Tomorrow, ktmROCKS is organizing their annual event, IDES of March, to mark the 11th anniversary of the project. The Week’s Asmita Manandhar caught up with Shrestha to talk about the current underground music scene.
How would you summarize your experience with underground music?
Music always involves passion. But there are different ways to guide the passion; one can be money-driven passion while the other, creativity-driven passion. Underground music, which refers to non-commercial or non-mainstream music, is entirely creativity-driven. There would be no negotiation or compromise on the creativity part for the sake of sponsorship or popular culture. ktmROCKS follows the same philosophy.
However, no matter how good you are, it would have made no sense if your music did not garner audience or appreciation. Though underground music is taken as a non-compatible genre of music for mainstream media such as radio or television, the popularity is certainly growing.
How has the underground scene evolved in the last 11 years?
In the first concert we organized, 250 people attended the gig. We had expected a crowd of around 100 people but when the number increased to more than double, we took it as a huge success. Now, the crowd in the metal concerts has increased to 1,000 to 2,000. Last year in IDES of March, we had 2,500 attendees.
There’s been a gradual development and most of it because of the advancement of the Internet. Earlier, there were limited resources for bands before Internet provided the required exposure to the bands to international music and underground scenes. The recording studios have also been improved.
There has been significant increase in band numbers, too. There used to be two or three concerts in a year but there are two-three in a month.
What prospects do you see for the underground music in Nepal?
Money-wise, the prospect for underground music scene is still not good. There isn’t good scenario for mainstream artists in music, so underground music is a far cry. Band members have to get engaged in other different careers. One can’t think of earning a living by just getting involved in underground music scene. Maybe the time and situation may change after 10 years, but for now they will have to look for an alternate career. I suggest them to get engaged in other side jobs or even fulltime professions and take music as a strong hobby.
On the other hand, audience appreciation is increasing, which is a positive side. In another 4-5 years, Nepali underground bands will definitely be touring. Underside, an underground band, has already made a trip to Europe.
How do you find time to manage ktmROCKS while getting engaged with your professional work?
When ktmROCKS was a print edition, we needed a good team. We had to go around taking interviews and photographs of the bands. We needed to find sponsors, take time to convince them. But now Internet facility has freed us from all that hassle.
Since now we operate only through website and social media, the job is much easier. I don’t have to work through time pressure. I just give three hours a day for updating the information in the official pages. And I usually take photographs in weekends or in concerts.
How do you think is ktmROCKS catering to underground music scene in Nepal?
ktmROCKS has been constantly promoting underground bands and their music. We have their interviews; we organize the portfolio shoots for the bands for free. We also have been building connections with other international and South Asian bands. The concerts organized by ktmROCKS have also helped to create an image of Nepal as a touring venue for international bands. I think that’s been our biggest achievement.
I strongly believe that if there was no ktmROCKS, the underground scene in Nepal would have been different. The situation we have now is the result of all the efforts we’ve put in for last 11 years.
Do you think people’s perception on underground music has changed over the years?
People still stereotype according to the outer appearance or the choice of music of the bands. But that’s another reason I suggest band members to have separate careers. The family members will have no problem if the band members are involved with something else, they will have less questions about their interest in music.
I can’t say about other people’s perception but in the last 2-3 years, even mainstream media has shown interest in the underground music scene. If the mass media has given space, then there must have a certain portion of readers who have accepted it.
What bands do you personally follow?
Since I’m involved with most of the underground bands, I don’t want to differentiate some as good and the others as bad. But there will always be some bands that stand out.
I like White, their composition and music can challenge the mainstream music, likewise with Jindabaad. Another is Lakhey, it’s amazing the way they incorporate traditional Newar instruments to metal genre. I would also pick Antim Grahan and 11.
ktmROCKS is organizing IDES of March tomorrow. What’s in store in for underground music lovers?
We’ll have a foreign band for the concert this year. The Bangladeshi band Severe Dementia will take on the stage with other seven Nepali bands. We’re expecting a crowd of 3,000 or more for the gig.
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