By Mannu Shahi

Before even starting to acknowledge the infinite contributions and creativity brewed by our very own local creators in 2021, I would like to point out two things.
The first is my take on music and the way I personally perceive this art form. Unlike sports, music is a very objective and personal experience, thus it isn’t a race where one party clearly wins over the other by running faster, having a better plan or a healthier work-ethic. The aforementioned statement would clearly explain that there can never be a fair-enough “top/best” music list as the notion of appreciating a certain type of song or artiste differs massively from one individual to another.

And secondly, the songs and artistes this list features might not be amidst the most viewed content of the year or even popular enough at some points. But these tunes, in my personal opinion, showcase a different aspect of expression vastly ignored by much of the easily accessible content and so contribute in pushing the boundaries of Nepali music further. Meaning, therefore, will function as the nucleus of these featured creative ventures, and the ten songs taken from the various genres of music thriving in Nepal might be outstanding just for the sheer amount of venerability demonstrated by the artistes, the brilliance in song writing and also the overall production value. Thus, here are the ten most creative music, listed alphabetically, released by Nepali artistes in 2021:

5:55 – Arthahin Duniya
5:55 aka Chirag Khadka is one of the most popular contemporary rappers of the country. Arthahin Duniya was released on November 28, 2021, from the artiste’s official channel. The song still remains #22 on trending music in YouTube Nepal. The rapper is appreciated for his catchy poetic verses which do not solely rely on exaggerated bluffs but rather on real life problems and motivation on overcoming personal hurdles. With 5:55 directing and Astro editing the song’s video, the music was produced by Kichaa and cinematography is by Gwala Production and Red Eye Production.

ABHISEK BHADRA x AMAZUMI – Creations of Divine
Released on November 2, 2021, by the Kathmandu-based composer, arranger, music educator and pianist Abhisek Bhadra and the UK-based Nepali origin rapper AMAZUMI, ‘Creations of Divine’ features Preetica Magar on vocals and Nello Baisini on drums. Starting with a beautiful duet of piano melody layered with brilliant intro rap, the song takes full shape with Preetica’s brief vocal adlib followed by Baisini’s tasteful drum fills. The track is the first single from Abhisek Bhadra’s debut EP ‘Broad Strokes’ and was produced by the artiste himself. The videography is credited to Eric Chandra Shrestha.

ANKITA PUN – Maili
Released on November 5, 2021, Maili is from the aspiring new talent on the rise Ankita Pun, a resident of Dang currently based in Butwal. The singer/songwriter released this second tune from her upcoming debut album of the same name under the Purbanchal Rocks banner. With Diwas Gurung on music production, Sushan Jung Karki on guitars, Jay Ram Karki on drums, Ashish Maharjan on flute, Prince Nepali on sarangi the stunning video work was a production of Media Port. The song reflects on a somber feeling of a tragic life story that is so heartfelt and well portrayed by the entire creative team, a true gem that will be rejoiced by generations to come.

ANKIT SHRESTHA - Saas
Released on March 20, 2021, Saas is a single dedicated to mental health issues and through this piece of art the artiste aims to renounce the stigma of this deadly disease in our community. Ankit Shrestha, an independent singer/songwriter based in New York, has made a name for him in the Nepali music scene and continues to explore more with new releases and exciting collaborations. This single released as a lyric video via his official YouTube handle pleads his audience to reach out, understand and empathize with people surviving through such conditions. One of the most venerable and impactful tunes by the singer, Saas garnered a great response from his fans and fellow artistes.

KAVI G – Birsiye Jasto Lagyo Hola
Amid the most skilled and eccentric rappers of Nepal is the Dharan-based musician Kavi G and ‘Birsiye Jasto Lagyo Hola’ is this particular track one can listen to and understand the versatility of the artiste instantly. Released from the rapper’s official YouTube handle on January 8, 2021, the song’s video features actors from Tharu community and has instances where the verses escape to rhythm coordination adjacent to folk music shifts filled with rather odd structures. The track itself is based on drum samples but the layering and the modern arrangement makes the drums sound western until the very end groove. The music is produced by AJ The Producer and the video is credited to Donob Productions.

MANASIK KARAGAR – Aswikaar
Publicized on May 14, 2021, from the band’s Youtube channel, the single is an anti-alcohol anthem released as a demo track before the publication of their debut EP ‘Bhumigat Sangeet’. The trio hailing from a crossover of Damak and Finland are a straight edge hardcore group. Right from the loosely structured intro the song immediately catches one’s attention with the angst filled screaming, the blasting drums and killer guitar riffs. Enhancing the forte of all three musicians involved in the creativity, this tune is one of my favourites from the group so far. The lyrics talk about massive alcohol consumption and abusive behaviour towards others followed thereafter by the intoxicated individual.

PHATCOWLEE – Nidauna Deu
Released on June 25, 2021, from the artiste’s YouTube handle, the song influenced with a tinge of Billie Eilish-Finneas songwriting magic and the signature Phatcowlee flairs works perfectly on many levels on the attempts of sleeping, especially on the days when it’s the hardest. The gloomy harmonies infused with the telephonic sounding first chorus, the elongated breezy antara paving way for the second chorus and the delayed musical interlude followed by the series of whispers and the break-down thereafter, all compliment details in the mood the artiste is trying to portray. Phatcowlee aka Rajan Shrestha is one such expressive and deeply immersed multimedia personality who has been passionately involved in many meaningful music ventures over the years.

Shreya Rai – Pallo Ghar
Shreya Rai is an independent singer/songwriter based in the UK, producing covers as well original materials through her very vibrant YouTube channel for the past decade. Pallo Ghar was released on March 21, 2021, the track initiates with dogs barking to a sweet, blissful vocal melody layered with some lute in the background. The voice phrases in the mid-section sweeps the listener away to another dimension and the harp explosion towards the end feels so surreal, almost like a celestial trip with the singer’s angelic vocal timbre fully supporting the vibe. The track is written, composed, arranged, recorded and produced by the singer herself.

TOERAG – Tarika
Toerag’s debut album Tarika was released on 9th March 2021 via Bandcamp, an artiste friendly music streaming website, and for the first time in Nepalese music history the album was voted amongst the Best Punk on Bandcamp for the month of March, in a global context. The title track Tarika is one my favorite songs from the seven tracks collection filled with hardcore, punk and ska flavors. The quartet are a confident group of young and enthusiastic individuals based in Dharan assembled together to celebrate their love for heavy and energetic music.

TRIBAL RAIN – Devi Deuta
Tribal Rain isn’t a new name for top-notch song writing, brilliant arrangement and lushy audio productions. This Sikkim-based quartet has managed to mesmerize a fine share of listeners through their timeless tunes and haunting love stories. After the tragic demise of their front person/ songwriter Rahul Rai the band went on a hiatus to find a suitable replacement and is now backing with Benesh Thapa on vocal duties. Their second album Devi Deuta released on December 4, 2021, via Spotify and Apple Music is an ode to Rahul Rai and the album also features a mix of the late singer’s actual vocal clips as well as added layers by Thapa at some points. The title track stood out as the most colourful and lively tune in the collection for me and just provoked a realization of why I fell in love with this band in the first place.