At a tiny little room at the KJC a dozen temptresses have been practising their spell binding euphonies for almost three weeks. “We will soon be ready”, says the guitarist Yuvraj Chettri meticulously keeping track of the range, notes and counts. But Vidhea quickly affirms, “Soon is not acceptable, we should have already perfected every song by now”.
WIC came into being after four friends Vidhea Shrestha, Sapana Thapa, Sheeri Thapa and Rachana Gurung Sharma discovered their plebeian love for music. The rock-diva in a time when the city had only seen pebbles, Vidhea says , “back in those days if a woman got up the stage and sang, they were branded nothing less than a cabaret dancer and we seriously wanted to create a space for aspiring women musicians in this man’s world”. And like all great ideas, the plan for the platform came into being, thanks to the elixir of life: wine!
“We were drunk and Abhaya(Subba) without any restraint. So, we too, got up on the stage and forgot the world”, says Sapana Thapa, “and we made a pact there and then to create a place where all women could showcase their prowess and pour their passion for music”. The whimsical dream soon manifested into reality and established a reputation beyond what they had ever fathomed.
WIC doesn’t only provide women with a platform to sing but to testify to their passion. From housewives to preteens, everyone comes together to produce an annual event to celebrate their benevolent femininity and unleash their freewheeling frivolity.
Arpan Shrestha
“Many obstacles came up last year”, says Vidhea when asked about the event’s respite, “and only because that we were approached and supported by KJC that we were able to come back again”. Although, the femme fest has become an integral part of the KJC and Miles Music Festival, it still stands on its own as one of the most awaited musical events of the country.
’Women in Concert’ is a brand in itself and we have been sustaining it without any funding or sponsorships”, explains Sapana, “we don’t do it for the money but only for the sheer love of music”. WIC has been supporting various societal causes ever since its first concert at the tiny little restaurant back in 2003. This year, the proceeds will be handed over to ‘Orchid Garden Nepal’, a day-care centre for the children of the poor and deprived labourers.
The songstresses will be singing songs in five different languages (English, Nepali, Hindi, Dutch and Bengali) and of genres switching from rock to blues and jazz to pop along with Nepali classics. A seventh grader, Shivana Shrestha, will startle the audiences with her soulful vocals as she will perform Take a Bow by Rihanna and Esperangma, aged 15 will flaunt wt without any constraint as she will sing My Story & Facing up. Kencho, Sonam & Sangay Trio along with Marloes, 17 year old prodigy will prove showcase their profound love for Jazz.
Arpan Shrestha
Artists like Preeti Kaur, Pooja Gurung and Astha Tamang Maskey will also be joining the sisterhood of the singing sirens this year. Astha will be performing the originals from her debut album “Sabai thikai huncha” and Pooja Gurung will give tribute to Aruna Lama with her version of Timi lai along with India Aire’s Can I walk with you.
Veteran divas and founding mothers of WIC, Rachana Gurung Sharma will also show that she is as good of a singer as she is a choreographer and Sapana Thapa, an educationalist and daughter of Aruna Lama, will sing her original songs proving that music, indeed, is embedded in her genes.
And the highlight of the show is guaranteed to be the entire songstresses closing WIC with I’m every woman. With magical euphonies to rival their immaculate grace, ‘Women in Concert’ will not only produce a feast for your auditory senses but will nourish your soul. Guaranteed! As Chaka Khan exclaims it in her anthem:
I aint braggin, cause I’m the one
Just ask me, and it shall be done
And don’t bother to compare
I got it. I’ll do it naturally.
Cause I’m every woman.
Concert Schedule
Date: Saturday, March 21st
Time: 6:30pm
Venue: Gokarna Forest Resort
Price: Rs. 800/-
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