Hip-hop never dies. And those who started the legacy of Nepali hip-hop in the early nineties and pre-millennium era continue to show the world that they are here to stay for long. Sudin Pokharel aka DA69, one of the most celebrated rap artists that Nep-hop has ever had, is back with a bang. Pokharel was one of the nation’s favorite sports journalist and hip-hop artist a decade ago. His abrupt disappearance eight years ago from the Nepali hip-hop scene left his fans distraught. He is now back with a lot more to offer.
Sudin Pokharel started his music career at a young age, and his first release was with Sugam Pokharel. However, the rap duo of Girish Khatiwada and Pranil Timalsena ‘Ma yesto chu, ma usto chu’ featuring Pokharel is what got him into the limelight. He again collaborated with Pranil Timalsena on the “Aakha Bhari” track in 2003. The track topped the charts and the pair also received the Hits FM Music Award. Pokharel had already established himself as an outstanding rapper in the emerging Nephop scene. He then founded the rap group ‘The Unity’ with Asif Shah and Amit (Aidray), which later became a major hit.
Not only was his music career doing well, but he also excelled as a sports journalist while working with Kantipur and fans loved him. However, in 2011 he dropped everything he had made for himself and moved to Australia. Now, after a long break in November 2019, he returned to the music industry with the song Josh and soon after with another song Samriddhi.
Let us hear his thought on some questions that a lot of us might have had.
With the release of your new song Samriddhi and an album, I felt it was something emanating from your heart, from personal experiences. What was the motivation behind the song, and what do you think of its reception?
An artist rarely sits idle. I was away for over 8 years. I had left Nepal in November 2011 and nobody knew where I had gone and why I had left. It was an artistic decision. I think there comes a time in every artist’s life where they give their entire time to music and then there comes a time when they have to give the same to their family. I got married and left Nepal. The reason behind me leaving is an interminable story. In those 7 years away, a person was really into art and also creative writing suddenly became silent. Though I was not active publicly I was aware and had been following everything. I was up-to-date with all the news, songs, and all the happenings in the world, including Nepal. So after 8 years as I made a comeback with my song Josh, I wanted to write about what I had felt about the Nepalese music and movie industry. I have written about it in both songs.
There is a word in Nepali called kuntha which doesn’t have a literal translation in English, but it is like frustration and depression. I was in that state and so I wrote Josh. I hadn’t expected Josh to be such a hit. In the old days when we started in the music industry, success for us was selling 1 lakh cassettes, but these days it is more about views on YouTube. I initially thought my song would most probably receive only 10-20 thousand views, but it surprised me to see that the generation for who I used to play music in the past had not forgotten me. That love, that respect, and that push I received from Josh motivated me to write another song which I did with Samriddhi — a satire about our Nepalese political system. Seeing the surrounding things in an artistic version with rhythm and poetry helped me conceptualize Samriddhi. Once again I received a lot of love and support for Samriddhi. This reception has given me more “josh” and so I will come up with my new music soon.
You have had an interesting journey as a professional musician, a journalist, and a business specialist, how differently have theses paths mold you as a person?
When I was in school, I used to sing a lot. I was also into sports. Television for us then meant Doordarshan, and I learned many things from it. Maybe I had decided that I would want to pursue journalism. So, when I finished my 10th grade, everyone in the family expected me to become a doctor, but I told my parents I wanted to be a journalist. But it was an unconventional career option back then. I then studied journalism from the Ratna Rajya Campus. When I was studying journalism Nepal Television was the only tv channel in Nepal. Kantipur Television soon came up, and that is where I started working. In my life, music, and television both have played an important role. It was kind of like both of my legs were in different boats and both of them were moving ahead simultaneously! Many people advised me and told me to be careful. But somewhere deep inside I thought as long as I respect both of my works and took them seriously and was genuine towards it, in every way possible, I would be fine. I never took my work for granted. Even when I read the news live on television, I was never overconfident and always got goosebumps. My teacher, Mr. Bhusan Dahal, always told me to not think there are thousands of people as an audience watching me and think it is only me and the lens. My career was going well. However, after some time there came a point where I wasn’t able to do what I thought I would. I was doing sports, and I wanted to make sports big. I wanted people like Paras Khadka, Sharad Vesawkar to be famous. However, I was doing sports journalism at such a time in our country when we did not have stability.
During that time, the news audience wanted to hear much more about the current political environment of the country. Around the year 2000-2005 people were more concerned, and rightly so, about what is happening in the civil movement and the monarchy rather than about how many goals did Ronaldo score or what game Lionel Messi was playing next. So I tried my best, but the situation was not right for me. Personally, if I was more of a political journalist, then maybe this would have been a crucial time for me. But since I was doing sports journalism during such a time, the platform given to sports was new and very limited. My shift would start around 4 AM and I would reach home around 10 PM. Throughout the day I would collect a lot of news but I could only read one to two pieces a day. So that part of my life taught me that for anything to happen, the timing should be right. Because of such conditions, my eagerness to work as a sports journalist diminished, and I went to the management and told them I am quitting.
My Facebook profile had around 40,000-50,000 followers, yet I deactivated it. I deactivated my Twitter. I left everything, and I went to Australia with my wife.
I was completely underground for 8 years. But the thing about passion is that it is always there with you and at the right time and it just comes out. I had been writing for many years and turns out 25th December 2019 was the right time for Josh. Right now I am working as a business specialist here in Australia. So these original paths and times in each person’s life teach you unconventional things.
I am not away from music, neither am I away from sports.
I might even come up with different sports analyses on my YouTube channel. Now that I think about it these different instances in life make you even stronger.
Artists and Creative thinkers such as you have a big contribution to the overall wellbeing, development, and health of society. Artists bring joy, interaction, and inspiration to society, but they also give thoughtful critique to our political, economic, and social system — pushing communities to engage carefully and take steps towards social progress. I say artists to be vehicles for expressing universal emotion, but as cliché, it sounds with great reputation comes great responsibility. How important is this correspondence of your creative freedom and duty to you? And how do you try to balance this in your life?
Around 1998-2000 if someone wanted to show their love or hate they would have had come to my concert or the place where I work or live and wait there until I meet them. That was how it was back then.
The stress back then was about how do I make my work better and how do I push myself to become more creative. Back then if I wanted to publish a song I had to do it through a record company and they had their own rules and regulations. Some basic rules were that you had to make songs that everyone can listen to and you couldn’t use any vulgar words. We came from that school of thought and made music, keeping those things in mind. However, now, for example, if I was to make music and publish it, it is possible for me to do so while being here in Sydney, while my song arranged is in Tasmania, and someone on the Mount Everest base camp can comment on my music.
Artists now have to be very careful, sensitive, and mentally strong regarding their work. In today’s time, anyone can be a critic and anybody and everybody may say anything to you.
So balancing all of this is difficult. But someone who can balance these and move forward is a robust person. Since I have had an interminable journey and personal struggle, I have been able to balance these creative freedoms and my duty at the same time. Some hate or dislike my music and I take such criticism lightly. I think at least the person had listened to my music and at least he knows me a little better now.
Before Samriddhi I was about to publish a song which hopefully I will release it soon. It is about depression, mental health, anxiety, and suicidal tendencies. In Australia, every year we celebrate a day called “R U OKAY? DAY” every 10th Sept in Australia. On that day, everyone asks everyone in the office whether they are okay. It is like someone asking whether you are okay and if you are not, then you can tell them. So, from this song, I wanted to send a message that you can help someone just by a few words.
So, it is the responsibility of the artist to deliver the right message. Be careful as it might hurt someone and these things cannot be light. You need to be a responsible person and you should be very serious about what you say and what you do. As an artist, you have a big role in society. You should love your work and be very serious about your work.
I enjoyed your old songs, especially “ma yesto chu” and “She Da Bomb”. Listening to your recent songs ‘Samriddhi’ and ‘Josh’, I sensed a different evolution in your music. Do you think your music has grown over the years and if so, what do you think prompted this evolution?
I think it is your age. I am 42 right now. Life has had its difficulties, and I have experienced a lot. There are a lot of things I have understood throughout the years. I have seen a lot happen in Nepal too: from the Royal Massacre to civil movement, to the democratic system, and the ongoing democratic development right now. I have seen a lot through my eyes and analyzed it with my mind. It is the experience, time, and age that has brought this evolution.
You have pursued journalism, and you were a successful journalist as you are a musician. In your experience, what do you think has been the difference between your career as a journalist and as a musician?
Similarities would be that both are mass communication: you need to be creative and both made me passionate and mentally strong. The difference is that music is fun while the news is more serious. That is the only difference.
How has life been during times of the pandemic? Have you been spending more time with your family?
I have a daughter, and her name is Maya. She will be 4 soon. She loves my music and sings along with me. I am happy. I am working from home right now. Australia is very good as I have a lot of Nepali friends and family here. I am making a comeback in music soon and you will see my sports show on my YouTube channel. I am playing a second innings of my life. I am happy and laid back and I don’t have too much pressure regarding whether the song will be a hit. I have passed that phase.
I am writing music and that’s all.
You have talked about your journey and your struggles and lessons in your different interviews. You have also talked about your daughter’s inclination towards the music, what is one thing you would advise your daughter to do differently than you did if she pursues this journey too?
I don’t know. I don’t think there is anything. I come from a generation where we had a lot of pressure to set our career right. I don’t want her to have any pressure. I wasn’t a brilliant student, but if she is brilliant, I’ll be more than happy. But no pressure at all.
Okay, the interview has been heavy, so If I can ask, what is the funniest thing they have asked you in an interview?
Back in Nepal during the old times, I found it funny when reporters were unaware of my work and what even rap meant. People asked me how much my salary was. I found that funny.
