Adrian Pradhan: From a homebody to a household name

Singer, composer, songwriter Adrian Pradhan has over the past 30 years given Nepali music lovers some of the most memorable songs. The Kalimpong born artist and his band 1974 AD have created a niche for themselves as one of the most celebrated bands in Nepali music. “Music was a phase. After coming to Kathmandu, I used to sing songs of artists like Gun N’ Roses and Led Zeppelin. It was a plain chance that I got to sing the English portions in 1974 AD’s song ‘Samjhi Baschu’,” says Adrian. During his initial phase, he also sang songs of Narayan Gopal, Bollywood songs and songs like ‘Musu Musu’.  “I guess I got lucky that I chose a genre that the audiences appreciated,” he says. His rich discography boasts of six solo albums and many singles in several languages including Hindi. He also keeps his ears open to artists from Sikkim and Darjeeling. “My favorite is Tribal Rain. Bipul Chettri, Anmol Gurung, Girish and the Chronicles are other artists I enjoy listening to. I used to sing like them before but I changed the genre altogether after singing Nepali songs. Suraj is one of my favorite guitarists,” says Adrian.

Nepali music fans were very disappointed to hear about Adrian’s exit from the band in 2015. The split lasted barely three years as they regrouped in 2019. “There are bound to be misunderstandings and conflicts when you are together for so long. But the good thing is all of us realize our mistakes and for the sake of our music and fans we got back together. It’s perfectly smooth now,” he says.

The Nepali music scene has boomed over the last few years due to the internet and streaming platforms like YouTube. “Now we can sing in a room. We don’t need to come to Kathmandu like we did in the past. Tribal Rain never came to Kathmandu. Neither did Bipul Chettri. There is nothing stopping anyone from becoming famous provided one has the talent,” he says in his signature baritone. When asked about the changes in the overall Nepali music industry he says the quality has improved in terms of recording and studio technology but the market is still small compared. “It’s slightly difficult for artists to make a living. But it’s not impossible. I have been doing this for a long time and I’m happy. These days softwares can make songs. Now the challenge for artists is to sing live exactly as it sounds on record,” he says. The Nepali music industry has been on an upward trajectory as artists are getting world tour opportunities, thanks to an overwhelming Nepali and Indian diasporas listening to Nepali music across the globe. Adrian has also performed in different parts of the world including New York, Dallas, Sydney, Melbourne, Dubai and London. He says that in the 90s and 2000s there was no concept of sound engineers. The owners of sound system agencies did all the work for them. It was all very haphazard. Now there are many sound and few light engineers. There are many event management companies that take care of the many details of a show. However, Adrian believes there is still a long way to go for Nepali bands to be able to put up great shows. “We still need to work on perfecting the sound and light system which are crucial at concerts,” he says. From a small town boy to a musical legend, his journey is filled with many stories and experiences. Now, Adrian wants to focus on writing more songs in the future. “I had stopped writing due to my singing and working with the instruments. It’s high time I should start writing. There are just so many new topics to explore,” he says. When he’s not performing, he’s constantly engaged in practicing vocals, the drums, guitar, piano, and learning about music production. He calls his rich vocals ‘a gift of god’. But he says he has realized the importance of vocal practice to constantly hone his talent. On the personal front, he is very excited about his son Prajwal Raj Pradhan’s career. The 22-year-old has embarked upon his own independent musical journey. Talking about the future, Adrian says he has a slew of projects to delight his fans. As part of band 1974 AD, he is working on a new song written and composed by Manoj Singh. He is also recording a Hindi ghazal penned by Anmol Gurung. He is open to collaborations with other artists. But a recent incident has left him wondering. “Some people feel I’m trying to ride on their success when I approach them for a collaboration. I might have reacted similarly during my youth so I’m not angry. I’m sure they will come around after a few years of experience,” he says, adding 30 years in the industry have taught him to view things positively and not be derailed by setbacks.