SANSKRITI-MANTRA

The jeans vs. daurasuruwal, drums vs. madal, these are quite old rivals. One politician passed a remark in public about the song Bir Gorkhali. He said, “Our guys talk about culture in songs (referring to bir gorkhali), but live/dress like westerners”. I did not have remotest possibility of replying his remark anyhow as it was considered too dangerous, especially during heydays of GNLF. But, it gave me impetus to pen down a song about a person tagged as "western" by one school of people. The result was the song titled Sanskriti.
Music: Vasker Dewan and a little bit of inputs from the lyricist.
Well, this song was my answer to those who think the new generation has forgotten the cultural dress, songs and rituals. Be it a folk song or rock numbers, they are just a beat apart-that's the theme of the song.

Lyrics:
Birseko chainau hami Sanskriti ajhai pani
Nasa nasa ma purkha ko ragat Bagdacha ajhai pani
Sirma topi nahola hamro Daura suruwal nahola
Tara chati bhari maya ccha aafnai jati prati
Deurali pakha bhiralo kasari birsula
Yahi mato ma janmeko yasaima milula
Naulocha saili hamro naulo ccha hamro vesh
Birseko cchainau tara pahar jharna khola ko desh
Damphu ra madal nahola hamro sarangi nahola
Tara hridaya bhari sraddha ccha yahakai sangeet prati
Maruni selo juhari Prerna hamro ho Je bhaneni lok bhaka sarainai ramro ho............

Music video: Sanskriti

OM BAND

The band started in 2004 with a spiritual dictum, OM.They are really talented young group, with Alfa in vocals, Pranesh in guitars, Suraj on Bass, Sujay on drums and Pankaj on keyboards (Anup was the former keyboardist). Though they haven’t lunched their solo album as yet, but have already created an indellible impression by playing overwhelming live shows in various places. For those who want to have kind of feel of the band, I suggest, to get hold of an original copy of compilation album named THE NEW BEGINNING (2005). Their song ‘Sapana’ became quite hit in Darjeeling, Sikkim and other places.The song goes like....Parkhi base..aucchau bhani....
“We have been experimenting with our music for 4 years now and we feel experienced enough to deliver a brand new album with a difference soon”, Pranesh says.

DOCUMENTARY

Darjeeling is undoubtedly capital of western music in INDIA. The musical atmosphere in this small town is amazing. Let us know western music scenario of Darjeeling in the past and present. Here is a documentary titled, “In tune with Darjeeling.

ONE

TWO

THREE

EKANTAMA-MANTRA

Introduction :
This one is my personal favourite...
Background :
The song is based on a true story.

Title : Ekantama
Lyric : Sudarsan
Composition : Bhaskar Dewan
Music arrangement: Mantra Band
Recorded at: EARS Darjeeling by Vikram Subba and Rupesh Rashaily

एकान्तमा किन किन तिम्रैनै याढ आउछ
सम्झनामा अझैपनि आँखा यो किन रसिन्छ
थाह छ मलाई तिमी आउदैनौ तिमी कसैकी भईसकेछौ
तर किन किन फेरी सम्झन्छु
नढुखेखो मुटुलाई किन ढुखाउछु
एक्लै हिड़्दा कहिलेकाही तिमी साथमा पाउछु
हिड़ढा हिड़ढै बोल्दा बोल्दै एक्लै पाँउदा झस्कन्छु
थाह छ मलाई यो भ्रमहो फेरी भेटिने आशानै छैन
तर किन किन फेरी सम्झन्छु
नढुखेखो मुटुलाई किन ढुखाउछु
कति छिटो बितेछन् मिलनका ती पलहरू
सम्झना मात्ररह्यो सपना सबै ओझेल पर्यो
एकान्तमा किन किन.......
Ekantama kina kina timrai nai yada aaucha
Samjhanama ajhaipani aankha yo kina rasauccha
Thaha ccha malai timi aaudainau
Timi kasaiki bhai sakecchau
Tara kina kina feri samjhancchu
Nadukheko mutulai kina dukhaucchu
Eklai hirda kahile kahi timi saathma paucchu
Hirda hirdai bolda boldai eklai pauda jhaskincchu
Thaha ccha malai yo bhrama ho
Feri bhetine ashanai cchaina
Tara kina kina feri samjhancchu
Nadukheko mutulai kina dhukhaucchu
Kati cchito bitecchan milan ka ti palharu
Samjhana matrai rahyo
Sapana sabai ojhel paryo...ekantama..

CHAKRA

They came, they played and gone with the wind leaving many people spellbound with their music. I had a privilege to be a part of their only(so far) album CHAKRA in a small way. I remember how challenging it was for me when they asked me to write lyrics on a track they had composed. The tune was basically rock in genre but with a little bit of Indian classical touch. So I though I will make it more unique or rather complicated by writing a typical nepali lok lyrics for it. The song goes as,
Maichang ko aankha ma dubera, chyangba le birsethyo sansara….and it goes with some majestic bass-guitarring from Rabin Tolangi and seminal drumming from...Chewang Lama, and of course Naresh David Chettri has woven evrything with a fitting vocal.
Besides this I have two more songs in their album-German and Sir ko topi.
Band members (during the making of album Chakra):
Vocals: Naresh David Chettri
Guitar: Karma Lama
Bass: Robin Tolangi
Keyboard: Prashant Subba
Drums: Chewan Lama
Well, I must add on a quick note here that the vocalist Naresh is extremely talented. I remember his amazing performance in one of the school (St. Robert’s high School) programmes, where he had performed along with Prashant Tamang (Indian Idol3). He could sing duet songs without female vocalist…amazing talent!!!

Song Lyrics

Title: German

Lyrics: Sudarsan Tamang

Composition: Sudarsan Tamang

Music arranged by: Chakra Band

German ko dhawama hamro bajele gauthyore,

"tato roti nakhau timi chisai roti khai

Mathlo bato german ayo tallo bato jau"

Chiya ko bot ma paisa ccha bhantyo re

janme ko thaulai mayamari authyo re...

Angrej ko palo ma hamro baje le gauthyore,

"gande maila gande sainla, rupe paisa gande

mayalule sodhyobhane pardesh gakccha bhande"

Kohi malaya lahure bhai janthyo re

Kohi mechipari munglan pasthyo re....

YELLOW HAMMER

A few years back, I watched them performing live at capital hall in Darjeeling and I was truly impressed by these extremely talented young boys. They may be barely in their twenties, but they play with a kind of dexterity which is hard to attain even after years of preparations.
I came to know that the band was formed in the year 2002 and have many awards to their credit including wildfire IIT2005 kharagur, Mangan (Sikkim) beat contest and Alcheringa IIT Guwahatti. They are truly one of the most promising bands in Darjeeling today. They have already launched an album titled ‘yellow hammer’, which contains songs like ‘kina kina’, ‘roi diyo aakash’, ‘question’ amongst others. Like many other post-agitation bands of Darjeeling, they have too succesfully bloomed where they belonged.
Band members:
Pashang (guitars/ vocals)
Samten (drums)
Ashim (keys)
Nishant(Bass guitar)
Pranay (guitar)

SONAM SHERPA-PARIKRAMA

According to Parikrama official website, he was born and brought up in Kalimpong(DOB:08/10/1971). Playing guitars since when he was 9. He has played with many bands in his hometown, and in next door Darjeeling, before Joining the Parikrama Band in Delhi. Now an ace guitarist of India’s top rock Band, Parikrama and for us a living inspiration...
Song:But it rained


Parikrama making INDIA proud (watch this BBC Video)

LOUIS BANKS

Son of Pushkal Budapriti and Saraswati, Dambar Bahadur (Known as LOUIS BANKS), grew up in Darjeeling, graduating from St. Joseph’s college at North Point.
He is one of the brightest stars of Darjeeling music history. He used to perform live during 60s with Bands like Hillians in various places.Banks is a jazz pianist at the core, even known as the godfather of jazz in India. He has performed with the likes of Yolande Bavan, Charlie Mariano and Charlie Byrd and toured India with Dizzy Gillespie. Banks is known throughout Europe, Australia, Russia, China and the Middle East. He co-wrote and recorded India's first mega Broadway hit and has even hosted a popular broadcast named after himself, The Louis Banks Jazz Hour Special. He has given background music and music scores in various bollyhood movies. When he is not playing music he is known to paint impressionistic canvases in oil and acrylic. Taking time out from his hectic schedule, he still comes to Darjeeling during carnivals and mesmerises the crowd with his unblemished performances. We are extremely proud of him.

ABOUT THE BLOG

Life was beautiful and worthwhile, if only we knew the art of appreciating the world around us. What if we noticed it: a budding talent beneath shy exteriors, a potential stars veiled by deceiving looks, zipped lips and featureless faces. What if we clapped for them.………..?