Guessing game | Bandwagon | wavemag.com.np

Creativity through loud music and an 'equal opportunity band', where the lead artiste shares limelight, Andazification is all set to take on the Nepali music industry from across the Atlantic.

'Andazification' comes from 'Andaaj' meaning 'Guess'; 'No classification' – the genre of music the trio say they represent. The trio is Budha who plays almost every instrument he comes across, Anand who plays guitar riffs and few electronics, and Rob who is good with rhymes. Rob came up with the band's name and the other two adapted it into a hybrid of English and Nepali. The band was formed years ago but they've just come up with their debut album JPT from Samjhana Audio Video in Nepal.

Rob was born and raised in Kathmandu but went to California, where he works and studies. Anand grew up in Hong Kong, came to Kathmandu to study then went to California to study Computer Animation and Visual FX. He and Budha are childhood friends and grew up listening to music.

Andazification represents the new crop of cross-cultural Nepali youngsters for whom music is a form of expression and creativity. "Also a way to rebel, reach and at times conform," adds Anand. Making music is tough but Nepali music in USA is extra tough—you've got to balance school, paying bills and handling egos. Budha adds, "Studio costs are a pain. While making music, we adapt to changes and roll with the circumstances." Distance is a problem as Buddha lives in Los Angeles, and Anand and Rob in San Francisco.

"We listen to everything, from pop to jazz to whatever else," adds Budha. "I won't even try to define our sound because that's not the point, you've got to let the audience decide." Rob, on the other hand, thinks their music reflects their individual personalities.

The album name JPT? You probably know what it stands for. Say the trio, "We didn't have this big underground scene to come from so our music hasn't really fermented into one genre. We like doing what we want and not what people tell us. We do have our own sound, the sound of schizophrenia."

Composing is an interesting process as Anand and Budha gets "sick *ss hooks and ideas" in Rob's words. Budha is good with instruments, Rob jots down lyrics while composing. Budha has more to say, "From composing to actually hitting the studios with a ready-to-mix track is a long process. We've come across problems like software crashing, computer breaking down, disturbing neighbours, getting kicked out of hotels rooms and going broke."

Their music video is "funky, fresh and able to implement a bit of cautionary pop culture into the mix," adds Budha and Anand says, "The story of the JPT video should resonate with young Nepalis. Growing in an urban culture shouldn't be overlooked." Andazification plans to return to Nepal. Watch their music video at www.wavemag.com.np.

iPod for free

As a promotional campaign for their debut album, Andazification is giving away a free iPod to one lucky buyer. The trio says, "With the iPod offer, we hope to convince people to listen to our music.

THEIR INFLUENCES

Anand: Chicks (just kidding!), Greenday, Guns N' Roses, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, PVD, Sasha, Paul Oakenfield, Robert Miles, ATB, Snoop Dogg, Flypside, JayZ, Eminem, Kanye West, Fallout Boys, The Shadows, Sabin Rai, Axe band, Axis, The Uglyz', DJ Raju, Prakash Ojha, Nepsydaz', Sarad Singh, 1974 AD, Nepathya, Narayan Gopal, heck even Astha (don't tell anyone though!)

Rob: Tupac Amaru Shakur, Mac Mall, Bone Thugs, E-40, Too Short, Rappin' 4Tay

Budha: Everything from Green Day to Dr Dre to Robert Miles to Udit Narayan to Bob Marley to Cindy Lauper to Radiohead to Sakamoto Ruichi to Sigur Ros to Utada Hikaru to David Tao.