Lao music

Traditional Lao music can be divided into classical and folk forms.

The Khene is the instrument most identified with Laotian music. A national proverb says that "a person living under a stilted house, eating sticky rice, listening to any music related to Lam or Morlam, and playing the Khene is likely to be Lao or associated with Lao people."

Khenes are made from a special kind of bamboo. It looks slightly Andean in appearance with its sets of bamboo and reed pipes of various lengths, which are strapped together, and then blown into by the player. It can be played solo as in traditional Lao music or in combination with other musical instruments to accompany modern songs.

Vichai Sitviseth, "Koviseth 2 ວິຈັຍ ສິຕວິເສສ Vichai Sitviseth is Lao singer, loves to sing the Oldies songs were first composed and recorded by Koviseth ไทยดำรำพัน,นั้หรือรักจริง Khamtoun Vongsanith,ติอ้ายปอนใด,โชกต่างล่าง Khamphou Thavivane โอย่..หิว, อยู่บ้านดง, and Voradeth Dithavong สาวLycee สาวสมัย.

Rock bands popular with the younger generation include Cells, Smile Black Dog, Dao Kha Chai, Awake, Khem Tid, Eighteen and Black Burn, Aluna, Overdance and LOG. LOG was recently connected to the controversial movie Mark Tae (Lucky loser), which created a riot between Laos and Thailand that needed diplomatic intervention.

Lao music today comes in a wide variety of styles and from different national origins. Outside of Laos, Lao music is mainly created in the United States, France and Canada. An increasing amount of transnational Lao (alternative) rock, pop and hip hop created a new 'oeuvre' next to the traditional Lao music like morlam.

In the United States, rock bands Sarky Mekmorakoth,SDN, Chitpanya and Black Flame found a growing fan base for their music. Most popular Lao pop music in the US is made by three female singers: Phone Phoummithone the young pop princess Birdie and Ketsana Vilaylack.Birdie is quickly on the rise as she balances between mainstream and traditional country Lao music. Most notable Lao hip hop artists from the US are Supasang aka Buc Supa and 'gangsta rapper' Gumby. Both rappers made music videos and both rap in Lao language.

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Wikipedia