Metal Mayhem @Gangtok

Gangtok, June 27: Gangtok’s pub culture has given space to heavy metal headbangers with a Darjeeling-based company kick starting a monthly festival at Café Live & Loud where local bands can jam up with national and international performers.

The first edition, Metal Mayhem, I saw electrifying performance by Kathmandu outfit Kaalo Din and Darjeeling’s Dark Murder Scheme on Saturday evening. The two bands were invited by Defenders of Metal, an event management company based in Darjeeling, to expose the Gangtok crowd to a rather dark genre of rock music.

“We are starting a pub festival in Gangtok. We will have big acts and people can experience good metal music which is slowly becoming popular here. We plan to organise the event once in three months initially. But if things go as planned, it will be a monthly event where bands from Sikkim and Darjeeling will perform side by side with top metal bands from other parts of the country and outside,” said Defenders of Metal’s events head Hojo.

In a three-hour performance, Dark Murder Scheme screamed and removed the monsoon-induced lethargy of a 100-odd crowd before Kalo Din took the stage and enthralled the people with symphonic black metal.

“It was nice playing here and we had fun. The crowd response was okay for a pub,” said Dark Murder Scheme vocalist Animesh Sinha. The other members of the band formed in 2008 are Abhigya Bharati (guitar), Reshav Khawas (bass) and Triratna Moktan (drums).

Sinha said heavy metal bands got limited options to play in Sikkim and the Darjeeling hills and it was always a welcome to get offers to do gigs in pubs. “We play only in such organised events. There is limited space for our kind of music,” he said.

“The objective is to have an exchange of music knowledge between bands of Sikkim and Darjeeling and others. We will bring in top bands and our local boys will also gain by sharing dais with them. There are chances that bands in Sikkim and Darjeeling hills will get invitations to play in other parts of the country,” said Hojo.

The Defenders of Metal has already booked Kalo Din for a performance at a Guwahati pub tomorrow.

“This is the first time we are playing in Gangtok. We have heard a lot about the natural beauty of Sikkim but we didn’t know that metal is popular here. Back in Nepal, heavy metal is an underground scene but is developing rapidly. We are happy to be invited by Hojo to play here,” said band lead guitarist Davin Shakya.

The other members of the band who played on Saturday were Sanjay Mahajan (vocals), Omeo (guitarist), Bikash Rai (bassist), Ashish Senchury (keyboard player) and Gobind Senchury (drum).

Kalo Din already has an album under its belt and is working on a second product to be released in October.

Defenders of Metal is planning a gathering of international metalheads in Darjeeling later this year. “We are organising another event titled Underground Unleashed from September 30 to October 2 in Darjeeling where 12 international bands from the UK and the USA, Poland and other countries will play,” said Hojo.

The Music of the Prashant Tamang's “Kina Mayama” released

KATHMANDU,June 23: The audio CD of the movie “Kina Mayama” was released at a press meet organized at Hotel Ashoka in Bag Bazaar on June 22.Music.com is distributing the audio CD of the movie.

The movie is featuring ex-Indian Idol

Prashant Tamang and is paired with Sumina Ghimire. “It’s a film with a social message, and it’s different from the trend that’s prevalent in Nepali movies,” said Chunilal Ghimire, director of the movie, who is from Sikkim.

“I believe this movie will strengthen relations between Nepal and Sikkim,” Ghimire added.

The movie is shot in different places of Nepal and Sikkim. “I have a role of a Masters-level student who is very ordinary,” Sumina Ghimire said. “In the movie, I’m a die-hard fan of a singer from Nepal whose role is played by Prashant.” .

Gangtok observes World Music Day

GANGTOK, JUNE 21.Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent. June 21st has been celebrated every year as the World Music Day. On this day, the musicians perform for free in open areas. Free concerts are organized in parks, museums, train stations, castle etc. This helps in making all sorts of music accessible to the public. It gives an opportunity to commune and share a special bond through music. There is no restriction for noise on this day.Likewise, the World Music Day was observed today here in the hot spotof the capital “MG Marg” where people had gathered to mark this day in
a special way. A musical event of 2 hours where organized by theCultural Affairs and Heritage Department, Government of Sikkim incollaboration with NEZCC, Guwahati.

Every year, the department has been celebrating the World Music Dayhere in the capital in a very small scale but this is for the first time that it is being observed in open area, informed Mrs. Lata Rajalim, Cultural Officer, Cultural Affairs and Heritage

Department. It believes that this concert provides the platform for the public to connect with all the musical
genres. Mentioning about the day, Mrs. Rajalim said that, the musician are of two type amateur and another professional. Both are encouraged by the Department to perform on this day. Today, the day started by yak dance performed by the local artist from the Culture Department. After performing the yak dance, the day
saw different songs as Limboo, Sherpa, Bhutia, Lepcha, Hindi including Sufi sung by the local artist from the department.Further, eminent local bands like, No Big Deal, Liberated Senses and Urban Inc also performed for the public. The main theme of observing the day in the street is to encourage themusic all over the world and come forward, said Mrs. Rajalim.

During the day, when media had a chat with one of the band member of Urban Inc, Mr. Thupden Wangchuk, said that their album’s priority is to send out message to the youths and is not entirely business oriented but has welcomed sponsors for their self less venture. He added that, the band has drawn inspiration for their personal experiences and from hip-hop icons. “Rise to the top” is the first album of this band which
has altogether 10 songs Nepali, English, Hindi including Tibetan. For the past one
year, the band started their journey where they had performed in Smile Land with Dirty Angles (local band).
Mr. Wangchuk said that, they have extended their appreciation to Enoch Lingdong for being their mentor and motivational factor. “We would also like to thank Khenrab Wangchuk for motivating us. On the same hand, he also thanked Dirty Angles (local band) for helping them and the family who had been instrumental
and supportive in their musical venture.

Today, on the world music day, we performed 3 songs from our new album and happy of being a part of this important day for the musicians, said Mr. Wangchuk.

‘North Eastern Rockers’ starting from tomorrow in Gangtok

Gangtok: Rock music lovers in Gangtok would be head banging for three consecutive days with dozen of bands having frightening names from Sikkim, Darjeeling, New Delhi, Guwahati and Kolkata lined up to participate in the ‘North Eastern Rockers’ starting from 14th May .

The rock fest cum competition carries a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh for the winner and Rs. 30,000 for the runners-up, said Damber Rai, event manager from the Alpine Attitude which is organizing the ‘North Eastern Rockers’ meet at the gymnasium hall of Paljor Stadium at Gangtok.

“The biggest and the only national rock music fest-cum-competition in Sikkim, ‘North Eastern Rockers’ is back after a long wait of 3 years and this time is bigger, better and tougher with 12 top rock acts participating. All of them will be playing their original songs”, said Rai.

Sikkim is represented by ‘Future History’ from Gangtok and ‘Psychotic Suicide’ from Namchi while ‘Da Primitive Future’, ‘Circle’s End’, ‘Dark Murder Scheme’ and ‘Sinister Violence’ bands are spearheading the challenge from Darjeeling. The bands from Kolkata are ‘What Escapes Me’, ‘Cynical Recess’, ‘Burnout Syndrome’ and ‘Purple Asparagus’.

New Delhi based rock band ‘The Mangalz’ and ‘Devoid of Dreams’ from Guwahati are also featuring in the meet. These bands were short listed based on demos they had sent to the organizers.

On first and second day, six bands will be performing, where top four bands will be selected for the finals, said Rai. Each band will be playing four self-composed songs on the first two days and on the final day, the selected four bands will be given 30 minutes each to play their songs, he said.

“North Eastern Rockers made a humble beginning in the year 2008 with participation of 24 bands from northeastern region and West Bengal. This year the competition has gone national”, said Rai.

Popular rock band from Gangtok, ‘Still Waters’ as a guest band is likely to make headlines on the final day.

GANGTOK ON ROCK&ROLL FOR NORTH EASTERN ROCKERS 2011

The biggest and the only national rock music fest-cum-competition of Sikkim, “North Eastern Rockers (NER)” is back after a long wait of 3 years and this time its bigger, better and tougher. With 12 top rock acts participating from areas of New Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Darjeeling and Sikkim, this version of NER is surely a biggy. North Eastern Rockers, the brainchild of The Alpine Attitude, an event Management Company based in Sikkim, have 12 rock bands shortlisted from different parts of the nation based on their demos sent.
They are

1. What Escapes Me – Kolkata,
2. Da Primitive Future – Darjeeling,
3. Future History – Gangtok,
4. Devoid of Dreams – Guwahati,
5. Cynical Recess – Kolkata,
6. Burnout Syndrome – Kolkata,
7. Psychotic Suicide – Namchi,
8. Purple Asparagus – Kolkata,
9. Sinister Violence – Darjeeling,
10. The Mangalz – New Delhi,
11. Circle’s End – Darjeeling and
12. Dark Murder Scheme – Darjeeling.

Check them out at the official website of the event, http://www.northeasternrockers.com.

The fest slated for 14th to 16th May 2011 will be held at Gymnasium Hall, Near Paljor Stadium, Gangtok. On the first and second day, six bands each will perform and the finals will see the top four bands selected from Day 1 & Day 2 competing for the coveted title.

North Eastern Rockers made a humble beginning in the year 2008 with participation of 24 bands hailing from various north east regions of India and Bengal. In 2008, NER was organized at a north-east level and entries were invited only from north-east region and Bengal.

This year the competition has gone NATIONAL and the cash prize has swelled up to Rs. 1,00,000/= (Rupees One Lakh) to the winner and Rs. 30,000/= (Rupees Thirty Thousand) to the runners-up. To the much rejoice for the fans of the local hero, “Still Waters”, they will be headlining the fest and will be performing on the final day. The entry passes to the fest is fixed at just Rs. 100/= each day and the combo ticket can be bought for Rs. 200/= only.

NOW, a local English daily is the official media partner of the event and the event has been generously supported by Sikkim State AIDS Control Society, Dzegna Automibles (TATA Motors), GIRLFRIENDS (Fashion wear/Clothes), Career Guideline, KAALLOS (Beauty Salon), Aptech Computer Education, Ricki’s Restaurant & Bar, Yakthung and many more.

When: 14-16 May 2011

Where: Gymnasium Hall, Near Paljor Stadium, Gangtok

Entry: Rs. 100/= only

Event by: The Alpine Attitude

Hip-hop album by Sikkim rapper

Gangtok, Sept. 3: Rapper Bosing is set to release his debut hip-hop album, which he claims is the first of its genre in Sikkim and the Darjeeling hills, named after himself here tomorrow.

With the music scene in Sikkim and Darjeeling hills heavily influenced by rock, traditional and pop, the album, also called Bosing, has opened up another genre for the region that has quite a following for hip-hop.

The audio album is being produced by hangout zone, Café Like and Loud.
Twenty-four-year-old Tashi Wangchuk Rapgyal, known as Bosing among friends, started to rap when he was a schoolboy. “It is the first full length hip-hop album from Sikkim and probably from Darjeeling also,” said Bosing, who considers rap icon Tupac Shakur his inspiration.

The music album has eight scores that have been recorded at the Psalms Studio in Tadong near here. Bosing has written the lyrics and sung all the tracks with supporting vocals from Neha Pradhan from A-Live band, and local singer Christina.
According to the rapper, most of the songs in the album are about love and relationships. “A song called Love You Mom is dedicated to all mothers while Spinning Around is about my village Lingmoo in South Sikkim where I grew up,” he said.
“I started to rap during my days in St Paul’s, Darjeeling. I did a lot of shows in school. I also performed at Tantra in Calcutta during the Northeast Fest in 2007. Then I started performing at the clubs here at Gangtok,” said Bosing.
According to the proprietor of Café Live and Loud Bikash Chamling, Bosing is their first production. “This is a unique project and it is our privilege to provide a platform to upcoming local talents,” said general manager of the club in Gangtok, Miking Archer Lepcha. Café Live and Loud has been a popular hangout zone for music lovers for the past two years with live bands performing every evening. “We have been bringing in bands like Parikrama and Pentagram. This album is one more such product to entertain our customers,” said Lepcha. He said 400 CDs of Bosing have been prepared initially.

Regarding the expectations from the album, Bosing the singer said its success depended on the people. “A lot of youngsters are into hip-hop these days and I hope the album will be a success,” he said.

Sikkim Teachers promote buddhist culture through songs in Bhutan

Bhutan stamp on Sikkim CD
July 25: A music album by two teachers in Sikkim to promote Yuksom and Tashiding has paid rich dividends with the Bhutan government releasing two postal stamps recognising the duo’s efforts to showcase Buddhist culture and heritage.

The songs in the video album, made to promote Yuksom and Tashiding as pilgrimage centres, were recorded in Bhutan capital Thimpu.
While one stamp features the cover of the album, the other shows the coronation site of the first monarch of Sikkim at Norbugang in Yuksom. The two stamps were released by the Bhutan Postal Corporation Ltd in the second week of June. Nima Lhamu Bhutia and Phurba Tshering Bhutia, the two behind the CD, Yuksam Drayang (Melody from Yuksom), could not initially believe that their creation had won recognition in Bhutan.

“Then, we received a letter on July 20 posted by a friend in Thimpu containing the two stamps. We were told that the stamps had been released in the second week of June,” Phurba Tshering told journalists here today.
The 28-year-old Phurba Tshering is an assistant professor of political science at Namchi Government College, while Nima Lhamu, 32, is a teacher at Yuksom Secondary School in West Sikkim.

The stamps are available in Bhutan currency Ngultrum (Nu) 15, Nu 10 and Nu 5 each.The first stamp contains the cover of the CD which shows Phurba Tshering and Nima Lhamu between an image of the Eight Lucky Signs of Buddhism.

Yuksam Drayang has five songs in Bhutia language on the historical and cultural legacy of Yuksom and Tashiding. The album has also a six-minute narration on the two places with English subtitles.

Pic:The envelope with the two stamps sent to Nima. 

The second stamp shows Yuksom, the coronation site of the first monarch of Sikkim. The place is the first capital of ancient Sikkim and is known as “throne of Norbugang” too.

In a certificate from the Bhutan Postal Corporation Ltd faxed to the duo here, the government said the album had been well appreciated by all the Bhutanese people in terms of its contents and quality. .
“Such a product has brought in tremendous effect on cultural unity among the peoples of Bhutan and Sikkim. The CD is distributed to schools, community centres and even foreign tourist as the contents purely portray cultural aspects of Sikkim,” said Tseten Geltsen, the managing director-cum chief executive officer of the postal corporation, in the certificate.

While Nima Lhamu has written the lyrics and produced the album at a cost of Rs 3 lakh, the CD was directed by Phurba Tshering. The album was shot extensively at Yuksom and Tashiding and the CD was released on December 9.
Highlighting the importance of Yuksom in the history of Sikkim, the duo said the place was not only the first capital of Sikkim in the 17th Century but was also a holy place as it had been blessed by Guru Rimpoche in the 8th Century. “We have also focused on Tashiding, a holy place and a centre of Buddhist pilgrimage,” said Phurba Tshering.
He said the album had done well in Bhutan and a lot of people from the country had started coming to Yuksom and Tashiding. “The album has promoted the pilgrimage potential of Yuksom and Tashiding.”

Kalimpong Girl violinist dreams big

Kalimpong, Oct. 4: The life of Kushmita Biswakarma is an unfolding story, which, if everything goes according to the script, could well have a fairytale ending.

The 18-year-old Kalimpong girl, a talented violinist, has just completed the first year of a course in western classical music at the University of Music in Nuremberg, Germany.

In town for a short break, the budding violinist said she wanted to realise the dream of her deceased benefactor Father Ed McGuire by becoming a “big violinist” one day.

Father McGuire is the founder of Gandhi Ashram, where underprivileged children in and around Kalimpong are given free education, including lessons in musical instruments, primarily violin.

“I went to Germany in 2004 when I was only 13. After spending three months there, I came back for a short break. On my return, I told Father (McGuire died in 2005) that I did not want to go back. But he asked me not to miss such an opportunity. I thought about it and decided to go back,” said Kushmita.

She went back to a convent in Munich where, apart from learning music, she learnt to read and write German.

Kushmita offered an interesting take on how quickly she managed to speak German: “Initially, I was, like, dumb. I did not know German and I did not have friends. But because of my musical talent, I picked up the language very soon,” said Kushmita.

And since then, there has been no looking back for her as she single-mindedly pursues her dream to master the “difficult” bowed instrument. Kushmita was one among the 10 violinists who had managed to get an admission to the music university from among 80-odd applicants from across the world, including countries like the USA and Japan.

“It is very hard to get admission to the university. There are very talented musicians who apply every year. Some people respect me a lot because I come from a place like Kalimpong,” she said.

The girl’s education in Germany is funded by the well-wishers of the Ashram, where she first learnt to play the violin. The course she pursues is four-year long.

However, once in Germany, Kushmita had to learn afresh. “Whatever I had learnt at the Ashram were mainly Nepali and Hindi cinema songs. I learnt proper bowing and fingering techniques under the guidance of my teacher in the varsity. Now, I practise for five hours every day,” she said.

Apart from learning at the university, she plays for the Bavarian Youth Orchestra. At the annual programme of the Jesuits in Germany, she had played with young musicians from different countries like Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. “Only best young musicians are allowed to take part in the programme called ‘Sound of the World’,” she said.

From here on, though, the challenge for her would be to become “best” among the best

Poverty strikes Sikkim sarangi player

GANGTOK, Sept 5: Forty-four-year-old Gopal Gainey who has the distinction of playing sarangi for some of the country's major radio stations is now reeling under poverty.Gainey, a resident of East Pandam in Rangpo, however, has preserved his sarangi, a traditional musical instrument, and still wants to popularise the art in modern world."I am a sarangist by profession from the age of 14. I am the third generation of my family in this profession and I won't let it die easily. I have taught seven of my students and hope that they would keep this art alive in the modern era," Gainey, said. Gainey who has played sarangi in metropolitan cities, such as Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata and in several radio stations in Katmandu, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Gangtok, is still unknown in his own homeland."I played sarangi with Mr Narayan Gopal, an eminent Nepali modern folk singer, and with other eminent singers such as Mr Ram Thapa and Kumar Basnett in Nepal and Mr Ganesh Sharma in Darjeeling. We used to play folk songs and Lok Dhori, a Nepali traditional marriage," he said. Gainey added that he also played Sarangi with a French team in Mumbai and stayed with them for three years there. "Our people are not conscious in preserving our own tradition and culture. The foreigners, however, still respect our tradition," he said. Despite playing sarangi for more than two decades and popularising the art countrywide, Gainey is reeling under poverty these days. He has to run from door to door earn his livelihood. "I proudly say that I am not a beggar. I am an artist so I entertain people. In returns, they offer some money or food," a dejected but confident Gainey, said. "I earn Rs 50 to Rs 200 per day," he added. Gainey had played sarangi for the state-sponsored AIDS awareness programmes also. He had also taken part in the golden jubilee celebrations of the cottage industries here. "I earned Rs 5,000 during a month-long AIDS awareness campaign in the state last year and Rs 4,000 in 10 days during the golden jubilee celebrations of the cottage industries this year," he added.