KUTUMBA Kutumba, more than just performers Kutumba is a folk instrumental ensemble committed to the research, that will divide us as a people. preservation and celebration of the diversity that exists in indigenous In this unique time period as Nepal is going through a Nepali music. Kutumba firmly believes that the richness in Nepali complete re-evaluation of identity on all fronts, we are also faced music is directly significant of the rich diversity that exists in the with forces of globalization. This affects our young generations Nepali people. more than any other category of the Nepali population. As they As we become more aware of the multiculturalism in Nepali find themselves negotiating an identity that struggles not only society, be it in Kathmandu or other parts of the country, with hormones but national politics as well as global cultures political, social and developmental attention is trained on packaged attractively by television and other media, Kutumba recognizing differences and ensuring rights for our diverse feels now is a good time to reach out to young Nepalis and groups of people. Kutumba sees the possibility of finding respect encourage them to find respect, dignity and entertainment by promoting our multiculturalism through the medium of our through the creative and stabilizing energy and beauty of our indigenous music art forms as apposed to seeing it as a threat unique music art forms. Kutumba performs at the Janaki Temple in Janakpur, October 2008. L to R: Arun, Pavit, Binay, Siddhartha, Rubin, Raju and Kiran. BIOGRAPHY Arun Manandhar on Tungna, Arbajo Pavit Maharjan on Percussion Arun is one of the few musicians who play the Tungna today. Pavit works magic on percussions and is a vital binding force in the Originating in the high altitudes of the Himalayas in the early 19th ensemble. Kutumba was born when ‘the guys’ got together at Pavit’s century, the Tungna is a string instrument that has a body carved shop. They wanted to show young people like themselves that folk from a single piece of wood and a resonating chamber made from music was fun. goatskin. Pavit started playing the Madal since he was a child, but it was only Arun learnt to play the guitar from his elder brothers when he was after grade 12 and a friends’ influence that he decided to start taking young and moved on to learning the Tungna when he joined Kutumba. music on professionally. It was then that he picked up the keyboards Arun also sings during his free time. His favorite Nepali artists are and has since moved on to playing in big events such as Shikhar Deep Shrestha and Deepak Kharel. tours, Kantipur TV, Taal, Shukrabar and more. Besides Kutumba, Pavit manages his shop, teaches keyboard at Shuvatara School and enjoys painting. Kiran Nepali on Sarangi Kiran grew up with music at home. He is a third generation Sarangi Raju Maharjan on Percussion player, and says he is greatly influences by his grand father, father Inspired by his father, Raju is today considered one of the best and uncles who were all Sarangi players of their times. Last year, percussionists in Nepali. From the Madal to the Khin, there probably Kiran spend 4 weeks studying the Sarangi in the Batulechaur area, a isn’t a percussion instrument Raju cannot play. His specialty is the well known Gandharva settlement close to Pokhara. Kiran also plays Tabla, in which he has a Masters degree from Allahabadh. the guitar. Raju loves upbeat folk tunes but also enjoys singing slow melodious Having recently joined Kutumba, Kiran says he feels great energy ones. In fact he recently recorded a few songs, but will we ever get to within the ensemble and is looking forward to future projects together. hear them? “It’s for my personal interest only” he claims. Raju teaches music at Shuvatara School and got married a year ago. BIOGRAPHY MANAGEMENT TEAM Rubin Kumar Shrestha on Flute At age 12, Rubin took a fancy to the way Lord Krishna played the Bhushan Shilpakar, Manager flute. He began learning the instrument while in school. Today, at 20, Bhushan has been working with Kutumba for the last two he has completed his Bachelors degree in classical music. He plays years as Manager with a special focus on event coordination. about 15 other instruments and also composes and arranges music. Professionally he has otherwise been engaged as a webmaster He has toured in France, Norway, China, India and various parts of and graphic designer in various media houses including Himal Nepal. Media and Y! Enterprise. Currently he teaches music to elementary school students for regular income and spends his remaining time with composing for and performing with Kutumba. NayanTara Gurung Kakshapati PR, & Promotions NayanTara is a photographer by profession and has been Siddhartha Maharjan on Effects involved in promotion and marketing for Kutumba for the past With a father who runs a record label and music shop in Thamel, two years. With a special interest in audio visual Siddhartha developed a taste for music from a very young age. He documentation, she freelances for various publications. joined Kutumba in 2007 and plays effects, that includes instruments such as the ghunguru, murchunga, bhushya, sishya, and so on. Besides music, Siddhartha also loves sketching and painting and firmly believes that there is great scope for art in Nepal. He is currently a full time student at Sirjana College of Fine Arts. Arun Gurung on Sound Arun, who plays Bass Guitar in the band, has been in the music industry for the last 7 years performing and organizing music events. Arun looks after all sound and technical requirements for Kutumba. His networks within the music industry is a great asset to any Kutumba initiative. RELEASES Kutumba: Evergreen Nepali Folk Tunes Folk Roots Naulo Bihani 2004 2005 2006 Kutumba released their debut album titled Kutumba: Evergreen Nepali Folk Instrumentals in 2004. Released by Mahaboudha Records, this album has sold an estimated 20,000 copies till date. Kutumba's second album titled Folk Roots was released by East Meets West Music Box in 2005 and has sold an estimated 15,000 copies. Both these albums were Kutumba's renditions of popular Nepali folk tunes. In 2006, Kutumba released Naulo Bihani their third and latest album, a collection of original tracks by Kutumba. It is selling at the range of 5000 copies at the moment. Kutumba has also recently released a cassette compilation of popular folk tunes including some original compositions which has sold 230 copies till date. At present, Kutumba is working on their fourth album, expected to be released in 2009. Kutumba: Our Folk Tunes 2008 SOCIAL INITIATIVES The word ‘Kutumba’ holds a special meaning in the Nepali language; it stands for a unique bond amongst community members. Kutumba believes in bringing people together through traditional Nepali music to create new sounds, ideas and energy. Members of Kutumba find themselves invested in social initiatives individually as well as collectively throughout the year. Special performance for Community based Disaster Preparedness Program in the inner town area of Thimi, November 2006. FUNDRAISING Concerts are great fundraisers and Kutumba performs to fund raise on many occasions with college students, t social organizations and independently. In the past year Kutumba has put on various such fundraising concerts for Kutumbasangai Change, Barta and Binod, Hope For Education, Fight Hunger, Stop Global Warming and Climb to the Top of The Barta Ra Binod World, Help Koshi, Charity show for Bright Future Nepal, and others. Saturday, 20 September, 5 PM Patan Museum, Patan Ticket Rs. 300 only www.kutumba.com.np/barta Kutumba performing with female artists to fundraise for conflict affected children, July 2008. COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS Most often, concerts in Kathmandu are accessible to a select few. Kutumba believes folk culture belongs with the people and limits itself if contained in recorded albums and isolated performances. They often stage free public performances in towns and villages in various parts of the country. All are welcome to attend including young people, housewives, grandparents and so on. Towns such as Harisidhi, Kirtipur, Bandipur and so on have seen such lively get-togethers. Kutumba performing for Harisiddhi, November 2007. SPECIAL PROJECTS Kutumbasanga Hatemalo Hand in Hand with Kutumba Kutumbasanga Hatemalo is a special project designed and believes that the richness in Nepali music is directly significant of implemented by Kutumba and funded by the Danish Cultural Fund. the rich diversity that exists in the Nepali people. At a time when Each phase takes Kutumba to a different place in Nepal where they political and social attention is trained on recognizing differences and interact with local musicians to learn from them and perform with ensuring rights for our diverse groups of people, Kutumba sees the them. possibility of finding respect and identity through the medium of our indigenous music. Committed to the research, preservation and celebration of the diversity that exists in indigenous Nepali music, Kutumba firmly Visit www.kutumba.com.np/projects Naubaja guru, Ganesh Man Duwal watches Kutumba perform for Panauti. Local musicians perform with Kutumba at Batulechaur, Pokhara. SPECIAL PROJECTS Peace in Harmony In December 2007, Peace in Harmony was a peace building project implemented in association with Search for Common Ground, an international organization that works in conflict transformation and peace building. It involved interacting with ex-army, ex-Maoist, Madhesi, Tharu and other groups of people from different walks of social and political life, and coming together to write peace songs. These songs were released as an album and plans to tour the country to perform these songs are underway. Meditating together at the peace song retreat.