Kathmandu. From the mid-50s to the mid-60s, Nepali music was dominated by bands. At that time, which was considered to be the ‘peak time’ of Sugam music, musical bands were also in the same mood. The music and performances of bands such as Nepathya, Kandara, Mongolian Heart, 1974 AD, Ambience, The Shadows, Kutumb, Mukti and Revival, Mantra, Karma heated up the musical field.
In the meantime, folk and other genres of songs gained influence in the musical field, but few bands slowed down. Recently, with the increase in the number of Nepalis living abroad, Nepali music is also traveling in different countries. By all accounts, Nepali music is being internationalized.
At present, the mood of the diaspora from Nepal is musical. Along with Christmas, English New Year, musicians are performing at various places. In this case, the presence of musical bands along with artists of other genres seems tempting.
Bands are also giving information about their performances one after the other through social media. Bands’ activity and busyness can also be seen from the posts they publish. In the year 2025, various bands are preparing to do an international musical tour of their musical performances.
Looking at the list of Diaspora concerts, the popular folk rock band Nepathya will perform in Australia in March 2025. The Ugly Band is preparing to perform in America on July 25. Mukti and Revival will be performing in America in April and May targeting the Nepali New Year. The Shadows Band are scheduled to perform in the US in February and March and the Kandara Band in the UK on January 4th. Apart from this, some other bands are doing an international tour this year.
As the dimension of music is expanding, government agencies are also doing some work for promotion. On the occasion of Metropolitan Day in November, Kathmandu Metropolitan City organized a grand musical concert in Tundikhel. 19 musicians performed in the concert. From December 12th to 26th, Bharatpur Metropolitan City of Chitwan is conducting ‘Bharatpur Tour Year’, where 12 musicians are performing.
At the moment, musical bands are making a comeback. The once popular folk pop band Kandara, which has been dormant for a long time, rose up in 2024. This band gave concerts from home to abroad. This Pokhreli band, which recently held its first concert in Kathmandu, is going on an international tour this year.
Naren Limbu, the vocalist of the famous rock band ‘Aastha’, says that the demand for Nepali music is increasing from home to abroad.
Nepali people live in many countries. As a result, the demand for Nepali music has increased internationally as Nepali people go abroad,’ he says to Online Khabar, ‘It is good to see the comeback of bands at this time. Now the government is also trying to provide entertainment to people on special occasions. Which is a good thing for Nepali music.’
Naren says that the desire of the listeners is the main factor in the comeback of the dormant bands. “A musician will continue to create new things only if he survives financially and with the audience,” he says.
Singer Ravi, who is also the winner of Nepal Idol Season 2, says that it is good to see Nepali concert culture growing abroad. The increase in the demand for Nepali artists abroad is due to the increase in the number of Nepalis living there. As a result, the demand for Nepali artists is increasing internationally,’ he says.
‘Nowadays various bands are making a comeback and the audience is also loving the old songs and music again. Social networks like Tik Tok have also helped a lot in recent times,’ Ravi says, ‘The establishment and comeback of bands is a very happy thing for the Nepali music sector.’
The recent musical program held by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the ‘National Day Concert’ held on October 3 indicate that government agencies are also paying attention to the Nepali music sector.
Nepathya band manager Kiran Krishna Shrestha from Nepal says that with the growth of concert culture, the technical quality of songs and music and the purchasing power of the audience are also increasing.
The increase in demand for Nepali music in the diaspora may be due to the increasing presence of Nepalis abroad. Nepali artists going abroad and foreign artists coming to Nepal are both good things, he says.
He further said, ‘As Nepali programs in the diaspora are increasing, we must always take care of their quality. It is important for every artist to pay attention to the quality of their music as well as continuity.’
For that, he suggests to take care of the formula of four ‘P’. ‘Popularity, performance, production and participation,’ he says, ‘If these four things are managed correctly, the demand for artists will increase among the audience.’
The return of the bands is a happy thing. But Shrestha says that it is necessary to create something new to continue. ‘Now, along with the comeback of bands, new bands are also being established. In order to establish oneself, it is necessary to create according to the audience’s demand and time. But we should not go viral,’ he says, ‘Government should also take initiatives to bring out the artists who are overshadowed by the current artists.’
