By Mannu Shahi

Neetesh Jung Kuwar needs no introduction to fans of Nepali music spread out globally, the artist initiated his career doing one-man shows and covers of famous tunes with just his loop pedal, acoustic guitars and vocals. He was seen on some famous cover song platforms blooming in the mainstream Youtube scenario, roughly around 2015-16, and his first big break took off with his non-explicit hit ‘Gedai Jasto Jindagi’ which was released on March 2017. There has been no turning back ever since, as he stands as one of the most dominant figures of Nepali Pop fraternity who has constantly produced one hit after the other within the least amount of time, releasing singles rapidly whilst touring, composing, recording and collaborating just as often.
A struggling artist of the local scene in Kathmandu, Kuwar, as like many other ordinary acoustic musicians, was a simple headed person with big dreams and a tough reality, coming from an average middle-class family his artistic pursuit wasn’t validating enough if it didn’t provide him a financial security. Yet his profound love for music kept him moving forward, as he never paused releasing his materials and also tried every possible way to make himself visible in any prestigious platforms available. And as faith would have it, NJK eventually got the attention his talent deserved and now he is amidst the only few pop artists in Nepali music who reflect on and bring forth ordinary stories of people coming from various walks of their lives.
On ‘12 Barse Titho’ he portrays the character of a cab driver whose given up his dream of apursuing music for financial reasons, ‘Hamro Nepal Ma’ talks about foreign employment craze and its down sides, ‘Hallantey’ is a story of youths pursuing artists careers and how artists are generally perceived in our society as just wanderers with no aim in life, the video features the real life story of a 20 year old Dublin based Nepali filmmaker Darshan Pokhrel. Even during his 2019 collaboration with Clean Bandit, NJK sang a common Nepali love story of this couple living in poverty, their doubts and fears related to their future and the pressure of living in this expensive consumer-based world.
And this story-teller has published yet another one of his musical experiences last Monday on 1st February 2021, titled Kholai Khola with a side note pinned in the comment section stating “I don’t see myself anywhere in the next 5 years. In fact I don’t want to, for me, every day is a new life and I’m gonna live it to the fullest.” The single was released from his new channel NJK Vibe, with Mr. Brownie on music production, Diveej Shah on video direction, Vikas Ranzitkar on cinematography, Ullas Makrati on direction of art and Ajay Thapa Magar on color grading duties.