Why are the bands quiet?

There was a time when band music was mainstream, the sound of drums and guitars reverberating from house to house. The youth of every major city of Nepal had a great attraction towards musical groups.

From 1990 to 2015, many bands were established in pop, rock, folk-pop, folk-rock, punk-rock, blues, metal, jazz, instrumental, reggae, alternative rock, etc. Prism Band, which opened in 1978, is considered to be the first rock band of Nepal. According to music researcher Bulu Mukarung's book 'Archives of Nepali Music', the Prism Band had only one guitar. The band consisted of Pemba Lepcha, George Subba, Dev Rana, Suvarna Limbu, Dinesh Rai, Prahlad Roka and Deepak Thapa. In 1970, hippy-style western music was already introduced in Nepal. Mukarung claims that it was these hippies who pushed rock music forward.

At a time when the use of TV was increasing and the society was opening up, many bands opened in cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Hetaunda, Banepa, Chitwan, Dharan. At that time when the audio cassette and CD business was the main source of income, most of the band members tried to copy the fashion and hairstyles of famous foreign bands. Fans anxiously awaited the new album and musical concert. If the fan groups of famous bands were formed, the musicians of those bands would have a heavy presence on FM radio. A separate interview program was held for the band.

times have changed now. Gone are the days of listening to songs on audio cassettes, filling CDs or pen drives, and streaming on platforms such as YouTube. As the musical tastes and preferences of the latest generation have changed, many of the bands that once held immense stardom are struggling to survive or somehow return to music. As Adam Levine, the lead singer of the famous American musical group called 'Maroon Five' said, "There are not many bands left anymore".

The last generation doesn't know much about most bands, and those who do don't really care. Guitarist Manoj Kumar KC of the once famous band '1974 AD' found that even though the youth up to class 12 had heard their songs, they were ignorant of the band. How did you feel? He says, "I feel that the generation has changed. It should also be considered natural.' The current weak position of Nepali bands can be interpreted as the declining interest in rock bands globally. Most of the Nepali music groups are fragmented and inactive while some new and old bands are trying to create music and run as professionally as possible.

Athak Yatra

In terms of continuity, the oldest band 'Nepathya' is currently in nationwide concerts. Just two weeks ago, the band held a grand concert at Karfolk in Ilam. Now Chait 30 is preparing for the program to be held in Birtamode. Due to the excellent management of 'Nepathya', this group is one of the biggest and successful musical performance bands in the country and abroad. Nepathya, which has resonated in prestigious places like Wembley in Britain, is the most played band in Nepal for three decades.

Similarly, the 'Kandara' band, which became inactive after being established in 1994, is also trying to resume music recently. It is expected to reach the audience through concerts in all seven provinces. The band has recently performed in Pokhara and is preparing to perform in Dharan next month. With the band's vocalist Vivek Shrestha going to and from abroad, the band has been inactive and active lately. Through the systematic use of social media platforms, the band has made efforts to communicate with new and old fans as well as inform them about their activities.

Returning to music after a long break, 'Axis' is one of the 'premium bands' of today. By holding concerts in three countries namely UAE, India and Nepal, Axis re-enacted their famous songs including 'Mero Prem Adhuro', 'Timro Tay Muskan'. According to the band's management group, 8,000 tickets were printed for the last concert, and 2,000 more had to be printed. As the vocalist of Axis, Sandeep, lives in the UK, the management has said that more tours will be done to suit his time.

Most of the bands are currently busy with country-abroad tours. The 'Sabin Rai and the Pharoah' band has been traveling to and from Australia, Europe and Canada for some time now, while the 'Albatross' band is preparing for an Australian and New Zealand tour. 'The Age' and 'Mongolian Heart' are also going on a UAE tour. Meanwhile, after a decade of hiatus, 'Karma' is preparing to reactivate and release a new album. Another established rock band '1974 AD' is going on a US tour next month. On the occasion of New Year, 'Abhaya and the Steam Engines' have been contracted for concerts in the country.

Old bands like 'Nepathya', '1974 AD', 'Albatross', 'Mongolian Heart' are still going strong. However, these days, no old or new band has such a great concert, the band resonates only in small venues and limited audiences. However, Manoj of '1974 AD' says that true fans of the band's music attend such events by buying tickets. "A big concert requires a big sponsor, now when the country's economic situation is slow, it is difficult to get a big sponsor," he says, "the organizer always has to bow to the sponsor."

According to Manoj, there is a problem for bands in Nepal as there is no performing hall, ground and stadium to perform. "There is no fixed venue available for concerts," he says, "Tundikhel or stadiums are not places for concerts." Again, there is a lot of procedural hassle to perform concerts in such grounds after paying rent to the government.' Manoj believes that the band needs concerts to keep itself 'exclusive' and to raise the level by practicing regularly. In 2002, '1974 AD' held a 'Rock Yatra' concert which is considered to be the biggest in the history of Nepali bands. About 80,000 spectators were present inside and outside the concert at Dasharath Stadium.

daily programs abroad After the generation that listens and hums the music of the

band started going abroad, artists say that now most of the programs are held in various cities of the Gulf countries, Australia, and America where there is a majority of Nepali. The folk-pop band 'Mongolian Heart', founded in the 90s, is planning a foreign tour with a new album on the occasion of its 35th anniversary.

Pokhreli group 'The Edge' is also thinking of going on a global music tour after 25 years of establishment. Jeevan Gurung, the vocalist of 'The Edge' band, has the experience of performing up to 12 musical events in a month during the recent US tour. "All youths are abroad, our programs are also held abroad," says Jeevan, "We are doing two/four programs a month in Nepal as well." Although

will be good financially, it is not possible to say that Nepali music has reached abroad by performing programs abroad. There is also the understanding of music workers that Nepali music is not known internationally as the program is held only among the Nepali community. Manoj has the experience of organizing programs there every day because of his flock of Nepalis abroad. "There are musical programs in Australia and Dubai every day, how many of them do the audience go to?" Our 30th anniversary is coming up, we are doing a world tour from next May.'

Solo artist's world

Swapnil Sharma, vocalist of the established rock band 'The Shadows Nepal', says that the main reason for this is the change in the interest of the source, even though it seems like the band's music has disappeared because there are no concerts and the bands are not active either. "Preferences towards music are cyclical, right now hip-hop, EDM, R&B and a little bit of slow music are playing, but one day the rock genre will come back," he says, "Music is like fashion." First belly pants were in fashion, faded in between and are now back in trend. There is a similar cycle in music.'

According to Swapnil, now because of social media, easy music is trending. Rock music itself is a genre that is difficult to understand and needs to be listened to very attentively, so it has not been able to stick to the routine of 'easy listening'. "Compared to EDM, R&B, rock music has been losing its popularity since 2000," he says, "but those who refine themselves with time are always preferred." Swapnil feels that those who started rock bands in Nepal have now reached adulthood and the new generation will dominate the mainstream. There has been some slowness because it has not been done.

"There are solo artists in the world, Taylor Swift, Ed Siran are in the era, the current generation is growing up listening to them, they want to be like them," Swapnil's analysis says, "Our generation grew up listening to Metallica, Aerosmith, they were our idols." It was because of them that we got the inspiration to start a band.'' In Swapnil's experience, a band is also a very expensive thing. Now the challenge is for the band to survive and move forward during the economic downturn. Financial management is also one of the reasons why a solo artist runs more than a band. For example - giving a salary of two lakh rupees to a solo artist is significant and the organizer and manager also get some benefits, but he has experience that if 200,000 is paid to a band, not even 20,000 will come to one of them.

Similarly, guitarist Bobby Lama, who says that he has been associated with 'Mongolian Heart' for 22 years and has no other profession or income, says that he is 'living a good life'. "The young generation does not form a band, they prefer to sing alone, the market has made it so," he says, "other members of our band also do side jobs. Raju and I only do music.' He concludes that making and saving a band is becoming expensive and strenuous.

Abhaya Subba of 'Abhaya and the Steam Engines' says that the music listeners and the entire market have changed in taste. Some time ago, in an interview with Kantipur 'Koseli', she said that the rock genre in particular has disappeared in the world. 'Everyone knows that rock music is not in fashion now, but new things coming/going is a continuous process,' said Abhaya. - Earlier, there were symphony orchestras and the number of 100/200 musicians sitting down to run the orchestra decreased, 12 people started conducting the orchestra and gradually decreased from 12 to 5 now. "Now it has reduced from five to only one - DJ, who does everything by himself and also moves," she said. He believes that change must be accepted and that bands or rock music need to be reimagined or reloaded.

Emergence of a new band

has not ceased to be a musical group that sings new songs with rock music in Nepal. A reality show called 'Band Champion' also boosted the establishment of bands. In the second season of BandChampion in 2022, 25 bands were selected from nearly 200 bands that applied. In the first season too, around 70 bands tried out for selection. This number also shows that bands have not stopped being formed, but it is true that they have not become popular.

Some new bands like 'Rockheads', 'Jan Chamling's Band', 'Jhilke and the Company', 'Poorna Rai and Dajubhai' are emerging. 'Underside', 'Majipa', 'Pehello Battimuni', 'The Act' are the last generation bands that were established around 2010 based on different genres of rock music. It's not that new bands aren't coming, but veteran musicians understand that the problem is that they slow down after a while or that the lead singer himself goes solo. They are of the opinion that the problem has increased as the youth leave the country at a rapid rate and the band members and fans also leave.

Rohit Shakya's 'Zindavad' band, established in 2010, slowed down in a short time. Rohit, who has experienced the slow down of band music due to income from platforms like YouTube and Spotify and the attraction of a solo career, said in an interview - I am trying to revive my band again. Sweets

of

Live Music is that the attraction of all the music workers of life is now led to lived live music. The 'Mongolian Heart' is the understanding of Bobby Lama, standing in the station, and in the presentation, the band statement is very important and playing on the station and playing in the track, playing presentation of various habits, playing various habits, and staging in the track. 'The singer is sung to the track that is sung by singing, "he says about the views of Nepali the audience. Is a reflection. In addition to self-lifting, especially live music, has also demanded by bands. He says that no one who is unable to arouse energy and sell to the viewer. But he is saddened that the ample outdoor concerts are stopped. "The band is not the same for Indor, such a poor-smelling bands did not seem to be asleep," says Sepanil. Have been continuously providing the rock band by the Purple Hease Rock Band. '& NBSP;

in 2004/5 I will hear the song of Rock bands and recalls a self-smelling song on TV. "At that time programs were to be tank. We concerted in the roof of different cities, 'he says,' We inaugurated the Kathmandu mall, we convened its roof. Compared on the streets and roads from the stools. Those days were very happy. '& NBSP;

Sanpanil and Ashok Sennel established the 'Prelipl Hedge' in 2011. The Purple Hayz is annually to four bands and other artist in mandatory stage by annual support program. Bands of bands established in the four days are special attraction. This time this time the day of the New Year's day this program is becoming a program. These 'Sabin Rai endes', 'Karma' and 'Jan. Karma' and 'Jan. Karma' and 'Jan. Karma' and 'Jan. Karm, Karmiling Rai' will stay. & Nbsp; Strong reasons for not being newcoming information and not to conform to Nepali music area, including weak market and presentation of band management, including the lack of weak trade and lack of brinding. According to the music analyst Salile, bands are not dead, but have changed in cultural style. 'Rock returns. Now the Analog Camera and the Cased Chakku, it is very varied and currently affected by technology, the rock band named. Although there are difficulties to establish bands, economic, technical, managerial and various causes of various causes, the music person does not have to be left to support each other. 'Technology interference has changed and a singing, "Salils," Salil, the song of 70,90s, energy and happy feelings. That was a wave of bands. '& Nbsp;

Presentation says Salila, both the zeal and energy of the artist-viewer will be exposed. Has his experience that the brother of Rock Bhadha, who is still on Solo Career. "The songs today are very soft, Melodius and sweet skelets, 'he said,' I think, why are all quiet? Why is anyone not shouting from inside? Why is it not obeding to all in oneself with songs? The song is not always sweet. Music has recently been a Political Copidya Habya, a lot of sellial returns, the rock is the rebellion. & Nbsp; According to

Salika, the band members make a joint energy in the same stage, where the "cylors festival ', where the home-abroad were stood in one place and moving rebellion and obscure. That was the celebration of the Silence Festival of Bands.