Geshan's Blog

Geshan.blogspot.com Exclusive Unedited Version

Nirnaya Shrestha a.k.a. Nirnaya DA NSK(Naughty Soul Kid) is manily known as the rap singer of Nepali music but he is Senior RJ at Image Channel and also designed the layout of Sajilo.com. He has released a solo album and the second one is in the pipeline which has been just named Mechi Dekhi Mahakali, he was a part of Rappers Union that had made three albums public in the past. He returned from the USA in 1992 and started RJing as a hobby and says that it is still a part-time hobby. He had attained some music knowing in the school days but without doubts he can be termed as one of the best rappers in our country.

Last time someone called you Naughty Soul Kid (NSK)? Who

Ah… Yes just yesterday, two kids literally called me NSK hope they were my fans. I was just out of the photo shoot and the two kinds called my NSK the Naughty Soul Kid. It was nice to hear that.

Last time you watched bounce’s video on TV?

It’s been so long I last watched TV. It must be 2 months back I watched it on TV. Due to the busy schedule I have to leave home very early and land home late, so I don’t really get time to relax and watch TV.

Last time you thought you’ll go out without a shade and a cap?

Just today, as every Wednesday I go to a temple. Thereby today I’ll go to that temple which is near by Pashupati at Battisputali. I don’t really know the name of that temple as it is not so popular temple.

Last time you shot for a video?

A month ago, it was the video of a song from my next album which is named Mechi Dekhi Mahakali till now the song is called Lek Dekhi Besi. It was Nepal bandh, the song is a patriotic one which is based on andolan and the current scenario. This is an experiment I have tried this time.

Last time you thought you would direct a video?

Yes, a month back during the same video I thought I would direct a video though I don’t. As there was no option because there was no director, I, Prashna, Spot boy and camera men were only there so I thought of giving it a try.

Last time you thought of singing a different genre than Rap or pop?

Let me think…Last year I wanted to try a lok song. As it will be hard for me so I wanted to experiment singing a lok song. It would be of a different flavor and interesting to see if I could get that lok feeling.

Last time you thought of remixing one of your old tracks?

No such plans or thought but yes for this album I have arranged a song in two different versions. The song is named Naacha and it has two version one is a serious mix and another is a fun mix.

Last time you met an accident?

Road accident, ah… Around two weeks ago not a big one but a small one. I was in my car and it was a jam situation by mistake my touched the scooter ahead. The guy on the scooter and I were totally fine nothing serious happened.

Last time you were utterly surprised?

I haven’t been surprised for a long time…Wait. It as the day before yesterday, in the morning I woke up and to my surprise I had tonsils. In this hot season also I got tonsils it was surprising and now I have to carry my medicine with me to gargle.

Last time you were nervous on stage?

Nervous…There is always some nervousness on stage but nothing serious. I guess an interesting event was when in the last concert for the performance at ASMN mela as Prashna got sick and she couldn’t come so I was worried but then Nalina Didi performed with me. It was my first time performing with her and it was different as well as interesting.

Last time you debated over rap music or Nepali music?

Nepali Music, Just now in the studio we were talking about Rap Music.The recordist and a friend of mine were just joking that rap music is spoiling the current music scenario and I was defending rap music.

Last time got impressed by your own lyric?

Yes a song for this album, the song is Hami Sangai. In each of my albums there is a song with a story. There was Din Pani Bityo in Da Nepali Touch then Gaunle Jiwan in Ma Nepali and now it is Hami Sangai in which the girl and the boy meet. It was a challenging job I had to record it and re-record it to get the feelings of the song, though it was tough but I’m happy with it now.

Last time you waited for someone for a long time?

Yesterday, we had a photo shoot schedule for 11 but Prashna came to the shoot only at 1 o’ clock. It was a 10 person photo shoot but it went very well.

Last time you were out of your cell’s battery?

It was also yesterday, I had an extra battery but couldn’t find it when I needed it the most. After a while I found it in my bad and put it into use. Yesterday was a hectic one.

Last time you said “When will Nepal Improve”?

Just today, a friend of mine called from Hongkong. She wanted to come to Nepal in June but I suggested her to be her in December due to the current volatile situation. So then I said When will Nepal Improve.

Last time you gave an autograph?

It was after the video shoot at Samakhusi town planning. Lots of kids were there and I had to give autographs to each of them, it was fun.

Last time you watched news and said “Good News”?

It’s hard to remember, now a days News is rarely good. Its hard for me to watch news but yes I guess when Dr. Bhola Rijal released a single I liked the news. It is a change in the current trend of releasing albums and I liked that.

Last time you rode a cycle?

Cycle… Hum… Ha ha… (Giggles) Not exactly a cycle but I rode a rickshaw for the shoot of Lek Dekhi Besi. We parked the bike and we followed the Julus on a rickshaw it was ok.

Last time you relaxed at home watching movies?

Some days back, it was a bandh may be 20^th or 22^nd March. I stepped back and relaxed it was a relaxing day.

Last time you thought that you could release your album sooner?

I haven’t thought as such as I work sincerely. My previous album is still doing very well. But this time I want to release this album Mechi Dekhi Mahakali soon as it has time relevant songs.

Last Words:

Best wishes always, Study hard. Let’s all hope peace comes back to Nepal.

Geshan Manandhar

Interview taken on 28th March 2007, I'll add more things to it when I get them

Published in IN YOUR FACE magazine, April 2007 Issue Last Page: LAST WORDS

Geshan.blogspot.com Exclusive Unedited Version

Pahilo Maya has worked wonders for this soft spoken multitalented artist who has successfully proven his metal in many fields of media. Quoting singing as his habit but he is well versed to sing without any formal training in singing or playing instruments. On the contrary he can and loves to play guitar which he tags as his favorite instrument. He supplements that it’s the base of composition and is lady shaped. He defines music as an integral part of life.

He was born on November 14 in Kathmandu. Asif completed his schooling from Everest School. He joined Ashirwad College to do his +2 in commerce and was admitted to Shanker Dev for BBS but did it from Public Youth. He is fast to tell that the callers on his how identify him as a student of Public Youth. He happily admits that his music career started just by joking but informs that he had to struggle to be the television presenter that he is in current times. He states that singing is a common family hobby and he liked listening to Michael Learns To Rock, Ronan Keating from the West and Shaan and Sonu Nigam from the East growing up as a teenager.

He has tried his hands in works of television producer, video and advertisement director, television presenter, singer and even recently as a RJ. He explains that a TV producer is the one who shoots, edits and airs a program so he can be termed the Captain of the ship. He as successfully produces shows like Lifestyle, Music of your choice, SMS and more and others. He has worked for many Nepali TV channels like Channel Nepal, Nepal 1, Kantipur and Image Televison. He swiftly denies his interest in National Television. As a video director this prolific performer has more than 25 videos under his belt among them his personal favorite is “Jindagi Ma” of Nabin K. Bhattarai which got critical acclamation. Some popular videos directed by the gifted individual are Aankha Bhari by Pranil feat. DA 69, Namuna by Mingma Sherpa, Saathi by Sugam Pokhrel, Yehi ho ta maya by Pranil feat. Nabin K. Bhattarai, and the recent talk of the town she is the bomb by the Unity. He has lent his voice to adverts like Himal Steel, Sunsilk, voice over of Vivek Oberai in Dabur’s ad., Ricona, quick chips etc. He has even directed the advertisements of Himal Steel and Sunsilk.

Though labeling his music career as fun but his album Byakaran of Rap is going to be out till March end this year. The album contains 8 tracks of which the video of Pahilo Maya is a chart topper. The album will be released under the name of Unity of which Asif is an indispensable part. He adds that he has no plans of singing rap but audience will find variety in the album. He clarifies that all songs will be like Pahilo Maya where Asif will sing and the songs will have rap. It has a mix of genres including RnB, Rap, Rock etc. The album’s songs are composed by Asif, Swapnil of Shadows and Sugam Pokhrel has also helped for one song. The whole album’s arrangement credits is to be credited to Rajan Ishan. Asif is quick to say that Nepali music scenario is going well and now is the era of experimental and quality music.

On being asked about his career he notifies that the balancing act between his careers is spontaneous. It is hectic but hassle free as Unity is a team and the singing he does is a part of the team work that eases his pressure. He doesn’t term his as a singer as only a single is out so he likes to be known as a TV presenter. He denies being Jack of all and master of none with example that we study commerce with many subjects like Marketing, English, and Mathematics etc but to pass we must get good marks in all of them. So, people tell me that I’m putting my hands in many things but as the study of many subjects I can handle it very well. He updates that he has no big future plans except to work for and promote his album in immediate future. Finally he puts forward his gratitude to all the fans and supporters and says that he would like any kind of comments, suggestion and compliments. You can send those at ashif_143@hotmail.com.

Geshan Manandhar

Around 750 Words

To Be Published in next Issue of Neo Showbiz

Rajan Ishan became a household name around a decade back when the ever popular song “Basama Chhian Mero Maan” stormed the nepali charts. Now the multifaceted celebrity is more into arranging then in singing. Defining arranging as a job of a makeup artist where the composition of a song is a bride, he exclaims that arranger is the main person responsible for instrumentation in any song in current context.

Born on Asoj 13, 2033 Ishan did his schooling in various schools including Laboratory school, kshitiz school and he completed his schooling in Ranchi, India in Central Academy Siddhartha Institue. He joined colleges like RR campus,Lalit kala and Shanker Dev campus but didn’t really put his heat and soul in studies. He was more focused into music mainly from 2047 BS. About his music career he informs that he was in sports first, he was a black belt in Karate. Unknowingly he shifted from sports to music.

He states now he has no time to listen to songs but he used to listen to Mohamad Rafi, Manna de, Kishore Kumar and Mehendi Hasan. He was also a fan of Scorpians, Michael learns to rock and Brian Adams in the yesteryears. Amongst the various instruments he knows to play like mouthorgan, bansure (murali), guitar, drum, madal, keyboard, dholak and harmonium he likes the guitar most. He says it was the first instrument he learned and he is attached to it more. Ishan had formal trainings for guitar and basic classical course from Nhyoo Bajracharya in Doremi. He has also done Jr. Diploma in Eastern classical music.

Struggle has not been a part and parcel of life for Rajan but he has got his share of working experience required to be a successful arranger he is now. He was an assistant in Alpha Digital Studio where he learnt the recording related tasks. He worked as a recordist in Opus studio and Royaltone studio. He had opened his own studio called Naad but now he has his home studio named Virtual Studio at Sucheka Galli, Ason. He emphasized that work should be done sincerely.

Rajan Ishan as a singer has released two solo albums Rohini vol. 1 (2054 BS) and Ishan (2059 BS). He has also brought out an album as a member of the band Nishad called Nishad (2055 BS) itself. As an arranger he has bagged fifty songs under his belt. Some of the popular numbers he has arranged are “Basama Chhaina”, “Chham Chham”, Namuna, “Priyatama”, “Pahilo maya” and “Kahile aago” and “Maan ko rani” in recent times. Rajan likes to have a versatile approach on arrangement of songs and wants to be variety oriented. He thanks god for making him able to arrange such diverse songs from pop to RnB.

He achieved the best new artist award in Hits FM Music awards 2056. The well admired video of “Basa Ma Chhaina” got the award of best video in SanMiguel Awards in 2056 bagged by Alok Nembang. He has also done jingles for advertisements including the recent advertisement of Quick Chips which features “Basa Ma Chhiana”. He is doing advert jingles for Hama Steel and Ricona as well. There by he has got his hands involved in many fields.

Though he is not in the limelight, he is ahead to say that he is not media shy. He likes to be known as a good compose and arranger. He wants himself to be called as a music director who is a complete package in his own rights. In the pipeline we have Mausami Gurung’s new album, Yash Kumar’s album, Unity’s Next album called Byakaran, Sugam Pokhrel’s next album called Paathshala and Aau mero saath by Satish Shrestha which are all arranged by Rajan. The list of songs will soon reach the century mark when he arranges songs for Agantuk Kharel of which Ban Ma Fulyo Phool is rocking the charts now a days, his own next album, Dhiraj Rai and Satya Swarup Shrestha. In the year 2064 he aims that in the top ten song of the year the top five will be arranged by him.

This down to earth humble human being has changed with time. A decade back he arranged slow song like “Basama chhaina” and how he has arranged hit numbers like Maan ko rani and Pahilo Maya. He claims that now the era is of RnB, hip hop with 4/4 beats so songs should be short in lengthy and catchy from the word go. He also adds that this is the golden period in Nepali music and presence on many Medias has helped uplift Nepali music to this level. He is happy that just by arranging in our country also a person can survive easily. This believer in god stresses on positive thinking and healthy living. He can be contacted at rajanishan@hotmail.com or rajanishan143@yahoo.com.

Geshan Manandhar
Around 800 Words