Hotel 1961, in keeping with its innovative edge, is chalking up what could be another first for Cambodia – it’s creating a musical residency for one of the Kingdom’s favourite bands, The Cambodian Space Project.

The band will play at the café’s opening on May 19, and then work on a second album after accepting an offer for a musical residency.

The group’s founder and guitarist Julien Poulson told 7Days the group originally planned to come to Siem Reap for a holiday.

“We originally decided to come to Siem Reap because we don’t really know anyone here and wouldn’t get distracted so much. It was to give us a chance to have a breather and a think about what comes next.”

This all changed after

a meeting with the hotel’s owner Loven Ramos, who said his offer to put the group up in style was too good to refuse.

“We’re both fans of the same period, the high point in Cambodia where Khmer music, art and writing [was] taking off. Hotel 1961 is designed to reflect and celebrate that era, and the interior of our rooms synch up perfectly with their style and influences.”

Cambodian Space Project’s musical residency at Hotel 1961 will start after the May 19 concert, just before the group’s debut album 2011 A Space Odyssey will be released by Sydney label, Metal Postcard.