Ashesh
Ashesh Dangol aka Himalayan Hendrix is an internationally recognized award-winning artist/ musician and blues guitarist. He needs no introduction to the Blues world as he traveled over 11 countries with his music and photography. He recently headlined the Best Dam Blues Festival held on the scenic banks of Milwaukee River in Thiensville, Wisconsin, USA, on September 16, 2023 representing Nepal.
During his 2010 Europe tour, he was given the title “Himalayan Hendrix” by the Norwegian and German media. He started his music journey in 1994 with the Ashesh & Nekhvam trio playing evening venues in Thamel, Kathmandu. He has headlined several major national and international music festivals, such as the Kathmandu Blues Festival 2006 (Kathmandu, Nepal), North Meets South Music Festival 2010 to 2014 ( Nepal), Alamar 2007 Music Festival (Almeria, Spain), Blues and Balance Festival 2010 (Helgeland, Norway), Himalayan Festival, Sandefjord Norway, 2010-2011, Fauskivalen Music Festival 2010, 2011 and 2016 (Hemsedal, Norway), Edinburg Mela Festival 2011 (Edinburg, Scotland), It’s All Gravey Festival 2011 (Sussex, England), Herzberg Festival 2011(Hamburg, Germany), Tribute to Hendrix, Remember Jimi festival, 2011 Fehmarn, Germany and the list goes on.
He was awarded by Colorado Music Business Organization, Colorado for his contribution in music and social work in 2015. Nominated in Hits FM music Award in 2010 and 2016 in various categories. He has also Judge many musical competition including Battle of the Bands, UK in Nepal. Have also worked as a music teacher in School of Rock, USA.
Ashesh started his United States tour with the slogan Searching for the Blues in 2017 touring on the East Coast and the South. He came back to USA again in 2019 and continued touring in the South and the Southeast including his solo shows such as the Himalayan Hendrix in Lalaland in Clarksdale Mississippi, “The East Meets the West” at Roberts Hall, Panama City, Florida. In early 2020, he played in the International Blues Jam representing Nepal during the International Blues Challenges in Rum Boogie, Bale Street, Memphis,Tennessee.
Ashesh released his sixth album “All Those Beautiful Dreams” in the Theatre of Rastriya Naach Ghar, Kathmandu, Nepal On September 3, 2022. This album reflects his exploration of Blues and his journey in the United States between 2017 to 2020.
Ashesh represents society and social issues in his music and life. Art with activism is the practice he believes in . During the massive Earthquake in 2015, Nepal, he with his band, supporters and family members actively helped victims day in and day out for six months building temporary shelters and donating food, clothes, and medicine. He started this journey by helping the victims with his CD selling money which he has collected for six months before the Earthquake strikes in Nepal.
In 2016, he toured Norway with the slogan Pray and Play for Nepal with support from Reis Nepal, Norway. Likewise, during the COVID-19 Corona Virus Pandemic outbreak, he continued the project Blues for A Cause virtual Live Series through the Blues Society of Nepal Facebook page with Blues Artists around the world. The reason behind organizing this event is to heal the world and panicked souls through music.
More than 54 different Bands/ Artists from different parts of the world including Nepal, Japan, India, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Serbia, Paraguay, Norway, France, Australia, and USA,
participated in the virtual Facebook live series hosted by Ashesh in 2020 to
2021. Please visit the website and social media for more information.
Music creates life and when it blossoms we become one. Life is beautiful. Ashesh Dangol
(Compiled by Astha Gurung)
Web: www.himalayanhendrix.com | www.Facebook.com/himalayanhendrix | www.YouTube.com/@AsheshDangol
Youtube Videos
Cosmic Vibe (Live in Best Dam Blues Festival, WI, USA
Dark clouds all over(Live in Asker Blues Club, Norway)
Peace of Mind (Live at Utpala)
Insearch of freedom (Official music video)
Funk Vibe Blues(Official Music Video)
Funk Vibe Blues II (Official Music Video)
Purple Haze (Jimi Hendrix) Live in Fehrman, Germany 2011
In my Brothers Blues (Live in Fabrik, Hamburg, Germany 2010)
Press
Q&A with Nepali Guitarist Ashesh Dangol AKA Himalayan Hendrix by Michael Limnios Blues Net work Sep 28 2022
Ashesh Dangol is the first Nepali artist to headline the Best Dam Blues Festival. Kathmandu Post
Samadhi Blues by Michael Limnios/ Blues Network on April 8, 2015
Her er «Himalayas Jimi Hendrix»! by Natalia C. Heinrich (laagendal sposten Norway) 2016
The Jimi from Kathmandu (Nepali Times 2011)
Nepals Antwort auf Jimi Hendrix zu Gast in der Fabrik (German Press/ Welt) 2010
The new Hendrix from Nepal(fehmarn24.de)Germany 2010
Press Photos
Photo: Knut Utler(Norway)
Photo: Ashesh Rajbansh
Audio
Dark clouds all over the sky (Live Recorded in Asker Blues Club Norway)
Cosmic Vibe (live in Fauskivalen 2016 festival Norway)
Lyrics
“My Blues Ain’t For Sale”
If I could show you
how deep is the cut
let me howl with the wind
may be you can feel my pain
blues is all I got in the moment
*Discrimination is sick
brand is a greeds affair
let me be a simple being
border can’t control my destiny
my blues ain’t for sale
how will you define your existence
it’s not only an intellect debate
I am I you are you
we are the answer of all begin
blues don’t judge by color
my blues ain’t for sale
Darkness Under The Moonligh
It's all right
If you're satisfied
I'll die I'll sacrifice my love
But my love will never die
Don't pretend with me
Coz you can't pretend with yourself
Tears burning in my heart
Wish if you could understand
Search me inside
Darkness under the moonlight
Take me away under the moonlight
Darkness before sunrise
In between thousand stars
Only moon shine bright
shine on me if you understand
I'm I'm (Finding my way)
I'm I'm writing a song
I'm I'm writing a tune
Come sing with me
Sit and listen please
Trying to see myself
Trying to cover my day
Trying to find my way
Finding all the way
I'm I'm walking alone
I'm I'm roaming around
Come walk with me
Run and stay with me
"विश्वास"
विश्वास गरुँ त किन
जीवन अनौथो जीवन
विश्वास नगरुँ किन
जीवन अनौथो जीवन
(जीवनको यात्रा कसलाइ के थाहा, अनौथो जीवन)२
कतै हाँसो, कतै रुवाई
कतै जीवन, कतै मरण किन
जीवन लामो जीवन
जीवन अनौथो जीवन
जीवन छोटो जीवन
जीवन अनौथो जीवन
विवशता यति छ
आखिर वाँच्नु पर्छ
विवशता यति छ
आखिर मर्नु पर्छ
कतै मिलन, कतै विछोड
कतै जीवन, कतै मरण किन
"एक्लो जीवन"
माया भन्दा भन्दै माया विती गयो
केवल याद तिम्रो झिनो आशा रहिरह्यो
साथ तिम्रो पाएँ, साथ छुटी गयो
मात्र शुन्यता छाइरह्यो
जीवन पाएँ भन्थाने, तिमी टाढा पो भयो
उज्याला विहानीहरु अन्धकारमय भयो
तिमी हुँदाका दिनहरु मात्र सम्झना रह्यो
तिमी विनाको एक्लो जीवन केवल निराशा छायो
तिमी पाएँ सम्पूर्णता छायो
जीवनलाई सार्थक माने
विना तिमीको खोक्रो भएँ
जीवनमा अन्धकार छायो
