By LAWI WENG & JALOON HTAW : Pamoukkha Chan, a famous Mon singer throughout the Mon communities of Mon State, is set to produce a new album of his own songs on January the 15th, entitled, “Existing.”
The chairman of Geeta Mon, a well-known Mon music band, Pamoukkha Chan, explains that the album title is meant to convey the existence of the Mon people despite attempts to destroy the Mon for many years.
The new album compiles eight new songs by Pamoukkha Chan, and four additional songs by his friend, Gombe Chan.
Nowadays, many Mon musicians experience difficulty producing their new albums due to the number of counterfeit cds in Burma. Artists, therefore receive a small profit from their investment and time making the album.
Taing Pakao, who is the producer of the new album, said, “The ability to access the internet makes it hard to receive substantial profits from releasing albums. But, we released it anyway because we want to maintain unity and culture and our aspiration to love our nationality.”
The albums includes love songs, livelihood songs, and Mon national songs. These songs are composed by Pamoukkha Chan, Khay Marnon, Blai Mon Lawi Rot, Donaree, Jatoik Nai, Mon Nai Chan, and Paragu Hongsar.
Pamoukkha Chan always includes Mon national songs in his albums, encouraging the Mon to love their own people. Even during his performances with Geeta Mon, he always tells the Mon people to love Mon, speak Mon, and learn Mon.
“I want to encourage my people to buy our album because the money we receive will be distributed to the hands of the Mon people,” Pamoukkha Chan said.
Plans to produce his new album began last year but because of low finances he was unable to produce it until now.
When Pamoukkha Chan was young he studied English at a Buddhist monastery in Rangoon as a novice. During his stay in Rangoon, he met many Mon singers. After becoming friends with these musicians, he became inspired to become a singer in the future.
Before he joined the group of Mon musicians, he went by only Pamoukkha. But, afterwards, he was given the name “Chan” by a teacher of his. It is quite common for Mon musicians to have “Chan” in their name. “Chan,” in Mon, means love.
Pamoukkha’s first album was a cover album, but later he composed his own songs. He has already produced five albums, and has become increasingly well-known throughout Mon State. The title of his first album was Jadana Yai Apar, meaning “parent’s wishes.”
At the beginning of his musical career, he explains that some song composers did not trust him enough to give them their own songs for Pamoukkha to sing.
“I was new in the business. They [song composers] did not want to give me their songs. My friends had to persuade the composers in order for me to receive songs,” he said.
Pamoukkha explained that he wants to give a message to the Mon people, “If you have to choose in life, you should choose your people, those you can trust the most.”
There are five music bands in Mon State. These bands include Geeta Mon, Geeta Anarghot, Power Music, the Crocodile and Geeta Alinka. Among the Mon bands, Geeta Mon has attracted the most attention and often performs at popular
gatherings. Geeta Mon, a rock band, is based in Thanphyuzayart town in Mon State.
Mon celebrities are gaining popularity in Thailand and other countries as many Mon people have migrated to work as laborers or have fled Burma as refugees. Some of these Mon singers are even popular among young migrant workers and teenagers overseas.
Many Mon musicians have been invited to sing in overseas Mon community. Some Mon bands have travelled to Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia to perform at outdoor concerts.
It is quite common for Mon musicians to set up bands and perform concerts instead of producing albums do to the lack of profit they receive on record sales.
Currently, there are three million Mon people in southern Burma, and after the ceasefire in 1995 between the Burmese government and the New Mon State Party, many Mon have had the opportunity to listen to Mon music apart from Burmese government surveillance.
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