Im Song Soeum

Im Song Soeum (c. 1943 – 1972) was a Cambodian singer active from 1962 to 1972. During his career, he became an important figure of Cambodian rock. He is known for helping start the singing careers of Huoy Meas, Pen Ran, and Ros Serey Sothea, who would become among the most established Cambodian singers of the era. Song Soeum—along with Sinn Sisamouth, Ros Serey Sothea, Pen Ran, Huoy Meas, Mao Sareth, and other Cambodian artists—was part of the pre-genocide music scene in Cambodia that fused elements of Khmer traditional music with Western sounds, including rhythm and blues and rock and roll, developing unique sounds in Cambodia's history of music.

Biography Im Song Soeum was born in Kampong Preah, Battambang province. He was the son of Tan Soeun (mother), and Im Sean (father). Early details of his life are scarce, but prior to his singing career he attended Preah Monivong High School in Battambang until his third year. Around 1962, he entered a provincial singing contest where he won first place. He was friends with future singers Huoy Meas and Pen Ran, and the three sang for the local troupe Lomhea Yothea, singer Ros Serey Sothea would later join this troupe. That same year the three of them were invited by the Ministry of Information in Phnom Penh to sing for its music band.

After the Cambodian coup d’état, as the civil war intensified, Song Soeum joined the Khmer Republic military as a soldier under the 13th Infantry Brigade where he rose to the title of second lieutenant. His most popular song is a duet with Ros Serey Sothea titled “ខ្មៅអើយខ្មៅ [Dark Skinned Beauty]” which challenged colorism in Cambodian society.