Sanjeev Satgainya

Kathmandu:

The perseverance, the hard work and passion for music has brought Ciney Gurung now at a point from where she can heave a sigh of relief for a moment or two before she embarks onto another musical journey. Five odd years, under the pressure of livelihood and still passionate about music to create something, Ciney does not say more than — “It feels great to have my own album,” and I could see she is moved. Ciney Gurung’s debut album ‘Yo Mann’ was released April 17. It was October 2004 when I first heard Ciney. She was performing at Soaltee Hotel and the covers she was singing really impressed me. A tad of huskiness but full of melody, her voice attracted everyone and when she sang, it was from her heart. I could not resist talking to her at that time asking whether she had done any album. Seven months on, now Ciney smiles, “Here comes my album.”

Born and brought up in Darjeeling, Ciney’s childhood interest was but music. Her brother used to play guitar and her father who was in Indian police used to pick up folk tunes and sing. “It’s big thing indeed. I have always loved and liked playing music but coming up with an album was really tough, I just cannot express my happiness at this moment.” Ciney while in India also passed Western Music Audition by All India Radio. An English teacher in Galaxy Public School, Ciney came to Kathmandu in 2000. She started teaching but music was one thing she could not live without. Courtesy one of her acquaintances, she got an opportunity to sing at Shangrila, where she immediately made lot of fans. Following years, she spent singing at Hotel D ‘l Annapurna in the evening and in the afternoon she had her teaching profession to pursue. “I even used to carry some of children’s notebooks and did correction on their homeworks during break time. People used to laugh. I don’t know whether they could really understand my situation.” Later years, she sang In Rox Restaurant and then in Soaltee.

“I cannot say I didn’t enjoy singing at all these places. After all I earned people who appreciated me and recognised my talent but those were tough days of my life. I was struggling. Money, it’s true that it is not everything, but in the mean time one needs money without which one cannot do anything.” When survival comes at stake, who cares about pursuing hobby? But Ciney didn’t want to live a loser’s life. But, it never rains but it pours! “I lost my mom in between which is the most tragic moment in my life. The memories of those days still haunt me and I feel disappointed that I could not do much for my mother. She was bedridden for long and left us,” it feels like she will almost break out. When Opal International

spotted her, after some formal proceedings, it was an instant deal to do an album. “I am grateful to all those who helped me bring out the album. I had my songs ready, compositions done and was just waiting for a launch.”

Ciney who was popular for singing Shania Twain, Mariah Carey, Shakira and Sheryl Crow to name a few now is making sing others Ciney’s songs. Ciney writes poems and songs, composes herself and sings. Ciney’s album has 10 songs and she says, “All the songs are poetic depiction of my experiences. I am too sensitive to be nudged by anything.” While there are romantic songs in the album, “Hamro Nepal” is a song with patriotic essence whereas

“Vishwoma Shanti” is an urge for peace. “I still have to do a lot,” she sighs. Now Ciney stays with her father. Her brother is still in India. “My dad is diabetic and so was my mom. I have to get my dad’s eye operation done very soon so I am unable to concentrate on anything — particularly music,” she gushes as she seems to remember her mother again. Any plans to form a band along with his brother who is also a musician? “Don’t know... haven’t thought about it. But one thing is true, there exists the god who gives us power at the time when you are low, He leads us when we are going astray and He shows us the right path. The only thing that we need is perseverance, honesty and consistency,” Ciney talks philosophical.