They are young, they are energetic, they are groovy, they are “Chakachak”. Formed in early 2018, Chakachak is a one-of-its-kind Nepali band that records original music in the ‘nu-metal/rap-hardrock’ genre. Band members, aged 21-40, exude an enormous amount of energy not only in their recordings and music videos, but also in live performances. Chakachak stages a spectacle every time it is on stage, and as the audience, you can do nothing but bang your heads to its infectiously groovy music.
Two brothers, Biraj (guitars) and Bikrant Singh Thapa (drums), collaborate with Ashutosh ‘Multi’ Pandey (vocals), Sabeen Shrestha (bass), and DJ Vital on turntables, to form Chakachak. Inspired by international artists like ‘Rage Against the Machine’, ‘Limp Bizkit’, ‘Fever 333’, ‘Turnstile’, and our very own ‘Tumbleweed Inc.’, to name a few, Chakachak is all about spreading positive energy and vibe to its listeners, say band members.
“Chakachak, in Nepali, stands for positive hope/energy. We found this word representative of what we wanted to portray through our music,” says Biraj, the guitarist. “We used to play with different underground bands before this and connected through the local underground scene. We got together just to play this kind of music.” DJ Vital, the oldest band member, and a popular music producer in Nepal’s EDM circuit, was the final addition.
The band released its eponymous debut album in 2019 and has since been causing tremors in the local music scene. The audience has swiftly picked up songs like “Sabda,” “Damadol”, and “Netapal”. Chakachak’s latest music video “Gatibidhi” featuring rapper “5:55” has pushed it further into the limelight, from where its visibility is spreading to a larger audience.
But Chakachak is not here to attempt to ‘make a difference’. Rather, it wants to remain true to its music, and spread positivity with it. “We try to express ourselves in the most authentic and truthful way possible. We think speaking the truth is the seed for making a difference,” Biraj says. The band’s honesty and passion for its art can be felt in its lyrics and music. It speaks about what’s wrong in the society, creating awareness, and even warns those abusing authority, even while it sounds aggressively groovy at all times.
Usual hindrances that every band faces—personal commitments issues, lack of finances—does slow the band’s progress at times, but the highly committed band members pool their resources and manage time to take the music forward. The independent band has self-sponsored all of its audio and visual productions, without letting anything come between it music and its audience.
Even the Covid-19 lockdown since March has not ebbed its enthusiasm. “We do miss the energy of performing onstage and also hanging out with our friends, but we have been busy writing new material even during the lockdown,” Biraj informs. The band released music videos of its songs “Gatibidhi” and “Wake-up” during the lockdown and already has another music video in the pipeline. Still, live shows and concert tours are what the band looks forward to when the pandemic is over.
Comparatively a new entry in Nepali music, Chakachak is one of those bands that have made an impact within a short time. “We have been blessed with the most amazing response so far and are always grateful to our audience, friends and seniors,” Biraj says about their acceptance in the local music scene. “The family is getting bigger and stronger.”
