Preetica T Mgr can’t remember a time she wasn’t in love with music. At 14, she used to hum songs during classes, always crooned in the shower and was obsessed with music lessons. Her YouTube channel, Preetica T Magar, which she opened in 2015, was a spur-of-the-moment thing but then it would later help her establish her music career.
“I never had big plans for the channel and only dropped a few cover songs here and there,” the singer tells ApEx. “And I’ve only uploaded one original single in my YouTube channel.”
But these days her presence in the music industry isn’t limited to that channel. Since completing her diploma from Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory, she has never looked back. Today, she’s a singer, songwriter, composer and vocalist of the band Voodoo U. She also has singles titled ‘Halka Fulka’ and ‘Baiguni’ under her belt and is gearing up for another one that’s dropping on 3 April 2021.
No stranger to public performances, the singer has gone on to perform on multiple platforms ranging from night gigs at restaurants to touring with Women in Concerts in 2019. So far, outside Kathmandu valley, she’s played on stages in Butwal, Pokhara, Besisahar and Birtamod.
Even with all these accomplishments at a tender age of 22, her creative process remains the same. “I’m always humming new melodies. I write lines in pieces and once they start taking shape, I work on giving them structure,” she shares. “You can’t tell when inspiration is going to hit you. Sometimes I’m watching a movie or am in the middle of a concert and suddenly ideas start flowing.”
|
If you were given a chance to have a sit-down interview with any musician, dead or alive, who would you pick? Lauryn Hill. What genre of music would you say is your favorite? All genres of music are enjoyable but I feel most drawn to R&B. Where do you see yourself ten years from now? Definitely making music, performing more. Just learning more about music and life. Among all the songs you have made, which one is your personal favorite? Each song I’ve written and composed have different vibes to them. But ‘Baiguni’ was the first Nepali song I wrote. The whole process was wonderful even though it took me a really long time. In the end, I was happy with what I had made. You’ve performed on many stages. What was your favorite gig? Recently, my band performed at LOD with Women Rock. The entire time, I felt like everyone onstage was in tune with one another. There was barely any nervousness, and it was a show I’ll remember for a long time. As a woman, what have been your struggles in this industry? There have been a lot. But one that I can’t overlook is the fact that most of the gigs are always held at night. It’s unsafe to be out at that time and families are hesitant to let you stay out late. It’s problematic, especially when you’re working hard to make it as a musician. As a woman, our ideas are often easily disregarded or are only recognized if backed up by a notable person. I also feel like we don’t have a lot of female allies in this industry. What has been your favorite memory from your musical journey? I think it’s usually the small moments that make me the happiest. When the melody and the song come together. When you’re composing a tune that perfectly fits the vibe of the song. That split second of things aligning themselves with each other. Those are my favorite. If you could change one thing about the Nepali music industry, what would it be? I feel like the genres in Nepali music are limited. So I’d add variety to it, I’d allow more style. Who is your current favorite musician? Crush. Do you have any hobbies outside music? I’m a very outdoorsy person. Just walking and swimming make me happy. And I also really like standup paddleboarding. What song do you have on repeat right now? Leave the Door Open by Bruno Mars, Anderson. Paak and Silk Sonic. Who do you think was the most deserving winner at the recently-held 63rd Grammy Awards? Dua Lipa won the Best Pop Vocal Album for Future Nostalgia. I think that was well-deserved. |
Comments