Sabai Thikai Huncha (Acoustic)

This week I’m revisiting Sabai Thikai Huncha, a song that is now exactly 17 years old since its conception. Originally from my mother’s little notebook of musings, her poem reads like this:

jaba aafule aafailai samjhauchhu

“sabai thikai huncha”

taba nanma bharkhar naya chot lageko huncha

naya arko chotlai sahana koshish huncha

aankha matra bhijdaina

sirani pani bhijchha

dhuja dhuja man talne

koshish jaba huncha 

naya sita purano sabai,

ghauharu feri taja huncha

Many of my life’s relationships, whether creative, passionate, or platonic, live in an intricate, interwoven web shaped by my love for music. I didn’t bring this into my awareness until much later, but a part of me contemplates, if music hadn’t been so central to my life, what shape would my relationships have taken? Would people have seen me for who I really am? 

Why do I continue to pour so much of who I am into this one art form? Is it something instilled deep in me through my environment, or is it simply just part of my genetic code? Is it obsession or is it alignment?

Turns out “Sabai Thikai Huncha” was never about hope as optimism - it’s about hope as survival, mirroring human resilience. Turns out, music is what has held everything in my lineage for generations - relationships, pain, release, and growth - long enough for me to understand it. Turns out… human beings don’t just make art; we live it, and then we document it.

During a recent phone call with my mother, we arrived at a quiet realization: not everything in life is meant to unfold in the way we define as “for the best.” Life is a collection of experiences we move through - some uplifting, some challenging. 

We are here to experience, to grow, and to continually evolve into who we are meant to be. “Good” …“bad” …”the best”…in the end, are just simply human interpretations. Full session on all streaming platforms.

Artist: Astha Tamang-Maskey

Album: Sabai Thikai Huncha

Song: Sabai Thikai Huncha

Songwriter (Lyrics): Susan Maskey

Co-writer (Lyrics): Astha Tamang-Maskey

Songwriter (Music): Astha Tamang-Maskey

#sabaithikaihuncha #intimatesessions #asthaunplugged #asongforeveryemotion #sabaithikaihunchathealbum

Bhana (Acoustic)

This week, I’m visiting a song deep from the archives. A song that may not be familiar to most of you, but lives on the album “Sabai Thikai Huncha”. Bhana carries echoes of a time filled with rehearsals and jam sessions..with a band which started off with incredible musicians Raajib (Space Cake Break), Rohit (Jindabaad/Swar), and Prajol dai (Looza) and later evolved into collaborations with maestros Sunny (St Trio), Abhisek (Atomic Bush), and Kiran (Jindabaad). Sometimes, we were lucky and Rajan “dai” (Phatcowlee) joined us too. We used to jokingly call ourselves Astha Tamang-Maskey and “The Plus Band” and laugh hysterically right after.

Tiny me...was taking on every show I could, so hungry, and so eager to grow. I showed up to every rehearsal, soaking in everything I could from these extraordinary musicians who were masters of their craft. Luck bhanne ki…fate bhanne… I’m grateful I got to be in rooms that were always full of growth and inspiration. 

I’m really looking forward to bringing a fresh band rendition of this song to life when I finally take on some full band live shows someday. Also as I practice, I am quietly contemplating to myself, why do I like major and minor 7th chords so much? Lately all of life’s beauty has been in returning to the things I love.  Full session on all streaming platforms.

Album: Sabai Thikai Huncha
Artist: Astha Tamang-Maskey
Song: Bhana
Songwriter (Lyrics): Susan Maskey
Songwriter (Music): Astha Tamang-Maskey

#bhana #intimatesessions #asthaunplugged #asongforeveryemotion #sabaithikaihunchathealbum

Listen to the full session here:

Gotta Be Love (Acoustic)

This week, I find myself revisiting “Gotta Be Love.” It was October of 2008, I had just arrived in Kathmandu, standing at the very beginning of my journey, ready to work on my debut Nepali album, “Sabai Thikai Huncha” at Looza ko dai haru ko studio, Rec Records. I was just a kid then, young, a little naive, and carrying big, beautiful dreams in my heart.

I remember having this long list of goals, and somewhere on it was a loud desire to write my first radio “hit.” And then, one fine morning, inspiration struck.

What followed still feels unreal. The love you gave this song, the magic of hearing it on the radio for the first time, and watching it climb to #1 on major radio stations in Kathmandu...are moments etched into my memory forever.

I am also deeply grateful to the early YouTube community back in 2009. So many of you uploaded videos to this song and helped it travel far beyond anything I could have imagined. One upload in particular, by YouTuber e5or, still stands out in my mind. Those early shares and support meant everything.

Revisiting this song takes me straight back to my teenage years. I hope “Gotta Be Love” takes you back too. Full session on all streaming platforms. 

Artist: Astha Tamang-Maskey
Album: Sabai Thikai Huncha
Song: Gotta Be Love
Songwriter (Lyrics): Astha Tamang-Maskey
Co-writer (Lyrics): Pooja Shrestha
Songwriter (Music): Astha Tamang-Maskey
Engineer (Recording. Mixing, Mastering): Astha Tamang-Maskey

#gottabelove #intimatesessions #asthaunplugged #asongforeveryemotion #sabaithikaihunchathealbum

Listen to the full session here:

Jhuto Satya (Acoustic)

As I patiently await the Year of the Horse 🐎…. a new album, a new feature film, and hopefully the promise of some live shows are emerging on the horizon 🌅.…. This week, my practice/inspiration sessions begin. I’m travelling down memory lane with the song Jhuto Satya. This song holds so many memories...little teenage me, pondering the dualities of life. Funny how, as an adult, I’ve come to realize that real truth is never as black and white. It mostly exists in shades...in the in-between, in the grey, on a spectrum.. within little white lies. For those who remember my very first music video for this song… haha..that means we go wayyyyyy… wayyyy wayyyyyyyy back…It’s nice to connect with you all again 👋.. Full session on all streaming platforms. 

Album: Sabai Thikai Huncha
Artist: Astha Tamang-Maskey
Song: Jhuto Satya
Songwriter (Lyrics): Astha Tamang-Maskey
Songwriter (Music): Astha Tamang-Maskey

#jhutosatya #intimatesessions #asthaunplugged #asongforeveryemotion #sabaithikaihunchathealbum

Listen the full session here:

Sa Re Ga Ma Pa (Acoustic)

Here’s one from the archives .. the very first demo of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, recorded sometime in 2019, before the album was conceived. If you listen closely, you can hear the metronome bleed. A raw, unfiltered glimpse into where it all began.

Harek Saas Sita (Acoustic)

This week I am revisiting ‘Harek Saas Sita’ from my second album, “Ma Ek Sapana." The emotion expressed in this song is the sadness I used to allow myself to feel only late at night, when the whole city slept, and I poured everything I had into songs. Perhaps it was my way of keeping my emotions to myself. Perhaps I didn’t want to burden anyone with them. But the 2024 version of me has realized that emotions, whether positive or negative, are always better shared, especially with those who love you. For those who’ve felt their sadness creep in, I just want you to know that it is okay to feel it and super healthy to express it. Whether you’re confiding in someone or carving your emotions into your art, I want you to know that you’re not alone, and emotions are what make us human.

Here's a 2 AM version of ‘Harek Saas Sita’ exclusively for you,
Astha.

Sabai Thikai Huncha (Acoustic)

This week I find myself revisiting "Sabai Thikai Huncha," the title track from my debut album. This song holds a special place in my heart, embodying hope, resilience, and unwavering optimism. Its message reassures and strengthens, reminding us that everything will be alright, no matter the challenges we face. The song brings back vivid memories of my younger self, poring over my mama’s tiny notebooks filled with her poetry, feeling inspired to transform her words into songs. To everyone who has reached out to tell me how much this song means to you, I see you, I feel you, and I reassure you that everything is going to be okay.

I was captivated by a beautiful hanging floating flower arrangement I came across on TikTok the other day. The delicate balance of the arrangement inspired me so much that I had to recreate it. I don’t know why, but this French blue is really resonating with me these days.

Love,
Astha

Parijat / Susan Maskey - Jasto Timro Chitiz

This week I am listening to the song “Jasto Timro Chhitiz” from my mother Susan Maskey’s album “Swor Shraddhanjali,” a tribute to Nepali writer, poet, and activist Parijat, encompassing her incredibly thought provoking poetry interpreted as songs. This album takes me back to many of my childhood memories, and it is perhaps one of my favourite albums ever released by my mother. My mother’s contributions to Nepali music, literature, and journalism are what I got to pull inspiration from at a very young age. As a young Nepali woman figuring out her space in this big and intimidating world, I could not have asked for a better role model and someone to pave my footsteps behind.

At a very young age, I witnessed my mother voice her intellect in support of women’s liberation by co-establishing Asmita Magazine in 1988. One of the very first of its kind in Nepal, Asmita continues its activism for women's empowerment, gender equality, human rights & inclusive democracy.

In addition to her contribution to the early feminist movement in Nepal, I witnessed my mother’s commitment to her music and her art in the purest sense possible. I have memories of attending her studio recording sessions as a kid and numerous Guru Purnimas spent under the tutelage of the late Amber Gurung Sir. I experienced attending her choir sessions and album launches and screaming her name really loudly as I sat in the audience as a little baccha 🐣, so proud to see my mama on stage.

I will be releasing more sessions with my mother on my YouTube channel very soon, until then please stay tuned. #aamachhori. In the meantime, I’m wrapping up my final “songs that made me” session. It has been a very meaningful journey down memory lane, filled with deep introspection. Thank you for going on this ride with me 🌊.

Written by Parijat, musically composed by Rayan, and arranged by Sharad Gurung, here’s my rendition of my mother Susan Maskey’s song “Jasto Timro Chhitiz” from the album “Swor Shraddhanjali”.

#parijat #susanmaskey #sworshraddhanjali #mothersday #songsthatmademe

Listen to my rendition here:

Listen to the original here:

The Animals - House of the Rising Sun

This week I am listening to the 1964 rendition of the folk song “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals. This song immediately transports me to many evenings spent with my father, listening to him strum away on his acoustic guitar and teaching me the chords and the 6/8 fingerpicking pattern to this amazing song.

My father is an incredible provider, protector, strong presence in our family, and equal partner to my mother. For the bulk of my childhood, baba was stationed as a mechanical engineer in the hydroelectricity plants of Kaligandaki, Nepal. I have many memories of visiting him in the Kaligandaki quarters, and memories of a very excited little me, waiting by our Lazimpat house galli, for when he would come home for the weekends/and Dashain, yelling “Surprise!” and would take me out on a special outing – where I got to snack on roasted chickpeas and a chilled glass bottle of coke. #babachhori #sugarhigh

When he was home, he would play music really loudly on all of his speakers, as he tinkered away on the balcony with all his tools, flashlight and soldering iron, assembling an audio system of speakers, mixers, amps, equalizers and turntables. You see, my baba is an audiophile, and he likes listening to all his records, in lossless quality on vinyl. Through him, I learned and listened to the entire Beatles catalogue of songs alongside many artists from his era, which included the Carpenters, John Denver, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and Carlos Santana.

The quirkiest thing about baba was that one year he spent many months building an incredible audio system, but decided to trust and leave it all out in the open on our Lazimpat home’s veranda, on full display for every walking spectator🤦🏻‍♀️. Long behold, one fine summer day, we all came home to a raided balcony…and the burglars had stolen all of baba’s audio equipment. 😔

This left a young 6 year old me extremely angry and perplexed. I am taking a vow today, Mr. Burglar, that next lifetime, I am going to hunt you down, ninja kick your butt🥷🏻, and steal your audio system😠.

Here’s my rendition of “House of the Rising Sun” by the Animals.

#thehouseoftherisingsun #theanimals #songsthatmademe

Listen to my rendition here:

Listen to the original here: