Handsome, gentle, humble and soft spoken, Chhouen Oudom is a great singer. Some people said he does not look like a singer or entertainer but a college professor or a doctor. That is because he is always dressed like an office professional or educator. Regardless of his look or what people say about him, Chhouen Oudom is a career singer. He has been recording and singing for many years now. At least at the moment, Chhouen Oudom does not consider himself anything else but a singer. So far he had played in two movies but has not been recorded for any new movie for the past several years.

Looking at his career line, Chhouen Oudom came to the Khmer entertainment world and became known to Khmer entertainment communities about the same time and capacity as Yun Sopheap and Ek Siday. They have similar styles and sing the same kinds of song. Though he is not considered a super star like Preap Sovath or Chorn Sovanareach, he is very visible and popular among middle age and matured audience for his character and performance. Most middle age and matured audience outside and inside of the country know him.

Chhouen Odom is from Prey Veng province. He was born in 1979 in Kampong Threa village, Mesar Preah Chan District, Srok Pear Rang. Like most Khmer career singers, Chhouen Oudum came from a farmer background. Both parents were farmers. His father’s name is Chhom Chhouen and mother is Lo Thorn. His father was a self-taught musician. Though he had his own band, Chhouen Oudom would not consider his father’s involvement with music at a professional level. He then gave up his musical band as he grew older. Chhouen Oudom has a small family. He has only one sister named Chhouen Sokha who is already married and an older brother named Chhouen Sokhorn. Chhouen Oudom is the middle child. So far he is the only child in the family who is in Khmer performing arts. When asked if either his older brother or younger sister would be interested in performing arts, he said, “Maybe not.”

Just like other kids in the village, Chhoun Oudom went to study at Wat Kampong Threa Elementary School. He then went to study at Measar Preah Chan Middle School. After school each day, he always took his time and worked in the farm to help his parents. He did not have a chance to attend a High School. Because of his family’s financial problems, Chhouen Oudom had to quit school and went to Phnom Penh in hope to find work. At the time, even though he liked singing, he never thought one day he could be a professional singer, so his goal was to come to Phnom Penh just to find any job he could find. He stayed with one of his cousins in Phnom Penh.

With help from his cousin, Chhouen Oudom applied for a job with an aluminum factory that produced household accessories and equipment. He was then hired. His initial salary was $22 or $23 a month. While he worked for the factory, people came to know that he could sing. So they encouraged him to take a contest. Not until 1998 when Chhouen Oudom took his first step in performing arts and participated in a signing contest hosted by TV5 called Konloung Dara. Surprisingly, Chhouen Oudom received a 2nd place award. That was when he realized that he had the talent and developed a plan to pursue a career in singing. It is good to note that Yuk Chinda was working for TV5 at the time and that she was one of his examiners at the contest. After he received the award, he then got a job with TV5 as a singer for Thai movies. People then begin to know him from watching Thai movies.

After working for TV5 for 2 years, he then began to work for Reak Smey Stung Sangke (SSK). His first song with SSK Production was Klach Roka Dek. Again, most of his songs were used as part of Thai movies. Though he got a job as a singer with a reputable music production company such as SSK, he did not make enough money to support himself and his family. So after working for SSK each day, he bought old motorcycles, fixed and sold them for profits with a friend of his. This went on for many years. Chhoun Oudom was then more and more recognized by other video and music production companies and given opportunities to work for them. Sam Pov Meas, Bopha, SM, Morodok, Tomeas and Reymeas were some of the companies he worked for. Chhouen Oudom’s songs mostly are slow oldie or newly written for a movie. He sings some Khmer traditional songs such as Rom Vong, Rom Kbach, Lam Loa, etc. Since he worked for SSK for many years, he was seen pairing up with Chhin Seriya and they both became very good friends.

A part of his career achievement Chhoun Oudom also played in a couple movies. The first movie called Morodok Snei and the other movie called Amatak Snei produced by Prum Mean Chay Peap Yun. His popularity and reputation traveled overseas and he got recognized by Khmer entertainment sponsors via his movies and DVD and CD albums. So he was sponsored to perform in Australia (three times), France and USA. At the time this interview took place, Chhouen Oudom was completing his immigration process to visit and perform in Canada.

Choun Oudom is very humble person. During his interview with both Yuk Chinda and Angkorthom.US, he was always very careful not to make him look or sound too over-confident more than he really is. Unlike other stars or singers, Chhouen Oudom is perhaps the least publicized Khmer singer in the media. There is never been a rumor or headline story about Chhouen Oudom. It is hard to find his pictures or stories on the Internet. That is because Chhouen Oudom is a gentle man who has no controversial stories for the media to pick up.

At a personal level, he is always dressed appropriately and presents himself as a professional Khmer man. He speaks softly with smiles and is always respectful to his audience. At the time of his interview with Angkorthom.US, Chhouen Oudom was experiencing a nasal problem which had prevented him from singing for the last several months. Angkorthom.US could feel his concern about his medical problem which may interfere with his career. Angkorthom.US would like to join with his fans around the world to wish him a quick recovery from his nasal problem and best wishes for his career endeavor.

Chhoen Oudom's Song Collection

Chhouen Oudom's Video Collection