August 25th, 2009 admin
ANTIM GRAHAN performed their first ever outdoor concert with popular
mainstream bands on the International Music Day concert on Saturday, June 21,
2008 at Durbar Marg, Kathmandu.
Here’s an interview based on an online-chat with the vocalist of the band –
Parash Shakya.
What was the anticipation for this International Music Day gig, since it was going to be the band’s first outdoor performance?
Parash: Well, when they - Sunit dai (LOOZA: guitarist) and some other guys - approached us for the gig, I was a bit skeptic since I thought it was going to be an all out mainstream gig with all the live and track-singing artists joining in. But they told me that it was a pure music gig with only live bands. So we decided to play and anticipation thus was huge since it was the biggest stage that we ever played on. So we were very excited about the gig, but did not think we would have much of appreciation.
So how did the gig go after all?
Parash: The gig was good. They decreased our sound level for some reason but nevertheless it was fun.
Did they?
Parash: Yeah they did. They thought we were too loud.
Hahaha. Were you sort of overwhelmed when the crowd – half of the apparently non-metal heads - chanted “once more” after you finished your set?
Parash: Hehehe, yeah we were surprised. I thought we were going to be stoned out of the stage when we saw the crowd full of different types of people. But “once more” was kind of weird, really.
What was your set on the gig?
Parash: We did four songs, three from the new album (In thy Ambience of
Malevolence) and one from first album (Forever Winter).Winter Blossom ov Ceremonial Grief, With vengeance I bleed, 300 and Forever Winter.
No covers this time, right?
Parash: No.
Is it “no more covers” from now on or what? So no more “Hallowed be thy Name”?
Parash: Yeah no more covers. We did “Hallowed be thy name” our album, so that can be an exception.
Why not play covers? Are they not fun anymore?
Parash: The time we take to learn and perform a cover song, we can prepare our own. Why bloody waste time while you have the ability to make your own song.
Okay, you have a new guitarist in the line up now, tell us something about him? And why add a second guitarist?
Parash: The new guitarist, Yudhir Gautam, is just a kid, just finished his SLC.
There’s no such big reason for adding a second guitarist since we don’t use any hi-fi lead solos and all but just felt like Pankaj (guitarist) needed some cover up because some new riffs sounded not very good without the rhythm guitar. The new guitarist, he is very dedicated and he’s got some talent too. So we hope we’ll get the best out of him sooner or later.
Was it any different playing the other underground/non-mainstream gigs and today’s gig? In terms of sound.. crowd.. satisfaction etc.
Parash: See, when it comes to crowd, underground gigs are million times better. There is no comparison of sounds, which would just be stupid. And about satisfaction, I prefer underground gigs rather than gigs like these to be playing in a larger context. The whole ambience is different when you play in an underground gig. Maybe sounds will not be as good as today’s anytime sooner but still, the small scaled underground gigs are way too satisfying.
In today’s gig, the sound system and stage was good. Few cheers always help but I don’t think we will ever be playing those sorts of gigs anymore.
Why so? It’s good for the band, the publicity and all, isn’t it?
Parash: Well, as far as I’m concerned, for love or for hate, people do know us in the underground scene better and we are an underground band. So we really do not want in some place where out of 100, only 5 people have idea of what we are playing. And, we are better off without any publicity where people have no idea or no interest what we are. And it really felt really odd at today’s gig.
So, any best and worst moments in today’s gig?
Parash: The best part was - we were part of a very good music fest with all good musicians and arrangements. Bad thing was being like an alien bunch playing out alien stuffs except for few.
How about the sound output? Why is it usually so bad?
Parash says: Well I don’t know really about this one but blaming sound people or the system itself is not very justifiable. Even the musicians are to be blamed for the sound mishaps.
Ok, change of topic now. Some comments are floating in the ktmROCKS forum like “Antim Grahan hasn’t grown in terms of music”, “the new album is hardly black metal” and so on. Any comments on those?
Parash: All I can say is we are trying to keep on playing and make the music in more professional manner if you can say that, and yeah we do have loads have criticism. But all I can say is we are trying and learning. If people think we are not growing up, then I guess its time for us to try even harder to make some good music.
Any significant changes that you’ve tried in your newer albums?
Parash: See to be very honest, we are trying to get out of all melody kind of thing you know. I mean as we progress we are trying to go more into the whole “black metal” thing, in the extremeness that is. Just trying to get a bit more extreme step by step. I know we have a long long way to go.. but eventually, maybe we will one day. So whole shifting process may not be liked by some of our older fans.
But you still have retained the “melodic” elements in the songs, haven’t you? And you even have female vocalists doing melodic backing vocals?
Parash says: Yeah, that’s what I mean to say… we will have this melody part.. meaning that we want to have our melodies and all but not into the extent that we had before and, trying to get more extreme. I’m sorry if my words didn’t come out right.
What do you mean when you said about getting extreme? What kind of extreme metal music could be expected…although this is too vague a question to be touched?
Parash: Talking about expectations, we would like to get our music as extreme as Arkhon Infaustus or Cryptosy (I’m just talking about extremeness). I mean one will always desire for that level of extremeness… but for now all I can say, when we do our future albums, at least we would be trying to make our music more heavier than our previous albums, which just does not mean all brutal drumming and extreme guitaring but getting the level and quality of music better than our previous effort.
And how does that put you closer to the Black metal thing?
Parash: Antim Grahan is NOT a black metal band by definition. I mean yes, we are a band which is related to black metal, the sub genre you may call but I wouldn’t call Antim Grahan as a real pure black metal band. The whole thing is really about getting into the ambience and music, so we are learning and trying to make our music what you may call black metal or anything which is as closer to it as possible.
Okay, so are you guys thinking about the fourth album or is it too early?
Parash: Yeah we are planning for a new one now… just planning a theme for it… but not just yet. It’s a bit early.
Can you illustrate a little about the band’s practice session.. practice rooms and such ?
Parash: Umm.. about practice sessions, we start off with all our completed songs and try to be more tighter.. and then when it is done, we go through with any new songs that are yet to be completed… and that’s basically how we do our sessions, new songs are focused more at times if it doesn’t sound good enough.
About our practice room, we have our practice room inside the premises of
Moroccan Embassy in Thamel. So it is quite a nice place and we are lucky as we have a nice place to jam, coz I know, not having a decent practice room is one of the main problems our metal bands face.
Ok some personal questions then. What really inspires you to sing and write lyrics?
Parash: Well I’m quite obsessed with the whole dark forests, pathways in between.. Angels and dark palaces… you can say basically a fairytale of some sort. So every time I sit down to write something it just begins with this! And thus a song is created, writing wise.
Let me rephrase that, I’m not quite obsessed but I’m very obsessed indeed with
the stuffs I mentioned above
Hahaha. What else inspires you?
Parash: To be very honest, gore and more gore is perfect too. Just that I can’t make songs out of it since my band mates are against the gore lyrics. They think it’s not going to fit into since we play anything but gore metal or anything of that sort.
Any particular band/music you are listening these days?
Parash: Arkhon Infaustus, Origin, Dying Fetus and Cannibal Corpse. Dark funeral and some battle metal bands are spinning too. Would it be gay if I say I’m listening to older Cradle of Filth too? Like Vampire and Dusk kinda old era Cradle of Filth.
Can you share some of your experiences of seeing foreign bands live during your stay in Cyprus?
Parash: I’ll be totally honest with you - apart from few bands (and I mean less then a handful) they suck ass!! If they were to stand off against out metal bands here, they just would be fucking grind to ashes! And oh the fact – local bands there own stuffs original and more expensive then what we have in recording studio, Nepali bands here play with “khiya lageko strings” and less equipment and still they kick ass anytime given. Bands here are much much much more superior and prove the fact equipments are nothing, but talent is.
Do you think the crowd here has changed in this span of 3-4 years since AG started performing?
Parash: For us it has changed… we have a larger following now.. hehehehehe. Ok that was selfish but I see loads of young faces in the crowd… so I’m guessing it has grown than when it was like before 3 years.
Chat-interview with Parash Shakya (vocalist of Antim Grahan), done online by
Umes Shrestha, Dipesh Gautam, Gagan Atreya and Ayush Maskey)
Featured on the 6th issue of ktmROCKS EMag
July, 2008
Posted in Interview | Comments Off
June 19th, 2008 admin
RAG N ROLL: BARDAN PRADHAN (PRALAY/HMG MOR)
Done by: Umes Shrestha
Since this is Rag N Roll, I wanna let in one little secret about Bardan. His nick name is “Bappu” and he gets mad like a bull when someone calls him with that name (reserved for special persons only).
There’s no denying that he is one of the grooviest bass guitarists ever. Always smiling (except when called Bappu), always happy (how can people be always happy), and always rocking out (except when he is playing bass). But, who wants to talk about that!
How do you define Bardan Pradhan in your own words?
Well it all depends on actually what you want to hear. No fixed meaning as such.
You used to have long hairs, now you have short. Did you mom come running after you or what?
To be precise all of my family members came running after me, my mom actually liked the long hair haha.
Have you ever felt your palms getting sweaty while playing? How does it feel?
Yeah several time’s I’ve had that feeling, to be honest when my palm gets sweaty, that’s the time when I’m going through tough lines on my bass and that feeling sucks, reminds me I gotta practice more.
Do ever you find yourself in the dilemma of - playing your bass lines right OR impressing a hottie ?
In fact I could do both simultaneously, play my lines right yet eye around at the same time.
How often do you find yourself in such dilemma (since you are good-looking and you have a five string bass and you are good-looking)?
Good looking???? Haha.. my friends call me ‘super mario’ so you can make out how good looking I am (yeah I’m giving out secrets, no worries). I play 5 string, true, but I’ve been playing underground’s mostly and undergrounds lack chicks, very few, but that doesn’t make a difference. I wish on each and every gig I came across such dilemma.
So that means you don’t get to sign much autographs for the hotties?
Actually bass player is the last member of any band chicks would ask to sign autographs. But yeah I’ve signed autographs for hotties more than a hundred times and I want you to know that I’m a good liar haha.
Do you have any annoying habits that your fans should know – just as a precaution before they swarm you for autographs?
Yeah I get real horny after each and every gig, so I don’t wanna sign autographs on paper’s, anywhere else would be fine, know what I mean.
What are the things that you completely suck at?
Lot of things actually, I can’t swim, I’m a hydro-phobic, sincere request “aba dekhi swimming pool najik gig na rakhnu hai’, sachai!! And yeah I can’t impress girls or sing praises of them (I wish I had this quality. LOL).
Do you ever feel like giving up playing in a band and start remixing Nepali songs?
Definitely, but my intensions in remixing songs would be to bring the remix industry down, not up. I really want to remix a song that would suck so bad people would never want to listen to one, and most probably feature NDK on the video, a perfect combination for the most irritating video and song.
If you ever decide to do that (start remixing Nepali songs), will you let me direct the video. I have a concept: some laydis stripping and some giving lapdances, isn’t it unique for Nepal?
Wow, why limit it to only stripping and lap dances, lets make a sleazy video, first time in Nepal, who care’s if it ever passes the censorship haina, director definitely you.
Do you think people will call you and me a sell-out after that?
No doubt at all LOL.
What do you think – people recognize you as the Bassist of PRALAY or as the Bassist of HMG MINISTRY OF ROCK?
Tough one for me actually, but it’s up to those who actually recognize me, I’m not sure how they recognize me, but I would want to be recognized as the bassist of PRALAY/HMG.
Ok, I’ve heard a true rumor. You were never willing to join HMG MOR but Deep dai threatened you that he would bust your ass and put you in Hanumaan Dhoka for a whole week. So you got pissed scared and then joined HMG MOR. Your comments –
Hahaha…no comments, if I make one I will be thrown in Hanuman Dhoka, I’m still in probation, my every comments are still monitored, anything against HMG can get me in a real trouble haha.
Enlighten us – how is the practice with PRALAY different from practice with HMG MOR?
Vast difference, with PRALAY it’s disciplined, structured, fun just like the band IRON MAIDEN and their songs. With HMG its celebration, and ‘fuck the world kindda attitude’ just like the band’s that HMG covers, I’m damn lucky to be associated with both the bands.
How do you manage to practice with two bands.. don’t you have any other stuff to do – like go on a date with your girl or like visit her parents or like bribe her brother or like get beaten by her brother or I mean like you know like .. OTHER STUFF?
Luckily she doesn’t have a brother, so no problem with that part, date!! That’s the other thing I completely suck at, PRALAY ra HMG eutai gig mah bhayo bhanay tah mero chaak bata dhuwa niskincha sachai. Naxal bata MPC no rest in between.
Ok.. seriously, which band is fun to play with - PRALAY or HMG MOR?
Haha tricky one but definitely both the bands, I’m telling you I’m one lucky bass player, great bands both.
What are the things you have always wanted to complain about both bands? This is your one and only chance, so go ahead.
I tell you each and every member in a metal band is a jerk and psychos, otherwise metal band haru form nai hudaina, sachaii ho bhanya. If each and every member’s are psychos n jerks with a little madness and passion than I bet that band will make good METAL music.
You never get to play any bass solos on both of the bands. Are you thinking of any SOLO concert or album in recent future?
Mero euta last psycho bassist saathi lay bhanya jasto..”Bardan I will be the first slap bassist of Nepal” ray, ani on his video he wants a drummer on one ‘chattan’ (huge rock), guitarist on another chattan, and him on another chattan, (yeah he said chattan, funny word) ani ‘dhadak-dhadak’ gardai slap bajaunay ray, hahaha…I would rather play within the parameters of the song, if a song demands a byass solo (as you call it) I will do it natra happy keeping the rhythm section tight and solid.
Ok, now tell us which band/musician in our local scene you would NOT want to perform with, even if they threaten you to take your bass guitars away?
So many of those, so many, especially those bands who think bass players are the least talented, and they usually have rhythm guitarist playing bass for them actually, and I hate that. Hamro local scene lai tah I respect j jasto bhaye ni. With mainstream bands almost no one of them, I would wanna perform.
As an audience, have you ever thrown bottles/stones at the stage while a band is performing? Did you have fun?
Yeah it was a long time back, bottles tah haina but I threw French fries packed in a plastic and number one condom (they were distributing packs of condoms in that gig, Rubber Soul gig I suppose) I wish I hadn’t thrown my fries but that artist sucked so bad I had to, you know.
Dhunga hanna kasto ramailo huncha ni hoina? Which band or artist in the current mainstream you would want to “dhunga hanning”?
Dhunga hanning 1974 AD, Robin, same shit even after a decade, I’m sure they’ve reached a saturation point, and yeah NSK tops the list every time, I would rather tolerate Lotus Man Horn but NSK is talent less, pure shit. I’m not against any genre of music but at least you gotta have a little talent, when it comes to NSK I could go on, so that’s it.
Ok, we’ve heard bassists are the most dumbest member of any band. Prove us wrong.
Can you repeat the question? hahaha. Yeah bass players are dumb. Our brains are as thick as our strings, and the best part is we are absolutely happy with it. LOL
How often do you read papers, or watch TV and be concerned about our country’s political situation?
Almost everyday, the situation is not good at all and I’ve got used to it now, but we gotta live with it, that’s the only option we have.
Do you think Girija Babu and the likes will still be around in the next , say .. 10 years to follow? How do you feel about that?
Haha definitely no, I guarantee they won’t be around even for a year. Things will change just like it has always.
Since you are associated with HMG MINISTRY OF ROCK, do you think that there should be a “real” Ministry of Rock in our country?
I wish there was one, and I’m sure Deep dai would head that ministry, wow budget announcement mah kasto hunay hola, “metal bands haru lagi yo barsa gata barsa bhanda dherai 2 crore chutaiyeko cha”.
Ok.. why.. I mean, WHY THE FUCK did you play in the video of AASTHA? Shouldn’t someone beat you to death? Is it because their “Accent” turned you on? Made you wanna do things?
”I was bad to LOOSE you,” was I?
Haha…actually I’ve always wanted to see if Naren of Aastha had real eyes because it’s close to non-existence, he is very chinky, and yeah he has a pair. I saw it, my prime reason for playing in his video.
Choose one:
PRALAY or HMG MOR
Both.. cant live without both.
Buff Mo:mo or Veg Mo:mo.
Buff mo:mo ni, because buffalos are endangered species, look bass player’s are not dumb.
Say No to Track Singers or Stone the Track Singers:
Say NO to track singers, I don’t wanna give them the idea that their existence are bothering us, they are invisible for me, I don’t even care that they exist.
Four String Bass or Five String Bass:
None of the above, definitely ‘g-string’. I think I’m horny again.
Guitar Solo or Drum Solo:
Drum solo, if its guitar solo u have to play bass along, if its drum solo, usually it’s the drummer alone who does his structure, well deserved rest for a bass player.
Your Bass or your Cell-phone:
Bass ni.. neck is long so network ramro tipcha.
Mr. Hankey or Christmas Poo?
Oh ho too much for a bass player to answer, will take me days to figure out what the question actually means lol
Comment on your pics:
Haha yeti lamo bhayecha, no wonder mero cell ko network has improved, yo antenna rakhay pachi, Kantipur ni clear aucha ghar mah.
Ah ha beekar katya kapal, Deep dai must be thinking, ‘yo fuchey haru sanga ni sakayna’, Anyways one of my fav pic yo.
If the track-singers ever stopped singing on tracks (because of the fear of getting stoned to death) and you were hired to back them up, which one would you choose and why – A) Kamal Man Singh, B) Anil Singh, C) Avinash Ghisingh or D) Astha. Remember, they might pay you good!
Astha again, I still wanna confirm if Naren has eyes or not, I don’t care about the money, the moment it’s confirmed I exit the stage.
Second lastly, recommend us some of the worst bands/singers of all times.
Hamro Nepal ko bhanchu hai: this is purely my point of view
1. NSK again - talent less.
2. Mepali ma “Oh Carol” gaunay singer - I saw his video recently and I was speechless.
3. Nepali ma ‘My love’ gaunay band - no comments.
4. Mad-zone - marna lagayko rap.
5. Axis and Saayas - for the fact that they choose the easy way out. Let some one else do the hard work, guys rock was never meant to be like this.
List could go on…
Your last words:
United we rock divided we still rock.
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June 19th, 2008 admin
INTERVIEW: LOST OBLIVION, EPITAPH & VHUMI
Interviewd by: Umes Shrestha/Dipesh Gautam
Transcribed by: Prateek Raj Bhandari
Just recently LOST OBLIVION, VHUMI and EPITAPH toured (sort of) Pokhara and played at the Pokhara Engineering College. The concert was organized by the students of PEC and was also supported by pkrROCKS.com, our own network site based in Pokhara Valley. Here’s the transcript of a very vibrant talk we (Umes and Dipesh) had with the bands members.
Participants: L to R
Bikash (vocalist – VHUMI), Roshan (guitarist – LOST OBLIVION), Abhisek (vocalist - LOST OBLIVION), Khagendra (vocalist - EPITAPH), Anil (bass guitarist - VHUMI)
How was your experience there? What did you expect the concert to be and how did it turn out?
Khagendra: We initially thought that the sound system wouldn’t be as good. Aafnaie bhaar ma bajaunu parcha jasto lagya thyo, tara teso bhayena. The organizers asked us and brought the things we wanted. The sound system was pretty good. The soundman and arrangers had never listened to our kind music; it was their first time in a metal gig however they still pulled it out right. Ramraie Bhayo.
Anil: I expected headbanging, tara khasaie bhayena. First time bhayera hola. We hope to see it next time we perform there. Sound system affaie milayera bajaunu paryo. The sound system worked fine, as we could co-operate well with the soundman, and he also understood our needs.
Abhishek: Dammi naiee bhayo. We can’t expect a mosh-pit on the first metal gig itself. There were some metal listeners, but even rock fans got to know about metal music. Organizers treated us very well. The arrangements for our food and accommodation were very well and systematic. They also fulfilled our extra needs like G, alcohols etc. ramailo bhayo. (kina nahunu?)
Anil : And we didn’t have to spend our personal expenses on anything. How I see it is that it was our first performance there and 2-3 bands seemed very excited after they saw us play. They had the competitive spirit. Once these guys rise with this spirit, metal shows in Pokhara are sure to rise.
Bikash: It started in a very different manner from what we had expected. It turned out to be so much better. Organizers didn’t call us with profit motive. They wanted Pokhara’s crowd to witness metal bands from Kathmandu. This is something different that I found there.
Roshan: Though it was a new place, we felt comfortable. When we reached there, they came to us and sat with us, gave us company and made us feel comfortable. Khushi lagyo, ramraie bhayo.
Abhishek: Actually they were trying to organize “Battle of the Bands” or something like that but due to lack of bands, it got cancelled and turned out into a regular gig. There were some bands from Pokhara performing too. A band was playing stuffs like White stripes etc. They were nice. We didn’t get the chance to see any metal bands, we missed it
This concert has stood as an opening door for playing outside valley. What is the possibility for underground bands from Kathmandu to tour outside valley?
Anil: More than possibility for us, it is the people from those cites who should seek to support us. Hammi matraie janchau bhanera kyie kaam chaina. A person/group from those areas should come forward and say that they are willing to look after things, take up responsibilities and organize the concert. They should come up with that much. Then we can gather few bands and go out there. Just like this Pokhara gig.
Abhishek: The main organizing role should be handled by some capable person from that area.
How many people showed up that day?
Abhishek: Around 200 people were present.
Bikash: There were approximately 100 metal listeners, and many others might not have showed up. Second thing is that many people left early too.
There are other bands too in Kathmandu, why do you think they selected these three bands only?
Khagendra : lah yaar, kasto question sodhya. Dammi bhayera ni…. Well it might be cause, we’ve been playing around for quiet a long. ktmROCKS forum ma ni kura chali rahancha. They might have called because of the supporters there.
Did you get any feedback from the locals out there? Was their any interaction with them?
Khagendra: They didn’t come to us directly for the feedbacks. They did it through the organizers though.
Bikash: After we finished our set and were returning to where we were sitting before, a bunch guys wearing metal tshirts did come to us and told the type of music they like and that they liked our song Stone Hunter and other songs. We were talking and just then the guys from pkrrocks.com called to take us to our lodge.
Abhishek: Some band also came to us and talked about their plans. We also interacted with the bands there.
Khagendra: lah! Timi harule interact garna paayo? Hamile ta payena yaar.
Abhishek: Timi college ko Table Tennis board muni gayo bhandai thyo, ani kaah interaction huncha ra?
Khagendra: Maile ta ajai samjhako timi haru laie, college ma gayera nakha bhaneko. Namaneyko hoina timharu? Kamta chan enharu! Malaie dosh laucha yaar, TT board muni G khako bhanera.
Roshan: ho usley samjako ho. Nakha nakha bhandaie thyo.
Khagendra: Tinharu le ta bhanyo hola yaar, Kathmandu ko kta haru ta saab khattam hudo rahecha bhanera. Driver le ta bhanya sunya ho mailey. “hamro chora ta yesto nahos” bhandaie thyo.
Are you guys planning on going there again?
Abhishek: Hamley sunya anusaar chai tyo bhai le aba 3 hapta ma feri garne bhandaie thyo.
Khagendra: They have only planned for it. We don’t know what’s going to happen, whether they will or not.
So you all had great time, crowd was appreciative but didn’t do headbanging. Letting aside these things, let us know about some “funny” incidents that took place while traveling.
(A big laugh from everyone!)
Khagendra: It all started when we got on the Microbus, it was all fine till we reached Thankot. Then after that, I don’t know what happened, everyone started laughing on and on. It was a reserved Microbus sent from Pokhara, hawa nachirney Microbus tyo pani, jhyaal pani ekdam aeroplane ko jasto system bhayeko dammi micro. It couldn’t be opened.
I was sitting on the last seat, our drummer Pujan was on the front seat. All of a sudden our drummer puked out from his window and it got all splashed on the window on my side.
(Another big laugh from everyone!)
Didn’t any kind of fight take place between the bands?
Khagendra: No, no such thing. If there was such fight then we wouldn’t be here together.
How come?
Khagendra: Tei ho, musical relation bhaye pachi, music eutaie bhaye pacchi, whole world naie eutai kura ma matraie huncha. Music ma no races, no faces, no nothing.
Abhishek: Music connects bands bhancha ni…tyoni ho.
Let’s get back to the funny incidents…
Khagendra: Ani Fewa taal ma jhandaie saili lai jiskako.
Bikash: Fewa taal ma “Saili” bhanera jiskako ta arka ko budhi po rahecha.
Anil: Thankot ko kura sakey ko chaina…kaha Fewa Taal pugeyko?
Khagendra: Ah yo manche le laast bhandai thyo – “malekhu ma jharnu parcha, malekhu ma jharnu parcha” bhanera. Malekhu aauda ta “aaahh” garera hasira ko k sabai jana.
Roshan: Sabsey khattra incident chaie tyo mandir bata farkida EPITAPH harayera aadi ghanta.. Boat naie harayera, kaha kaha.
Khagendra: Boat harayera kta haru kya psycho bhaera. Oie tide aauna lagyo, timi haru chito aija natra morchas re kya sidhaie. Hami ta paani muni timi haru lai khoji rako re kya.
We had gone in 3 separate boats. People on the other boat said that they’ll go swim, while we decided to wander at other place. Farkera aauda keta haru ta gayab. Kasto bheja kharaab! Paara ko boat ma hoki bhanera najik gayo, feri arko boat ma heryo, tyo pani hoina. Ghumya ghummyaie bhayeko tyo bichama. At last we were going back to the shore, and right then Roshan calls us and tells “oye aaja tide aaune bela bhayo, chito aaija, dunga dubcha.”.. kya psyk-choooo bhaera k. ekaie chin ma aie pugera. It was getting dark when we reached. These guys were waiting for us looking here and there at the fishing spot.
Abhishek: Enharu saab boating gari ra, Ma chaie eklaie hunting garira, Shyangjha mathi…jandaie Lumbini pugeyko.
Anil: Kei gari aaru band Pokhara gayo bhane, hunting chaie janu parcha bhanne chaina haie.
Abhishek : yo chaie hamro weed benefit ko lagi ho.
Khagendra : Aba hami yaha chai King size banayera khanchau, tya chai Emperor type ko banayera khaedira.
Abhishek : Dueta king size joint jodera yatro thulo banayera khaera.
Euta incident chiae, hamro organizer bhai basdai thyo, babaal halla bhae rathyo. Kta haru laptop liyera ga thyo, geet sundai saab band haru eutaie room ma G khadaie…Bhai ko mukh ma mato ko dallo aayecha k, ayeso hereko ta utta hotel bata mato fyaali rako rahecha ekdaam halla garyo bhanera.
Khagendra: “O Shey-tth (shit)” re kya, jhyaal kholera.
Abhishek: Anil le 2 puff G khayo, bha ko kura. Agi dekhi non-stop bolira thyo kya. 2 puff diye pacchi taaka majale sutyo kya.
Roshan: Ani tyo “smth” magazine (Japanese porn mag) pani thyo ni tyaha…hahaha Kurda kurda, kohile eta kohile utta lagcha. Jhanjat parya ho tyo magazine ta.
Anil: Tyo magazine chaie maile lagya ho hai.
Abhishek: Pura ghokera katha sunaudai thyo.
Anil: Aagadi agadi ta halla hunthyo ni. Pachadi kina halla hudaina bhanchu ta, kta haru saab magazine herdai re cha
Khagendra: Usle ta aaba Japanese nabuujeni padhdeney kya.
Roshan: Afnai story.
Abhishek: Bihanai mukh dhoya chaina, cha-saat jana kta haru k gardai cha bhanchu ta, magazine padhira re chan kya, breakfast pani khayeko chaina.
So not a single bad experience or “ryaag hunne” incident?
Bikash: The best thing about this gig is that it had no such “naramilo” thing.
Abhishek: Police le jhandaie samatya thyo. Police ka janna pani ramailo hunthyo tara daat majdaie. utta patti ko hotel ma jagada pareko raicha. Cops aaye chan, tya ta tei ho saab laie samatera lagcha ekai choti.
Anil: Then the other thing is that unlike people here who come to the concert drinking twat to have fun, I didn’t find such thing in Pokhara. Koie jhyaap bhayara wild bhayeko dekhina. Saabai jana aayo, afnai taal ma ramyo, euta chutaie ramailo garyo. There was no such hooting or anything like that.
Khagendra: Hamro yaha concert haru ma soundsystem milaunu parcha ni. And in the process so people shout “oye yaha practice garne ho…ghar ja” bhancha ni. It was not like that there. If something went wrong in the soundsystem then they don’t start shouting and making asshole comments to the bands, rather they blame it on the arrangers. The crowd was very supportive.
Abhishek: After we finished our set, there were many people eager to talk to us. But we had to leave as organizers had called us, and it was getting extremely hot too. Its not like we were trying to show our attitude, we wanted to stay and see the rest of the show.
Bikash: They shouldn’t take it as an attitude problem. Aba organizers haru le bolaye pacchi ta hammi janu pari halyo ni.
Who was the “Wildest Manche” among all the band members?
Roshan: I will go for Pujan (EPITAPH ko drummer).
Bikash: Ani tyo euta chaie care nai nagarene – Navin (LO ko bassist). Jada kheri jasto thyo aauda kheri ni testaie thyo, ek choti pani nuhayeko chaina.
How was Pokhara over all?
Khagendra: It’s a bit foreign influenced. Since there are lots of Tourists, the local lifestyle also goes a bit with theirs.
Bikash: Tyaha khaiere haru hidya matraie dekhencha, baru local haru hidya dekhidaina, koie scooter ma koie bike ma… Mailey chaie chwaak keti haru dekhnai payena.
Anil: Arko pali jada chahi, chwaak chwaak dekhna pau… hey bhagwaan.
Bikash: Organizer laai ni bhanne ni.
Which is more “ramailo” from the concert point of view – kathmandu or pokhara?
Khagendra: If we lived in Pokhara then kathmandu would be ramailo, and vice versa.
Anil: I don’t really want to answer this question right now. Pokhara laai ek barsha time dine ho kya. Ani tes pachi matrai bhanne.
Roshan: Je bhe ni, Kathmandu bhanya Kathmandu ho ni. We’ve been watching and playing here since our early days. We are very familiar with the place. Tehi concert tehi sound system, tehi crowd, tehi venue, we’ve grown very familiar with the place.
Khagendra: Metal society jata thulo huncha, tyataie ramailo huncha. Metal scene is growing in Pokhara too. Who knows, maybe tomorrow the metal society out there might be more than what it is here. It depends on the society.
Do you have to say anything to the organizers and the Pokhara’s audience? This is your chance.
Khagendra: Organizers should keep up with this kind of gigs. They shouldn’t give up. Underground music won’t turn in huge profits, tyeti profit oriented pani hunu hudaina support garne ho bhane. They should carry on with gigs like this.. Crowd was very appreciative. They listened very attentively. But what I like to say is that they pay to come to the gig to watch a band play. So they must totally enjoy the music, ayetikaie herera gayera hudaina. Easy listening can be done at home too. Since they pay for the concert, they should fully enjoy and have a great time. Its not necessary to get drunk to jump around. Music itself gives them the energy to do so.
Roshan: Thanks a lot for the support. Jun yo concert garyo ni, faraak bhayo ni alikati. So we would like to thank the audience, organizers sabbaie laie.
Anil: We didn’t go to Pokhara to force people into listening metal. Jo jo le metal bujcha, aau, bujna ichchya cha bhane aau-hera-jau. Tara duniya nabujney manche haru aayera, nabujera jpayotei kura katney chai nagarau. Ani thanks to organizer, audience, PEC college, pkrrocks.com, Organizer bhaie, Pokhara ko sabaie manche laie pani- dhanyabad, ani tyo lodge ko manche laie pani dhanyabad. Ani saieli laie chaie hammi feri aauchau, arko pali dhunga batulera rakhnu hola, narakheko khanda ma hami aayera batuledeula.
Abhishek: Hami ajaie yesto concert garna paierakhos, hami laie paisa pani chaidaina.
Anil: Lost Oblivian laie paisa chaindaina, especially Abhishek laie nadinu… tara socheko bhanda chaie dheraie ramro bhayo. Yaha ko organizer heri tyaha ko organizer chaie dheraie ramro. (“thikcha, thikcha…”- Umes)..ani utta ko organizer laie herera yaha ko le dheraie siknu parcha…and then the youngs guys out there should also work hard and develop the music scene along with pkrrocks.com
Posted in Emag, Interview | Comments Off
June 18th, 2008 admin
INTERVIEW: BITTER EUPHEMISM
By: Umes Shrestha
Line Up: L to R
Pawan Gurung, Prajwal Basnet, Samit Bhattarai, Pramithus Khadka
First of all, what’s the story behind the name?
Samip: One day we’re told that we’re going to be featured in the “In the Vault” section of the ktmROCKS magazine by Umes dai, and we did not have a name. Bholi naam dinu parne tara aaja samma pani naam thiyena. Khai k rakhne k rakhne bhairathyo, then Pramithus suggested a name “bitter euphemism” and we all stuck upon that.
Pramithus: Sangam (vocals) and I tried starting a band about 3 and half years ago. That did not work out and he left for the US for his further studies. Back then he had put this name for us and at the time when we needed a name this one kept on striking my mind. So we kept it.
Pawan: We needed a name for the band so everyone was searching for it and we stuck with it.
Prajwal: I agreed with the name even if I did not know the meaning.
Tell us a brief story on the formation of the band.
Samip: Three of us (Pawan, me and Pramithus) used to play together in school functions. There was a competition coming up and we wanted to participate. But we did not have a drummer back then. My friend referred a good drummer who had just joined our university (Kathmandu University). We talked to him and he agreed to join the band so the band was formed. The lineup of the band so far is:
Pawan Gurung: Vocals
Prajwal Basnet: Drums
Samip Bhattarai: Bass
Pramithus Khadka: Guitar
Prajwal: I used to play in a rock band (Mukut) but after joining BE, my style of playing completely changed as I was filled with new energy.
What are you guys listening to these days?
Prajwal: Suffocation (Suffocation), Nile (Annihilation of the wicked), Vader (The Beast), Three Doors Down, Jack Johnson (On and on)
Samip: Necrophagist (Epitaph), Morbid Angel (Gateways To Annihilation), Decrepit Birth (And Time Begins), Origin (Echoes Of Decimation), The Killers (Sam’s Town), Snow Patrol (Eyes open), Wolfmother (Wolfmother), Narsil (Carcinogenic), and lots of Switchfoot.
Pawan: Led Zeppelin, Jimmi Hendrix, Pantera (Reinventing the Steel), Joe Satriani, Dying Fetus (Destroy the Opposition).
Pramithus: Origin (Echoes of Decimation), Decrepit Birth (And time begins), Dying Fetus (War of Attrition), All Shall Perish (The Price of Existence), Narsil (Carcinogenic), Textures (Drawing Circles), Vile (some random tracks), Fredrik Thordendal’s Special Defects (Sol Niger Within), Buckethead (Kaleidoscalp), Rusty Cooley (Under the influence), Jason Becker (Perspective).
How do you guys define your music?
Pramithus: Khoi k ho k ho hehehe. We play death metal.
Samip: Independent metal. Lau ja ta.
Pawan: Death Metal.
What inspired (or inspires) you guys to play metal?
Pramithus: Metal especially death metal is the most extreme form of music that we have ever listened to. Playing death metal just feels right hehehe.
Pawan: Bajauda ramailo hunthyo. Display of high energy huncha jasto lagthyo.
Prajwal: I listen and play all kinds of music but there is this satisfaction and different level of energy while playing metal.
Samip: We also play love songs too along with metal hehehe.
Which bands/artists or personalities have influenced you guys into playing in a band.. and into playing metal?
Prajwal: Derek Roddy (Ex-Nile, Hate Eternal), Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Kevin Talley (Dying Fetus), John Longstreth (Origin), Sudip Hada (Nastik, Naïve), Allan Shrestha (Cruentus), Jose Pasillas (Incubus), Prajwol dai (Looza), Tomas Haake (Meshuggah), Pete Sandoval (Morbid Angel), Flo Mounier (Cryptopsy), Vinnie Paul (Ex-Pantera).
Samip: Megadeth (Dave Mustaine), Steve Harris, Billy Shenan, Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse), Origin (Mike Florez), Switchfoot (Jon Foreman), Iron Maiden, Necrophagist, Nile, Morbid Angel, Decrepit birth, Bleeding Pestilence, U2, Rajan Shrestha (Atomic Bush), Riju dai (Looza).
Pawan: Max Cavalera, Sepultura, Pantera, Tom Ayara (Slayer), Glen Benton (Deicide), Atomic Bush.
Pramithus: Hmm this will be a long list hehe. Iman dai (HMG Ministry of Rock), Hari dai (Nepathya), Sunit dai (Looza), Bhibhushan Basnet and Abhishek Bhadra (Atomic Bush/ Breeding Pestillence), Sunny Tuladhar (Atomic Bush), Rohit Sahu (Baking Space Cake), Paul Ryan (Origin), Muhammed Suiçmez (Necrophagist), John Gallagher (Dying Fetus), Karl Sanders and Dallas Toler-Wade (Nile), Dave Suzuki (Vital Remains), Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah), Trey Azagthoth (Morbid Angel), Matt Sotelo (Decrepit Birth), Dan Eggers (Odious Mortem), Al Di Meola, Allan Holdsworth, Steve Vai, Buckethead, Rusty Cooley, Yngwie Malmsteen, Jason Becker, Lori Linstruth and many more.
From you guys’ own perspectives how have the band evolved in these years- musically and philosophically? Or is there any philosophy at all?
Samip: Musically, everyone has improved a lot in their respective instruments since we first started out. Philosophy chahi Pawan lai taha hola.
Pawan: Philosophy?……….about things that are, when twisted.
Prajwal: First maa bajaauda chahi k ho k ho jasto thiyo, ahile chahi sabaile ekdum improve gareko chan. Maile pani dherai sike.
You guys are students in KU. Tell us who is studying what?
Pawan Gurung: Electrical and Electronics Engineering (2nd year)
Prajwal Basnet: Environmental Science (2nd year)
Samip Bhattarai: Biotechnology (4th year)
Pramithus Khadka: Environmental Science (4th year)
You guys must be busy with studies then. How do you find time for practice? What is the band’s Practice Schedule like? Where is the band’s practice room located?
Samip: Our practice schedule normally starts after school (4:00 pm), tara tyo time ma ta koi aaundainan., chaado aaune chahi mai hunchu aru sabaijaana ko date huncha.
Pramithus: We practice everyday when we have gigs aru bela baal chaina. Our practice room is located at a small auditorium in the University. It is fun because no one complains no matter how loud we play.
Pawan: Testo tight practice schedule ta chaina. Tehi pani bajaaune bela bajaairaako huncha. Kta haru le kaam chahi dherai garchan. Concerts haru ani aru events haru bhaako bela school hours pachi practice garchau.
Prajwal: I always come on time. Hehehe.
What equipments do you guys possess/use?
Pramithus: In our practise room, we use Peavey XR2012 mixer with channels. Along with it there are 2, 600 watt each Peavey SP2G speakers. We also use two Stranger NS-100 guitar amplifiers and a stranger cube 40 guitar amplifier. tyo indian crappy drums pani cha.
Samip: I use a Samick four string bass guitar. For amplifiers, I use a Stranger Cube 40 amp.
Pramithus: I use a Korean BC Rick platinum pro series Warlock guitar with floating bridge and with BC Rich pickups (don’t know the actual model). For effects I use a Zoom 707II guitar effect processor which is a real crap and I don’t have the cash to buy something good. I use pickboy carbon nylon 0.88mm plectrums. For strings I always use D’Addario EXL 120s. About my amp, I own a stranger cube 40 amp and it is being used by Samip in the practice room whereas I use a Boss hitone guitar amplifier in the practice room.
Pawan: Mic.
Prajwal: I own a Pearl drumkit. I also use Paiste cymbals (14” crash, 18” crash ride), fiber sticks and Osan double pedal but in our practice room, I use KU ko tute futeko Indian drums.
How does the practice hour roll? Does any kinda of dyang dung take place due to some disagreement?
Prajwal: Our practice hours roll smoothly. There is no dyang dung till now because I am the youngest of all so I cannot do the dyang dung hehe (I wish I could).
Samip: Pawan is the most aggressive, j payo tehile hirkai dincha, asti mic le hanera jhandai tauko futeko.
Pawan: Yo ta aatanka bhayo…maile ta mic le haane, Prajwal le ta testa tauko kati fuatyo futayo. Practise hours maa j hos sabai jaana serious hunchan. Kura milcha hamro.
How many originals has the band completed so far? And give a short note about each of them.
Pramithus: We prefer doing originals so till now we have 7 originals out of which we have discarded 2. From my side they were really lame, musically hehehe.
Pawan: “End of We” is about war, it is a war song. “Burial Disposal” is about a ceremony after death. “The Perfect Execution” is about killing, slaughter. “Disease” is about how a human mind shallows us just like a disease. “Mritak” is about fate of death.
Prajwal: The originals at the beginning were not that satisfactory but the new ones are quite ok hehehe.
Can we expect an album in the near future?
Samip: Lau na Umes dai eso halka finance garidinu na.
Pramithus: If we have the cash or if ktmROCKS Records is willing to sign us we will definitely record something in future hehe.
Pawan: Thought about it, but financially the band is weak.
Prajwal: SAV sanga gayera kura garnu parla jasto cha. Bhayena bhane chahi “Dohori Metal” ko album nikalnu parla.
Have you guys been to any recording studios.. just to check out?
Samip: No I haven’t been to any.
Pramithus: I have been to quite a few recording studios. I have been to BMI studio, the studio in which Bikash (Vhumi) works as the recording engineer, Radio Nepal and Little Star Studios.
Pawan: No.
Prajwal: Yes, I have recorded an album with Mukut in BMI studios.
How challenging is it to be a metal band in a country where even mainstream artists and bands find it difficult to depend on? The equipments, the study, parents, expectations.. the challenges.
Prajwal: We (metal bands) need a different setup so it’s difficult in gigs especially when we share the stage with non metal bands. The study hours make it difficult for practicing. In my case, parents are understanding about my music but the most exceptional challenge is the complaints about the loud noise by neighbors during practice hours for metal bands (Hamro college maa dhanna yo samasya chaina).
Pawan: When we formed the band, we just played as if it was a challenge. On the contrary, better things happened when we enjoyed our playing.
How serious is the band about the music? Is there anything that we can be certain about?
Pramithus: Certainly we are dead serious about music although it is only our passion. We plan to continue the band as much as possible. We (Samip and I) are going to graduate this month so the two of us will be in Kathmandu and Pawan and Prajwal will be at Dhulikhel in the University so it will be hard for us. But we are planning to continue somehow.
Pawan: About music, yes. We shall continue as long as possible.
Prajwal: It is hard to continue after the guys leave the college but right now the plan is to continue the band.
Samip: Yes, the first job to be done right now is finding ways to continue.
Has playing death metal affected your lives in any way?
Samip: No.
Pramithus: No I guess not.
Pawan: Some people try to trace out but the overall response is good about what we do. We live for what we are.
Prajwal: Definately. If nothing else, my priority of listening to music has changed to heavier stuffs.
Which is the most memorable experience that the band had while playing live?
Samip: We once got a chance to share the same stage with the super group Atomic Bush. Now that was certainly one of the most memorable experiences.
Pramithus: Yeah! That was certainly memorable. Other than that recently when we entered the stage to play at St Xavier’s, the crowd stood right up and moshpitted throughout our set which was killer.
Pawan: Halloween 2006 gig.
Prajwal: Eso chicks haru pattiye ta memorable hunthyo tara k garnu (sob sob).
And, what about some bitter ones (no pun intended)?
Everyone: Khasai chaina
Prajwal: I messed up real bad at the 1st KCM inter college music competition so everyone was really upset and angry with me. Even though we won the competition, no one was happy.
Have you guys come across some really bollocks comment about your music or band?
Pramithus: No not really. At least I haven’t heard any.
What do you think about the current local scene and the metal listeners here in general? Even though we have some of the most talented musicians and bands, why is our scene not growing as rapidly as it should have?
Pramithus: The current local scene is growing and the listeners although few in number are fantastic. There are many good bands coming up and the young musicians are really talented. Our scene has certainly the most talented musicians and bands but they don’t exist for long to have any serious impact at least in south east region. I mean look at Cruentus and Atomic Bush, they were making some serious impact on the local scene but when the time came to clear the national boundary, these bands broke up. And this goes also is intended towards bands such as Albatross, Breeding Pestilence, Brutal, Holocaust, Maya, Nastik, Refused 13 and Third World Chaos. This maybe due to the other responsibilities of band members like, getting to a secure financial status or further studies. We have to face it that by playing in a band, we cannot sustain our lives and this is even harder for metal bands in context of Nepal.
Samip: We appreciate all the musicians of the local scene; they are immensely talented. But the current scene is mostly based in Kathmandu though it is slightly growing in Pokhara and Dharan now. Other than that there is no such scene in the rest of the country.
Pawan: Pop bajaunu paryo… aeuto ramri chick liyera music video banaunu paryo… ani po ta a ramro huncha… musician banera ta kam nai cahina ni… haina????????????????
Prajwal: Mostly due to financial problem and very less exposure.
Ok, three inter-colleges – winner on the first, runner up in the second and nothing in the third. Why the drop? Can you guys give a little account on all those three competitions?
Pramithus: Hehehe. Hmm I think we got lucky in the first competition as there were not many bands taking part and some of the good ones got screwed by the sound system. Our performance was not satisfactory at all. Guess we were lucky for doing originals as it’s hard to point out the small mistakes. Now onto the second one, what we did was satisfactory but this time we got screwed by the sound system hehehe. Also it was a tough competition as there were many good bands.
Samip: Now the third one, this has to be the toughest competition we have been to so far. There were so many very good bands like The Time, Angeldust and Ushma Weg. We gave our best but in the end the best band won.
Prajwal: There were very good bands in the recent competitions and we are satisfied with our performance.
Pawan: The best deserves to win,,, I guess we did not belong to one of them in our last competition.
So, what really lacks in these types of competitions? What are the weak aspects?
Pramithus: I think usually the deserving band wins although there are some exceptions. It would be best if there was genre defined competition, at least there could be separate competitions for metal, rock, jazz, blues, pop, hip-hop etc. But then for that only a few bands in each genre are in the local scene.
Prajwal: Judges. The judges must be familiar to the most genres of music and also should have knowledge about them. Also the competition will be a lot better if it is genre defined.
Pawan: The best should win and they deserve it too. J cha thik cha.
Is it really necessary at all – the competitions?
Pramithus: Very much. Competitions provide platform for bands not only to compete but also to perform in front of great musicians and people who have knowledge about music. You also know that what is lacking in your music at the end of the day. The cash prize is a bonus as you can use it to buy equipments, record some of your stuffs or you can drink till you puke with that money hehehe.
Prajwal: Yes definitely. Most people practice a lot for competitions like us.
Samip: Had not we participated in the competition, we would not have been a band now. So I guess this is necessary for a new band.
Pawan: Yes. There are lots of bands that are new but are still better. They will get chance to go about and play and learn. And that is how it goes towards getting experience.
Ok, now some JPT questions to wrap up this longass interview. Do you guys know/care what’s going in our country?
Pramithus: Hmm I do care about what is going on in my country and it’s not good. The Bandas taking place every now and then, YCL terror, Political instability, Forum hehehe.
Samip: Sabaile afailai banaye ta desh bani halthyo ni, hoina ra? Teso gare kaso hola!!!!!!!!!!
Prajwal: Not that much hehehe.
Pawan: Mangsir ma chunab cha hai… sabaile vote khasalne.
Ok. Do you guys know what the Constituent Assembly Election is and when it’s scheduled to take place?
Pramithus: Constituent Assembly Election is the election taking place for the revision of our country’s constitution. It’s taking place in Mangshir unless something goes wrong to further postpone it.
Prajwal: Don’t know this either.
Samip: Revising the Constitution.
Any sports that you guys are into?
Pramithus: We love sports almost every game. Pawan and I play football. Prajwal plays basketball and Samip got his nose broken while playing cricket hahaha.
Samip: I play every game.
Prajwal: Basketball dherai khelincha.
Pawan: Football
What are your takes on “Track Singers” and the current pathetic trend of re-make songs (the assholes in the mainstream call it remix songs) and their cheap copy music videos?
Prajwal: This is a virus that has taken over the whole Nepali music industry. Antivirus halne bela bhaako cha.
Pawan: R.I.P.
Thanks for the interview – anything you guys want to add before we end this? Any messages?
Pramithus: Hmm we thank you for taking this interview with us hehe. Do check us out in the upcoming gigs if possible and support the local scene. What the heck, stone the track singers too.
Prajwal: Thank you for the interview. Support the local scene.
Samip: Exam bhanda pani tough questions, Ma ta marchu ki kya ho, ali sajhilo banaye kaso hola?
Pawan: Hamro yaha ko musicians harulai ‘keep on going’
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June 15th, 2008 admin
5 RECORDS THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE - SUNNY TULADHAR
Sunny Tuladhar is, undoubtedly, one of the best guitarists our local scene has witnessed in the recent years. Ever smiling, soft spoken, handsome (?) and extremely talented (??), Sunny shares some of his intimate stuffs (???). Fuck, this is sounding so gay.. just go ahead and read what he has to say.
How long have you been playing guitar?
I’ve been playing guitar for 8 yrs if I have to say. That is from zero. First guitar bhanne kura chai tyati bela chwaa ho! I started playing seriously after I got my first Indian electric one, some 5 years ago, I think. The first two years were a total waste.
What bands have you played with?
First ever band that I played with was ELYSIUM and we did a lot of covers. We had two dozens of originals as well. After that, I played with ATOMIC BUSH in which we mostly did originals and few covers of Satriani. Jaha gayeni Satch bajauna chai nachodni hai! And lately with BAKING SPACE CAKE. Tyo ni band bhanne ki k bhanne khai! Gig aaye pachi matrai practice garinthyo. Hehe. Ani ma included original ni euta matrai cha.
What guitar/s do you use?
Currently I own two guitars. One is my white Japanese made Dinky Standard Jackson, Professional series which I got some 2 years back. The other one is an Ibanez RG550, made in Japan as well. I got it exactly a year ago. Both of my guitars are 24 fretted (Jumbo) and have locking tremolo (Floating Bridge). I’ve got all Dimarzio pickups on my Dinky which really gives a smooth, high gain tone which is my favourite. I haven’t tried to customize my RG one because it sounds pretty okay with its V7 (Neck), S1 (Mid), V8 (Bridge) pickups. I’m used to slightly thinner necks than regular guitars and I just feel right on my guitars. D’Addario strings are my favourite. I use Exl 120 (9-42) gauge. I love plectrums 1.5mm thick but recently I’ve been using this Jim Dunlop Stubby (1.00mm) which is a pretty nice one.
What effects do you use?
For effects I use Korg Ax100G which I find good enough on stage and when I record on computer at home. And of course a Dunlop Wah before my 100G. I once happened to use analog pedals but couldn’t stick to it much due to plenty of reasons. Tyati ho! My pedal section is not that complicated.
Some of your favourite guitarists that you listen to and have inspired you a lot:
Joe Satriaini, Steve Vai, Eddie Van Helen, Steve Morse, Marty Friedman, JamesHetfield, Yngwei J.Malmsteen, John Petrucci, Shawn Lane, Tony MacAlpine, JeffBeck, Paul Gilbert, Vinnie Moore, Tom Morello, Frank Gambale, John Scofield, John Mclaughlin, Eric Johnson, George Benson, Steve Lukather, Scot Henderson, Buckethead, Tool ko gtrst, Porcupine Tree ko gtrst, Freak Kitchen ko gtrst (naam aayena). After I listened to the RSF Records, I was really inspired by Mahesh Tanaikar, and not forgetting Faraz Anwar.
Some of your favourite bands and currently listening to bands like:
I grew up listening to bands like Metallica, Megadeath, Pantera, Nirvana n stuff. I wasn’t much into the Maiden stuff. (Ekdum achamma lagcha aafu le tyati bela Iron Maiden nasuneko dekhda)Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Incubus, System of a Down, Dream Theatre, Those were some general influences when I started playing with ELYSIUM. I got introduced to some Jazz n funk as well coz we had different musical influences.
So after I started playing with Bibhusan (ATOMIC BUSH), Allan (CRUENTUS) and the guys I got introduced to heavier n progressive stuffs in comparison to what I used to listen to like - Messhugah, Textures, Gordian Knot, Planet X, Buckethead, Symphony X, Opeth, Rage, Pain of Salvation, Spastic Ink, OSI, Nevermore, King Crimson etc. One of my favourite bands is Porkupine Tree. Yo band chai Feeeeeeel huncha. Lately I’ve been listening to Tool. Haven’t listened to anything like this before. The song writings, the sound and the guitar playing is totally different and new to me.
5 RECORDS THAT CHANDED MY LIFE ARE:
I’d like to list out the 5 records that changed my life in the following order:
1. MASTER OF PUPPETS - METALLICA
I was totally blown away by this album when my brother introduced Metallica to me. Then later it was more fun after I learned those songs on my guitar.
2. RUST IN PEACE - MEGADETH
This was the very first Megadeth album that I heard. I liked it very much and my conclusion after listening to it was “Oh Marty Friedman ta Dave Murray ra Kirk Hammet bhanda khatra raicha!” heheh.. Tyati bela ko musical maturity level ho tyo chai.
3. THE EXTREMIST - JOE SATRIANI
This was the first Satriani album that I was introduced to. I still have a clear memory when my brother played this album for me and I immediately stopped the player saying “hyaaa yasto vocal nabhako geet ni k sunira?” That was really funny.
4. ULTRA ZONE - STEVE VAI
The first Steve Vai album that I heard. By the time I listened to this album I was used to. Listening instrumental albums.
5. DEADWING - PORCUPINE TREE
Yo album chai ekdum feeeeeel hune khale album ho. No such funny comments for this one because I’ve just started loving this album.
Laaaaa ajai thyo ni ! 10 Records garna mildaina thyo ra? Tyaso gare kaso hola?
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June 15th, 2008 admin
RAG N ROLL wit SHARAD SHRESTHA (THE AXE)
Interview/Pics: Umes Shrestha
I used to hate The AXE, I had only heard one song –“Chiya Bari Ma” back then. It was an absolute horror of a song and I even counted how many times the vocalist sings “maa” through out the song (around 54 times). And then I got THE AXE: VERY BEST OF album (in fact I copied it from a friend’s computer) and then my whole perspective on the band changed. Then some time later, I got to do an interview with the band. I was impressed – three guys, totally normal and down to earth. No “hi-fi kura” and no “posey” pretence. Now it was not just music. I liked the band even more. And then the new album “Kammasaka” did not disappoint me either, it was a solid CD full of funk rock with their usual folk touch (in the lyrics and vocals).
Why the hell am I blowing THE AXE trumpet? I just wanted to. The band is already popular and here’s one of the key members of the band - Sharad Shrestha, the axeman of THE AXE (lau maa!! pun po bani ra). Out of hundreds of interviews (boring.. every time promoting the band) in the mainstream media, this might be the most brilliant interview he might be enjoying for a long time. Or did it get him by the balls? Let’s see how he faces our Rag and Roll.
How do you define Sharad Shrestha in your own words?
Simple! Sa, Ra, D . No ‘H factor’! Simply Sarad!
Why haven’t you changed your hair style yet? It has been 20 years, it’s the same. Don’t you know the Grunge Era is over?
Oh my God! Ho ta hagi? Pahiley nai bhanya hoonthyo yaar! Anyway I’m growing my hair long at present. Now don’t tell me “that 70’s show” again hahahaha.
You seem to single-handedly invented the “funk rock” in Nepal. How proud are you?
La.. hya mula.. yesto jhina masina koora ma pani kehi fulaan deenu jaruri cha ra?
Will you be surprised if you were awarded “Gorkha Dakshin Bahu” for your contribution?
La hya ke baasi koora garya yaar? Tyo ta kharez bhaisakyo ni, hoina ra? Leene haru pani sabai dakshin tira laagey hola saayad. aba south tira chai ma janna hagi.. india pari halcha. Baru “Gantantrik Paschim Bahu” bhana na. teso gare kaso hola?
Have you ever felt your palms getting sweaty while playing guitar? How does it feel?
Horny of course. Should I feel like I’m loosing my virginity for the first time? La ghantai siti, feel gardinchu ma ta.
How would you suggest a young guitarist who is in a great dilemma of - playing the guitar right or impress a hottie?
Oye.. muji.. sabai bhanda pahile talai bhagwan ley guitar baja bhanekay chaina !! So you better concentrate on practicing more man.. I shall be busy with your hottie till then instead. And make her ready to serve you cold.
How often do you find yourself in such dilemma (since half of the crowd in THE AXE concert is usually hot chicks)?
Lau.. hya.. I’m offered (on hand) both of those.. ni.. aba ke ko dilemma hoonu paryo ta? hehehehe
You are married right?
Everyone should marry, coz happiness isn’t everything.
We have heard a true rumor that you declined to sign on the boobs of a girl fan. How much did you regret it later?
Ke ko decline na regret garnu ni? Tyo muji jharey pen ko tehi bela ma masi sakina parne kina? That’s why I carry one myself every time now! Fully loaded!! Skinable ink bhako.. like tattoo ink.. hehe
Do you have any annoying habits that your fans should know – just as a precaution before they swarm you for autographs?
Ok a line from John Butler: I come forth with only good intent, you know I am Heaven bound but I’m surely hell bent!
Do you ever get the feeling like – oh shit, I completely suck at this (like studying, talking to a girl, singing, etc)?
Formalities!!!
What are the things that you completely suck at?
Telling lies!
Do you ever feel like giving up the guitar and start singing?
Hey.. I don’t wanna make my pal and other superstars to be unemployed. Why should I snatch others’ bread man? It’s not in my blood!
Who do you think has more fans, you or Shiva Mukhiya (vocalist)?
Ok lemme count hai ta! Tyo shiva ko gharma hmmm.. kitchen ma 1 wata, living room ma 1 wata, bedroom ma euta…3 wata cha kyare.. ok.. mero chai. Mero Bedroom ma euta cha. living room ma euta.. hoina 2 wata, tyo ceiling fan nai count garna birsey chu. Ho 2 wata. Ani kitchen ma 2 wata, tyo malai khana khada kheri yeso hamkauncha ke daya baya basera, Cameron Diaz ra Penelop Cruz ley yaar. japenese fan haat ma hehe esp. for summer time. tyo stable ma thulo euta cha. mula ghoda haru dherai paadchan yaar, morons! La hisab garu hai ta. shiva ko bhayo 3 wata, mero bhayo 6 wata, pakha pakha tyo helicopter ko ta rakhnai birsyo pheri. la! 7 wata. Wah! Merai badhi rahecha yaar!
What’s like practicing with THE AXE.. how often do you guys throw punches and kicks? Who usually wins the fight?
It happens every time.. Then I switch on to drums, and Surendra gets on bass and Shiva on guitars, it begins. And the winner takes it all, ‘Suman cha’, the tea boy on mic!
Which is your most un-favourite AXE song that you have been forced to play live?
“Preeti Basyo” —- hey is that AXE song? Nope. Hey man its ‘great’ Rumba bro’s hagi? Hey did I say great? Yup great!
What could be the worst case scenario that you even fear to imagine when you are playing live?
Well, if Raju lama would join the stage with us and all the hip hop freaks, Eminem ko santanharu, in the crowd head banging like hell, and one metalhead dude goes mad and cries out loud “Yo Yos” “bling bling” and in another minute he finds out his Antichrist tattoo changes to D12 and later his Dimbag t-shirt turns to “Justin Timberlake.” Oh my God!!! By the way, yo bling bling bhanya ke ho? Would you please ask Mr. Nirnay for this? Ke ho yo bling bling bhanya?
Which is more fun – playing a long guitar solo or letting your drummer play a drum solo?
Guitar and foot tapping on the bass kick at the same time.
Which band/musician in our local scene you would NOT want to perform with, even if they threaten you to take your guitars away?
1974 Ad. They would make me stand in the stage in a Elvis Presley looks.. oh my God!
As an audience, have you ever thrown bottles/stones at the stage while a band is performing? Did you have fun?
No man. I’m a decent guy remember?
Dhunga hanna kasto ramailo huncha ni hoina? Which band or artist in the current mainstream you would want to “dhunga hanning”?
Hey I’m a decent guy remember? (haha! yo bhanna kasto ramailo hoondo rahecha yaar! La again hai — I’m a decent guy remember?) Aba hannai paryo bhane chai, hmm……. I shall choose Karma’s vox guy as he always comes in the stage afterwards k.. bichara sabai band member haru pahila aaundo rahecha, sabai saman gadgets wire mili sakepachi.. ani this guy shows up after the music starts. Kasto lauda jasto yaar? At least he can come in the stage helping his band members ni hoina ra? Sometimes he even sings “Bhige hoth tere” rey ni ta! superstars hagi?
How would a “mature” misfit like you comment on the current political situation of the country?
Well c’mon guys we gotta be grateful for this instead and feel happy to be Nepali. Because I bet no one in other country can fuckin’ survive like we do here at present times. No petrol, but we r riding bikes. No gas, we are having our meal everyday. Load shedding, but we still r the richest in water resources in the world. Bandh, Chakkajam as we celebrate more than holidays festivals. Wow! We won’t be surprised one day if a dog with his colleagues would do chakkajam just because he was hit by a toy-bicycle on the road. So BE FUCKIN’ PROUD TO BE NEPALI! You are a great SURVIVOR indeed!!! Oh ho! tyo purano disco geet yaad aayo yaar “I’m a survivor” bhanney. kasko geet ho tyo?
We have a new-Nepal slogans all around in the country. What do you think this new-Nepal should do for Rock Musicians and Rock Bands?
Well, I’m so sick n fuckin tired of hearing this new Nepal slogan man. Bhayekai nepal nai samalina nasaknu bhairahcha, kina naya nepal chaiyo ra? Don’t count the chicken before……… blah blah blah!
We are planning to elect you as the Minister of “Gana Tantrick” Rock and Roll. What is your reaction?
Aba ke reaction garnu yaar? La.. aba Deep dai haru ko po ke hoone ho la? You better check their reaction man. Mero birudha kehi sadayantra garirakhya holan aba. Hey Deep dai! hernu ta, tapaiharu lai satta bata nikalne sadayantra rachirahcha ktmrocks ley! Beware hai, hahahahahaha!!!!
You must have given several interviews to the media – FMs, TVs, Newspapers and Magazines. Do you remember any particular incident when you felt like punching on the mouth of the reporter/interviewer? I know you have.. name please, name please.
Yes! Once during an interview from some program in Nepal TV kyare. That was some 3 years ago. I was fuckin’ so irritated as the lady puts the stupid questions towards us. Pheri kasari sodhne bhanya, his producer teaches her to put a particular question, and she asks us the “word to word” same. So we have to listen the same question twice before we do reply. Every one of them. Ditto!! Lauda jasto! Now she’s married to the same producer rey.
We have been informed by our Crime Bureau that you have been secretly listening to Kiran Gurung’s song “I was so bad to lose you”. Does that mean that your next composition is going to have KG elements?
Haha favorite color ASS color eh? Ok man.. he’s paying me a lot! And we are developing FUCK ROCK genre! Bravo!
If the track-singers ever stopped singing on tracks (because of the fear of getting stoned to death) and you were hired to back them up, which one would you choose and why – A) Kamal Man Singh, B) Anil Singh or C) Avinash Ghisingh. Remember, they might pay you good!
Ok I have to choose one haina ta? Hetteri.. kasto fasaune yaar? Ok I shall go for Avinash Ghisingh.. yo muji geet bhari khokda khokda “Uh humm uh hah” gardai busy hoone rahecha.. la yesai lai choose garnu parla aba. So I can play more guitars rey kya aba!!
Choose one.
Axe or Gun:
Axe is the first weapon invented by human being. So, Axe of course. Axe well equipped with shooting missiles as well haha. Ahile ko 21st century ma advanced bhai halcha ni.
Buff Mo:mo or Veg Mo:mo.
Well, veg ta rango haru le khai halcha ni.. so there won’t be any veg left. Ani pheri rango dude haru pheri risayera chiita dukhai halcha ni.. I can’t see animals cry. Buff!!
Shiva or Suren:
Hey, where is my name? I love my both hands rey kya aba! Am I sounding some kinda pathetic here? Damn!
Batista or The Undertaker:
Undertaker!
Fans of Ktm Valley or Fans outside the valley.
La fans everywhere obviously! Jhan AC bhaye daami hooncha ni.. C’mon ppl its summer time!
Say No to Track Singers or Stone the Track Singers:
Yeah we shall make them stone instead. Let them have twat, gaanja, hash, heroines, all of them.
Lastly, recommend us some of the worst bands/singers of all times.
Mangolian Hearts, Avinash Ghishing, Karma, Satya Raj Acharya, I don’t need to mention the hiphoppers and all those scumbags, do I? khoi ke khoi ke..
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June 15th, 2008 admin
INTERVIEW: NARSIL (India)
Interviewed by: Umes Shrestha
NARSIL is one of the most promising metal acts names in the extreme metal scene in India right now. Coming from New Delhi, NARSIL, has released it’s debut EP “Carcinogenic” in 2006, the EP is also featured in the split CD titled “Defaced and Split”, released by Demonstealer Records same year.
ktmROCKS: As corny as it always sounds, for those who have completely no idea of who or what NARSIL is – tell us something about it.
Anupam: Narsil is about 5 guys who want to make it big in the pop industry. We love our Britney Spears, and we love old school stuff like Backstreet Boys. When we get really bored we play a bit of Death Metal to humour us!
Kshitish: Dude Anupam don’t you dare forget our roots - RYAN PARRY IST KRIEG \M/
ktmROCKS: How do you guys define your music?
Anupam: It’s Death Metal with a dash of 70’s reggae and 80s glam and 90s nu metal and the grim necro black metal from Norway, again the 90s!
Kshitish: Some cha-cha-cha and some samba and some latino…oooh latiiiiiiiinoooooooo!!!!!!!!
ktmROCKS: What’s the current line up, how long has this line up been together?
Anupam: We have Shashwat on pig squeals and other Animal Kingdom influenced noises, Kshitish on spidery crawl guitars, Anupam on row boat madness guitars, Vicky on tap-dancing bass, and Reuben on salsa drums.
Kshitish: Vicky joined us sometime in Jan this year. Before that we had Jonah who was a monster of a bassie but sadly, he had to fulfill other commitments (musical & non-musical). So now we have Vicky who seems way more enthusiastic & way more committed than all four of us combined.
ktmROCKS: The NARSIL logo looks really brutal, who designed it?
Anupam: Pallavi designed the logo and Shashwat loved it so much that he and Pallavi are now a couple! Seriously!
Kshitish: Yeah yeah yeah…I think he’s talking about the logo on our EP.
ktmROCKS: What are the challenges you guys normally face to be and continue a band, especially a metal band - like from having (or not having) enough instruments, practice rooms, etcs?
Anupam: We’ve always had all the prerequisite requirements - including beer! We’re pro boys, and since most of us work, we’re not completely penniless either. However, we nevertheless accept donations. Please pay in EURO or UK Pounds since USD is not as good as it used to be.
ktmROCKS: Tell us something about the practice room and practice schedules?
Anupam: We have a stuffy, sweaty practice room, which forces out to play tight, and fast, so we can go out for a breather! Practice schedules generally involve who wants to drink how much beer and when!
ktmROCKS: From you perspective, how’s the metal scene in Delhi in general, the gigs (how often the gigs happen).. the bands.. the crowd (how receptive they are).. the soundsystem… the ticket price?
Kshitish: Go to www.rsjonline.com/forum & you’ll get all such answers in abundance!
ktmROCKS: What about the scene in other cities?
Anupam: BOMBAY for metal! Nuff sed!
Kshitish: Dude I respect the Delhi crowd. Bombay is just wild…cmon man this guy once jumped off the first floor in the name of ‘moshing’. That’s crazy man!
ktmROCKS: How many gigs NARSIL has played so far?
Anupam: So many we’ve lost count. Actually, uh, 5!
ktmROCKS: What was the latest gig NARSIL played at? (How did it go? How big the crowd was? What was the response? What were the other bands?)
Anupam: The latest gig had women drooling over us and the guys just waiting to maul us!
Kshitish: And not to forget the howling dogs trying to get Shashwat’s attention!
ktmROCKS: Do bands get paid in the gigs? Have you guys been paid?
Anupam: You mean laid don’t you? *nudge nudge*
Kshitish: *dum dum da dummmmmmm*
ktmROCKS: You guys must be getting awesome positive comments from the metal community and fans but what about other people who are near to you guys and they know you guys play such extreme genre?
Anupam: Huh? Of course we get positive comments. We’re good. Getting positive comments is a byproduct of being good.
Kshitish: Haan haan bahut ho gaya! To be honest, if WE like what we do, then that’s all that matters. We’ve enjoyed doing whatever we have till now. Plus, the standards we’ve set for ourselves - songs, production, playing, tightness - are really high and it feels great to have lived up to our own expectations. And it’s great if people around you commend your work - man it’s literally our sweat that we’re talking about! And if they don’t appreciate it, then it’s just their opinion…we can’t really change any of it 
ktmROCKS: Do you guys come across over smart assholes who say what you guys are playing is just pure rubbish?
Kshitish: Why do you think God gave us 2 ears? And when you have Anupam in your own band, you just get used to the oversmartness
Anupam: Yes. Once. After that they’re on a one way trip all the way to satan’s/asura’s/<insert scary diety here> balls!
ktmROCKS: Do you guys work/study while not playing/practicing?
Kshitish: Frame that the other way round…do we guys practice/play while we’re not working/studying?
Anupam: Yes. We work. And study. And practice. And drink beer. And drink whiskey. And eat meat (well, except for Shashwat and Kshitish. Kshitish relents sometimes though!)
ktmROCKS: What does Metal mean to you guys personally, has it changed your life, attitudes and beliefs?
Anupam: Metal is platinum - I wish every time we played a song a solid bar of platinum was waiting for us. Then we’d be good AND rich!
Kshitish: Its \m/etchul!
ktmROCKS: Apart from the bands in India, have you guys checked out bands from the Asian Metal Scene?
Anupam: Rudra. Nuff sed.
ktmROCKS: Some of the bands that you really like in the Indian scene, and some of the bands that you really dislike?
Anupam: I really like Scribe. A lot. And Bhayanak Maut. And Superfuzz. And Joint Family. And 3rd Sovereign. And Demonic Resurrection. And Exhumation. And Kryptos. uh…long list this!
Kshitish: ACRID SEMBLANCE
ktmROCKS: Having side projects/bands - is it good or bad?
Anupam: Of course! Narsil started as a side project! Look at what big celebrities we’ve become now!
ktmROCKS: How do you guys usually construct and compose a song?
Anupam: Uh, to be honest? We record a bunch of riffs, run a randomizer, and HEY! We got a song!
ktmROCKS: Where was the EP (Carcinogenic) recorded/mastered.. how long did it take?
Anupam: It was recorded/mastered in my studio. Took half a week since we had almost missed the deadline. You can blame all the beer consumption during other scheduled recording sessions for it!
Kshitish: Balls! It was nothing but procrastination. Period.
ktmROCKS: Was there any problem regarding money, how much did you guys spend for the recording and mastering? or Did the label (Demonstealer Records) take care of that?
Anupam: No money was spent. Unless you count the amount of money already invested in my studio.
ktmROCKS: How supportive are the fans in general - like buying CDs, merchendize, etcs? Any idea on how many copies the split has sold?
Anupam: No clue how many copies sold, though I understand it’s quite a lot. Fans are great, we always have rabid fans who chant “Narsil Narsil” at every live show regardless of who’s playing!
Kshitish: Yeah we’re a charming lot aren’t we? These days fans have started getting into collector-mode even for Indian bands.
ktmROCKS: What are the recording studios in your city like? What’s the hourly charge?
Anupam: About 600-1000 bucks an hour. However, for 4k you can get a song recorded at my studio, and my studio is about the best there really is for bands in Delhi!!!
ktmROCKS: Now that the EP has now been featured on the split album “Defaced and Split”, when are you gonna work on and release a full length album?
Anupam: HEY! Don’t pressurize us! We’re doing it.
ktmROCKS: Some non-music questions. How much aware/active are you guys - politically and socially?
Anupam: Not. Alcoholically we’re VERY active though!
ktmROCKS: How crazy are you guys for cricket, especially Indian Cricket?
Kshitish: Team India YEAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!! GO KILL ‘EM!!!!!!!………..or not! Bah whatever!
ktmROCKS: What about the movies - which one do you think is the best Bollywood movie in the recent years?
Anupam: Without a doubt Black Friday. There’s a lot of neat stuff coming out nowadays! Bolywood seems to be growing up. If only Yash Chopra stopped making movies we’d have less bubble gum, and more substance!
Kshitish: Jaani Dushman \m/
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June 15th, 2008 admin
INTERVIEW: THE TIME
Interview: Umes Shrestha/Prateek, Transcript: Prateek
Initially formed under the name of Wildrose, The Time has been active in the scene for quite a while. With their blend of progressive rock music with eastern classical components, they have been producing some outstanding original music and delivering a series of tight performances.
Right now the band is very ecstatic after grabbing the second place in a recent college competition. Here’s a short interview with the band regarding their future plans. Present were the members Ajar (vocals/guitar), Akshya (guitar/sitar), Rakesh (bass) and Abhay (drums).
What is your thought on holding 2nd place at the recent St Xavier’s competition?
Ajar: Khoi K K Bhayo bhayo, haha. Thikai hola.
Akshya: We can’t say that we played “sab bhanda Khatra”, but we did have hope to hold the 1st place.
Ajar: Tyo first aaune haru koie jamela ho.
What do you think about the other bands present in the competition?
Akshya: Most of the bands had the punch. They were good, like the Karan’s band.
THE TIME played as 4 piece that day. What happened to your keyboardist?
Ajar: Few days before the competition, he left the band, due to his problems.
Why did he quit? Is it due to musical difference or personal reasons?
Ajar: It is due to some personal reason.
Now will the band continue without a keyboardist?
Ajar: Ya we will continue without him.
Rakesh: Anyways, our practice room could not hold 5 members either. 
Akshya: We do need a keyboardist though. We will fill the place if we find a good and appropriate keyboardist.
On which genre does the band mainly focus on?
Akshya: We are mainly doing progressive rock. At the same time we are trying to fuse it with different types of music.
Rakesh: Teslai naie experiment type garera laijane.
What do you refer to with the word progressive? How do you define it? What is it that you call progressive?
Akshya: We are not lyrically progressive, its mainly musically. We have lot of count variation, odd timings in our music.
Rakesh: Even the feel is different in the same song.
Ajar: We try to offer variety instead of sticking with same pattern and style.
Does it mean that you do both love and tragedy thing in the same song?
Akshya: No no, haha teso ta hudai hudaina. With the word “variety” I mean in the sense of musical genre. We don’t hold back to experiment with and fuse different genres.
With which band does your music come to resemble with?
Rakesh: Ahile garna lageko ta koie sanga mildaina hola.
Ajar: It might resemble, but so far we haven’t come across such band.
What gave you guys the idea to introduce sitar in your music?
Akshya: Initially we used it just for sake of using it. Later it started to sound good, and slowly it found a place in our music. Sunda pani “khatra” lagyo, it adds a different feel.
As a band, what major problems have you faced?
Akshya: Everyone has small arguments while sharing ideas. We all have same taste and target. It’s been 5 years since we have been playing, and there hasn’t been any such problem.
How do you compose a song? Do you do it as a group or individually?
Akshya: We all sit together and compose songs.
Ajar: Ideas from each member are usually different. We share it and discuss. Then we the pick the one that sounds best and start working, making and adding up on it.
Akshya: But nobody forces anyone to play something they are not satisfied with.
What about while writing lyrics for originals?
Akshya: Sometimes I do it and sometimes whole band works on it. The band is free to add up, suggest or correct me wherever it needs help. Like in places where words don’t fit.
Rakesh: mailey chai garya chaina (very happy ?)
What are the lyrics mostly based upon?
Ajar: It’s based on facts. Factual things that take place in our daily lives, then some are based on one’s inner desires, wishes.
Akshya: Everyone one has dreams and wishes, our lyrics are based on how people deal with them, how they are compelled to live with hope of achieving it.
Maya-preeti pani cha teso bhaye…
Ajar: Maya-preeti chaina haha… we have one balled type song but no such “maya-preeti” song haha.
Akshya: …Hoina khasai testo geet ta chaina, aba lekhnu parey, lekhaula. K garne!
How often are you playing live these days?
Akshya: We haven’t played live that often these days, but we will be more active in the scene than before in coming days now that Abhaya has finished his board exams.
How long do you guys practice as a band?
Akshya: We do practice daily.
Ajar: But these days, it isn’t as long as it used to be before. It is mostly an hour or half at noon.
Rakesh: We have to go to our work in the evening nowadays, so we can’t practice for 3 hours like before. So we manage it at noon.
What is the band focusing on nowadays?
Akshya: We are working on originals. It has been our main focus. We hardly cover other’s songs.
How many originals have been completed?
Ajar: About 6 to 7.
Is there any plan to record them with the money won on the competition?
Everyone: Asti ko paisa ta udi sakyo (faint murmur)
Ajar: Ya we will record, but record bhanera, we won’t do everything at once and bring out an album. Ghar-ghur ma nagarne. We are planning to give time to one song, see if we can add up and improve it, concept lagayera majaley record garne, and then slowly after some time move to the other.
Will the band go straight for studios or home-recording?
Rakesh: First we will record a demo in our practice room…
Ajar: …and then after we hit the studios.
Is it taking place soon or later in the future?
Ajar: We have planned to record a demo of one song real soon.
Has the band ever recorded in a professional studio before this?
Akshya: No.
Besides recording is there anything else that you guys are planning to do with your music?
Akshya: We have been thinking about taking this type of music to international level, by making it more advance by introducing local instruments like basuri, and newari baja.
Ajar: We are planning to introduce Classical music and Raag into our music, and bring about a different feel.
Akshya: There are local instrument players nearby. We have been trying to explain them our music type and practice with them, but it’s been a difficult time explaining them. Feri ekkai choti sabbai sunayera ta hudaina, baru bistari tini haru lai fakayera, pitayera garla bhane bichar garira.
Any interesting event that has taken place while playing live?
Akshya: Four years back, Khula manch ma Newa Pratibha huda.
Rakesh: Bhannu hudaina….hahaha
Akshya: We had just finished playing 2 songs and were about to play the 3rd one, suddenly this lady MC comes and says “bhayo bhayo mic banda gara” and goes to the mixer dude to turn it off.
Ajar: First they had asked us to play 6 songs, and just because their guest artist was getting late, they turned off everything and pushed us out of the stage. Ani ta mic. sike fyalera… speaker lai pani laat hanera.
Akshya: Dyang dung gardai thyou, dada giri dekhaudai
Ajar: and no sooner cops came, ani ta sabai jana taap! Just after we left there were cops all over.
Which concert was best so far?
Akshya: The recent Xavier’s competition has to be the best so far. Ramailo lagyo.
What type of music are you guys individually listening to these days?
Rakesh: Dream Theater
Akshya: King Crimson, Dream Theater, Rush
Ajar: Gordian Knot, King Crimson, Rush
Abhaya: Few Jazz bands, Eastern classical music, Ravi Lal Shrestha
Ok, guys best of lucks for your recording endeavor, and thanks for the interview.
Everyone: It was our pleasure. Next time khaja khuwaula.
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June 15th, 2008 admin
PROFILE INTERVIEW: BIKASH GURUNG (VHUMI)
Interview/Pics: Umes Shrestha, Transcript: Prateek
Bikash can be the sweetest guy that you ever find in the local underground scene. Never seen without a smiling face. Softspoken and polite and a natural musician. He’s also one of the most busiest in the scene, fronting VHUMI and working in a recording studio almost 24/7.
When was the first time you played guitar? How did it feel like?
I started playing guitar in 1999, 8 years. I didn’t know much then. I knew one note and it gave the “twang” sound.
What or who inspired you to pick the guitar?
Sharad Shrestha of THE AXE. My brother used to jam with him and I used to watch him play at the practice room, and that developed a passion to play guitar.
Which were your first ever Guitar, Amp and Processor?
My first guitar was “GIVSON” electric guitar, first amp was a Marshall cube and my first processor was “Stranger Distortion”, “Indian” distortion as most
call it.
How difficult was it to accumulate those accessories?
I bought the Marshall Cube by saving pocket money. Guitar was my brother’s, and the Indian Distortion was given to me by my friend. Jhyaap hane ko hoina.
What was your parent’s reaction like when they found out about your musical interest?
They were pretty fine with it. No such negative reaction since my brother was already musician. And it’s been the same till today.
When was the moment you decided to become a guitarist or a musician?
It was 5 years back, when I saw UGRAKARMA play at “Kathmandu Utsav”.
What was your practice schedule like then after?
At the initial stage, I gave in everything I could. I stayed very focused while practicing guitar. I would not miss to learn from seniors while watching them
play.
What was the first band that you played with?
The first band I played with was “Burst”. It was formed around 7 years ago.
What was the first practice with the band like?
It was a whole new feeling. All the other members were senior to me, afu lai ta naaune, afule bigarcha ki bigarcha, bhane daar lagthyo. By the end of the day it felt good. It was fun.
What was the practice room and band practice schedule like?
Practice room was in Putalisadak. Testo ramro thyena. We had all we needed. It sounded nice inside. There was no sound proofing so there used to be handful of complaints from neighbors. Practice schedule of that band was pretty amazing. We practiced the same song from 6 in the morning to 6 in the evening. We had our lunch in the room itself. They were very serious about their originals and wanted it to be very tight.
Which was the first ever concert you played? How did it go? And how was the crowd and sound system?
The first ever concert was with BURST in a competition held at the opening ceremony of Chinatown. Our turn was near the end of the competition and people started to leave. Just as we started playing, they returned and that boosted my enthusiasm to play. The sound system was pretty fine, not too good, not too bad. We played normal rock songs but the competition later collapsed. And that was my first and last performance with BURST.
Did you have any stage-frights at then?
No. since I was playing with seniors, I was confident. It might have been a different case if I was in charge of everything.
Which was your first concert with VHUMI?
From VHUMI, first performance was in “KEC Live” concert. We played as trio. First ma ek dam jhur bhayo, the crowd didn’t understand our music. They thought we were a punk band! Later there were broken chairs all around, dang dung.. ramailo nai bhayo hehe. Sound system was really good and our performance also went well.
Which was the first ever song that you composed?
The first song I composed was a rock song, entitled “Khel”.
What guitars, amps, processors, plectrums, strings do you use thesedays?
I use Ibanez 6string guitar, which cost me around 23Ks, Stranger cube amp , Zoom 606 sound processor, 0.73mm Dunlop plec, and Daddario XL medium gauged strings.
What is your Dream Setup?
I would like to have any latest Ibanez series as guitar. As for Amp, first and last choice - Marshall naie! and any of the latest Digitech-GNX sound Processor.
Which is more important in your opinion- technique or feel?
Technique is important in guitar playing, but without feel it is nothing. So I think feel is more important.
What are the things that you think you still need to accomplish – as a Musician?
Dherai naie. Ek dam dheraie. I am still in the zero-level. If I start comparing myself, I don’t deserve to be a good musician, “musician naie hoina ma”.
Where would you see yourself in 5 years time?
I will still be continuing the band and continue working here in the studio.
Will the musical passion ever wear off?
No, that will never happen.
How do you deal with a bad criticism?
If it is a “hawa” comment then I will say “thank you” and smile. If it is based on my performance, then I would wish to play better in front of that same person next time.
What else are you doing when you are not playing guitar?
I work at studio. Mainly recording, arranging and listening to tracks. Tei ho mero main kaam bhanekoie geet sunne ho. (kasto ramailo! Geet suni suni paisa kamaune!)
What are your other passions?
I play football. Occasionally I sit down and write songs about things that get into my mind. Maya-saya bahek haha.
Your opinion on- Self-learning or learning from an instructor-
I think we should learn from an instructor. Though I am a self learner and I learnt a lot by watching others play, I think it would be lot better if we learn from an instructor. I wish I had a good instructor or teacher when I really needed one.
Personalities who you completely respect:
It has to be Sharad shrestha of THE AXE, mero favorite, Denis dai - who is also a musician, and then my own brother- Binod Gurung.
Personalities who you think are complete assholes:
Those people who have done very little, and musically gained nothing but still call themselves “rockstars” are complete assholes. Like the guitarist from “Saayaas” band. Aru ko bhanne khoi, baal nai deyko chaina, yaad naie bhayena.
Greatest Moment in your life as a musician:
Getting a chance to compete at last year’s Rockhead competition against some of the best bands in Nepal and to gain some knowledge from it. Because there were some of finest bands out there and I think till now, it has been the best competition that we have been into.
Worst Moment in your life as a musician:
Recently we had gone to Kurintar to play at a concert. But the organizers themselves weren’t sure about it and it got cancelled. It was really disappointing when we had to return back without playing. To make things worse, our violin was also stolen on our way back. Tension bhayo!
Lastly, make your own Quote for us:
\m/ Bang your head \m/
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June 14th, 2008 admin
Interview With MYNDSNARE
(Appears in the 5th issue of Ktmrocks Magazine)
Myndsnare is a Banglore (India) based metal band which plays progressive thrash/death metal, with technical overtones. The band comprises of: Kp on guitars/vocals, Narayan on bass and Yasmin Clair on drums
And recently the band has released a demo titled “A Preliminary Quest” containing 3 songs. Here’s an interview with the members about the band, the demo, gigs and everything and anything.
Seems like the band has been taking part in lots of competitions and winning as well, so tell us more on the band’s current activities.
MS – We’re settling down to get together the tracks for an album planned for recording around two months down the line… other than that, we’re playing a few shows around the place, such as the TFA gig a month ago, a couple of gigs up north (from our perspective, that is…) (awaiting confirmation), etc. We made a pact not to attempt any more competitions after 2004, so we’re practically out of the competition circuit now. Aiming at professional shows, as the whole of last year saw us winning quite a few shows we attempted.
Is the band signed to any label?
MS – Being a band that plays progressive death/thrash, we don’t seem to attract any Indian labels, as this kind of music doesn’t appear to sell to the masses, yet. Our demo - ‘A Preliminary Quest…’ - was released by the band, and it is going to be the same with the album, too, in a couple of months. We’re open to record labels, but do not want to sacrifice anything about the music to be able to get one.
Has any record label shown interests yet?
Yasmin - Most of the labels we had sent our demo to, responded with words of encouragement, but unfortunately, all of them stated that they were not signing on bands just then. Labels that have shown positive interest, mostly had to do with distribution deals of compilations only.
Listening to “A Preliminary Quest”, it is definitely evident that the band has progressed a lot. Tell us everything from “Headbanglore Compilation” to this current demo.
MS – The music of MyndSnare started off as a basic wish to embody all that was technical, fast and heavy into one genre that challenged the playing skills of everyone in the band. This obviously takes time to evolve, as mistakes first need to be made - HeadBangalore was probably the first of many! Recorded on totally analog equipment at a very budget studio, which had hitherto recorded regional music and ad jingles, the quality obviously left much to be desired.
We then went on to play a number of shows, learning quite a bit from each, and after a line-up change, recorded ‘A Preliminary Quest…’ at a much better studio, and learnt even more. The newest recording is of a song called ‘Conditioned: Human’, which is as yet unreleased, as it was done as an experiment to check out a studio where we plan to record our album. Our album ought to be produced much better, with quality mixing and recording, as we plan to spend quite a bit more on it, too.
The music has basically evolved from raw technicality and speed to something containing more melody, feel and convoluted song structures. The lyrics basically dictate the way the music flows - and the song construction revolves around it, too.
How is the demo doing?
MS – The demo has sold around 750 copies to date. We’re not pushing the demo as much as we did earlier, as the album recording is getting close and we want to publicize that instead as soon as possible, but copies are still being sold to persons who email us or ask us for it otherwise. We’re pretty happy with the demo sales, as the only publicity was through word-of-mouth, and we ended up selling at least 50 copies at every rock show we played at, regardless of the size of the show.
Tell us what are your lyrics mostly based on?
MS – Most of the time, it is what influences one to think. Most of the lyrics are about an analysis of different aspects of life and the human psyche, with a very personal bend to things… this comes from the fact that we like to look beyond the surface to see what’s actually there – even if it’s not ACTUALLY possible, in truth, it’s interesting to draw conclusions from what one sees around one’s self.
How do you guys go about making a song?
MS - The lyrics are first put down, and dictate how the rest of the song flows. The guitar riffs are then put into place, with a lot of bickering and argument from all sides Anything you feel strongly about, you do need to argue about! The drums and bass are added onto this song structure, and finally the vocals take their place.
Now on to some personal stuffs. How did you guys grow up listening, how did you start out?
Kp: I started with Judas Priest’s ‘Ram It Down’ and Iron Maiden’s ‘Somewhere In Time’ around 1995 – explored around in the genre and ended up playing the guitar a couple of years later, to the exclusion of (mostly) everything else. After stints with two/three other bands in which various problems caused break-ups, MyndSnare was finally formed to explore what I really wanted to play - highly technical challenging speed/thrash.
Narayan: In 1988, a cousin of mine gave me a tape that was to change the course of my life. It had Iron Maiden, W.A.S.P, Alcatraz, and a lot of other 80’s metal bands. Much later, after going through my course of glam and prog rock, I’ve happily settled down with a nice mix of classic rock and extreme metal. I draw inspiration form Rainbow, Death, Iron Maiden, Cynic, Arch Enemy, RUSH, et al.
Yasmin: Music (of almost all sorts) has been very intricately woven into my entire existence. The music of course has grown. I don’t want to bore you with the details of ALL the music I went through, but after pop, rock, reggae, etc., I first found metal in high school when a friend played me an album of Deicide. I couldn’t grasp it then, but doses of Priest, Autopsy, Alice Cooper, Maiden, Metallica and Megadeth later, all things metal started to make too much sense. And then I heard DEATH. And then I comprehended DEATH… and things were never the same again.
Who are you personally/individually inspired from?
Kp: Chuck Schuldiner, Gene Hoglan, Glenn Tipton, Steve DiGiorgio
Narayan: Steve Harris, Geddy Lee, Billy Sheehan, Doogie White, Ritchie Blackmore, Mr. Gene Hoglan.
Yasmin: Matt Cameron, Gene Hoglan, Alan White, Carter Beauford, Scott Travis, Neil Peart, Dennis Chambers, Tony Royster Jr., and locally, Nicola, Durga and Wilfred.
Yasmin, you must be an inspiration to so many female musicians and probably female metalheads out there, how do you feel about it? Have you ever come across any biased-stuffs about your playing in a metal band?
I haven’t thought about it. If it is so, then be it. It doesn’t change what I have to do or how I go about doing it, so it’s all good. But when I do see some woman you would least expect to see headbanging away because they seem to identify with a female drummer, it makes me happy.
There has been and may be still is some bias, either extremely pro or moderately against a woman drummer in a metal band, but that sort of stuff doesn’t matter in the long run. What matters is the music, not the messenger. But when it does happen it is ofcourse momentarily disturbing. Like this one time I thought I was sure I won a Best Drummer only because of my sex. I thought another drummer deserved it. Things like that make me wonder why most people find it difficult to look beyond genders. I think it’s the person playing that matters. Not the sex.
Why is metal so intimate to you guys? What makes you play metal the way you guys play it?
Kp: The fact that I can get lost within a flurry of riffing and parts of the song. The fact that lyrics can be expressed in a hundred different ways in the same song. The flexibility that metal allows a composer – you can have melodic, slow parts, frenetically paced speed-metal parts and sorrowful, melancholic parts in the same song without stepping out of the feel of the whole thing, at any time.
Narayan: Pushing myself physically, musically, and getting out a shitload of frustration and aggression pent up within.
Yasmin: I love a challenge. I love to drive my limbs hard. I love the intricacies of each riff, the possibilities of each bass line, the mazes of drum beats just waiting for you to see them… I love climbing that one step I think I can’t.
What’s your take on Drugs, Fashion and Politics?
Kp: Drugs? A total waste of time and brain cells, not to mention other parts of the body. Rather trip on ideas. Cheaper, healthier, and you can stop tripping whenever you want. Fashion’s not something I really know much or care much about - it’s something you abide by to fit in with society, or to be superior in some way. But you’re the same person within. Don’t really see the point. Is a poor person with a brilliant mind unfashionable? I don’t think so. Politics, sad as it may sound, is a necessary evil - humankind is built that way. You see it at every level, from the home, to the workplace to the international arena… but what it is, is a basic fight for superiority. The ego has landed.
Narayan: Drugs – Like some, hate a lot of them. Fashion – I do not subscribe to what others may term fashionable, but I have my own style of dressing, which may not be very unique, but it is what I feel comfortable in.
Politics… It affects me only when the annual budget comes out and the price of fuel keeps climbing. Otherwise, I couldn’t give a rats arse!
Yasmin: Drugs… having done a very few I have sworn off all of them altogether. They just make the illusion of reality more bearable by creating a new one. Something you use to escape… whether you admit it or not! J
Fashion… well, I don’t really know… haven’t thought a lot about it. I guess I like my clothes to make a statement. But just a statement. Not a shout or scream. Mostly though, being a practical person more or less, I just wear whatever I think will best suit the task/ occasion. Politics? Is synonymous with religion. The masses need it. The powerful ones exploit it… and the masses. I would rather have as little to do with politics at any level as possible.
Do you all have day jobs? (why am I asking this..hehe)
Kp: Oddly enough, I don’t have a ‘day’ job - I work at nights! As the kind of music we play doesn’t have the widespread appeal and sellability that you need to actually sustain yourself, we do need to hold down normal jobs. You need to eat at the end of the day, right?
Narayan: No. I have a night job. I sleep my days away! Wastrel that I am!
Yasmin: I would rather be dead than work 9-5 somewhere tucked away in a twenty-story building, doing the same monotonous thing every day, just for the money. Don’t get me wrong. You will never catch me saying money is not a lot. But it isn’t everything, as the cliché goes. So, basically, I’m postponing my working years by prolonging my educational ones. And the best part is, I can study what I really want to.
Has the music and specifically metal, influenced the way you perceive and live life?
Kp: My life has been all about the kind of bands I listen to, and the kind of ideals they portray. Of course, it works both ways – the bands I listen to are decided by the kind of person I am So how can one really say anything about it?
Narayan: Yes. My life revolves around the band, my girlfriend and home. So the music has definitely made a shitload of difference to my life. It keeps my perspectives fresh on a day-to-day basis. It keeps my mind away from the drudgery of mundane existence, work, domestic problems and so forth.
Yasmin: It has certainly enhanced it and made life that much more meaningful and worth living, but I don’t know if it has influenced me. I agree with Kp here, in that I believe you play metal if you are a certain kind of person.
How do you see the metal scene there in India? How is it growing?
Kp: The ’scene’ is getting slightly better in India – more people opening their minds (and purses) to the kind of music we’re about. Still has a long way to go, though… The saddest part of the whole thing is that bands themselves don’t really help each other out – undercutting prices for shows, speaking behind one another’s backs – all the hooks of big time politics has a small role here, too. Odd, for an underground anti-establishmentarian set of misfits, eh?
How is it in your own hometown?
Kp – In Bangalore, the scene is really good, except most people don’t really turn up for rock shows. More appreciation is given to the ‘big’ bands than our own Indian bands, most of the time. Of course, there are the set of people who devotedly keep themselves updated on all the new originals released by Indian bands, and make it a point to attend every rock show, and all that - but that’s pretty much a minority.
Are there any other good metal bands that we might not have heard yet, your favorite local bands?
Yasmin - IIIrd Sovereign is one band arse band to look out for. They are very dedicated and skilled musicians, with good showmanship and they put in a lot of effort into their songs. Other bands are Demonic Resurrection and Semblance for their compostions. I’m sure we have left out some bands, but there is still a lot of good metal stuffs floating about.
Being in a metal band surely is one of the toughest jobs to do, can you share all those experiences, setbacks and desires to continue as the band?
Kp & Yas: Not that it’s easy, but there’s nothing else to it but to handle it the best one can, right? If you consider playing music to be important enough, then it’s worth it. Toughness doesn’t matter, after a point. But yes, it is definitely tough. You have to sacrifice a lot of other things to be able to continue with your music. Besides, considering the music we play, and hence the kind of people we are, (or is it the other way around?) setbacks only seem to make us want to give the music more of our best.
Where do you guys play often and how are the gigs and crowds and management like?
Kp: Most of the time we play shows organized in open-air grounds with a few other bands – crowds don’t really turn up in large numbers unless you have three/four bands performing at the venue. Crowds can go from anything like 300 or so (pub gigs) to 3-4,000 (for open-air gigs). Some major shows, such as the Independence Rock or NLS annual competition – well-known yearly shows, that is – can draw as many as 7-8,000 people as a floating audience.
Stages are pretty good, sound is good most of the time, and by now we know what to expect if we find out who’s providing the equipment. Management is also good, most of the time. We check it out before playing, of course, by speaking to other bands who have played before, etc. Also helps to have a rider to hand over to the management for pro gigs, which specifies the band’s requirements on stage.
Do bands get paid in the gigs?
Kp: Extreme metal bands get paid less than others, most of the time, but most bands do get paid. Smaller bands, or bands that haven’t played as much as others, do play for free, but just as a method to increase their visibility. Of course, this does cause problems for more established bands who don’t want to play for free, sometimes, because organizers sometimes would rather have an unknown small band playing for free than an established one charging a decent amount.
How are the recording studios down there?
Kp: There are quite a few good ones in Chennai and Mumbai, and a couple of good ones in Bangalore, but the really good ones are really out of budget, too! But you can get a decent recording done at an average budget without too many problems, if you know enough people and know where to look and ask.
Would your band like to come and play here in Kathmandu, Nepal?
Kp: We’d definitely love to play Nepal! Anything up north. In fact we’ve been wanting to play within India, the North-East, for quite a while, too. If we do that, Nepal will definitely be on the cards during the same time. Certainly helps that we don’t need to apply for visas and all those things to get into Nepal.
[Interview through mails by Umes Shrestha]
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