They’re fast and they’re furious. Ridiculously fast and tremendously furious. Oblivious to what is going on in the mainstream of music, these young guitarists, or shredders as we’d like to call them for their lightning speed and brutal strength, are the underdogs of Nepali music.

 

 Picking, tapping and sweeping across the fretboard of their guitars, this batch of young guitarists is extremely talented, technically perfect and musically astute. Some make music from their bedrooms and share it with the world on social media, while others for the time hide themselves behind cover bands, always wishing to break the shackles and go solo with their original music. Despite limited recognition and opportunities, these young guitarists have been thriving thanks to the access created by technology. This week, APEX brings you a selection of five young guitarists who’ve shredded their way to fame and who deserve to be even more recognized for their prowess.

 

 

Rupesh Pariyar (23)

 Rupesh is an aspiring musician who started playing guitar at 11, inspired by his uncles and their friends who he grew up listening to. Although he loves playing across different genres, Rupesh’s favorite is progressive metal. His life goal is to keep updating his skills, learning from others while sharing what he’s learnt, on his way to becoming a successful musician. “There is scope for a working musician in Nepal if you know how to balance things,” Rupesh says. “There is a lot of potential in music production, teaching and performance.”

 

Nishant Acharya (25)

 Working full time as a digital marketing manager in an IT company, Nishant is also popular among young musicians for his impressive guitar skills and for his stylish beard and moustache! “Playing guitar feels like an extension of my conscience. It is a form of expressing myself in a way I may not be comfortable doing in words,” says Nishant, who started playing guitar at the age of 13. Nishant has a unique finger-style guitar playing skill, a rarity among guitarists, and his strength lies in his immaculate transcription skills and the ability to dial a clean and pristine tone while playing live or recording. He plans to release his debut instrumental album in the near future and has already started writing songs for it.

 

Ridesh Tamang (22)

 Ridesh has an interesting story on how he got into guitars. Turns out, he was influenced by the 2008 Bollywood musical “Rock On” and learning the songs from the movie made him take up guitar. “I even thought actor Arjun Rampal who is a guitarist in the movie was actually playing the instrument,” he laughs sheepishly. But as time progressed, his taste changed. As he got into listening to heavier stuff, Ridesh developed a style for himself which he likes to call “modern progressive Djenty rock/metal.” How deep is that? Ridesh plays in a cover band in Thamel and teaches guitar to make a living. He is also planning to come out with a solo album which will be inspired by different styles of music, he informs.

 

Kshitiz Singh Pariyar (17)

 Last but not the least is Kshitiz, or Musichead Kshitiz as he’s popularly known in social media. Still in high school, Kshitiz started playing guitar at the age of 11 and within just six years has been able to create a following for himself. Currently a member of an ‘experimental core’ band, Kshitiz cannot name a particular style he’d like to be associated with but looks up to local heroes Sunny ST, Sunny Manadhar and Ridesh Tamang as well as international guitarists Guthrie Govan, Dimebag Darrel and Andy James for inspiration. PS: The boys have really worked hard to create backing tracks for their instrumentals and record it in a video for our audience. Make sure you follow the QR code in the article or search for “The Annapurna Express” on Youtube to witness them in action.

 

Apurva Chaudhary (23)

Attracted to music after attending numerous bhajan sessions in his childhood, Apurva not only plays guitar but is also a prolific singer. “I actually started as a singer in a band. I later got into guitar as it served as a guiding point for my vocal practice,” he says. “But now this instrument is a part of me. I look forward to getting the most out of this relationship between me and my music.” A listener of all genres of music, Apurva’s ultimate goal is to make a living doing something he is passionate about. “I was always an average student while I was in school/college,” he says. “I may not be the greatest guitar player but it still motivates me to get better each day. I never got this feeling while studying.”