Jireh Lim has risen to become one of the Philippines’ biggest viral sensations, but the seeds of his success were sown further afield. It should perhaps come as little surprise to learn that Lim—who boasts hundreds of thousands of online subscribers, with view counts well into the millions—was actually born in Kentucky. After all, many of his biggest hits like “Buko” and “Magkabilang Mundo” involve the kind of lilting vocals, softly strummed acoustic guitars and forthright lyricism typical of the country and folk of the American South.