Bross La
Khmer Portal: What up Bross La, long time no see. How've you been?
Bross La:
Jum Reab Sour, brother. I've been fine except I am really busy at the moment with school, work, and music. I know I was gone missing for quite sometimeS due to a loss of motivation in music and some medical problems, but I'm back now and better then ever. This time I will strive harder to keep my people entertained.
Khmer Portal: Tell the people a little bit about yourself.
Bross La:
I am known as Bross La in the music world. My real name is Dara Paul, but my family and friends just call me La. I am a Khmer artist. Yes, I'm more than just a Khmer rapper because I also produce,compose, as well as write my own song. I've been a fan of music since the day that I was born. It doesn't matter what kind of genre, I listen to it all. Growing up with a father who always had his music system bumping while at home doing housework or just simply trying to keep himself entertain, I couldn't help it but fall in love with music.
Khmer Portal: What have you been up to? Are you currently working on any projects that you would like to share with our readers?
Bross La:
As I have mentioned before, I am currently attending college part time as well as working full-time. Music is just my side work, I try to squeeze in whatever I can out of what little spare time that I have. I've been trying to get back with music slowly after being gone for quite some time now. I've been sick. I had a sinus infection for about two years. I almost lost my ability to do music. I went through a minor surgery and got better now except my voice has been slightly altered. Currently, I have a ton of music projects lined up expected to finish some time this summer.
Khmer Portal: Are you currently involved with any studios or production company at the moment?
Bross La:
I am an independent artist. Right now, I'm not working under any production company, but I would love to get signed, that's only if it could pay off my bills. Don't get me wrong here. Paying off my bills does not mean stocking up my bank. {smiles} I am also opened to any collaboration or company projects, so just holla when you need this …
Khmer Portal: What inspires you to do your music?
Bross La:
What inspires me to do music is this ache ddep within myself that has been a part of me since I was a child. The same ache that always made me criticize other singers on stage every time I'm watching a Khmer concert. I always found flaws in those singers.
khmer Portal: You felt like you could've done better huh?
Bross La:
Yes, this ache kept on telling me that I could've been better if I was up there. I think i was around 10 years old when I met a group of modern dancers from Phnom Penh. They settled down in Battambang to spread out their new dancing skill. They also sang. One of them happened to stay at a house closed to mine. His name was Pheak from Kompong Spur Province. I still remember him till this day. He was the very first person on earth who taught me how to write a song and rhyme it, although back then we just copied music from other nations. We came closed to making a CD, but we got turned down by this one production due to our competitor was the producer's relative. Since that day everyone just fell apart, and lost motivation in doing music except me. I have always carried this skill that Bong Pheak passed down with me everywhere I go. I wrote a lot of songs, but they never got anywhere, other then for me to sing and record at home for fun. But then again I always enjoyed hearing myself sing {laughs-smiles}
Khmer Portal: So when did you started taking music really serious?
Bross La:
Right about the time that I arrived into the United States, I started to really know what Hip Hop music is. The first two American Hip Hop Artists I listened to were Ludacris with a song called "Stand Up" and Nick Cannon with a song called "Gigolo". I wrote my first covered song called "Koun Jov No Na Ke Nis Vuey" from the song's called "Tipsy by J Kwon". People really loved the humorous lyrics in that song, and It was requested to play on khmermidi radio so often. Then, I wrote my second song which was my first original song's called "Nirk Srok Khmer". It brought tears to a lot of Khmer people who were having a difficult time living abroad like myself. "Nirk Srok Khmer" has received so many positive comments over the years, and so has "Goodbye Srok Khmer" and "Unlike Srok Khmer".
Khmer Portal: You have atleast two songs that talks about leaving or missing srok Khmer, such as in "Goodbye Srok khmer" and "Unlike Srok khmer". How do you like living in the U.S as opposes to living in Srok Khmer? Have you adjusted in recent years or would you prefer to be back home?
Bross La:
I'm not going to lie to you, I cried a lot during the first few years. Missing home and having no friends was a great depression for me. No one I could really speak to at the time beside music, and I always hope that this music can bring me back home. As of nowadays I'm getting adjusted better now. I have friends who are always there for me. I have fans who always make my days with all their positive comments on my music. I used to prefer to be back home, but right now I am not sure anymore. After I went back home to visit in 2009, there wasn't really anything for me anymore beside some family members and my father who only welcomed me if it was just for a visit not an attempt to live. Eversince then, I just follow where ever this lifeand these roads take me. {smiles}
Khmer Portal: What part of Cambodia are you from?
Bross La:
I am from Battambang, the home of many khmer stars and where many kick boxers are from.
When did you leave for the states?
Bross La:
I left to the United States since October 12th, 2003.
Khmer Portal: Do you miss home?
Bross La:
Yes!! I miss home very very much as you can hear through my songs. Let me put this in order for you {smiles}
Goodbye Srok Khmer ----> Miss Srok Khmer ----> Unlike Srok Khmer ---> ??????????
I'm thinking about writing a 4th one, I might call it "My Life Away From Srok Khmer" because I feel like I haven't talked enough yet about my life over here. Also I have recieved so many requests from my fans for me to write more song about Srok Khmer related topics.
Khmer Portal: What is your take on the Khmer music scene today?
Bross La:
We are getting a lot better than before. We are getting a lot of supports from the fans and sponsors. Now we have fancy stages, TV shows, nice fashion styles, and beautiful and handsome singers with great voices, but there are two things that still missing, ORIGINALITY and COPYRIGHTS. I do see a couple production that have been starting to produce original music, and I'm so happy and proud of them. But if you look at the whole music industry, It's still a huge mess. This's all I'm going say for now. You will hear more about it through out my songs one day. {smiles}
Khmer Portal: Where do you see yourself fitting in, what would you like to contribute to the Khmer music/communities and what kind of goals have you set for yourself to accomplish with your music?
Bross La:
I want everyone to know that we khmer people can work together and help improve our music scene. I'm asking for originality here and by this I mean start making our own music. STOP COPYING music from other nations. I feel shameful to show our modern music to my friends in the United States when they ask me how modern khmer music sounds like. If a kid like me who never went to music school have the ability to create original music, why can't you professional khmer producers create original music? I know it costs more money to make original music, but I'm sure they've made big dollars already in their pocket. Why can't they spare some to make a change in khmer music? I know I'm not that great at composing music just yet, but I am going to learn more through out my life time. I want to be able to produce more than just rap/hiphop music. Classical, Pop, and Soft Rock are what i'm aiming for in the future. I want to be a producer when I no longer can sing or rap.
Khmer Portal: Favorite music, What does Bross La listens to?
Bross La:
Hmmmm I listen to everything man when it comes to music. I haven't really listened to Khmer music lately. It's not because I'm disliking it or anything, but I want to focus more on something that I can learn from. From time to time I would check out Heng Pitu, Khemarak Sereymon, and Preap Sovath's new tracks to see how they are doing with their career since they are the top 3 singers on my Khmer list. I also listen to some Korean music when my friends would paste a link on my Facebook. American music is my main entertainment right now that I'm listening to and learning from it.
Khmer Portal: You are consided one of the most popular as well as favorites among "Khmer Rap" and Khmer Rappers, how do you feel about that?
Bross La:
One of the most popular? {laughs} Thanks man. I love compliments. It actually feels really amazing to be recognized and respected by other Khmer artists, man. Although my music is only known locally right now, I am hoping to bring it out to the bigger world soon. 5 or 10 years from now man, I surely will still have this patience in me. I might get old, but I would never let my music get old.
Khmer Portal: Feels good doesn't it?
Bross La:
You know it, man. Nothing is better than waking up in the morning reading through all the positive comments that my fans left on my youtube channel as well as Facebook. They've been putting smiles on me and making my day better than it should be. They all are my motivators that keep me moving and producing more music.
Khmer Portal: Before we wrap up, is there anything that you would like to share with our readers? Any collaborations, new music or projects to look out for?
Bross La:
Definetly, fiirst of all, I want to shout out for my best man, Tarasha (T.A). I might have disappointed him at one point, but no matter what he thinks about me now, he still remains one of the most important part of my music. He had always been there for me at the start and through all the ups and downs. I learned a lot from him. If there was no Tarasha, there would be no Bross La's music. Thank you Tarasha, and I hope you will come across this section. Furthermore, Thanks to all my fans and friends. They also play a big part of my music existence. I would love to list all of your names here, but there would be too many from Facebook and Youtube. I don't want to drive my readers crazy here. I hope you all keep continuing to support me because you are the only path that can bring me up higher. I love you all and I promise to always keep you all entertain.
Speaking about projects, I have unlimited projects to work on, and I'm trying to produce as much as I can through this summer of 2011. I have a lot of ideas, but I just need time. I will be working on some music for Merrimack Valley Entertainment. a new company that is going to launch soon, and I might be collaborating on some tracks with Khmer Kid, Khmer1Jivit, Khembo Man, and of course my brother Rawee over this summer of 2011. Keep in touch with me on this cyber world and you can find me at,
www.youtube.com/XxkhmerheartxX
Khmer portal: La thank you for your time, we look forward to any and all future projects that you are planning to be a part of!
Bross La:
Anytime, man. Thank you and khmerportal.com for having me here. It's such an honor. Wish you and your staff best of lucks with your business.{smiles} Please excuse if anything that I've said may have offend anyone.
