praCh & Silong Chhun

Musician and filmmaker praCh and multimedia artist and activist Silong Chhun speak with hosts Viet Thanh Nguyen and Philip Nguyen.ABOUT THE GUESTSSilong Chhun is a multimedia artist and communications specialist at Washington State's Office of Equity who uses art to advance social justice for all communities. As co-founder of the Khmer Anti-Deportation Advocacy Group (KhaagWa) and a co-founder of the award-winning Southeast Asian Comedy Collective, he focuses on sharing his cultural heritage while amplifying the voices of the marginalized. When not working on community initiatives, Chhun explores storytelling through various mediums, including his work as a DJ, connecting people through music.praCh is an internationally renowned, critically acclaimed, award-winning artist. His debut album is the first #1 rap album in Cambodia, and Newsweek proclaimed him “The First Cambodian Rap Star.” His powerful lyrics not only entertain but also educate, with his music published by multiple publishers and used in Southeast Asian Studies. praCh has scored music for films like Rice Field of Dreams (2010) and Enemies of the People (2010), and produced award-winning films such as Paulina (2013) and Invisible Dance (2015). He’s the writer, producer, director, and performer of Khmeraspora (2023), a Cambodian-American musical experience in collaboration with the Long Beach Symphony. praCh has lectured at prestigious institutions, including the Smithsonian, Brown, and Harvard, and been featured in major media outlets like ABC, BBC, and The New York Times. He’s received numerous honors, including being Grand Marshal of Long Beach’s Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Parade (2014) and the "Special Recognition" award from the Long Beach Symphony (2023). He is also the co-founder and co-director of the Cambodia Town Film Festival and serves on the Board of Directors for the Long Beach Symphony.