Mukut

FROM ISSUE # 111 (March 2005) | IN THIS ISSUE
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GIRISH – Vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
ROSHAN – Lead guitar, back vocals
SANJAYA – Bass, back vocals
PRAJWOL – Drums and percussions

Numerous gigs, TV and radio interviews, and a performance at the prestigious Hits FM Music Awards. Now, with an album coming out soon, Mukut seems to be heading in the right direction. Here, we uncover the band behind the mask.

Initially formed as Ionian II in 1999, this progressive rock band changed their name to Mukut in 2001. "My brother's band was called Ionian, so we added the II," explains Girish. Mukut, however, seems a much better choice though, and they have an interesting theory behind the name. The word "mukut" translates to "mask," and just like entertainers who wear masks while performing, the band too wants music to be its cover. "We want music to be our headgear," explains the vocalist. "We can't see a person's mind under the mukut, we only see the individual as a performer."

The name of the band seems interesting enough, but what's actually needed is musical proficiency to back it up, and they seem to have all of that. They were chosen to play as a backing band for Udesh Shrestha, Mahasatwa Bajracharya, and Bhugol Dahal during the Arun Thapa tribute at the 8th Annual Hits FM Music Awards. With it's nationwide broadcast, it was certainly a significant moment for the band. "We had recorded at BMI studio, so Iman dai (of BMI) recommended us to the Hits FM people," explains Girish about how they got to perform at the show. "They came, watched us play and that's how we got the gig."

The band has gained a lot of experience gigging around the Valley during the last two years or so, and in a scene where bands don't last even a year; they come off as seasoned performers. They have been doing the restaurants/pub circuit in and around Thamel for quite some time now, jamming with professional musicians such as Udesh Lal Shrestha, didgeridoo player Salil "Kanika" and female tabla player Sarita Mishra. The band has also been playing at Options in Durbar Marg for the past one month. However, one of their biggest achievements, they claim, was a grand show at the Bluestar Hotel in December 2004.

"We've been trying to get bigger gigs," says Girish. "But for that you have to have an album out. Hopefully, ours will be released soon." The album in question is Mukut's debut effort Matrubhoomi which should be out through Santana Records pretty soon. Recorded at BMI studio, the album has a total of nine songs, the title track dealing with the Iraq incident. Besides the usual love songs, the band also has a track dedicated to deaf children. The topics on rest of the songs are, as Girish puts it, "hard to describe. So I'll just call them abstract." They've also been working on fusion music with didgeridoo player Salil "Kanika," who guests on one of the tracks on Matrubhoomi. Also in the offing is a music video for the track Maile Chinina, which should be doing the rounds on TV as soon as promotional issues for the album is finalised.

Mukut will be playing at the Samakushi Festival at the end of March, so be there to check them out.