Shweta Punjali

Shweta Punjali is a Nepali musician, well known for her debut album Udaan a number of songs from which were nominated at various national music awards. She is also the winner of the Best New Talent award at the 2016 Nepali Music Video Award and was a nominee for Best Newcomer at the 2015 Tuborg Image Awards.

She sings primarily Nepali Adhunik, a style of singing marked by traditional melodies from the South Asian nation but with an influence of western instruments such as electric piano, guitar, violin and percussion. She also sings bhajan and Nepali classical songs.

Shweta was also a top contestant on a number of national music reality shows Nepali Tara (second season) and Bagina.

Singing style and training

Shweta Punjali is primarily a Nepali Adhunik (Nepali modern/contemporary) singer and her songs generally use western musical instruments such as the keyboard, guitar, violin and percussion.

In addition to singing in Nepali language, she also sings religious (bhajans) and classical Hindi, Bengali and Pakistani Punjabi and Urdu songs. She also sings western pop and Indipop.

She has trained under the highly respected music teacher Gurudev Kamat at the Nepal Music Centre in both classical and contemporary styles of Nepali singing.

Shweta was eliminated at rank 7, becoming just one of three female singers to reach the top-10 and the highest ranked female singer that year.

Singing

Debut album – Udaan

On 4 April 2015, Shweta Punjali launched her debut album Udaan (translated: Taking Flight) in the Nepal capital Kathmandu's Theatre Village. The album was launched by renowned singer Deep Shrestha and the event was attended by the who's who of Nepal's music scene.

The album was also simultaneously launched on iTunes Store, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, Deezer and other online music stores. Udaan was also the first mainstream Nepali music album (fully produced in Nepal) to be released online to a global audience.

Udaan includes six songs, all of which are written by noted Nepali poet Durga Lal Shrestha and composed by master composer Nhyoo Bajracharya.

Shweta won the Best New Talent award at the 2016 edition of Nepali Music Video Award for her song Achamma Lagyo Malai from Udaan.

Second album

In October 2015, Shweta Punjali announced that she was working on her second album, which would include songs written by Durga Lal Shrestha and Nepali poet and philosopher Viplob Pratik, and music composed by Nhyoo Bajracharya.

Some of the songs featuring in this album include Aau Na Aau, Maile Palasha and Dekhnu Timilai.

Singles

Shweta Punjali has also released few singles by herself or in collaboration with other artists and musicians. Two prominent singles include: Sanchi Mero, a bhajan-inspired song, written by Ratna Shamsher Thapa and composed by Prabhu Raj Dhakal; and Ko Pase Chha, written by Gita Pantha and composed by Deepak Jangam. Connecticut State, United States of America, and performed with musicians such as Nhyoo Bajracharya and singers like Babu Bogati.

Discography and awards

Kasto Bhet

Best Newcomer (Nominated, 2015 Tuborg Image Music Award)