Chhom Nimol (Khmer: ឆោម និមល; born 1980) is a Cambodian-American singer and the lead vocalist for the band Dengue Fever, which she joined in 2001.
Background
Nimol was born in Battambang, Cambodia, during the period of the People's Republic of Kampuchea. Her family are well-known musicians and singers in Cambodia; her parents were renowned as ayai (folk) singers, and her older sister, Chhom Chorvin, is a famous singer in Cambodia. For a time, her family lived in a refugee camp in Thailand. She learned to sing from her family members.
Career
In 1997, Nimol won Cambodia's Apsara Awards, a national singing competition similar to American Idol. Following her win, she performed internationally, including in Paris and Australia, and sang for the King and Queen of Cambodia.
She emigrated to the United States in 2001. Upon arriving, she began singing in restaurants and bars in the Little Phnom Penh area of Long Beach, California. She was discovered by the American rock band Dengue Fever, who were seeking a singer who could perform Khmer lyrics for their interpretations of 1960s and 1970s Cambodian rock and pop music. Dengue Fever released their debut album in 2003 and have since released multiple albums of original songs inspired by Cambodian rock and other world music styles. Nimol primarily sings in Khmer but occasionally performs in English as well.
Personal life
Nimol was detained by U.S. immigration authorities in 2002 due to an expired visa and was held for 22 nights before being released with the help of legal representation and funds raised by the band. She became a United States citizen in 2014.
