Simma Rai's debut single Uda Timi is a heart-wrenching anthem to Nepal's uprooted population
"Go see the world,
Reach for your dreams.
Go, fly away. Fly like a bird".
These words of poet Shrawan Mukarung are a powerful expression of the tug of a relationship that pulls people leaving on an airplane. Hundreds of families are torn between these two emotions every day at Kathmandu airport.
Up-and-coming talent Simma Rai has used Mukarung’s words, grafted it to a dreamy melody by Nhyoo Bajracharya and in her husky, longing voice sings a heart-wrenching anthem to Nepal’s uprooted population called Uda Timi (Go, fly away).
Simma, 26, has a bachelor’s degree in engineering and is currently studying sociology. But her covers and rendition of Uda Timi posted on her Soundcloud account has already won her thousands of fans all over the world. While in college, she used to do imitations and stand-ups which led her to perform on stage. Egged on by friends, Simma took part in a singing competition which she won. The win convinced her of her talent.
“I remember trying to copy Asha Bhosle’s style and I thought I could do something because everyone who’s heard me said I could do quite a lot more,” says Simma.
Freshly graduated, she taught computer programming to undergrad students at Apex College, even though her mind was always on music.
After a short diversion into engineering and sociology, Simma is now committed to music and is taking classes in classical Hindustani music from singer Sangeeta Pradhan and piano classes from Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory. The singer has also done solo performances at restaurants like Moksh, Attic, Casa de Casa, where she mostly sings jazz, Hindi and English numbers.
Uda Timi is her first original Nepali song. After the feedback she received on her Soundcloud page, she is now working on two other songs to be composed by Kali Prasad Baskota and Nhyoo Bajracharya.
Even though her parents are from Bhojpur, Rai was born and bred in Kathmandu. Which is why, even though she says she is influenced by Narayan Gopal, Shanti Thatal and Sukmit Gurung, she has a repertoire mostly based on rock, pop, and jazz standards.
Currently, Simma is busy planning a music video for Uda Timi and wants to release an album some day. This young woman will fly high, just like the protagonist in her song. Just hope she won’t fly away too far.
Anushil Shrestha
www.soundcloud.com/simma-rai