The Rising Nepal |
Patriotic, No Plastic |
July 18,
2005 |
| By
Arhan Sthapit NIRNAYA, a rapping kid of the Rappaz Union fame, has struck a different chord. Very recently, he has released an album Ma Nepali -replete with patriotic feelings; not in plastic but paper pack. It seems he is saying nay to plastic, big yea to patriotism! It's his first solo album that follows three band albums, namely The Nepali Touch in Nepali, and two in English. The album has come in an interactive CD that offers options to visit different pages including artistes' profile, featured female artistes, audio songs and their music video, among others. Taking a voluntary, 'mutually agreed break' from the band, Nirnaya is still going stronger with his brand of rap music when he cuts his first solo venture. Conspicuously, however, he has fused in this album the rap fervours with hip-hop and Nepali folk-pop; it's the niche he's notched up for himself in the music circuit. Title song Ma Nepali is the major highlight of the album. Its music is impressive for the blend of rap with Nepali folk flavours. Female crooner Mausami Gurung has given accompaniment to Nirnaya. All songs in the album except one have female singers each combining their voice with Nirnaya's, another remarkable property of the album. Timrai lagi stands from other tracks in the album, for at least two reasons. At the first place, it's the only solo performance of Nirnaya that has done without any female singer. And, it's an unplugged version. Music-wise, it is a veritable blend of melodies and relatively slow rap. A chorus of female crooners has given back vocals to beautify the Ma Nepali track. The music video of the song enshrined in the album is an extra feather in Nirnaya's cap. The PALSMA production boasts of a good conception that emulates the theme of instilling patriotic feelings in the youth. There is a social message in other songs too. Arranged in a peppy rhythmic format, Amma tries to apprise youths of their parents' value. Famous pop singer Nalina Chitrakar is featured in this track. Famous young singer Prasnaa Shakya is impressive, as she gives vocal collaboration with Nirnaya in Maile Timilai. Prasnaa champions with melody. It also holds true in Gaule jeevan, a music composition basically founded on Nepali folk pattern. It beautifully projects the rustic lifestyle as the nostalgia in which one always loves to wallow in. Prasnaa's humming the catchy melody is a noticeable beauty of the song. Suna creates a romantic aura, as Preeti Kaur casts a melodious spell with Nirnaya intermittently rapping along. It also applies to Pyasi, a debut song for Ayusha Shrestha who has already reaped accolades with her Miss College title in the international beauty pageant. Her husky voice stands on sharp relief from other female singers, as her vocal texture is largely non-conventional. Ayusha is yet to go through an acid-test of the public who shall determine her new manifestation as a singer. Latino flavours and a tinge of hip hop have been featured in Bounce where Preeti Kaur and Kunchhang are the female vocalists. Nirnaya, an FM jockey, who has spent a big chunk of his childhood in the US away from his nativity, has made a deliberate effort to make use of music to consolidate national feelings among the youth. It's more relevant at a time when the intelligentsia has been constantly raising concern over the eroding national feelings in the youth and over the ever spiralling trend of massive brain drain from the country. |