction and production of your music videos? Can you talk a little about your newer music videos?

 Hammar
I never focused on visuals until very recently, actually.  For our video for Dreamers, I met with my Russ-- an excellent cinematographer-- and just told him about my hometown. I thought it would be really cool to film the landscape, and random things there, and also all the local people and sort of present it in a surreal way without any storyline. And so we made it happen!

MF
If you could put together a band that consisted of musicians throughout history, who would you pick and who would play what?

 Hammar
Elvis as front man, Charlie Watts on drums, Paul Simon on on Bass, Nina Simone on piano, all of Kraftwerk playing some kind of electronic instrument, Bowie and Marc Bolan on backing vocals (I would make them sing way higher than they normally do!) and David Gilmour on guitar!

MF
Your ultimate goal?

 Hammar
To write a great 3 minute pop song

MF
Three songs you couldn't live without?

 
 Hammar
Harvest Moon - Neil Young
 
Little sister - Elvis
 
I Shall Be Released - Bob Dylan


MF
Three albums that impacted your life?

 

Hammar
Sticky Fingers - The Rolling Stones
Highway 61 - Bob Dylan
Nirvana Unplugged

 
 

 MF
If you weren't a musician, you'd be?

Hammar

 ... an economist.

MF
First album you ever purchased?

 Hammar
Probably some 80's glam rock compilation smuggled into India from Southeast Asia

MF
Favorite spots in NYC?

 
Hammar 
 1) Grand Sichuan on Chrystie and Canal (and not the chains all over the city-- those ones are terrible!)

 
 2) The corner of Hope and Havemeyer in Williamsburg
 
3) Any terrace or deck with nice chairs 

 
MF
Favorite city to tour and why:

Hammar
New Orleans-- you can drink wherever the hell you want!

MF
Favorite films?

Hammar
Barry Lyndon, Fitzcarraldo, all epic period films

 

MF
Your last "oh my god" moment:

Hammar
Roger Waters playing 'The Wall' at Yankees stadium. Cried so many times

MF
If you could play a show alongside any current band, who would you pick and why? a band throughout history?

Hammar
Probably Hot Chip at the moment. I'm obsessed with the song 'Flutes' from their new album. I also would have loved to have seen Pink Floyd perform right after they released Dark Side of The Moon.