It’s not uncommon for musicians to be a little anxious when their bands play in public for the first time. That was the case for the Deurali Band, a group that includes three Baldwin students and that performs music from their Nepali culture.

The band’s first performance happened in April at a cultural event organized by the South Hills Interfaith Movement at CCAC’s South Campus. The event showcased Nepali fashion, singing, and dancing – as well as the first gig by the Deurali Band.

“We were a bit nervous,” freshman Ishok Darjee said. “But I feel like even though it was our first performance, we did better than we expected.”

Despite making a few mistakes, they quickly fixed them mid-performance.

“We would hear the mistakes because we practiced so many times, but the audience wouldn’t know if we messed up or not,” Darjee said. “Still, there weren’t major issues that messed up the whole performance.”

Darjee mainly listens to Nepali music, and his favorite artists include John Rai, Yabesh Thapa, and Purna Rai. Listening to Nepali music helps him strengthen his connections with his language and culture, he said.

“You’re in America, so you speak English throughout the whole day. You almost never get to speak Nepali,” Darjee said. “Listening to Nepali songs helps expand your vocabulary and keep your language alive.”

Sophomore Darshan Das, another member of the band, agrees.

“I feel like listening to Nepali music helps with my speaking and listening,” Das said. “It helps me connect with my culture more.”

The band started just a few months ago, when the students heard about the SHIM cultural event. SHIM Youth Mentoring Coordinator Susie Backscheider credited senior Anish Darjee, Ishok’s cousin, with initiating the idea for the band.

“He has a lot of experience with instruments and musical groups, so he was a great person to take the initiative and find musicians to join him,” Backsheider said. “Anish also made a flyer for the event, created his own band logo, and spread the word about the event.”

Anish Darjee, who plays electric guitar in the band, explained that the event not only helped start his band, but also spread awareness of Nepali culture.

“Playing in a band promoting Nepali music means to preserve our culture,” he said. “After our performance, everyone came up to us telling us we’re keeping the culture alive and commending us for it.”

Ishok Darjee said that was their goal in starting the band.

“We figured, why not show Nepali music and how we do things?’ ” Ishok Darjee said.

ESL teacher Dr. Holly Niemi attended the SHIM cultural event. She said performances like these are invaluable.

“Events like this help bring people together, create understanding, and give students the opportunity to express who they are in meaningful ways,” Niemi said. “Without performances like this, many people might never be exposed to such rich cultural traditions.”

Nepali music itself has many different genres, ranging from pop to folk and country. More traditional and folk songs use instruments like the sarangi, jhyali, dhyangro, bansuri, and madal, while pop songs tend to use Western instruments coupled with traditional ones.

The Deurali Band mixes traditional Nepali instruments alongside Western ones.

Ishok Darjee handles the percussion, having played drums for six years. The only group he’s ever played for before was at his church, which also plays Nepali music.

Das, meanwhile, plays a Nepali percussion instrument.

“I’m playing the madal. It’s percussion but played with two hands,” Das said.

The other band members include two more cousins of Ishok and Anish: Anil and Nishan Darjee, who are in their 20s. Nishan is the main singer, and Anil plays the acoustic guitar.

The band practices about once a week at Anish Darjee’s house. He said the band has several possible shows planned in the coming month.

“We’re planning on doing a concert with a church,” he said. “We also might perform at (the school district’s) We Are Neighbors event this year.”

Beyond the cultural expression, though, the Deurali Band is like teenage bands everywhere, providing good times and memories for its members.

“The first practice was so chill,” Ishok Darjee said. “We just got to know each other, and everything went well.”

Das said he enjoys the atmosphere that the group has created.

“My favorite memory so far was having a barbecue while jamming at the same time,” Das said.

This story was originally published on Purbalite on May 27, 2025.