When his song “Pal Pal” from his debut album “Yaadma” is still sticking at number one position on most musical countdowns aired by Nepal’s various FM stations, he’s still nobody. Even at the biggest music stores in Kathmandu like Tik n’ Tok and Suwal Audio Video, they haven’t heard of this box office singer. Irrespective of such irony, though, Rai’s “Yaadma,” has been breaking chart records for over a month now. After Anju Panta’s “Na birse timilai,” Lokendra Rai’s “Pal Pal” has become the talk of the town amidst its many Nepali pop-modern music enthusiasts.
But no matter how popular his songs are today, his identity still remains behind the curtain for many.
Born in the tea estate of Ilam, Rai is a graduate in sociology and political science from Tribhuvan University. He has had been a music aficionado since his childhood. He came to Kathmandu six years ago with the dream of becoming a professional singer, and started learning classical music at Anurag Music School. With the success of “Yaadma,” Rai can finally relax and feel close to his dream coming true now.
A true zealot for the late Narayan Gopal, as he likes to call himself, he is into pop, modern and classical music.
If there’s anyone who has made remarkable differences in his life and has inspired him, apart from Narayan Gopal, it’s Ram Sitaula, his classical music teacher. Sitaula has also composed three songs in “Yaadma.”
“I don’t dream of becoming a commercial singer,” Lokendra says and adds, “When you become one, you’ll start focusing more on money than on your voice. I don’t want to become a moneymaker. I only wish to be a good singer.”
Rai’s teacher and close friends introduced this newcomer to some radio stations and helped his album get airplay.
“Thanks to them, who made my journey much easier,” he says.
But how is he still relatively unknown in the most celebrated musical stores in town?
“Even I’m disappointed to hear this. I guess it’s because my marketing promoter Times Music failed to properly merchandise my record,” he thinks.
Nonetheless, he knows that Yaadma is doing great not only in Kathmandu but also in Pokhara, Biratnagar, and Dharan.
By aiming high in music, this promising singer hopes to sing to the compositions of Nhyoo Bajracharya, his favorite music maker, and is also looking forward to sing with his favorite singer, Jagdish Samal.
“I wish I was born much earlier. I missed the opportunity to sing for the late maestro Gopal Yonzon.” Then he smiles. “But my parents have always told me that good things happen to those who are positive and simple. So I hope fate has the same in store for me.”
Yaadma
Marketed by Times Music Private Limited, “Yaadma” is an ensemble of six compositions produced and written by Dinesh K Rai.
The compositions are by Raju Singh, Ram Sitaula, Hemanta Chemjong, Devi Niraula, and Shyam Sundar.
The music arrangements are taken care of by Gopal Rasaili, Kiran Kandel, Norbu Sherpa, Amul Karki, and Bikash Rai.
Though Rai’s vocal has nothing of the “Oh my God!” factor in it, he’s pleasing to listen to, and he knows how to go along with the music. Though new to the Nepali music industry, Rai has made sure that he doesn’t sing off notes. His popular number “Pal Pal” is composed beautifully with proper fusion of sax, electric guitar and drum being the dominant instruments. The way he has tried ragas, alap variations and aarohas in “Pal Pal” needs special mention. Thus, it makes this song a pleasant modern-classical track.
Something different should’ve been tried in the second track, “Harek Pal,” and Rai should’ve also tried singing the song differently because it sounds like any other ordinary slow love ballad. At some points, it sounds like Yash Kumar. The last track, “Achhuchhu Jado,” sounds a little different and pleasing with composer Hemanta Chemjong trying to mix sarangi with flute, bass guitar, piano, and tungna.
Not that Dinesh K Rai’s lyrics are bad, but he should’ve come up with more innovative lines because there are already many songs about love and tragedy. The words aren’t powerful either.
On Lokendra’s part, his voice is smooth and soft; and he surely has a long melodic journey ahead of him.
avash@myrepublica.com
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