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For those of us who have been to concerts and live music shows, the thrill of watching our favorite artists perform on stage is unmatched. And if those artists are any good, they’ll sound just like you’re listening to them on the radio, creating a scintillating effect at the venue. But how many of us know the singers and musicians we love to watch live are not the only people behind the good music?

 Besides singing and playing their instruments, these singers and musicians have little control over how they actually sound at the venue. Especially when the venue is large and the instruments are heavily amplified. Be it our own Nepathya or the internationally famous Aerosmith on stage, they all need someone to control their inputs and outputs while they are on stage.

Sound engineering involves a lot of technology but it’s not all about technology as well. It is an art that requires you to learn multiple things

Binaya Man Amatya

 That’s where these conjurers called sound engineers come in. Don’t be fooled by the name though. They’re not engineers who are churned out by engineering colleges with 4-year degrees. “Sound engineers are people with good ears, an understanding of music and the ability to maneuver technology at their will,” says Binaya Man Amatya. At just 28, Binaya is one of the most sought after sound engineers in the country and a teacher of over five dozen aspiring sound engineers who have learnt the art of mixing from him and are now making a living out of it.

 In a layman’s terms, a ‘mix’ is the final output of the sound produced by the musicians on stage or during recording. A sound engineer behind the mixing console is responsible for how the band sounds. From the amount of reverb and delay required on the vocals, to the volume levels of guitars, low ends produced by the bass to the clarity of each of the cymbals of the drums, a sound engineer mixes all these inputs from the musicians to create the wholesome sound that the audience hears.

 “I was intrigued by the art from when I was a teenager and played bass in a church worship band,” says Binaya. “As there was no one to control the mixing console back then, I had to step up and thus my career started.” Binaya, who started his professional career as a sound engineer in 2012, is mostly self-taught and any formal classes he has taken have come in the form of short training sessions and workshops from international sound engineers. “I started by playing with the knobs of old analog mixers and learning the tricks of the trade. I’ve also read many books related to sound engineering and have done my fair share of research to acquire the skills I now have,” says Binaya.

 Owing to his passion for learning, Binaya quickly rose to fame as one of the most successful sound engineers in the country, a relatively new profession in Nepal. In his short career, he has worked with the most recognized names in the industry like Bipul Chhetri and the Travelling Band, Adrian and Friends, and Underside, among others. With Binaya manning the mixing consoles, he also became one of the first sound engineers in the country to be an integral part of bands and travel with them for their shows. Binaya has toured with various artists to Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, the US, and the UK, among other countries.

 So what does it take to be a sound engineer? “A lot of patience, perseverance, and being in constant touch with the latest technological advancements,” replies Binaya who is also popular for his “Live Sound Recording and Mixing Course” that he runs in association with Liveworks Pvt Ltd—one of the biggest vendors of stage, sound and lights services in the country. “Sound engineering involves a lot of technology but it’s not all about technology. It is an art that requires you to learn multiple things. There’s geometry, physics, and algorithms—altogether a steep learning curve. But once you understand the concept, everything gets easy.”

 Not quite supported by his family in the beginning, Binaya says he earns decently by Nepali standards. With the Nepali music industry getting bigger and better, there is great scope for professional sound engineers. About learning formally in an academy, Binaya recalls his encounter with veteran Swiss sound engineer Daniel (Danlo) Laurent at one Jazzmandu  

 “I asked him if I should get a degree in sound engineering from a college in the US,” Binaya says. “He said, Don’t!” What Laurent then told him has always stayed with him. “You already have the skills and talent,” Lorent said. “All you need is practice.” So Binaya quit the idea of getting a formal degree and started honing his skills in the art of sound mixing, which he says is a life-long learning process.  

 It’s not something you often hear in Kathmandu: ‘The customer is always right’. For those unfamiliar with the phrase, or living in Nepal for so long they have forgotten its meaning, it translates into ‘good customer service’! Having just bought a SIM card, and being wished happy birthday for the next day by the saleswoman (copy of passport required and it seems she had taken note) I stand outside Arrivals at Changi Airport wondering my best route. Instantly my body language is noted and there is assistance at hand. Changi employs people whose sole job is to advise lost-looking tourists. This was just the beginning of three days of great customer service!

 I’m amused to note that Singaporean taxi drivers have the same basic conversations as those in Nepal: where are you from, how do you like the country, etc, etc. They also have a great sense of humor. I’m told by a laughing (middle-aged) driver “That time has expired la” when I explain I lived in Singapore 25 years ago. He is highly amused and amusing. I notice waiting staff are very efficient and can make recommendations on or off the menu. I notice seats reserved for the elderly or people with special needs on public transport left vacant or given up willingly. But good customer service is not restricted only to human interaction. Great signposting and information boards make Singapore extremely easy to negotiate; it’s hard to go wrong really. So, yes, I enjoy my days of being ‘always right’ and the feeling of being welcome as a visitor to this small country.

 Then I move on to Indonesia. I’m instantly reminded of Nepal. People trying really hard to please but just being slightly off-point and often being a bit grumpy or employing that giggle that foreigners often mistake as rudeness but which is actually covering a momentary insecurity. Over the years I’ve seen a lot of conflict between a foreigner and a local because of that giggle. But last year when in Scotland I realized that I have come to not only accept but expect it.

 The occasion was getting out of a swimming pool which had steps rather than a ladder. Somehow I managed to slip and fall up the steps. Turning to the Scottish ladies nearby I expected the sympathetic, slightly embarrassed, not-quite-sure-whatto- say giggle. What I got was concerned words and looks. Which somehow made me feel more stupid for falling.

 “Don’t have” is the bored reply as an assistant gives a nanosecond glance to the sample bangle I have with me

 Meantime over in Bangkok I’m searching a huge shopping mall for the cheap bangles I bought there in the past. “Don’t have” is the bored reply as an assistant gives a nano-second glance to the sample bangle I have with me. “Don’t have” is a common response in Thailand but I’m never sure whether it means they really don’t have the item or you and your request are too small to deal with. Finding the required bangles myself, the assistant is happy enough to take my money though. My thoughts run something like “… see you had them, you just didn’t want to bother looking for an item costing less than $6 …..” I wander off into the maze of stalls. A few minutes later the girl comes running up, full of smiles at having found me, clutching my sample bangle which I had dropped. Sometimes cultural differences make it hard to see customer service which is there all along!

 No need to discuss the ‘customer service’ rolled-out at the TIA! In fact having been dazzled by Changi Airport I think a little comparison review is needed. Until then, have a great week and thank you for taking the time to read this column!  

I never thought I would be writing about a children’s playground. But recently I found myself taking a couple of kids along to ‘By the Way Organic Garden with Kids Venue’ on the recommendation of a friend. Those of you who have kids will know that playgrounds in Kathmandu are few and far between. I’ve been to Alice Restaurant in Naxal several times as they have a nice little play area for children. But the problem with Alice is it’s a victim of its own success. It can be impossible to get a table there on weekends and holidays!

So I was interested to find out more about By the Way Organic Garden with Kids Venue (By the Way, for short). We arrived on New Year’s Day around 1pm and the place was ours alone. A large outdoor space as well as an almost as large indoor space dedicated to kids. Swings, slides, various things to climb on, climb over, crawl through, hide inside or jump off were on offer in a rainbow of colours. “WOW” said one child. “Wow” said I. “Wow” mimicked the taxi driver. Within the next half hour two other families arrived giving the children new friends to interact with. There seemed a camaraderie between the adults—like we were sharing a little-known secret.

Inside, apart from the play area, there are two areas set up for adults. One is more café style, with nice seating, and the other more canteen style. If you can drag the children away from the play apparatus to eat! But I have to say, the menu did not live up to the ‘organic garden’ name. The usual momos, chicken wings, pizza and French fries were on offer. Perfect for children of course. But we three (bideshi) adults wanted a good cappuccino and something a little less oily. This inspired me to find out more. And give some constructive feedback!

 With no management on site that day, I later contacted one of the team of partners, Shanta Dev Duwadi. The waiter had already told me that the current management was new, and I found out that the restaurant has been running only a few months. When I asked Duwadi about the reason behind By the Way, it was much as I expected. “We grew up in a Kathmandu with green spaces but today there is nowhere for children to play. There are no public parks and very few homes have gardens. We wanted to create somewhere safe and sunny for children.”

Although the playground had been running for some time, the restaurant is a new venture by the current management. Now for some feedback! Perfect as the menu was for the kids (momos and French fries are pretty much what they want regardless), us adults would have enjoyed something healthier. The main draw is, 100 percent, the playground and facilities for the kids. But the addition of just one coffee machine would make all the difference to me.

 Duwadi mentioned that they have agriculture land in the valley and they plan to introduce their own, homegrown vegetables to the menu in due course. Not quite organic, but without chemical pesticides.

 It was also mentioned that the masala and spices used in the kitchen are freshly made, not shop bought. Home grown vegetables and fresh spices on the menu and the planned small vegetable market is something to look forward to. Meantime, I noticed a BBQ counter and was told this is only available on pre-booking for private parties. And with plenty of parking space it’s the ideal place for kids’ parties. Definitely!

 Situated at Maharajgunj and open from 9am till 7pm, By the Way charges Rs 150 per hour per child. Which I feel is worth the money. And yes, we will be back on a regular basis! For further information check out their Facebook page or call 01-4371030.

The no-less-than legendary Pokhara Pizza House has had a branch in Kathmandu for a couple of years now. With its pizzas priced at just Rs 300 a pop, its luscious offerings are already winning the hearts of the Valley’s food connoisseurs. Popular among budget tourists and locals of the Lake­side area, the Pokhara Pizza House’s Kathmandu branch at Dhumbarahi serves the same fire-wood pizzas they’ve been selling since 2009. The mid-sized, decently priced pizzas can be eaten at the quaint little venue, ordered online or via phone, and the delivery is free.

We recommend you visit the place though, with its exotic placement in the middle of a small plateau formed between Dhumbarahi Chowk and Sukedhara. You can gulp on some chilled draught beer at the joint too.

 THE MENU

Chef’s Special:

- Firewood Pizzas

- Chicken Wings

- Draught Beers

Opening hours: 11 am-9 pm

Location: Dhumbarahi

Cards: Not accepted

Meal for 2: Rs 1000

Reservations: 014377722, 9851240267