CHOM (Idol)
CHOM | |
|---|---|
Sihyaj B'alam | |
 A drawing of CHOM in his stage costume including: K'awiil face mask with a smoke-machine, jade and gold jewelries, and one-legged pants | |
| Born | March 13, 1988 Ox Chuwen |
| Nationality | Mutulese |
| Occupation | Singer songwriter dancer actor |
| Years active | 2008 - present |
| Employer | Yij Temple |
| Known for | Music |
| Height | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) |
CHOM, always written in all-cap, is the stage name of the ex-actor and current living idol Sihaj B'alam, born Ox Chuwen in March 13, 1988 in Kumakah. CHOM is considered to be the current "Living Star" of the Mutulese Idol Industry, regularly topping the chart as the most popular active Idol in the Divine Kingdom. In 2020 he was titled "Most Internationally Recognized" Living Idol at the internationale, many of his singles having made it into the Top Charts of countries such as Sante Reze, Pulau Keramat, or Tsurushima.
Domestically, he is known for his black humor, bold mockery of the Divine Throne, and his texts satirizing of the Mutulese Society. In that regard he is often considered to be the "Second Coming of BBX", an ancient Idol who reached Living Star status through his caustic, unreverential, and melodic mockery of the Mutul and its society. Internationally, however, he is more known for his melodic electronic mixsets using original and complex samplings, which sometime include his own previous songs. Some of his singles have nonetheless reached international recognition, mainly Hulaj, Ch'i Kame.
Early life
Ox Chuwen was born in March 13, 1988 in Kumakah from a minor household of public servants. During his education, he was known as a class clown but his teachers nonetheless managed to convince him to join the school's temple' Theatrical troop where he shined and quickly rose to the position of lead actor, performing in many religious events and Pitz matches organized by his school or its associated temple. His poor results in class however, would lead him to leave the education system early, at 16 years old, to seek out a career in performative arts.
Acting career
Through his theater' network and his teachers recommendations, Ox Chuwen became an actor for Kumakah Studio, one of the big figures of K'iche cinema in the Mutul. This is when he first changed his name to Sihyaj B'alam. Ultimately, and despite some early B or C tiers roles, he never managed to "make it" and resumed working in theaters. First part-time, but then after 3 years of a seemingly unmoving movie career , full time.
This second attempt as a theatrical performer would be relatively short lived however, as in 2007 he left Kumakah and moved to K'alak Muul as a candidate acolyte to the Hunpik K'o Temple, the main center of formation of traditional entertainers in the Mutul.
Music career
Artistry
Sihaj B'alam stage name derive from the K'iche word chomabal, meaning "memory, thought, mind, intelligence" or even "meaning". At the same time, chom in the same language is already a word for "fat". Always capitalized, Sihaj B'alam has explained his name to have the literal reading of "Fat Thought" or "Big Mind", a local expression from his childhood meaning something close to "Unsolicited Opinion".
Influence
Like all modern Living Idols, CHOM was especially inspired by the sounds and topics of the 80s and 90s Neon Electro Techno Gods movement, a Mutulese musical genre characterized as a fusion between electronical sounds and religious themes. To this base, CHOM added the influence of 2000s artists such as the infamous B'alam Bix K'in, who produced dark, nihilistic, musical critics of everything "Mutulese". CHOM early career was especially marked by BBX', to the point his fanatics considered him the "Second Coming" of the deceased Idol, and his critics to dismiss him as a copycat. Since his third album however and his international success, CHOM has moved away from his younger dark days, taking inspiration instead from Pulaui artists and focusing on developing new electro sounds. Noenetheless, his albums and singles continue to heavily feature religious thematic and social questionings.
Public image
CHOM is known for his sense of humour and spirit, which allows him during concerts and interview to play the part of the Trickster. He has been compared to a "refined" B'alam Bix K'in, with all of the crude violence and aggressivity taken away to keep only the social criticism and brutal manner of toying with conventional behaviors.
As a recognized icon of K'awiil, most of CHOM stage appearances heavily take from the god's traditional representations, including his famous mask, one-legged pant, and cigar-like smoke machine on his forehead.