Ten Creative Releases Of 2022

By Mannu Shahi

This abundantly subjective notion of critiquing other people’s creativity, hard work and potential, with hopes of not throwing myself in a pedestal, as outstretched as it may deem, is only a celebration of quaint ingenuity exhibited by our local music community this year. Amidst a plethora of releases in 2022, only a handful attempted to exalt their tunes deeper than the clamour of hit musical trends and smoothly executed considered artistry. However, this is a strictly biased list of songs that intrigued me and resonate with my personal sonic sphere, so here’s my alphabetically aligned “ten most favourite music releases of 2022”:

» Chain of Dogs – Aant Chha: Being a part of the Kathmandu Valley Hardcore scene for over two decades, COD comprises prominent names disguised under a fresh banner. The quartet released their debut self-titled EP on April 25, the audio is recorded at Sound Strike Studio; mixed/mastered by Sushil Manandhar. The second track ‘Aant Chha’ is my favourite tune for its heavy guitar works, pounding bassline, steady drum phrases, angry perpetual flow and the group’s tight knitted chemistry. The engulfing vocal production also adds into the raw and vile aesthetic the band intends to deliver. Unite Asia, a prominent Hong Kong based underground music website, mentioned the EP as the “Demo of the Year” in a global context and featured a review about the group in their Asian Pride column. 

» Dixita Karki – Jeevan: Aired on August 29 via the songstress’ official YouTube handle, the splendid video is directed by Jholey/NFTP, and the music is produced by Class x Studios. Dixita flaunts her indie-pop influences, starting out with a dreamy guitar line, and a gloomy, yet hopeful, sensation takes over as the vocals lure in and the song blossoms with feelings of frustration and tangled emotions. The intriguing metaphorical storyline depicted on the mv flatters the songs aesthetics and projects a sophisticated concept materialized by Dixita and Jholey. The venerability demonstrated by the singer from a lyrical standpoint is much commendable and being so young pinpointing such contemplative personal issues, uncovering her life story through her poetry is a rare artistry only few songwriters possess.

» Dmriti – Female Rapper: My introduction to Dmriti was through ‘Female Rapper’, which the emcee released on January 7 via Skathi Records. Produced by KTM Souljah, the video is credited to Mero Mazzako Karalaya.  The bi-lingual poet with her fluent diction, great sense of rhythm, dynamic vocabulary, and assorted palette of musicianship has indeed brewed ripples that marks a standard of creativity, across-genders. Dmriti vents out her ideologies and taunts our social conditioning that demands the continuous reference back to a dated stereotypical loop-hole that most Nepali music consumers fall into. ‘Female Rapper’ laughs at traditional gender roles, transcends presumptions and swanks Dmriti piercing writing skills.   

» Envelopes - Aka: Released on April 9 by the nu-metal core quartet Envelopes who have been active in the underground metal community since 2018. On cinematography for the single are Promise Rai and Avash Thapa; while the video is conceptualized by Rishan Maharjan; the audio is mixed/ mastered by Pramod Acharya. However, ‘Aka’ comprises the group’s previous vocalist Manish Shrestha, who is no longer associated with the band. The remaining members include Aron Raigai, Anesh Raigai, Pranish Pariyar, and Aseas Shyawa. The modern metal timbers dictate this song’s aesthetics, the pitchy scream complement the arrangement, the looser breaks and accelerating subsequent pattern creates dynamic build-up point where fast-paced clean vocals take over in a true nu-metal fashion. The video is simple yet effective, and the socio-politically infused lyrics narrate the frustrations of youth and convey angst against the entire world.   

» Robin Wagle – Hou Dakini: I have to admit, I’m very new to this musical dimension embellished by singer/songwriter/producer Robin Wagle. And ‘Hou Dankini’ is this snazzy minimal-hypnotic treat bestowed to the world by this brilliant musician. Released on January 10, the traditionally inclined vocal lines consolidated with chirps and warbles of birds, distant bells, jungle ambience, and the steady repetitive sample drums reminisces the audience to a shamanic ritual. The outro especially with its grumbling downbeat paints this aura of climax to a healing procession. But contrary to its sonic evocation the tune comprises romantically charged verses that the singer is addressing to his choice of interest. Originality is vivid, the arrangement definitely elevates the entire tune to a next level, the eccentric vocal harmonies add a fresh flavour and every kind of sound captured in any point of the song is diligently moulded as a garnish.    

» S.Rai, Chandresha Pandey, Ranzen - Rise: Written as a performance project for Women of World festival, organised in December 2019 in Janakpur, three powerhouses merged together to put forth this empowering and motivating anthem bringing out the best of their personal realms into this magnificent track anyone can enjoy via Ris Records Bandcamp handle. Sareena Rai is undoubtedly the most inventive songwriter of her time articulating exquisite verses both in Nepali and English. Her dominant persona radiates throughout while subtle yet affirming timbres are flaunted by the eastern classically trained chanteuse Chandresha Pandey switching between Hindi and Nepali lines. The electronic arrangement accessorizes the punk rock structure and exhibits Ranzen’s ingenious in flawlessly “serving the song”. The chorus is one of the catchiest, most intricate yet sleek and thought-provoking phrases ever written in the context of Nepali music. 

» The Elements – Urja: One of the most thriving musical personalities of the contemporary scene has to be this vibrant artsy trio The Elements. Omnipresent in the music industry since their inception in 2018, the trio has several accolades under its belt. With a loyal demographic genuinely supporting the band through thick and thin, their recent EP ‘Urja’ released in December 2021 sustains their appeal further.

My personal favourite tune from the EP has to be the title-track, published along with this heartfelt video on April 23, directed by Robin Sharma speaks volumes on why the band is so relevant and appreciated by its followers. This optimistic and motivating tune is recorded at Studio 5150, Nepal with Bikash Bhujel and Steven Tamang on audio production.

» Ugrakarma – Siddharthic Nihilism: The veteran death metal act Ugrakarma published their third full length album, “Photonic Death” on November 20 via Bandcamp and YouTube.  The audio is recorded, mixed and mastered by Sushil Manandhar at Rolling Studio. The fifth track ‘Siddharthic Nihilism’ was particularly intriguing for me as the title suggests, the song amalgamates Budhha’s life teaching with the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s existentialism theories.

The band elaborates the song as their philosophy of life. “Aware but uninvolved, blissful but unconcerned, compassionate but without expectations. This is how we conduct ourselves daily as we live our lives’’, stated Sunil Dev Pant, the band’s founding member, vocalist and bassist. The LP was produced in Portland, Oregon and released by Gore-kha Records, Montana.

» Uniq poet, Kavi G – Jheli: Released on October 21, this was a solid collaboration that shook the entire Nep-hop community. Beat produced by easyonthebeat; mixed/master by DJ AJ; the flabbergasting visuals were manifested by Ian Scott Clement. Starring Uniq Poet, Kavi G and actor Supreme Rai the mv with this fascinating plot triumphs the audiences’ expectations right away with its quirky story arch and coherent character development.

The bamboo flute melody prominent all over the track adds a fresh take and an East Asian tang to the song. As the tune flourishes and evolves away from the velvety, chill aesthetics it shifts towards this transposed rather intensified vibe with breaks and build-ups fabricating a rather progressive structure. Exemplary vocal modulation works by Kavi G in the latter half of the song. 

» Wabiisabii – Sapana: Wabiisabii describe themselves as three guys coming together to make some groove and music for the love of it. Composed of Ashesh Rai, Abhishekh Pokhrel and Siddharatha Upreti the trio was formed in 2020 and released their six tracks debut album on October 26 in all major platforms. The sixth track, ‘Sapana’ published as a single on August 16 is written/composed/arranged by Ashesh Rai; recorded at Fuzz Studio Nepal; and mixed and mastered by Kobid Bazra.

The experimental visual works for the tune is realized and manifested by Prince; additionally, the song features Sahil Uprety on bass solo. I love the song’s cumulative nature from the very start, the modern vocal arrangements, convoluted melodic patterns, intense break downs, enhancing vocal harmonizes; everything is so well-structured and continually shifting: a breath of fresh air indeed. Influences of modern jazz icons such as Jacob Collier and Tigran Hamasyan can be traced in some instances however a much-required change of pace in the otherwise monotonous route of popular Nepali tunes.