Aasis Rana, popularly known as Laure, is one of the most recognised rappers of the country. He gained popularity after competing in a rap battle on YouTube almost a decade ago. Besides music, Aasis has also worked as an actor and been seen as a judge in a television reality show.
Aasis Rana struggled and overcame drug abuse after almost ten years, and he intends to keep it that way. He has recently come out with a new release titled ‘Birami’ which has crossed 2.3 million views on YouTube alone. To learn more about his journey in music and life, Anushka Shrestha from WOW catches up with Laure. Excerpts:
From your first song ‘Mero Solta’ to playing a lead role in a movie and being a judge of a TV reality show, what has your journey been like?
While I was writing ‘Mero Solta’ I was unknown to the media. It was an underground phase of my career, the most amazing phase in every artiste’s professional career. I wrote lyrics that came straight from my heart. The energy I had in those days was different. Nephop underground scene was very competitive at that time. Yama Buddha, Flo, Uniq Poet were some of the amazing rappers then and I wanted to carve my position. I still remember that I used to slap myself awake while writing lyrics around 3 or 4 am. This competitive nature boosted me psychologically.
Talking about my movie experience, I would say I was a wreck ball back then. With my first wave of popularity, I was jumping from one art field to another, not because I wanted to but because I was offered a good deal, and I did it. In a way, it was a good experience and I made a lot of memories. The TV reality show that I worked with gave me a whole lot of new experiences, enhanced my communication skills, made me calmer and wiser after every season.
Is ‘Mero Solta’ based on your life?
‘Mero Solta’ is a story that is very close to me. Though the story is not mine per se, it reflects the society I grew up in. I was trying to get into the British Army with full dedication so it is very relatable.
Tell us more about why you wanted to join the British Army.
Initially, I started pre-training under my friend’s influence. Then, I fell in love with it. I was always attracted towards the uniform, their personality and attitude, ever since my childhood. It was probably in my sub-conscious that I wanted to join the army.
What is your writing process?
Lyrics writing is not just about writing. Writing lyrics is a process of thinking and during this process, my mind acts very fast. If I start writing lyrics on a piece of paper or laptop, I can’t move my fingers as fast as my mind is working which is why I tend to miss many things. This is why I don’t actually start by writing. I record my voice on my mobile and just keep saying whatever comes to my mind. After this I listen to it and start to write only the best and most relevant parts.
What was your experience battling against Uniq Poet in Raw Barz?
That battle was the kickstart to my career. Laure, Uniq Poet and Yama Buddha in the same frame with the most epic content that Nepali hiphop will ever have. What more can I say!
Rap is still not recognised in the same way as conventional music, what motivates you to do what you are doing?
We Nepali rappers never cared about the mainstream media. They can sugarcoat with lovey-dovey Nepali movie and fake rich music videos but cannot ignore what’s trending on social media, what’s on general people’s mouths and minds and that’s Nephop. All the way from the very roots to the top. Currently, Nepali rappers don’t need motivation, we are at the top of our game that other people get motivated by us. Doesn’t really matter if they prioritise hiphop or not.
Please take us through your recent masterpiece ‘Birami’.
Birami can be listened to and watched from different perspectives. As a general public, as a drug user, as a recovering drug user, drug user’s family, mother and father, ex relationship, it goes on and on. But at the end of the day, the writer of this song, Birami is Laure and the main audience of this song is Aasis Rana because this song will motivate me to stay clean for the rest of my life. And now, the lyrics of this song and music video are being shown in rehabilitation centres during their input classes. This song isn’t made to be just watched or listened to; it must be felt and implemented in life.
Do you get stage fright?
Stage fright is natural and I think it is very important. This will make an artiste humble and not over-confident. But stage is such a place where you have to show off to the fullest. I love to stay alone and calm myself 5-10 minutes before I hit the stage.
Any hobbies or interests outside of music?
I love cooking, watching boxing, working out in the gym, dancing, singing, travelling, talking, specially debating with close friends and winning the debate with witty logical punch lines and examples. After getting clean and sober for almost nine months, I have started enjoying so many things. Life is beautiful.
What strengths do you have that you believe make you a great musician?
Hard work and dedication. A healthy competition will always push you all the way up. If my fellow rappers release 10 songs in a year, I will polish my single song for one year. After all quality is what distinguishes you from the rest.
What makes you passionate about music?
Honestly speaking, when you are in the same field for more than a decade, you will start losing passion towards it. I am not passionate like I used to be ten years ago. In this case, discipline matters and maintaining discipline is something that you hate to do but you still do it like you love it.
Who would you want to collaborate with?
Collaboration is always challenging. A rapper-rapper collaboration is boring for me, and I don’t enjoy doing it. I want to collaborate with someone who is a non-rapper and from a completely different genre. That type of collaboration makes me step out of my comfort zone and expand my musical experience.
What’s next?
So many plans in my mind but for now, in the next episode you guys will see a better version of me.
