KATHMANDU: It was a refreshingly interesting programme at The Bakery Café, Pulchowk on January 23, where two young innovative youngsters presented their creative skills, that gave a kind of hope, that the youth really do have amazing potential and we do have something to look forward to from them.

Astha Tamang Maskey released her album Sabai Thikai Huncha amidst a fuction attended by friends and fans. She also sang a few numbers from her album, and the compositions have a new touch to it.

Describing her songs Maskey said, “I don’t have a particular genre, I flow into different styles of music.”

Along with great vocals, her songs are accompanied by acoustic guitar, and it’s from these acoustic tunes, that her songs are formed. “My songs have and acoustic electronic sound to it. It’s a kind of urban music in a way,” she added.

The resonance could be heard in songs like Sabai Thikai Huncha, Jhuto Satya, Muskurai, Bhana, which are mostly about human emotions.

The highlight of the programme were the duets — Timi Bina and Chhardai Ujjelo which she sang with her mother Susan. As to who’s a better singer, she stated, “My mum is definitely a better singer than me.”

The music accompaniment was by Rohit Shakya, Abhisek Bhadra, Sharad Rajkarnikar and Rizu Tuladhar. Her album will be available in stores soon.

Along with some great music, some intriguing artworks by Preena Shrestha were also displayed. It’s simple things that people feel and go through in every day life that have been captured in a humorous yet thoughtful way. Just using pen and paper Shrestha has drawn the feelings depicting a young girl in a simplistic yet absorbing manner. Feelings of being a loner, feeling constricted, jealousy to getting a hangover and much more have been wittily drawn.

Elaborating on her work Shrestha said, “I take small things and exaggerate them in my paintings. I mostly focus on facial expressions. Unlike other paintings which are very complicated, this is easier — just with simple lines you can show the expression.”

Her artworks will be exhibited till February 15.