Nepthugs to Nepsydaz

You’ve listened to the west side, the east side, now listen to the Nep-side.

by PRERANA MARASINI

FROM ISSUE # 127 (July 2006) | IN THIS ISSUE
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ANUP PRAKASH

You might have never guessed but our hip-hop and happening trio, the Nepsydaz, listen to all sorts of music: from James Blunt's nostalgic melodies to Usher, Pearl Jam, Creed, Black Sabbath, Twisted Sisters and Static X.

How did the trio come together? Mistah K (Kiran) and Loorey (Manas), big music buffs were hooked onto FM stations and wrote letters to radio programmes. Kiran won a prize for jamming up in Kantipur FM's Music Jam and when he went to collect it, he met Nira, Manas's friend. Kiran knew about Manas through radio shows so Nira introduced them. That's when they found out they shared similar tastes in music – rap of course!

They went to concerts together to check out new bands and even featured in Pushpa Sunuwar's Aakashko Mathi before forming a band. Gyanon hadn't entered the picture yet. "I met Kiran through my sister," says Gyanon aka Zero Level. In 2002, he joined them when they were Nepthugs. Says Manas, "Rap singers usually have names that represent gangsters and stuff, so we used it but we changed it later to Nepsydaz." So you've listened to the west side, east side, now you listen to the Nep-side.

Nepsydaz recorded their first single Asta la Vista for Rappaz Union's second album. Kiran says, "We rapped Hell Raiser, which was nominated for Best Song in Foreign Language at the Hits FM Music Awards in 2060. When it was aired on FM, people didn't believe it was sung by Nepalis." A radio jockey at Times FM, Kiran ran his own show, Hip-hop Basement, for three years.

In 2003, Nepsydaz released their debut album KTM Reality, which brought them to the mainstream. "Our rap in the title song, which is my favourite, talks about the insurgency and Maoist brutality," says Manas who also featured in Shreeking's Another Love Song, which was nominated at Channel Nepal's Awards. "I've also featured in Mai Chhori Sundari and Ekai Najarma," says Kiran laughing. Gyanon hasn't collaborated with other artistes yet. He was more inclined towards rock music. Just so we know, he tells us, "Metallica and Pantera were my favourites."

KTM Reality brought Nepsydaz recognition but it wasn't until their hit single Chhudaina, featuring 1974 AD in their second album Made in Nepal, that people began to take notice. Their other single, Maya O Maya became a big hit too. In four years, Nepsydaz have created Nep-hop history. At the Image Award ceremony this year, they performed with The Shadows. "We are serious about our work and have improved technically, lyrically and composition wise," says Kiran. Gyanon does all the arrangement, mixing and cover designing at his house. At the Dharan concert, they were the only ones who didn't get hit by stones. "People threw chocolate at us," they say. They have recorded three songs for their third album which will be released before Dasain this year, so watch out!