KATHMANDU: The last day of the international music week June 27 in Kathmandu ended with celebration and flurry of applauses as the French rock band KWAK unleashed their rock vibes at Rastriya Naach Ghar at Jamal. For the band this was their last performance of their three week musical tour, which had started from India. While talking to THT, the band shared information from the time when the band was formed.

“As a band we started eight years ago,” said Julien. “Since then we have been playing rock music and travelling around countries,” he added. As for the pioneers of the band, the credit should be offered to Damian and Julie. Friends from childhood, these two passionate music lovers used to hang out and play music to amuse themselves. They were into folk and blues genre and gradually indulged into creating music and writing songs. After they met Xavier and Guillaume, they started playing in small bars leading their performance in to larger stages. KWAK is certainly not the sound of a duck but a note gone wrong. As told by the band members, it seems like the meaning of it has transformed with time. “Before we were not serious in creating genuine music and we still are not,” humoured Julien, ‘which is wrong’ for a band and that is how KWAK came to our minds that reflected our blunders,” said Julie. “But through time, we started to divert our vision in finding the blunders in the society, family and even politics through our lyrics, that is why most of my songs question the problems and disparity in lives,” added Guillaume.

They hate to compare themselves to other chic rock bands. “We are a rock band, but we have our own taste of music delivered a little from every other genre specially from blues, folk music, walt, and even disco,” said Guillaume. A French band, Noir Desiree(Black Desire) along with other foreign bands like Radio Head and Rage Against the Machine are some of KWAK’s regular tuners.

Struggle is the first trial for every musician and according to them, even in France the trend is still around. “There are a lot of bands in France that are a lot of competition and in the beginning we did have difficlut times to introduce our music to the people,” said Guillaume. From small bar performances to large audiences and now with three albums in their back they have been travelling countries. “You have to play to know how it feels and with passion we have survived all those crazy times,” he added.

THE KWAK SHOW

Losing no extra moment, the concert did start around the proposed time and the two hours in side the hall was filled with dancing people, continuous applauses and high pitch cheer ups mostly from elated female audiences. A great chemistry was built between the band and the audiences despite the language barrier. All the songs were in French but the compound sensation released by the magical instrumental works of Julien (guitar), Guillaume (bass), Damien (lead vocal and harmonica) and Xavier (drums) without any suspicion

seized the event with victory. Besides all their numbers, the fourth French number came as a surprise package for the audiences.

Along with rap-rock number, the Home2Home little crew guided by Salil Kanika improvised with the band with their Australian aboriginal instrument didgerido. Everyone admired the incorporation of the band and the Home2Home effort with standing ovation and fading encores of once mores until the young crew left the stage.

Every song played like their rebellion song enhanced excitement with their pure rock star showmanship on the stage. Julien’s frequent jumping jack jumps, sliding guitar notes on the mic-stand and Damien’s raged energy kept the audience amused until the last minute of the show. According to the director of Alliance Franc?ise, Philippe Martin, this year the music festival in Kathmandu proved to be a success.

“The participation of more than hundred artistes from various fabulous genres, along with KWAK and the children who helped make this event more inspiring must be the thrust behind the success of this music festival in Kathmandu,” said Philippe.