User:Rohit John Chettri/sandbox

Rohit John Chettri - (Rohit Chettri)

Rohit John Chettri Rohit John Chettri is a singer, song writer and guitarist from Kathmandu. Born in 1991, he found fame early when he loaded some songs onto YouTube in 2013. His song ‘Bistarai’ received more than a million views, shooting him into the public spotlight at the young age of 21. As well as his solo career Rohit is lead singer/guitarist for 1974AD, Nepal’s most famous rock band.

Rohit learnt music from his father, who was a school teacher. Rohit’s father used to play Hindi and Nepali songs on the harmonium and Rohit used to sit by his side listening to him, sometimes singing along.

“Music is the best thing that has ever happened in my life. I was introduced to music by my father. He is a music lover and plays different musical instruments, but not professionally. Since my childhood I had musical instruments like guitar, tabla and harmonium at home.”

It was in 1998 or 1999 that Rohit appeared in his first stage show. It was a school talent competition (dance, music and art), organised by Lovely Angles School.

“My Dad asked me to take part in art and painting, because I used to paint and sketch, but I said that I wanted to sing. He was surprised and asked me ‘Can you sing?’ ‘Which song do you want to sing?’ I said yes, I can, I want to sing ‘Jindagi ko k bharosha’, by Madhyana.”

This was Rohit’s first step on the wonderful journey of music.

Since his childhood, Rohit had always wanted to take music lessons, but, due to circumstances, was unable. When he was in grade 5, Rohit was granted a scholarship to Do Re Mi music school, which he attended for 3 months before having to quit. At age 9 he recorded his first song ‘Baba mero bato’. Early performances include guest artist on ‘An evening in Honour of Bhakta Raj Acharya’ (aged 10, in 2001) and ‘Children to Children Musical Night for Street Kids’ (aged 11, in 2002). Again, in grade 8, he started Eastern Classical lessons with Prabhu Raj Dhakal for a short time.

“I never stopped playing and learning music. My dad and I, we used to jam. Sometimes even during my exams.”

During school Rohit played drums and sang in an underground band called ‘Derailed’ (2007–2009). He won best vocalist in ‘Battle of Rock’ in 2007. After completing his SLC, Rohit started working and college began. He stopped music for a while, but in 2011 saw a job vacancy at Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory (KJC).

“When I got the job and started working there I realised that this is what I want to do: I want to play music and sing.”

So, after a few months, he left the job at KJC and started taking guitar lessons.

In 2015, Rohit released his first album, Bistarai, which established him firmly as a talent to watch. It was around this time that he was noticed by Sanjay Shrestha, drummer for 1974AD. He was also asked to sing ‘Priyasiko’ for Gopal Yonjan’s tribute album. That year, Rohit was awarded Hits FM Best New Artist of the Year.

Rohit joined 1974AD in late 2014 as lead singer/guitarist. Since then, Rohit’s musical career has taken off, with a 10-city 1974AD tour of the US and Dubai in 2016, solo tours of the UK and Australia (for Bistarai) in the same year, and a 1974AD tour of Nepal organized by Wave Magazine in 2017. Most recently, Rohit played with 1974AD in Hong Kong.

“It has been amazing, I have learnt so much about the business of music from being with 1974AD. I am honoured to be a part of this group – playing music with a band (as opposed to as a solo artist) is also lots of fun.”

With the new line up (which includes Prajwal Mukhiya, Jacko Wacko and Pratik Baniya, as well as Sanjay Shrestha, Nirakar Yakthumba and Manoj KC), 1974AD released a new album in 2016 called ‘Hazaar Sapna’. The lyrics for Bagdi Gareko were written and performed by Rohit and Aru Kalo was co-written by Rohit and Jacko.

Besides playing with 1974AD, Rohit has been busy recording music for movie soundtracks (Prem Geet 2 and Summer Love), teaching guitar and vocals at Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory, and is currently studying for a Bachelors in Eastern Classical and Folk Music at Ratna Rajya Campus. He has also arranged songs for Asif Shah (‘Jiwan Sathi’), Namrata Shrestha (a cover of ‘Bistarai Bistarai’ for the movie Soul Sister) and for the group Nephop (‘Nephop Anthem’).

“The reason I’m in the music field is that no matter how hard life is, I can always find a way to be happy and gain that satisfaction through music. Music has taught me a lot of things in life. And I want to teach the things I know about music to others too.”