In the Nepali music scene, sustaining one signature sound can be quite a task. But doing so when the band members themselves are scattered in three different locations can be next to impossible. However, Bypass has defied all odds and remains solid even after twelve years.

Bypass started with six members: Bruno, Yoshi, Peter, Axel, Suman and Srijan, but today the band has been  reduced to three: Bruno, Suman and Srijan. It was Bruno and Srijan’s friendship that first brought the band together and they released their first album in 1995. Although the band scattered after their first album, a few of their songs are still being covered by new musicians. Aastha covered the song Timi Aunu and Prallen from Catch-22 did a Sinatra-esque nostalgic take on the love song Andhere.

But 12 years on, the first album still remains a mystery to most of the public. But the three remaining members did not let this get in the way of their love for music. Instead, Bruno, all the way from San Fransisco, decided to make his career as a software engineer a second priority while Suman, an eye-surgeon in Kathmandu, decided to pick up his guitar for a second time. Together with Srijan, in Dharan, they decided to release a second album, Bypass II.

And their sound is as eclectic as the group, because the band members have different interests, different careers, and live in different locations. Bruno is more interested in rock music, while both Suman and Srijan are into blues and jazz.

“I feel more comfortable singing the blues because of the freedom it gives to my voice. And although there are disagreements about our sound occasionally, they help make us more communicative,” says Suman.

The band’s take on music is different as well. Bruno has studied music formally and so is more involved in the technical aspect of their sound; Srijan is more of a professional musician and the composer in the band, while Suman simply says he loves music, disregarding notations and theories. The difference of personalities only adds to the unpredictability of Bypass’ sound.

The other glaring difference between Bypass and other run-of-the-mill bands is how they manage to cope with the distance. They mix their music over the internet, and communicate via e-mails. Bruno occasionally organises a conference call to talk about their music. But they don’t practice, don’t sing their songs to each other, and they seldom stay together for five days even for a live performance. It’s quite amazing how three people with such diverse backgrounds, interests and locations, have come together to support and make music. It shows how much passion they have for the music that they make and how distance can easily be overcome, if one just tries hard enough.

There are still minor setbacks, like finding a drummer and bass player, and of course, finding a niche in the Nepali community slewed by music both good and bad. But, even more than their music, it is the band’s cooperation and zeal that makes them standout. Bypass already occupies a special place in Nepal’s expanding music gallery, by showing all of us that distances can melt and jobs be forgotten for music’s sake.

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