'Needle on the Rim'

A cross-border project uniting Cambodia-based musicians, Thai players, and international session artists to bridge conflict zones and established creative hubs

February 28, 2026 - WORLDWIDE - Camerado Media announces the release of Needle on the Rim, the inaugural jazz volume of The Shared Frequency Initiative music project, arriving on all platforms on March 27, 2026.

Vocal artist and producer Robert Marleigh, also known as 'The 25th Century Crooner', delivers a masterclass in borderless collaboration captured against the backdrop of the fragile ongoing Thailand-Cambodia border détente.

Marleigh, a dual US-UK citizen based in Phnom Penh, utilized an international network of session artists and remote production tools to assemble the project while regional borders remained physically closed.

The Shared Frequency Initiative is a production series designed to synchronize artists across geopolitical divides, functioning as a digital bridge that connects musicians in active conflict zones and regions of high diplomatic tension, with global collaborators in stable creative hubs.

This inaugural SFI collaboration, the creative jazz oriented EP Needle on the Rim, features players recording from Cambodia and Thailand alongside partners in New Orleans and Italy. Contributors for this edition included two French and one American émigré based in Cambodia, a Thai session artist in Bangkok, a Thai diaspora musician in New Orleans, and a player in Italy. All deliverables were made remotely according to SFI remote workflows.

By establishing a "neutral digital ground," the Initiative proves that shared creative frequencies can bypass regional friction to maintain a compelling and entertaining, global cultural dialogue.

"Jazz has always functioned best when it ignores the map," says Marleigh. "Whether it's a track sent to Bangkok or Saigon, or a session recorded with French players in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, the goal is finding the right soul for the sound. This isn't a political statement…it's just how music survives in 2026."

THE SOUND: TIMELESS STANDARDS MEET CINEMATIC AESTHETICS

Needle on the Rim defines a new aesthetic, fusing a modern remote digital workflow with traditional Jazz ‘standards’ sensibilities, all while weaving in creative elements evocative of neon-lit gumshoe atmosphere of mid-century Saigon and Southeast Asia. The 6-track EP balances classic Great American Songbook standards with bold reinterpretations:

The Standards: Marleigh delivers velvet-toned renditions of "Pennies from Heaven" and "Angel Eyes," bracketed by a playful scat-friendly version of "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby?" grounding the EP's experimental edges in timeless vocal jazz.

Creative Jazz: The EP features a 1920s-styled, "speakeasy" transformation of the Soundgarden classic "Black Hole Sun," alongside "Bad Guys," an original alt-rock piece reimagined as a swing powerhouse. Marleigh employed AI-augmented conceptual frameworking to map out the complex big-band architecture, then brought it to life with live players, real vocals, and organic instrumentation.

Cinematic Noir: "Needle on the Rim": A closing title track featuring a musical mashup and spoken-word performance inspired by the gritty future noir of William Burroughs and Raymond Chandler.

TRACKLIST

1. Pennies from Heaven
2. Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby?
3. Angel Eyes
4. Bad Guys (original)
5. Black Hole Sun
6. Needle on the Rim (original)

ABOUT ROBERT MARLEIGH

Robert Marleigh is a New York City-trained light baritone and a veteran of international remote recording. This unique US-UK vocal artist and producer bridges the "Golden Age" of jazz with a modern, independent voice and practice.

Under the Camerado label’s Shared Frequency Initiative, Marleigh assembles world-class talent across borders and time zones, proving that great musical collaborations no longer require a traditional studio, and can bypass border closures, conflict, and international diplomatic issues.

RELEASE DETAILS

Artist: Robert Marleigh (Camerado)

EP Title: Needle on the Rim

Release Date: March 27, 2026

Distribution: via Camerado Media to All Platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Tidal, Bandcamp, etc.)

Genre: Vocal Jazz / Cinematic Noir / Future Noir

CONTACT & LINKS

Email: camerado@camerado.com

Artist Info (Linktree): http://www.linktr.ee/robertmarleigh

PRESS ASSETS: High-resolution photos, EP artwork, and private pre-release streaming links are available upon request.

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