INTERVIEW: Dengue Fever

Tomorrow is the beginning of Jazz Fest, and to be honest my favorite part of Jazz Fest has always been the after parties. Tomorrow night starts the Jazz Fest after parties with Dangue Fever from LA. I saw them three years ago at SXSW and fell for them. The singer sings like no other and the rest of the band is so fun to watch while playing their unique blend of Cambodian and rock. Zac and Senon were kind enough to take some spare time off their non stop world touring schedule to answer a few questions for us.

STATIC: I see you are going on tour to promote a film. Can you explain what it's
about?
SENON WILLIAMS: Sleepwalking through the Mekong is about the beauty that transpires when a music that was all but lost inspires some music freaks from L.A. to invest all they’ve got in an idea to help their singer return home after 5 years away.
ZAC HOLTZMAN : It's a documentary of Dengue Fever's trip to Cambodia. We were curious to see Cambodians' reaction to us playing the music that started in Cambodia. We played some crazy shows and had the privilege to record with some of the best traditional Master Cambodian musicians. The trip was one of the greatest things I've done in my life.
SW: In turn, we found our own deeper understanding of the Cambodian psych rock that inspired us and a huge Khmer social boom in the 60's and 70's...The most amazing days I had was recording with Master folk musicians and performing in the shanty town of Tonle Bassac.

ST: When I think of you as a band I think of very pretty music, yet actual dengue fever doesn't seem too pretty. What made you pick that name?
ZH: My brother Ethan was traveling in Cambodia, and his traveling partner came down with Dengue Fever.
SW: On one of their many truck rides trying to make it back to civilization for treatment, Ethan first heard the Cambodian garage rock blaring from the cab's torn speakers....that was the moment we became an inkling of an idea.
ZH: When we were pulling the band together and trying to think of what to call us, we flipped through his travel diary and Dengue Fever jumped out at us. Also when my brother's friend was in the thralls of the fever, they were traveling in a truck and the driver was playing a tape with a lot of the songs from the 60's and 70's that influenced our band.

ST: All of you seem like a very multicultural bunch. How did you all get together and start making music together?
ZH: My brother and I grew up making answering machine messages together. I went to college with Senon Williams. Paul Smith was in a band with my brother. David Ralicke used to give trombone lessons to my brother.
SW: Finding Nimol was different story. The largest population of Khmer people outside of Cambodia is here in L.A. Zac and Ethan spent months scouting before we started trying out singers. As soon as Nimol walked into our second tryout all the other singers got their stuff and left - before Nimol even sang a note.

ST: Of all the TV shows/movies your music has been featured on, which is your personal favorite?
ZH: I've always been a big fan of Jim Jarmusch . So when he asked to use a DF tune in Broken Flowers that was a good feeling knowing that an artist you are into likes what you do.

ST: Being in LA have any of you thought about crossing over into the acting world?
ZH: No. Music keeps us busy enough

ST: We in New Orleans love to eat, and I know you guys have been fortunate enough to tour many interesting places. Where have you found some of the best food to eat on the road?
ZH: I'm in Australia right now getting ready to play WOMAD. There's a very good Asian food court a block away from our hotel. Moscow had an amazing spread for breakfast. Spain is a bit rough for me because I don't eat pork.
SW: We recorded at Real World Studios in Box, England. England ain't known for its food, but we had two master chefs preparing lunch and dinner every day and preparing pastry to be baked in the mornings. After a week of that we got real spoiled...thank you Gigi and Jerome!!!!

ST: As a band is it difficult to get through customs? Any horror stories?
SW: Yesterday Ralicke spent 2 hours in a backroom of the Australian airport because a dog sniffed his own dog on his leg...Nickel Jones must have been in heat, because that dog would not leave him alone. After taking all his shit apart he was free to go...not fun after a 20 hour flight.
ZH: All in all things have been pretty smooth for us. I think I look too obvious to be doing anything illegal.

ST: Planning anything special for your stay in New Orleans?
SW: Crawfish boil at the R Bar. I should auction off my hotel room because I doubt I will see it.

Ohhh boy, would I love to be at the R Bar with you for that one. Well check them out tomorrow night at One Eyed Jacks. Also, they were kind enough to give up an MP3!

MP3: Dengue Fever - March Of The Balloon Animals

Also, here is the trailer for the film that they will be playing as well.