Quick questions with SUZEENA SHRESTHA
Q. Three adjectives that best describe you
A. Compassionate, sympathetic and hypersensitive
Q. Dream musical collaboration
A. Between me and Breaking Benjamin
Q. Your biggest musical influence
A. Too many to choose from
Q. Nepali artist that you would love to work with
A. Albatross
Q. Most admirable quality in a person
A. Sense of humor
Q. Best compliment that you have ever received
A. Haven’t received it yet
Q. A stereotype in our society you wish would be broken
A. ‘Real men don’t cry’
Quick questions with CHIRAG BANGDEL
Q. Three words to describe yourself
A. I am a very simple person but I live for the arts. So I could probably describe myself as simple, creative and perhaps romantic.
Q. Your biggest source of inspiration
A. I was educated in Mirik, a beautiful small town in Darjeeling. There were forests all around and a beautiful lake. I grew up running around forests and eating wild berries. Nature was in abundance and that’s when I started painting and writing poetry. So nature has to be my biggest inspiration.
Q. Three of your favorite possessions
A. I am very close to my mother and my brother. So my family has to be my most favorite possession. People say I sound good on the radio, so perhaps my voice could be another possession I should be proud of. Also, I play the guitar and have a small collection. I love my guitars.
Q. A common misconception about you
A. I am a visual artist. And there is a misconception about the arts in general. I would rather talk about this now, than just about myself. A lot of people think art is difficult to understand and it’s for a select audience. This is not the case. If you make a little effort, art can make you think and make you feel things that nothing else would.
Q. Three qualities you seek in your friends
A. I am a very simple person, so I like spending time with people who are simple and down to earth. I am a big foodie, so it would be nice to be with friends who enjoy food. I also love music and it’s always wonderful to spend time with musicians or people who appreciate good music.
Q. Most attractive quality in a person
A. I admire and respect honest people and people who have a sense of gratitude.
Anyone can be a vegan
Is a vegan diet healthy and nutritionally complete?
A vegan diet contains plants such as vegetables, grains, nuts and fruits and foods made from plants. As vegans don’t eat foods that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs, there is a risk of deficiency of Vitamin B12, Omega 3, Vitamin D, calcium, iron and protein. But you can have enough of these nutrients by consuming the right vegan food.
Where do vegans get their protein from?
Soy products such as tofu, tempeh, and edamame are among the richest sources of protein in a vegan diet. Other sources are lentils, chickpeas, peanuts, almonds, spirulina and quinoa. But if you have thyroid or hormonal imbalance, you will need to monitor your intake of soy products.
What about other nutrients like calcium, iron and Omega 3 that you earlier talked about?
Vegans can get iron from foods like soybeans, lentils, lima beans, kidney bean, chickpeas and green leafy vegetables. Likewise, calcium can be derived from fortified milk, tofu, and orange juice and green leafy vegetables.
Meeting Omega 3 requirement can be quite hard especially if you don’t use fish oil supplements or get EPA or DHA from your diet. However, you get plenty of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a type of Omega 3, via plant sources such as soy, walnuts, canola oil, and chia, flax, and hemp seeds and their oils.
Can anyone be a vegan, for example pregnant women, children and athletes?
This is a subjective question. I would not recommend pregnant/ lactating women/children to become complete vegans, as it is a phase of growth and development for the child and compromising on nutrients would stunt growth. There is a potential for low intakes of certain nutrients on a vegan diet. But generally, if it’s a well-monitored and nutritionally calculated vegan diet, then anyone be a vegan.
What is the best milk substitute for vegans?
Ranking in the order, almond, soy, rice, and coconut milk. Almond milk is one of the most popular vegan choices. But make sure you read the labels and pick the one which is fortified with calcium and Vitamin B12.
Can you give a balanced diet meal plan for a vegan?
Plans are customized as per client body parameters like height, weight, fat percentage, muscle percentage, and medical conditions, if any.
Something that you’d like to suggest for those interested in turning into vegans.
Consult a nutritionist first. A nutritionist will help you plan a proper diet and take care of all the essential nutrients so as to avoid any deficiencies.
If you are afraid of losing then you are not passionate enough
How did you become a Nepal Idol judge? And how has the experience been so far?
To be able to do this show at this point of my career is a huge opportunity for me. It’s fun and tough at the same time. But if the thing you do is not challenging, you cannot grow as a person. When I was first offered this position, I was surprised and doubted myself. But with a little encouragement from the Nepal Idol team, I was able to pull it off.
I also like being in the show because I know the life of a reality show participant. I was myself a participant in ‘Nepali Tara’, which had a similar format. I try to encourage the participants because I have been in their shoes.
Talking about my fellow judges, the kind of compatibility we have contributes to our success. We meet almost every day and have become the best of friends.
Do you think you’ve changed as a person after constantly being in the public eye?
I am an introvert. This fraternity has groomed me as a singer and also as a person. I was the kind of person who was okay with being dominated by others. I used to walk with my head bowed. Now I can address thousands of people at a time. The larger the crowd, the higher my energy.
How is the Nepali music industry treating you?
Can’t complain! I have got more than I asked for. I am friendly and easy to work with. I have seen many people who are talented but are not compatible with other people. They have their own issues. I think I am an average singer but I still have many shows and singing opportunities lined up. Attitude matters a lot in this industry.
Do you like being referred to as the ‘Nepali Shakira’?
I used to do a lot of dancing, especially with undulated, accessorized hips, early in my career. The audience got excited and so did I. But then, people started calling me “Nepali Shakira” which made me question my identity as an original singer. I felt it was overshadowing my image for which I had worked so hard. I am now more aware of having my own signature moves when I’m performing.
What would you say to those who can sing well but are scared to audition for a show like Nepal Idol?
Maybe they are good singers but do not want to pursue singing as a career. Because I believe that if you are passionate enough, nothing is going to stop you. So if someone is skeptical about winning, losing or not confident enough for even trying, they may be lacking passion.
See, singing is for everybody. But if you want to pursue it as a career, you have to fight for it. You can release an album, but there is no certainty that it will be a hit. If you do not want to audition in competitions, you can examine yourself in other ways too. The platforms might be different but you have to find your comfort zone and work on your dreams.
It is a free country!
Did you fear failure when you were taking part in competitions?
I never did. I just wanted to give it a shot. When I was selected for Nepali Tara in 2005, I was elated. There were around 250 participants in the hall when I auditioned. When I looked around, some were playing guitar, some were warming up to sing. It was intimidating. But I was selected as the top female singer of that show. It was quite an achievement for me at that age.
You must have many fans. Any fan-moment that you’d like to share with us?
There is a truck that runs in Biratnagar route and I am painted all over it. Every time I got to eastern Nepal for my shows, I see that truck parked around the venue. My heart brims with joy to get such love.
