Satica shares her love of her roots in her new music video for “Ode to LBC,” premiering exclusively today (Sept. 19) on Billboard.
The singer-songwriter’s hypnotic anthem to her hometown in Long Beach, California, with a specific focus on Cambodia Town, was released in August on Satica’s seven-track album Dear April, Ily.
“This song is about home and the people there who keep you grounded and centered so for the music video, every location has significance to my life and my upbringing,” says Satica, who is Cambodian-American. “I grew up in a tiny apartment complex with other Cambodian families [and minorities] in which we developed a tight knit community. It was important to show that although we did not have as many resources or material things as more affluent families, the strength in coming together and finding those resources within makes it us beautiful and resilient.”
Throughout the music video, which was directed by Alex Oh, Satica is seen roaming around her hometown, as shots of the community are interspersed throughout, turning the focus onto the people who live there, including a special focus on how students are keeping traditional Cambodian dance alive.
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For the music video, Satica connected with Mea Lath, the director Khmer arts Academy and an Apsara dance instructor. “Apsara dance is a very prestigious traditional dance form that is also known as the Cambodian Royal Ballet and to truly be an Apsara is one of the highest honors,” the alt R&B singer explains. “I actually use the Apsara crown as my logo and have always admired the art form. Mea contacted me expressing how she wanted to keep our culture alive in our community, especially with the younger generation, and I asked if she and her students could be in the video. She was extremely excited and of course, if there’s any way to let the uniqueness of my culture shine, I’m all for it.”
Satica (born April Nehm) has been signed with Transparent Agency since 2014.
Watch the premiere of Satica’s “Ode to LBC” below.