Dengue Fever co-founder and keyboardist Ethan Holtzman joined Doug Gertner for KGNU’s Morning Sound Alternative to talk about the band’s unique blend of Cambodian rock, psychedelia, surf, and funk ahead of their upcoming Colorado performances. Holtzman shared how a trip to Cambodia in the early 2000s inspired the group’s sound, rooted in the country’s vibrant 1960s and ’70s music scene, and discussed collaborating with vocalist Chhom Nimol, who sings in both Khmer and English. The conversation also touched on the band’s songwriting process, recording during the pandemic, and what audiences can expect from their improvisational live shows. Dengue Fever performs May 29 at Meow Wolf Denver and May 30 at the Global Sounds Festival in Fort Collins. (Air Date 5/4/2026)
Listen to the interview here:
Transcript
Doug Gertner: Joining me right now by phone is Dengue Fever co-founder and organist Ethan Holtzman. Hey, Ethan. Welcome to KGNU.
Dengue Fever: Hey, thanks, man. Good to be here.
Doug Gertner: I’m so glad to chat with you. I described the band as Cambodian psych rock, but I’m hoping you’ll elaborate. Talk about the origins of Dengue Fever — the band, not the tropical infection — who’s in the group, and what you do when you play and record together.
Dengue Fever: We formed the band around 2001 or 2002. I had traveled through Southeast Asia for six months, and while I was in Cambodia I discovered this music that was created in the ’60s and ’70s before it was interrupted by the Khmer Rouge.
When I got back to Los Angeles, where I live, my brother Zac Holtzman — who plays guitar — had just moved down from San Francisco. We were roommates at the time, and he was playing some Cambodian music in the living room. I realized it was the same music I had heard in Cambodia, and I pulled out cassette tapes I had collected over there. That’s how we decided to focus on this great music.
At first we covered those songs for our first album, but we quickly wanted to write original music too. It was a process with our singer, Chhom Nimol, who was born and raised in Cambodia before living in a Thai refugee camp and eventually coming to the United States.
We still have all the original band members: Senon Williams on bass, Paul Smith on drums, myself on keyboards, David Ralicke on horns and flute, Zac on guitar, and Chhom Nimol on vocals.
Doug Gertner: That’s who we’ll hear when Dengue Fever takes the stage May 29 in a KGNU Presents show at Meow Wolf. We just heard “Wake Me Up Slowly” with Chhom Nimol on lead vocals. I get the English lyrics sung by some of you guys, but talk about the languages we’re hearing in that tune and most of your repertoire. How do you compose those signature Dengue Fever songs?
Dengue Fever: Chhom sings in Khmer, which is Cambodian. Now that she speaks English, we blend the two languages together. A lot of the sound comes from how beautiful Khmer is, and we treat her voice almost like an instrument. It snakes through the music, and we build around it.
We’ve been recording together for over 20 years, so we’ve evolved a lot. Early on we all played on top of each other, but now we’re more seasoned and leave space for everything. Usually someone brings in an idea, and we build from there with drums, bass, and guitar first. The keyboards and horns come later after there’s a rough vocal line, because we don’t want to step on her voice.
Doug Gertner: It’s an amazing voice. And Khmer is the same word as in Khmer Rouge?
Dengue Fever: Yes. It’s Khmer, though Cambodians often pronounce it more like “Khmai.” But yes, same word.
Doug Gertner: You’ve been at this for more than 20 years. Did the band take a hiatus at some point?
Dengue Fever: COVID slowed us down. We had started recording out in Pipes Canyon near Joshua Tree. A friend let us stay at his house, and we brought recording gear and tracked a bunch of music there. Then COVID happened, and we couldn’t get together, so the project just sat for a while.
Eventually we started working safely again, one person at a time, because it was scary in those early days. But now we’re recording new songs, and it’s great not having to worry about the plague anymore.
Doug Gertner: You’re back on tour now. KGNU presents Dengue Fever at Meow Wolf on May 29, and then you’ll play the Global Sounds event in Old Town Square in Fort Collins the next day. Before I let you go, tell us what to expect from those shows, and also introduce another tune from your 2023 release Ting Mong called “Touch Me Not.”
Dengue Fever: “Touch Me Not” is one of my favorite songs. It’s unusual for us because we built the music around Nimol’s voice instead of starting with the instruments. The song is about a flower that’s aging and shriveling up and doesn’t want to be touched. It also relates to a woman who feels the same way.
At our shows, we always have a really good time. We’re all original members, and we’re like family. We like to get loose, explore sonically, improvise a little, and just enjoy ourselves. We can’t wait for these Colorado shows. The Fort Collins show is outdoors and should be a lot of fun too.
Doug Gertner: Did you ever make it to the original Meow Wolf in Santa Fe? You’d be great on that stage.
Dengue Fever: We played Santa Fe a long time ago, but I can’t remember the venue. I’d love to go back.
Doug Gertner: It’s a great town. Ethan Holtzman from Dengue Fever, thanks so much for joining us today. KGNU presents Dengue Fever at Meow Wolf in Denver on May 29. Once we clear the line, we’ll spin “Touch Me Not” by Dengue Fever.
