Nepal Singer-Songwriter Ankit Shrestha Releases Rustic New Song ‘Dust and Bones’

Kathmandu-bred singer-songwriter Ankit Shrestha’s first tryst with the guitar began when he was in the fourth grade as his school offered music classes. Shrestha says, “In my assumption that they were compulsory, I ticked off the guitar. My mother then gifted me my first guitar and that would be the start of a lifelong passion.”

Soon, Shrestha began learning songs from his favorite artists and used the guitar as a means to escape and connect with something greater than himself. “Music provided a sense of companionship and solace, even when I had no one else to turn to,” he says. After going on to play in bands, Shrestha would eventually begin releasing his solo material. Now, he’s out with his latest single in the shape of the rustic and acoustic leaning “Dust and Bones.” In this interview with Rolling Stone India, the artist talks to us about the new song, the track’s upcoming video, what he has in store for the rest of 2023 and more. Read excerpts:

What’s the journey been like for you ever since you began releasing your own music?

Over the years, my musical journey has been a fulfilling one, I have focused on growing and evolving in both my writing and production. It all began in 2013 when I released my first single, ‘The Underwater Song,’ as a singer-songwriter, which allowed me to reach a wider audience in Nepal. Since then, I have released a couple of EPs and in 2020, I opted for releasing singles instead of an album.

Although my love for music was kindled during my time in Nepal where I played for a few metal bands, it wasn’t until I moved to the U.S. in 2012 that I truly began to explore the indie/singer-songwriter scene. As I continued to create music on the side, I spent a decade busking in the U.S., honing my craft and building my audience.

Reflecting on my journey so far, I am grateful for the opportunities that have come my way and for the growth that I have experienced as a musician. As I continue to navigate the ever-evolving music industry, I remain committed to creating meaningful and authentic music that connects with my listeners on a deeper level.

What can you tell us about your new song “Dust and Bones”?

I actually wrote this song back in 2017, and since then it has evolved a lot both in terms of its writing and production, as well as its underlying meaning. Over time, the song has transformed in response to my artistic growth and personal experiences. Despite these changes, it remains a powerful tribute to the perseverance of the human spirit and the victory of optimism in challenging times.

Initially, the song consisted solely of vocals and an acoustic guitar, until 2021 when I began to develop pre-production ideas for the song. As the production process unfolded, I decided to produce and mix the song myself, shaping the sound and texture of the song to my liking. The final mastering touches were done by Diwas Gurung, who is one of the most skilled music producers in Nepal at present. We were fortunate enough to have Nicola D’Adamo on the drums, Hugo on the double bass, and Volodymyr Kotliarov on the cello. Each of them brought their own unique style and expertise to the table, and it was an absolute pleasure to work with them.

What can you tell me about the song’s music video?

We’re still in the process of working on the music video and it’s been really exciting so far! We’ve been exploring the idea of a person pursuing something and we’re trying to incorporate that theme throughout the video. I had the privilege of working on this project with two amazing friends Robin and Khusi. It’s been a fantastic collaboration and I’m really happy with how everything is coming together.

What’s Next?

With this release, we are trying to target the global audience and especially the South Asian community. As for what’s coming up next, I have a bunch of English and Nepali songs that I’m really excited to record and hopefully release sometime this year. Right now, I am in the pre-production phase, where I’m trying to figure out what direction I want the songs to take sonically. It’s a really fun and creative process, and I can’t wait to share the final product with everyone!

Stream “Dust and Bones” on Spotify below and on other platforms.