Although the “Jhilkey and the Company” band has not been in existence even for six months, it feels like it has always been a part of the undercurrent of Nepal music. Playing an unlabeled genre of hard-hitting, raw music in closed venues, JATC is one of the few torchbearers in Nepal of the ‘DIY ethic’ that started on the streets of London in the early 70s in the form of the anti-consumeristic punk culture. In Nepal, underground bands have been adopting the ‘DIY ethic’ since the late 90s and generation after generation of young musicians have given continuity to the non-commercial genres of music and their shows. The band, however, does not think of itself as totally punk; neither does it choose another other single genre to label itself. JATC’s music, according to band members, is certainly inspired by proto-punk legends like The Stooges and MC5 but not confined to a single genre.
It all started for JATC when Steve Dewan, the band’s founding member who takes the job of lyrics writing, singing and playing guitar, came back to Kathmandu after getting an IT degree in Bangalore.
Dewan wanted to make music only when he was back home. When he finally got here, he chose to start a band with like-minded musicians instead of opting for a 10-to-5 job.
Dewan’s first contact was Bishal Hang Rai—a multi-instrumentalist who can play guitars, drums, keyboards, and ukulele but handles bass duties for the band. Dewan then got hold of his younger cousin Siddhartha Upreti, also a multi-instrumentalist, to do the job of a keyboard player and singing backing vocals. Drummer Dipson Narsingh KC, the only member with a formal music education, was roped in last, and together they formed the Jhilkey and the Company.
“We got together and started playing in the jam room and quickly gelled with each other’s style despite vast differences in individual musical exposures,” says Dewan, the front-man. “We’re more rock n’ roll Rock with punk vibes.” As its name suggests, JATC is a fun band to listen to. You don’t hear them sing poetic lyrics over complex musical compositions. What you hear with JATC is simple, straightforward rock n’ roll with lyrics that are meaningful yet unpretentious.
“I’m quite a contrarian and this passes on to the band as well,” Dewan adds. “Whatever the ongoing trend is, we do the opposite.” Most of the mainstream music in Nepal is dominated by acoustic guitars playing similar rhythm patterns, Dewan thinks, and hence JATC will not be using acoustic guitars in its recordings or live performances. Its guitar tone is all-analog, cranky, loud and natural, something many mainstream recording artists would refrain from.
As for other sounds, JATC creates music that comes straight from the band-members’ heart. They play around with guitar riffs and drum beats, selecting the best of them for composing songs. With varied influences, the sounds do turn omnidirectional but the common influence of rock n’ roll and punk always guides them home.
“Most of our songs are impromptu creations that talk about contemporary issues,” Dewan says, explaining how he wrote the infectiously catchy “Kathmandu Sahara” from his experience of riding around the dusty city on a scooter. Then there’s another song called “Chinese Chor” which was written following the incident when some Chinese stole millions of rupees from ATM machines.
For now the band is in the mixing phase of its debut EP titled “Jhilkey Fire” that will only have four songs including “Malai Kei Audaina,” Nilo Suitcase,” “Panchiharu,” and “Jhilkey Fire”. The reason for releasing a four-track EP instead of a full album is that the band members do not have much studio experience and they want to experiment with the EP first for better future output. “We already have 10 songs ready but it will be sometime before we record them in studio,” Dewan informs. “Also, for a new band like us, budget is an issue.”
Most of JATC’s production expenses have been generated through merchandise sales and DIY gigs where they sell door tickets.
A little input from the family and a month worth of Rai’s salary have also been investments. As for the returns, the band feels it’s too early to calculate at the moment. For now, with its active social media accounts, the band wants to get to as many listeners as possible and create a mass following.
