The ‘underground’ music scene of Nepal is dominated by metal and punk bands playing extreme music to small audiences at obscure venues. Seldom do we associate ‘underground’ with electronic music—which is, at best, considered dance music confined to clubs and discos.
Spektrum, a musical venture initiated by a small group of young music enthusiasts, is working to change that perception. “Electronic music is not necessarily dance music,” says Rishavh Shrestha, one of the founders of Spektrum. “People can just sit down and enjoy the variations electronic music brings to them and chill or lounge about.”
“The idea came to us after attending electronic music festivals in India,” adds Saroj Joshi, another co-founder of Spektrum. “Back in 2012, we were really impressed by a music producer at an Indian music festival. We invited him to come perform in Nepal and he agreed. It took us a few years to get him here though. But the first ever show we did was a success and from 2018, we started Spektrum to organize more electronic music events.”
Spektrum celebrated its first anniversary this April. Even in this short time, it has already hosted electronic acts from India such as Tarqeeb, Zokhuma, Su Real, SickFlip, Spryk, Smokey, Madstarbase, EZ riser, Kone Kone and Rafiki. Notably, Spektrum’s events give equal space for local acts to share the stage and create a niche for themselves in the Nepali electronic music scene.
The music that Spektrum features, however, is noncommercial. It is not the music that is played at clubs and discotheques of Kathmandu and other Nepali cities. The music producers associated with Spektrum create new sounds in the sub-genres of trance, house, techno, drum and bass, and other forms of electronic music. The community they have formed in Nepal is small, but strong.
We’re not doing it for money. If we were, we would’ve shutdown by now
Rishavh Shrestha
“We’re not doing it for money,” says Rishavh. “If we were, we would’ve shut down by now.” The events that Spektrum organizes are focused on bringing together performers and listeners of electronic music under a single roof. Creating a strong community of people who appreciate non-commercial electronic music and to provide a platform for Nepali creators to share their music is the goal. The funding for their events is arranged through the same, tight-knit community.
About criticism of their inability to bring in “international” acts instead of just Indian music producers, Saroj replies, “The Indian music scene has developed and is so advanced right now. Why should we look farther when we have a market next door?” It is also about the cost of getting an artist from abroad, Rishavh adds. The Indian electronic music community is supportive of the scene in Nepal. Indian music producers are willing to come to Nepal even for small events and the organizers in India are already creating a space for Nepali artists to perform at their events.
“Now that we have crossed the one-year mark, we are looking to expand to bigger events and venues,” says Rishavh. “We will include a whole new spectrum of sounds and music, all non-commercial of course.” Spektrum has signed Ranzen and YNZN.P, both prolific music producers of Nepal, for official representation both at home and abroad.
