Los Angeles Native Jonny Olsen: Huge in Laos

Travel Blog  •  Jim Benning  •  11.20.08 | 12:18 PM ET

The L.A. Weekly profiles a 28-year-old former semipro skateboarder who, after taking a trip to Thailand in 2002 and buying a folk instrument as a souvenir, went on to master it. Jonny Olsen plays a mouth organ called a khaen. He’s now the only white pop star in Laos, shocking Laotians with his khaen chops. It’s a fascinating story.

When he dug into the history of his instrument and learned of its Laotian origins, Olsen decided he wanted to become a proselytizing spokesperson for Laotian culture; he abandoned all Thailand connections to focus entirely on the lesser-known underdog style of Morlum Lao folk. His second album, all in Lao, took three months to record, and had a final budget of $4,000, which by American studio-a-day rates is absurdly low. The money was recouped by the record label, and Olsen’s songs were an immediate hit on Lao radio and in the karaoke bars.

Here he is rocking the khaen on YouTube:



1 Comment for Los Angeles Native Jonny Olsen: Huge in Laos

Kevin Fay 11.21.08 | 5:48 PM ET

Thanks for posting this, Jim. This is the coolest sound I’ve heard in a while.

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