By Mannu Shahi

Ankit Shrestha is a singer and a songwriter based in New York, USA. He has accumulated a prestigious stratum for himself in the Nepali music scene and continues to explore more in the global realm of music. 
The singer, who moved to the US for higher education, has been constantly releasing songs from his official social handle for nearly a decade. He  also busked in open spaces, parks and railway stations among other places of various cities, ever since he relocated to the USA about eight years ago.

His vibrant YouTube channel is filled with a mixture of soulful covers, mesmerising original contents, concert bootlegs, live sessions and collaboration with other musicians. 
Shrestha’s repertoire comprehends him writing his own tunes, arranging the musical structures, producing the final tracks, editing the video and promoting the end product, all by him. This solo repertoire, prevalent amidst the indie pop/rock scene, is flourishing in the present popular urban culture surfacing as a relatable and venerable means of expression resonating especially with the youths. 

Having so much independence in the creative process proffers more originality and personalisation which churns the entire product into a journey based upon the perspective and worldview of the narrator. These stories based in such artistic honesty and vulnerability infatuates the audience who consume the anecdote and make sense of it in their own terms. 

With almost a cult like following of devoted fans and friends, the singer rose to fame with his 2013 single ‘The Underwater Song’ followed by the publication of the two five track EPs: Finger and Fables (2015) and Kathmandu Saharmaa (2017). These tracks gathered a great response in the music scene. 

And since 2020, the songster has released eight back to back singles with official videos of: Anaginti Aatma, River and Sullen Shade; and lyrical video of: Yaadharu, Eutai Aakash, Kaalo Pankha and Saas. 
Lately, Shrestha is back in town, all geared up for his shows throughout the country. 

Teaming up with some aspiring talents of the scene Adhishree Dhungana on back vocals/guitars/keyboard, Ashim Tamang on bass and Sushant Roy on drums/back vocals, the quartet has already played events with great reception at The Village Café, Jhamsikhel, on March 5; The Office Bar, Pokhara, on March 11 and Hotel Bhagaon, Bhaktapur, on March 12 respectively.
The chain of events also features another post-rock outfit ‘Space’ as the opening act. 

Space is an eminent group of the contemporary soundscape of Nepal exalting the status after their appearance in the Yomari Session season 2 released in 2017. The band started out around 2016 and has tweaked a few alterations in the original line-up. Yet, they are going strong and currently promoting their upcoming second studio album. 

Both the groups announced their Nepal tour to celebrate their music with fans across the country together.
The remaining announced dates of the show are March 19 at Carpe Diem, Biratnagar, and on March 26 at Beers n’ Cheers, Jhamshikhel. So, do catch-up with the groups in the most convenient venue nearby.