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Interview

How did your career start? Did you aimed to be a singer from childhood?

Prashna

Let me tell about my family a little first, my father was a table tennis coach. There was no musical background in the family. I grew up with my grand parents mostly and all of my family members wanted me to be a doctor or an engineer. But, my interest was in media and music and slowly got successful.

So you grew up in Dharan?

Prashna

Yes.

Did you get formal trainings?

Prashna

At first when I was young I didn't take any training I used to listen to Indian music a lot and I used to sing along and that used to be my practice. I really got into singing when I was 14 but I didn't think of taking any training. But, as grew up I started to feel the necessity to have some training. I did took a class when I was 16 but then I was not that much dedicated to it. Then later on when I came to Kathmandu in 2056 B.S. and went back in 2057 B.S., I did take classical lessons seriously. So I did some training and I also graduated in music but I do not perceive that as training because that is more of just a certificate.

Aawaj Deu was the song that really gave you recognition as a singer right, so would you tell something about the song?

Prashna

Aawaj Deu was the song that really got me a break through in the music industry at that such an early age. I really gave thanks to Maharaj Thapa dai for that song and the album "Aawaj". It was my second album. It was him who gave me such a wonderful opportunity. He produced the album for me and gave his song, which was a really good song, and it was a hit and I also received awards which was a lucky break for me.

About you first album……?

Prashna

Well my father had helped me record an album in Dharan. I was really young and as singer I was just a novice. Daddy realized my interest in music, decided to help me. He did a lot for the album, spent a good amount of money and also came to Kathmandu and got a video done for the song. But, the problem was that my father did not know about the media field and so the album could not do well.

How was your feeling when you first entered studio to sing a song?

Prashna

The first song that I recorded for was “Jau hinda priyashi jaun hinda” which was a duet on Subod Limbu’s album "Subod Dreams". At that time everyone used to encourage me concerning my singing and I used to see myself as a very good singer so I was kind of over confident during the recording session. But, I did a stage show when I was about 14 years old. That was the first time in my life that I ever sang outside of school. That time when I climbed the stage I was really nervous and was almost shaking but once I started singing the song I got comfortable and I did well from the second chorus.

Do you like singing on stage more or do you like singing in studio?

Prashna

Well both have their own charms. When on stage, you get to interact with the crowd so it is fun but now days you have to worry about stones being thrown at you as well sometimes. If it is indoors it is really fun. In recording sessions though you really have to consider about you singing and have to do several takes.

Do you think that you are able to grab the attentions of the crowd while singing on stage?

Prashna

Yes, most of the times I do think that I am able to do so but sometimes it does not go that very well and at those times I get slightly depressed and after that I keep remembering it. It becomes really hard for me to spend time after a bad show.

It seems that you mostly sing slow and melodious songs. Is that your kind of sing?

Prashna

Well I mostly like melodious and slow songs but it is not true that I sing only such songs I have sang many fast tempo upbeat songs as well. It’s just so that there is a stereotype among people. When you sing a song of particular type they expect you to sing similar songs all long. I will be singing many fast numbers here onwards and I do also already have some fast numbers that I sang for films and also my nepalbhasha numbers are mostly fast ones.

So you have about 5 or 6 Nepalbhasha songs already right?

Prashna

Well let’s count… I have three with Sulindra Shakya. I have one with Neel Shakya, one with Sameer, and one with Prabesh Man Shakya. So I have about seven.

Though you do not normally speak nepalbhasha you have sung many Nepalbhasha songs so how did it start? Who approached you for a Nepalbhasha song?

Prashna

Neel Shakya Dai was the first to approach me. It has been a long time I do not exactly how he approached me for the song, and I did not even get to meet the male singer of the duet, but… yah it was Neel Shakya who first introduced me to Newa music scene. Then Prabesh man Shakya dai and Sulindra mostly… he requested me on several occasions and every time I agreed upon singing without second thoughts.

Did you have any difficulties while singing in Nepalbhasha for the reason that you do not speak nepalbhasha?

Prashna

Well I do not speak Nepalbhasha but I can make out the language and the pronunciation so it was not that very difficult. I do feel sometimes that I might make mistakes with the wordings but I try my best to make it flawless. I did sing in Maithali and Bhojpuri as well when I was in Dharan and I worked hard for it and Nepalbhasha is my own language so I work even harder for it.

After you got recognition as a good singer you then started featuring in hip hop songs as well with Nirnaya the Rappaz Union and other artists. So tell us about the experience?

Prashna

Well it was the first time I featured in any song I did sing duets and it was with my close friend Avinash Ghising that I first sang in a hip-hop song. The song was Lhasa Ko Chisho and it was more of duet. My as a featuring it was Hamro Gaule Jivan with Nirnaya. I was approached by Nirnaya. He called me and said he wanted me to sing a folk type song. It was first offer of such a king for me and I was really having doubts, as it was the first time I was featuring in a song. He did help me and told me about the melody and how he wanted me to sing it and once I heard the music I thought it was really good and I had a good time singing it and later on luckily the song became a hit.

So about the music scene in overall (not only nepalbhasha); how developed do you think the industry?

Prashna

It is a lot better than before but you need to be creative and work hard. Lately due to the situation (of the country), it has been difficult not only in the field of music but everywhere else as well. But, if the situation improve I think there are positive potentials if a singer does more than just singing.

So are you doing more than singing yourself?

Prashna

Yes, well I am I am working as a RJ in Maitri FM and also I am doing voice-overs and commersials. I did get the opportunity to do all these things due to my singing. In future I might be doing more.

So you are a RJ as well?

Prashna

Well I do not like to call myself a RJ. I am just learning. I am not that very good at it but may be in future I’ll be better.

What about lyrics writing and compositions?

Prashna

Well I do write songs I used to write since I was a child, but the thing is that I happen to write only tragic songs for some unknown reasons, I wrote first when I was sixteen “Chhodi gayau saat samundra malai eklo parera, aunchhau bhani parkhi rahen” then “mann ma aasa bokera” and every one teased me and asked me if I had a love tragedy. I wrote two songs and was also recorded and included in "Hi Hello" album. I did write many lyrics but I am moody and don’t continue most of the time. And about composing, I do get good melodies in my head but usually I forget them. If I can get good compositions later in future I will definitely compose song, for myself only though.

So about the fans; how crazy are they?

Prashna

I did meet some really crazy fans. But, in by view the fans change with your age. When I was young I had different fans but now I have different fans. Some are really loyal who call me regularly and even share with me their personal problems. And, I also I have some really young fans. I find them really sweet.

Which is your best among your songs?

Prashna

I cannot leave Aawaj Deu the song which made me. But, among the older songs late Divya Khaling uncle’s Mutu Bhitra which is a Aadhunik song and also his folk based song called Soltee Jeu. These songs did not get much publicity but I really like them. But, I do like most of my songs but some I like more.

Singer must like all his/her songs right?

Prashna

I don’t actually. The thing is that some songs do not suite the singer but you eventually have to sing the songs and they turn out less than good.

Among Nepalbhasha songs which are your best?

Prashna

I like Khanemaru Khanemaru very mush and also the sentimental song ….Sukha Dukha Dhaigu Chhu.

So you like sentimental melodious songs and also write tragedy songs. So, does that depict your real life?

Prashna

Look at me, do you think that I am so? (Giggle) It seems that it is always the opposite.

About the newa music scene is there an industry?

Prashna

Well I think that newa music is really rich I do not know many musicians and singers but I think there are many good talents. The main thing is that the community must have unity. Who is going to listen to Newa music if we Newas don’t? I hear that there is a habit of asking for free copies instead of buying a copy here, this is not right, we should all buy CDs and cassettes then only the artists can survive. The Newa music is lagging back a bit may be but there is potential and we have to uplift it.

Interview By Mr. Shobhit Shakya (Nepa Reporter) & Sabina Bajracharya (Nepa Reporter)
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