KATHMANDU, March 25: heirs is a friendship that is born out of the intersection of their individual forms of creation. Their relationship would almost amount to nothing without poetry and music, the two say. They are admirers of each other’s talents and opponents when it comes to certain debates about philosophy, politics and life but they are two sides of the same coin that makes heart-touching songs.
Shrawan Mukarung is poet and lyricist. Aavaas is more renowned as a music composer and singer although he also writes lyrics and poetry. The duo has made around two dozens of songs happen, the most popular ones being ‘Gaunthali,’ ‘Lamppost muni,’ ‘O Tenzin’ and ‘Pirai pirko bhari.’ Excerpts from a conversation:
How did you two meet?
Aavaas: We first got to know each other through poetry back in the days when our songs and poems were published in newspapers. I used to read Srawan’s poems. We must have met a couple of times in different events in Kathmandu but we became good friends after we started working together. I used to write my own songs and my friends suggested that I start composing and singing others’ lyrics as well. So I was in search of a good song writer.
Shrawan: I would say it’s our attraction to creation that brought us closer. I had read his poetry collection, ‘Bhugolmathi Ubhiyeko Jaitun’ and was impressed. Perhaps then I searched for him. It was only later that I found out about his works in music.
What do like the most about each other’s works?
Aavaas: He has an unconventional style of writing and he writes with ease.
Shrawan: Not everyone is capable of going into the depth of a song. Aavaas has this quality. The kind of songs he creates is not only for his self-satisfaction but also for the society and nation. He brings out the shadowed stories of the society into his music and has the potential to take Nepali music to a higher level.
What would you say is the common ground for you, as a pair, when it comes to your creations?
Aavaas: We believe in telling our stories through that of others’ and telling others’ stories through ourselves. Both of us try to bring out voices of the voiceless in our art.
Do you have disagreements and discrepancies while working together?
Shrawan: Our discussions aren’t like those between two lovers or between Sharukh Khan and Salman Khan. We have meaningful debates and discrepancies.
Aavaas: We never have ego tussles, we only argue on issues but we don’t let the arguments disrupt the harmony of our relationship.
Shrawan Mukarung and Aavaas will be a part of the next edition of Paleti, a series promoting Nepali contemporary music. The event will be held at nepa~laya in Kalikasthan on March 29 from 5:30 pm onwards. Tickets are priced at Rs 1,000 (Paleti snacks and one complimentary drink included
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