“I still remember how people discouraged me in my initial days. Some said I’ll land up becoming a random gaine in the streets of Kathmandu while some even predicted that I’ll suffer from tuberculosis if I continued playing flute,” he recalled. [break]“I can proudly look back at them today and show what my flute has given to me so far.”
Singh, who will be performing tonight at Pepsi Music by the Museum, a musical extravaganza organized by Hits FM and Musicology at Patan Museum, will be going back to the States in the next two weeks.
“How big can a traditional Nepali instrument do internationally? I guess people can no more question this. I’ve made it wide and clear,” Singh answered to his own question.
Born to a non-music background family in Bouddha in Kathmandu, in his own words, Singh never “thought” he would one day become an internationally recognized instrumentalist and “musician.”
“It all came to me from Lord Krishna,” he smiles.
Singh definitely has an incident to prove that it was Lord Krishna who made him fall in love with flute.
While he was only nine years old, one night he saw a silhouette, a person walking by his home at Bouddha. The person was playing flute. Singh strongly believes that it was Lord Krishna who came that night.
“He wanted somebody to take his instrument and play his music worldwide. I don’t know why he chose me particularly. But I take that as my fate,” he said.
While people he knew never believed he could do anything good in future, Singh took a really short time to prove what he could do by playing flute. In 2000, he joined 1974 AD as one of the band members.
To polish himself more, he came under the guidance of prominent musicians like Homnath Upadhaya and Madan Dev Bhatta. Along with playing for 1974 AD, he also joined Cadenza.
But before he could prove himself in Nepal, he decided to do programs abroad.
“I never decided to settle abroad. And I still don’t think I’m living abroad forever. I’m just trying to take Nepali music to unprecedented heights of recognition and respect,” he explained and added, “I’m trying to prove people how classical music still has its legacy going on. Many say it’s no more an age of classical music. How can we forget our roots?”
Having traveled and performed in 27 countries last year, Singh says that he has succeeded in popularizing flute, a typical Nepali instrument, almost worldwide.
“Today, I receive many offers to do freelance music for many international bands. I’ve already done an album together with John Densmore (drummer – The Doors). Likewise, I’ve also worked with the guitarist of the Steve Miller Band. I’ve also given my music to singer Krishna Das and have also worked with internationally recognized musician Deva Premal,” he unveiled.
“Not that I want to blow my own trumpet, but which Nepali musician have this access and opportunity to travel from Russia to Santiago, from Chile to America. I’ll make the most out of this fortune and will eventually come back to my own mother country,” he concluded.
Catch him live tonight (Friday, March 12) at Patan Museum at Pepsi Music by the Museum with other singers and musicians like Mukti Shakya of Mukti and Revival, 1974 AD, Nawaraj Gurung, and Shreya Sotang.
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