When singer-songwriter, performer, and vocalist Sushant Ghimire gets on stage, sparks fly. From creating a place for himself in the hearts of his listeners to making an impact with his strong stage presence, Sushant is an absolute entertainer.
Popularly known for his song, Jindagi Sarara, Sushant sings about life in the most open-hearted yet metaphorical way. “I wrote Jindagi Sarara when I confessed about dropping college to my parents, I was then free from family pressure. The care-free spirit in the lyrics was my actual feelings then,” recalls Sushant.
Sushant first experienced limelight when he started off as a cover artist in 2015. Soon he was writing original songs. Today his songs are covered by many aspiring cover artists. Sushant has released nine originals so far, Bhujhau Malai being his latest. In a conversation with Sushant, we hear him talk about the importance of chasing dreams and living life to its fullest. Excerpts.
When did you realise music was your true calling?
I was pursing engineering and realised that this field is not for me. I was learning guitar at that time and loved it. I decided then to drop out of engineering and pursue a career in music. I was so determined that I never regretted my decision nor ever looked back. Even today, I don’t have a plan B, music is my only goal.
Engineering was not a choice. Being the eldest son, my father used to proudly introduce me as the future engineer in all our family get-togethers. In our society, the eldest child has to be a role model and this pressure is a burden. The situation was such that I didn’t inform my parents for some years about my decision to drop out.
But my decision to chase my dreams and reach where I wanted to has given hope to my younger siblings. Today, they can openly talk about who they want to be.
Tell us about your association with Mantra Guitars?
I used to perform at several gigs and in one of them, I was spotted by Mantra Guitars. They were running a campaign “Mantra Artist” and eventually they launched me in the industry. They have been supporting me since my very first original.
From singing covers to now having aspiring singers doing covers of your song, what is the feeling?
When I started my career, my favourite Nepali artists were Bartika Eam Rai, Neetesh Jung Kunwar, and Swoopna Suman. Today when aspiring singers cover my songs, the feeling is surreal. Looking back at my journey, everything today feels like a dream. It feels like I am writing my life story.
How did social media boost your career?
TikTok played a huge role in changing the mindset of my parents. Through the platform, they realised the power of music and musicians. I am sure there are many who agree with me. Social media created a ray of hope for several creative professions. If you are talented then you will surely be noticed in any social media platform. And this power is massive.
If social media didn’t come to play, I would have gone through the traditional approach of singing. And it would have taken me ages to reach the masses.
Is music as a career sustainable?
Music as the only career is difficult in the country but not impossible. It demands patience and dedication. There were moments in my life when I might have given up but I was so determined that I never regretted about my decision nor looked back.
Initially, I believed that becoming a sensation overnight was the way but as I digged deeper, I realised this industry requires a lot of patience. And if you love your craft, you should keep polishing it. As an artist you should accept the fact that not every song will be a hit.
Bujhau Malai is a love song. It talks about a fairy tale love.
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