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West Meets East

An American comes up with a music album of Nepalese folk songs

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

When Josh Brody first came to Nepal in 1994, little did he know that he was going to end up as a Nepali folk singer. A native of Pasadena, near Los Angeles, the 29-year-old lanky American is coming up with his first Nepali music album called "Soaltee" in October.

The album has seven songs, most of which are based on folk tunes. He has already made a music video for Nepal Television (NTV) where he can be seen singing and dancing with a village girl in a particularly humorous song called "Khutrukai paryo.. gore moraale..". He has also given himself a Nepali name — Gajab Bahadur Gurung.

Brody (right) with Gurung : New singer on the block

Brody came to Nepal in 1994 as a student of anthropology. He visited the nooks and corners of Nepalese villages with his teachers and soon developed a rapport with rural life. A keen music-lover from his childhood, Brody was instantly struck by the cultural practices of the country. A master of mellifluous voice, he started singing folk songs with the villagers.

Brody has been working in Khandbari, in the north-eastern district of Sankhuwasabha, in a remote education project since 1997. It was here where he met Khem Raj Gurung, the popular folk-pop singer who made a sensational entry in the Nepalese music scene early this year with "Wari Jamuna, Pari Jamuna".

Brody and Gurung became fast friends and it was their mutual interest in music that brought them even closer. "We (Khem and myself) used to take part in local concerts in villages where people loved my singing," said Brody. At that time both were struggling — Gurung was still an unknown singer. Though they had released a joint album few years ago, nothing came of it, as it was not promoted well.

But now both buddies are reaping their success. While Gurung is already a household name, Brody promises to bring a different kind of attraction. Accustomed to hearing Nepali voices, audiences here would definitely find it interesting to listen to their folk songs in a foreigner’s voice.

Among the seven songs in his album, two are duets with Khem Raj and Sarana Shrestha each. He likes Khem Raj Gurung, Kunti Moktan and Dipesh Bhattarai among the present lot of Nepalese singers. "Among the western ones I like Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon," says Brody.

He likes folk music more than pop or modern numbers. But he believes the combination of folk melody with pop tune is not bad as long as they keep the basic spirit intact. His forthcoming album "Soaltee" includes folk songs as well as few pop numbers. The music has been composed by Shila Bahadur Moktan. The lyrics reflect rich ethnic dialect. "And I understand the meaning of all my songs," boasts Brody.

Brody is currently involved in the education project in Khandbari. "My fellowship is for another two years after which I don’t know what I will do."

Back home in LA, Brody’s parents and friends think his singing "funny". "They loved my songs, in fact," says Brody smiling. His father is an ophthalmologist, who had a couple of years ago come to Nepal to conduct an eye surgery camp in villages, and his mother a schoolteacher. He even sings Nepali songs for his mom’s students whenever he goes home, " ... and they really like it," he said.

Close on the heels of his friend’s success, Brody is coming out with his album early next month. As the initial response goes, he is confident that Nepalese audiences will find him an interesting singer.