Dimple

Indian singer-songwriter Dimple Singh Nandra performs his first gig in Cambodia, with promises of more
By Nora Lindstrom
“I’ve been here for six months, but it’s taken a while to move in, settle down” said Dimple Singh Nandra, who during his musical career has moved from his native India to Nepal, through Kenya and now to Cambodia. Ahead of his first performance at Phnom Penh’s Talkin’ to a Stranger bar this Wednesday, the artist is excited; “I have all this energy because I haven’t performed live for quite some time, though there is also a bit of anxiety. But I expect there will be a very good crowd” he said.
Return to Asia
Singer-songwriter Dimple first achieved international recognition whilst based in Nepal with his band Full Circle in the late 1990s. Together with Deependra Rai on guitar and slide, as well as a changing array of other Nepal-based artists, Full Circle performed mainly acoustic music blended with traditional instruments to Kathmandu audiences.
The band also toured around Asia as well as played in the UK, in addition to releasing two albums before splitting in 2006 when Dimple left for Kenya following his wife’s new job posting. “It was the end of the circle when I moved from Nepal. After that we all moved in different directions” Dimple explained.
Although Dimple is now essentially a solo artist he enjoys working with other musicians wherever he is based. “It’s nice to be solo, so you have your own freedom” he said, but disclosed that he prefers to share the stage with others. “I like working with different artists, in Kenya I worked with both Kenyan and foreign musicians” he said, adding that he hopes to collaborate with local artists in Cambodia too.
In addition to starting to perform again, Dimple is also preparing the release of his third album written during his time in Kenya. “It’ll be launched in two-three months time, I just need to find someone who can get it printed, get it replicated etc.” he said. “This new album is quite different from the last two albums [with Full Circle], because I’ve used African voices, you know the Masai singers, and African traditional drums, so all those things have given it a different background to my [usual] kind of singer-songwriter style” he said.
World music
Dimple’s mellow and acoustic music, both with Full Circle and since, is often described as world music. The self-taught artist attributes this to the use of traditional instruments in his songs, “It’s when artists use different instruments from different traditions that it gets labelled ‘world music’” Dimple explained.
If his musical style is of the world, Dimple’s message also has a global resonance with some songs dealing with contemporary issues such as poverty and disease, while others promote a more balanced life.
“My songs are about taking time out, trying to enjoy life, and about the journeys that you take within yourself. Sometimes it’s easy to get carried away, be confused and depressed – to be unhappy with your life. For me, [the solution] is very simple, just take time off from the many things you do and find a balance” Dimple said, adding that he often finds inspiration for his songs in everyday life and the people he meets.
“My interest is also in writing something with a real message. A lot of my songs from this upcoming album are like that; in Kenya we had the post-election violence and South Africa was the same, and all the time I kept thinking I had to write something of my time in Africa. Suddenly it just came to me and I wrote a song for Nelson Mandela, ‘Madiba’, which is what they call him, it’s like a conversation with Mandela” Dimple said. “I also wrote this song called Break the Silence, which is about HIV/AIDS” he continued.
“You could call my music socially conscious. I mean these are the things to talk about and it makes sense to me to talk about real issues through my music and promote change that way, even if it’s a small, small change - it’s still there” he said.
Cambodian challenge
Whilst in Cambodia, where he expects to stay for the next 3-4 years, Dimple hopes to combine his musical career with travelling both in country and within the region. “I also want to see if it’s possible to create a live music scene here” he said, though acknowledged that the Cambodian music scene still has a long way to go, especially in reaching outside the country.
He is keen to find more venues in which to perform too, and perhaps start a regular monthly night somewhere. “I like Maxine’s across the river. I definitely want to play there, even if the owner says no!” he said.
Dimple, accompanied by a local drummer from Sovanna Phum Arts Association, will perform at Talkin’ to a Stranger on Wednesday March 4th, from 8pm. His musical documentary, Mountain of truth, depicting Dimple’s 15-day high-altitude trek to the top of Kala Patthar (5545m) overlooking the base camp of Mount Everest, whilst performing all the way, will also be screened. T - phnompenhpost

The Answer: A CD Launch by Full Circle at Patan

Award winning and internationally acclaimed Nepali band, Full Circle, will be launching their new CD The Answer at Patan Museum at 7pm on Saturday 18 June 2005.

The Answer was recorded in 2005 after the band returned from their tour of the United Kingdom. The tour affected them deeply and is reflected in the music. The title track, The Answer, is about how we all look for answers to problems in our lives and how we can so easily be overtaken by negative emotions leading to confusion and misery.
“This album speaks more of our acoustic style of playing and the lyrics are connected with hope and optimism, about the coming generation and about love,” says Dimple the vocalist/guitarist of the band.

East Meets West Music Box saw the potential in the album with its easy acoustic/ world style and powerful lyrics and will release it in Nepal, together with Full Circle’s first, self produced album, Free your Mind. Although Free your Mind has never been released, it received massive radio play culminating in two singles from the album, “My Love Belongs to You” and “Peace and Harmony” winning Best Song in a Foreign Language in the Hits FM Music Awards 2059 and 2060.

Full Circle consists of Dimple Singh on vocals/acoustic guitar, Bholu Rai on acoustic, electric and slide guitar and Binod Katuwal on bamboo flute and djembe. The name Full Circle refers to the band’s spiritual and musical journey from their roots to many different styles of music and then naturally back to their roots again creating a “full circle”. The band have been developing their style together for more than 10 years. “Our songs are about matters of the heart, mind and spirit and express a desire for change,” says Dimple. “Music is my passion and through it I can express myself. It gives me a sense of peace and balance in my daily life and on stage.”

To launch the album, Full Circle will be joined by renowned guest musicians Milesh on tabla, Suresh on Sarod, Willow on vocals, Nirakar Yaktumba and Sanjay Shrestha from 1974AD on bass and percussions respectively. For Full Circle fans and music lovers, this show has special significance because it will be the last concert before Bholu departs for America indefinitely.

Although the event is an invitation launch, there are limited tickets available for NRs.650 from East Meets West Music Box, Thamel, Tel.4256411
- kathmandupost