First of all, a very happy Dashain to all our respected viewers. This festive greetings come from the entire fursad.com team. Festivities are in the air. Clear blue sky, the cool breeze and the colorful kites flying…small kids running after the falling kites and their disappointments when the kite gets stuck in somebody else’s roof or on a tree. Traffic jams in Putalisadak, New Road and other prime shopping areas. Khasi, Bokas in Khasi bazaar near Shankerdev Campus and other parts of the city and the sound of bleating goats when you pass by. Everyone seems to be occupied with something or the other and guys making plans – bholi yesko ghar ma, parsi tesko ghar ma tass khelne! Also decreasing number of vehicles on the road! Indeed Dashain is finally here!
Well, this week in our interview segment we have our very own Naren Limbu of Aastha. The complicated looking but funny guy is here to share with us something about his newly released album ‘Aash’. It was a coincidence, a few weeks back I met Naren’s elder brother on the flight to Hong Kong who has in fact been residing there for the last ten years. We discussed a lot of things. As the music industry and the music career haven’t been very fruitful for many of the artists lately, I asked how he felt about his younger brother’s career in music. After a deep thought (Nidhar Khumchayera) he said "it’s good people know your name but we would feel good if there had been a bigger perspective and if it was more rewarding. He seems to be happy but it worries us sometimes". I thought this must be a common thought of the parents, in general leaving exceptions of course! Enough of thoughts now, lets see what this star has to say about his new album!
It’s been almost six months that we last talked bout your new album and now ‘Aash’ again with an "A" initial as always, is finally out in the market. What took you so long??
Everyone asks me why the name of my album always begins with an "A". There’s no reason at all. It just happens to be the title song and I chose them as they all sound nice to me… Well, as we all know we went through such a huge load shedding problem. It kinda made me go crazy. I was frustrated! Sustaining the mood to create music was a huge problem for me and Biju (music arranger) had to go through. Every time we came up with a nice piece of music then there would be a power cut and we wouldn’t know if the same music would happen the next day and I stopped working on it for sometime but I had to finish it so yeah! Finally its done...I'm relieved.
I just listened to your album 'Aash'...you are good at writing songs like these...tell me more bout it!
'Aash'...ah! I wrote it when I was going through my painful break up...see even I get dumped sometime haha! !kidding!! But yeah! I have an emotional attachment with this song. It's about hoping to be together again.
So where is that 'Aash' now? You said 'a painful break up'...I just went through your song rejection. You seemed to be enjoying a lot...
Hahaha!! Don't know where that Aash is but I got to move on you know.....I think my fans will feel funny listening to me singing songs like this and enjoy it's R&B beat at the same time....me and my friends use to club together most Friday nights, look out for ladies and ask for a dance...yeah there were times that I have been rejected. Oh most of the time actually haha!!!
Most of the time artists are not happy with their record companies involving the promotion aspect, is it the reason that you have included songs like ‘Khene Numa Kewa’, ‘Mero Mann’ and ‘Aatma’ from your previous albums or is it that you ran out of songs?
Sometimes I do fear that someday I could run out of words and melody but in life there's so much to talk about, so much to express, so much to feel and understand. I think I am lucky that I have been blessed with this ability that I can always come out with new songs...I actually recorded twelve songs but was not happy with the production so decided to have only eight. Sometimes I am asked to perform on tracks so I made this another version of 'Aatma'. I just loved it and thought why not include it in this album. As for 'Khene neuma kewa' and 'Mero Mann'it’s true that I was not satisfied with the promotion of my previous album Artha. I want to promote these songs again am planning to make videos on them, if not on 'Khene neuma kewa' then on 'Mero Mann'for sure. This song means a lot to me.
What's so special about it? Why do you want to promote it again?
I am not this gift giving kind of person and I think this song is the only thing that I gave my girl friend when we were together. I wanted to give her something special and different and the idea of this song popped into my head. I think the song is beautiful as well...'Mero Mann' is a simple love songs and I wrote it thinking about my little niece Namahang. Sometimes little babies bring different joys in your life...he brought one in mine...these songs really means lot to me.
I listened to your song 'Pahilo Prayas' from this album! Tell me, are you talking about making love in the song?
Yes! But it's not just about making love. You know, understanding her touch, her moves and knowing her smell. It actually means how well you know her....it's about understanding her from deep inside which I think is one of the important things that makes the relationships go great.
So basically this album 'Aash' is all about you?
Yea sort of. In fact almost every song that I have written so far is about me. I don't write songs just for the sake of writing it. My songs are my feelings… my expressions.
If most of the songs are about you then is it that you are not happy with your life? I say this because most of your songs are sad!
Sudip always tells me biyogi geet kati lekhchau??? May be I should always remain sad you know! Because I really can't find anything to write when I am happy and then
I won't be having anything to offer to my fans or listeners hehe!!! Writing sad songs does not necessarily mean I am not happy. I am actually enjoying my life so much. I love my life. I even have a song jindagi mero kati rangin raicha from my previous album, which tells about how happy I am with my life! I guess I am an emotional person and I feel lucky that I have this ability to turn this emotion into songs.
Tell me about your new music video. I watched it and to be honest, liked it; I think it's the only colorful video that you have made so far; all the previous ones were black and white!
Nice to know that you liked it! To tell you the truth I think I have disappointed many of my fans. I feel that I haven't been able to meet their expectations with my music. My sleepless nights and constant party life has distracted me so much that I have not been able to focus on my work properly. I know I can't make any excuses but I would like to say sorry to all my fans and hopefully, they in turn, give me another chance.
So how is your party life going? Have you changed a bit or things are going the same way? I hope you are enjoying.....
Not really...I think we talked about it last time as well. piyo..behora dekhayo gati chadyo you know. I have done many stupid and embarrassing things. People literally use to come to me and tell me "Naren you are a public figure you shouldn't be doing this and all"...but I just didn't listen to them. I kinda realize what an ass I have always been. However, I am trying to be a better man.
So where do you think you are right now?
I seriously don know that. I don't know where I want be but this place is full of complications, most of my friends have gone abroad and I decided to stay here despite going against my family's wishes but things are now getting really difficult. We all know our country is going through difficult times and it's not just me but I think every one like me trying to make something out of their lives on our own. The country is facing difficult times. I am actually ridiculed with our politicians. It's them who are actually responsible for everything...none of them seem to have any sense of ethics....they are playing politics like a baby...blaming one another. It's frustrating you know!
Indeed everyone is very much disillusioned by our so called political leaders, what do you think about them?
Politics is interesting only when they play it dirty but these so called politicians are playing it like a baby and its not even funny anymore. Everyone seems like the same... blaming one another. Fair game hos or dirty as dirty as they can make it...play it but at least go somewhere don't just lay there in the middle of nowhere.
What do you think should be done?
Well we all know what should be done...even a fifth grade student knows what should be done but these f*** head politicians don't seem to understand it. For example, when they passed the budget for this year, they announced anyone who marries a dalit or a widow shall be rewarded hundred and fifty thousand rupees respectively....how can they openly discriminate dalits and widows like that? This just shows what they have in their brains.
There are so many artists and videos coming out in the market, your comments on that?
It's a good thing that many artist are coming out in the market lately. The only problem that I have seen so far is that most of the record labels have lost their sense of ethics. You know paisa nikal album nikaldinchu and they have been producing any sort of albums. I don't mind if I don't fit the criteria and get rejected but this has actually spoiled the image of the whole music industry. People don't really trust our industry like they used to. I would be happy if a quality album is produced every single day with real genuine talents.
What do you think bout the VJ's and people associated with TV channels making music videos? It is said that they play their own music videos in their shows. Anything you would like to say about this?
I absolutely have no problem with VJs or anyone else making videos if its a sensible one or at least interesting one. Yes, even I have witnessed their own videos getting air play most of the time. See its their territory and they can use their power as much as they can and want to. Nothing we say will stop them but they should never forget honesty is what matters. As long as they stay loyal towards the viewers, they will benefit or else you will have to face the consequences.
What does your family think about your career in music? Are they happy bout it??
I think they believes in my film making work more then my music so you can just guess if they are happy with my music career or not . Even I am not happy to be honest, I don't know… may be I never worked hard enough but yeah, I do feel good every time I write and compose good songs.
Tell us bout your family!
Both my brother and sister are married and live in Hong Kong and Dharan respectively. My mum and dad are in the UK. All of them want me to go to the UK for better opportunities but despite their wishes I have decided to stay here in Nepal and make something out of my life here itself but sometimes it does gets frustrating here…as we all know the situation. They worry about me a lot as I live here alone. Did I mention to you that I actually wrote 'Aatma' for them?
When the first album 'Aastha' was released, I felt a lot of people took you as the second man of the band. Did you ever feel that way? Or would you say that was just a false notion that people acquired!
Did they really take me as the second man? Hehe! may be that's because I was always at the back in most of our pictures. I never felt anything like that. We both knew and respected each of our contributions towards our first album
Ok Naren! We shall discuss more in our next interview…thanks for your time!
Yah! Sure! Thanks to you and fursad.com!
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