.jpg){kind=small}
Ashesh
With a unique blend of blues, rock and Eastern rhythms Ashesh and Nekhvam is a Nepali Band formed in 1994 by the brothers Ashesh Dangol and Sibesh Dangol. This powerhouse duo has diligently worked to bring attention to the Blues by becoming the first International Blues Touring Band from Nepal. Many guitarists can master the technical playing of the blues but the emotion and the soul of the blues is what it's all about. "It’s like a mirror”, as quoted by Ashesh Dangol. Known as the Himalayan Hendrix all over the world, Ashesh has been hailed by the German and the Norwegian press, contributing to the overall success of the band. Also contributing to their international recognition was a huge outbreak of Himalayan Hendrix fans in Europe after their successful tours of Norway and Germany in 2010. The band does not only play for its fans but also plays for the underprivileged children to raise funds through concerts and charity programs. The band had performed in Thailand on September 2015 in the concert “Pray and Play for Nepal” to help the earthquake victims of Nepal after the massive destruction in 2015. As credited for the mastery of music on the Blues front, Ashesh is working on his sixth album which is to be launched soon, which includes songs like "In My Brother Blues", "Cosmic Vibe" and many more. Many of his distinctive songs are composed in English and Nepali. Ashesh Dangol is thought to be the reincarnation of Jimi Hendrix from Kathmandu. Ashesh has been trying his best to give a platform to Blues music in Nepal, as it is one of the least known genres in the country. Blues is all about reality and passion. To date he has released five albums; Free Spirit, Free Spirit II, New Spirit, Bachna Deu and Life to live on. Ashesh and Nekhvam was also nominated in Hits FM Music award 2010 in two different categories and 2017 in three different categories.
Ashesh and Nekhvam have already performed at many events and venues including their first solo Blues concert, "The Blue Note" organized by Wave Magazine; "Music Behind The Canvas" "Kathmandu Blues" "Blues for a Cause" North Meets South" organized by the band itself; "Nepal Music Festival 2016" "Fete De La Music" and KTM Rocks to name a few. For the spread of Blues music along with the intention to help society, Ashesh and Nekhvam organized the first Blues festival "Kathmandu Blues 2006". With its success the band again took the initiative to help the education of poor children by organizing "Blues For A Cause with Nekhvam" in association with CCSV Nepal and Pilipino cultural society Nepal in 2007. After its big success in Kathmandu, the band toured in Spain and participated in the International Music Festival in Almeria, Spain, titled, "Alamar 2007". With the great performance in Alamar 2007 at Rambla theatre, Ashesh and Nekhvam was invited to Clasi Jazz Club in Almeria, Spain where they gave once again their best performance. Then followed the release of their second album in 2009.
As the band is totally devoted to Blues and with much struggle has reached to this height of fame, the only note from the band Ashesh and Nekhvam is to not let go the undying spirit of Blues.
In 2010 Ashesh met Jon Gangdal from Norway, which introduced him in the Norwegian Blues and music scene and toured in 13 different cities of Norway and performed as a headliner in Fauskivalen Festival 2010, Blues and Balance Festival 2010, Asker Blues 2010, and other festivals and venues. Ashesh then tour to Germany and played in Fabrik, Hamburg (where legends like B.B King, Miles Davis, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and Nirvana have performed) and gained a titled Himalayan Hendrix from both Norwegian and German Press/ Media.
In 2011, the band toured to Europe for the third time and performed in Norway, Scotland, England and Germany for many music festivals and venues located there. For the second time, the band performed in Blues and Balance Festival in Husvaer, Norway. The band also paid tribute to all those victims of the tragic massacre in Norway in 2011.
The band also performed in a biggest music festival " Edinburg Mela Festival " in Edinburg, Scotland. “It’s All Gravey” in Loxwood, Sussex, England. Therefore, it is a matter of pride as Ashesh and Nekhvam is the first Blues Rock band from Asia to perform there. The band also did charity performance during their tour in 2011 in,
· Alter Ega Bar, London, for the education of children in Nepal
· Charity Dinner, Reading, England, for the development of sports in Nepal
· Nice and Sleazy, Glasgow, Scotland, charity for Botanical Garden for the Nepali in Scotland
· It’s All Gravey Festival, Sussex, England, charity for the education of the African poor
The band concluded their German tour by performing in German's biggest music festival “Herzberg Festival” and “Remember Jimi Festival” in Fehrman, Germany. Ashesh and Nekhvam is the first Nepali band to play in the big German festival/venue, “Fabrik” in Hamburg. Seeing to this the band was even booked a year ahead for this very festival. The band had clearly shown through this tour that how music can bring hearts together as it spreads love, peace and harmony.
Ashesh lives by a very rich music philosophy i.e., "Samadhi, learning, loving and then sharing with others” as mentioned during his interview taken by Michael Limnios for Blues.gr. For him life has become really very beautiful after he has learned to love himself in every way and be humble like music. Ashesh Dangol has been featured as an international musician in Colorado Music Business Organization and Jmoon Promotion, Colorado, USA.
In 2016 Ashesh toured to Norway in Association with Reis Nepal.no with a slogan "Pray and Play for Nepal" During the tour Ashesh performed in Fauskivalen Music Festival for the second time and performed in different cities includes Volda, Hemsedal, Sandefjord, Oslo, Kongsberg, Kristiansand, Molde, Hamar, Rosendal and …He also performed with a Grammy Award and Norwegian best blues Award winner Mr. Amund Maarud during the tour. His 2016 tour to Norway has once again introduced him as the most successful international act from Nepal. Currently he is touring in different cities of US and already featured in Savannah Song writer series 2019, Local music Tuesday Barrel House South 2019, Georgia, live in WRFG 89.3 studio/ Atlanta, Georgia on Good Morning Blues with Black Jack and A J. Ridin' on the blues train!!, Savannah Music Local and Sustainable with Dave Lake in WRUU-107.5 Savannah, Georgia.
Compiled by Astha Gurung
Youtube Videos
Dark clouds all over(Live in Asker Blues Club, Norway)
Peace of Mind (Live at Utpala)
Insearch of freedom (Official music video)
Funk Vibe Blues(Official Music Video)
Funk Vibe Blues II (Official Music Video)
Purple Haze (Jimi Hendrix) Live in Fehrman, Germany 2011
In my Brothers Blues (Live in Fabrik, Hamburg, Germany 2010)
Cosmic Vibe (Live in Kathmandu)
Press
Q&A with Nepali Guitarist Ashesh Dangol AKA Himalayan Hendrix by Michael Limnios Blues Net work Sep 28 2022
Samadhi Blues by Michael Limnios/ Blues Network on April 8, 2015
Her er «Himalayas Jimi Hendrix»! by Natalia C. Heinrich (laagendal sposten Norway) 2016
The Jimi from Kathmandu (Nepali Times 2011)
Nepals Antwort auf Jimi Hendrix zu Gast in der Fabrik (German Press/ Welt) 2010
The new Hendrix from Nepal(fehmarn24.de)Germany 2010
Press Photos
Photo: Isabel Schiffler(Germany)
Photo: Knut Utler(Norway)
Photo: Ashesh Rajbansh
Audio
Dark clouds all over the sky (Live Recorded in Asker Blues Club Norway)
Inner Self (Live in Little Village, Panama City, Florida)
I am in the mood(Live in Nekhvam Studio, Jyatha, Kathmandu)
Cosmic Vibe (live in Fauskivalen 2016 festival Norway)
Life to live on (live in Savannah Song Writer series 2019 Savannah, GA, US)
Lyrics
“My Blues Ain’t For Sale”
If I could show you
how deep is the cut
let me howl with the wind
may be you can feel my pain
blues is all I got in the moment
*Discrimination is sick
brand is a greeds affair
let me be a simple being
border can’t control my destiny
my blues ain’t for sale
how will you define your existence
it’s not only an intellect debate
I am I you are you
we are the answer of all begin
blues don’t judge by color
my blues ain’t for sale
Darkness Under The Moonligh
It's all right
If you're satisfied
I'll die I'll sacrifice my love
But my love will never die
Don't pretend with me
Coz you can't pretend with yourself
Tears burning in my heart
Wish if you could understand
Search me inside
Darkness under the moonlight
Take me away under the moonlight
Darkness before sunrise
In between thousand stars
Only moon shine bright
shine on me if you understand
I'm I'm (Finding my way)
I'm I'm writing a song
I'm I'm writing a tune
Come sing with me
Sit and listen please
Trying to see myself
Trying to cover my day
Trying to find my way
Finding all the way
I'm I'm walking alone
I'm I'm roaming around
Come walk with me
Run and stay with me
"विश्वास"
विश्वास गरुँ त किन
जीवन अनौथो जीवन
विश्वास नगरुँ किन
जीवन अनौथो जीवन
(जीवनको यात्रा कसलाइ के थाहा, अनौथो जीवन)२
कतै हाँसो, कतै रुवाई
कतै जीवन, कतै मरण किन
जीवन लामो जीवन
जीवन अनौथो जीवन
जीवन छोटो जीवन
जीवन अनौथो जीवन
विवशता यति छ
आखिर वाँच्नु पर्छ
विवशता यति छ
आखिर मर्नु पर्छ
कतै मिलन, कतै विछोड
कतै जीवन, कतै मरण किन
"एक्लो जीवन"
माया भन्दा भन्दै माया विती गयो
केवल याद तिम्रो झिनो आशा रहिरह्यो
साथ तिम्रो पाएँ, साथ छुटी गयो
मात्र शुन्यता छाइरह्यो
जीवन पाएँ भन्थाने, तिमी टाढा पो भयो
उज्याला विहानीहरु अन्धकारमय भयो
तिमी हुँदाका दिनहरु मात्र सम्झना रह्यो
तिमी विनाको एक्लो जीवन केवल निराशा छायो
तिमी पाएँ सम्पूर्णता छायो
जीवनलाई सार्थक माने
विना तिमीको खोक्रो भएँ
जीवनमा अन्धकार छायो
