"I think if we can aware people for social issues, education, health and other global issues through music would be a great achievement for a musician. We can also empower people through music. I would like to do the same way. For me satisfaction is key to a well lived."

Prakash Slim: Namaste Blues ...8000 Miles to the Crossroads

Ram Prakash Pokharel aka Prakash Slim was born mired deep in the blues. Born in a small village in Nepal, his father died at the age of twenty nine, leaving his mother with three children to raise on her own. Slim started hearing old blues records when he was a child, and he first played music by drumming on a set of gallon water jugs, and he would sing to the beat all damn day. Sometimes he almost drove his mother crazy. Due to his difficult childhood growing up in dire poverty, Slim is died in the wool bluesman. He’s been playing and teaching blues for a long time. For over twelve years he played lead, rhythm, bass as well as vocalist for various bands through out Nepal. After completing serious blues research with the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund in Mississippi and going through blues mentorship training with blues, jazz pioneer T. J Wheeler, he totally shifted to country blues style. He is a member of the International Singer and Songwriters Association, Georgia, USA.                 (Prakash Slim / Photo © by Lance Bowman & Kat McNeill)

Prakash Slim is honored with "International Ambassador of The Blues" from Sacramento Blues Society / California, and honored with "Blues Ambassador and Keeper of the Music Tradition" from Granite State Blues Society, New Hampshire. Prakash Slim's debut album titled “Country Blues from Nepal” (2022), on DeVille Records. His new 12-tracks album "8000 Miles To The Crossroads" - produced by Grammy winning Michael Freeman - will be released on Aug 23rd by Blue Point Records. Prakash Slim says: "We had two days recording session at Sam Phillips Studios in Memphis. Johnny Burgin has played electric guitar with wonderful solo and Michael Freeman  played drums. Scott Bomar was engineer at Sam Phillips. Lance Bowman and Stephanie Tice created a great environment at studio with a lot of encouragement and motivational words. Henry Jones helped me writing words. Because of these awesome people “8000 Miles To The Crossroads” has been succeed. I really feel fortunate to get an opportunity to record at legendary Sam Phillips Studio and it's a history itself."

Interview by Michael Limnios                 Prakash Slim, 2019 Interview @ blues.gr

How do you think that you have grown as an artist since you first started making music?

Well, I think even a small thing we learn is helpful for us. When I started making music I was just like a soft (raw) clay. I would know theoretical stuffs but gradually I learnt their application. Certainly, I got muscle memory more developed by the time passing.  I played different styles of music such as Blues Rock, Nepali, Indian, instrumental and so on.. but most important thing for me is that to know what style/genre suits or sinks to me. Now I think Country Delta Blues really sinks me and this is my style, so I feel I have been growing day by day.

What has remained the same about your music-making process?

I write words and make tunes (rhythm and groves) separately, after completion of writing words I usually try to fit music and words together. So this process has remained the same  about my making music process.

What musicians have continued  to inspire you and your music?

I think all the country delta blues musicians have continued to inspire me and my music.

What has made you laugh and what touched you from your tour and trip in the USA?

Wherever I go and perform, I meet wonderful people and they always appreciate my work and that's what every musician wants, and it really touches my heart. My good friends Lance Bowman and Kat McNeill helped me touring all over the country for over 5 months and Lance and I travelled together many places. It really touches my heart and I'll always be grateful for their invaluable support.

"Yes, there is an audience for blues in every part of the world but your music should be pure, lyrical content must be authentic and realistic. It's great history and culture by African American from the roots in African tradition, African - American work songs, spirituals. We can aware future generation and audiences through blues." (Prakash Slim / Photo © by Sujan Khanal)

Currently you’ve one release with Johnny Burgin and Michael Freeman. How did that relationship come about?

Well, I connected with Johnny and Michael through Facebook about five -six years ago. Both of them are my good friends. I've been requesting Michael if there is any way that if he could help me. Few years ago, he had told me that he could help me when the time comes. Johnny has been hoping since my US tour. I opened for him, played together and he helped me getting solo gigs as well. In 2021, I was on No Border Blues Podcast which was produced and hosted by Stephanie Tice and Johnny. Stephanie is also my good friend. Just before a week of my US tour, I got a message from Stephanie that Michael wants to record a song with me. I was shocked and told her that would be my fortune to work with a legend. After two days, I got another message from Stephanie that I need to prepare three or four songs. And the other day I got another message from Stephanie that Michael wants to record an album but before that he wants to listen. I told her that I need to write songs because I didn't have more than three songs. Stephanie told me that you can write while you on the road. I came in the US on April 4, 2023. My good friend and US sponsor Lance Bowman was at the airport to pick me up. Finally, we met and stayed in hotel  for a night and went to Johnny and Stephanie's home  for a week or so. During that time I was busy writing songs and making music. Magically, I finished writing eight songs on April 8. We had a zoom meeting with Michael on April 9 and he loved my songs and fixed the recording dates for new project.

Do you have any interesting stories about the making of the new album 8000 Miles To The Crossroads at the legendary Sam Phillips Recording Studio, Memphis TN?

We had two days recording session at Sam Phillips Studios in Memphis. Johnny has played electric guitar with wonderful solo and Michael played drums for my new cd. Scott Bomar was recording engineer at Sam Phillips. Lance and Stephanie created a great environment at studio with a lot of encouragement and motivational words. Henry Jones helped me writing words. Because of these awesome people “8000 Miles To The Crossroads” has been succeed. I really feel fortunate to get an opportunity to record at legendary Sam Phillips Studio and it's a history itself.

"Wherever I go and perform, I meet wonderful people and they always appreciate my work and that's what every musician wants, and it really touches my heart. My good friends Lance Bowman and Kat McNeill helped me touring all over the country for over 5 months and Lance and I travelled together many places. It really touches my heart and I'll always be grateful for their invaluable support." (Prakash Slim / Photo © by Stephanie Tice & Goinyk Volodymyr)

What's the balance in music between technique (skills) and soul/emotions?Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues?

Definitely, there should be a balance between muscle memory and soul. If you do not have skills you can't feel the musical pain what your emotions are trying to say. I think we can empower and educate people through the blues. Blues is more than music. It's a sacred boon to the world by African American people. It's a great culture, that's why it is so important to preserve and spread the blues.

Do you think there is an audience for blues music in its current state? or at least a potential for young people to become future audiences and fans?

Yes, there is an audience for blues in every part of the world but your music should be pure, lyrical content must be authentic and realistic. It's great history and culture by African American from the roots in African tradition, African - American work songs, spirituals. We can aware future generation and audiences through blues.

Life is more than just music, is there any other field that has influence on your life and music?

I never thought that I would go in other field, but humanity and morality always been influenced me and my music.

What are some of most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music path?

The most important lessons I think are passion, devotion and patience. If we have a passion and devotion we can get success and satisfaction in our career.

If you had a question you would like to ask another musician what would it be?

If I had a question, I'd like to ask is there anything that can replace music in their life?

"I write words and make tunes (rhythm and groves) separately, after completion of writing words I usually try to fit music and words together. So this process has remained the same  about my making music process. I think all the country delta blues musicians have continued to inspire me and my music." (Prakash Slim, Nepal 2021 / Photo © by Adam Kennedy)

Your debut album released by DeVille Records (Luxembourg, France) in Europe. How did that relationship come about?

Well, I and my good friend Carl Wyatt from France first met about years ago on Facebook. We started talking and would talk almost everyday and I was learning many things from him. I didn't have a well device to edit my video stuffs and do other things so he would help me in each and everything's. One day, I told him that I have a dream of releasing an album and he said he will help me releasing my cd. He said he will do mixing and his drummer called Yves DeVille has a label “DeVille Records” and studio in Luxembourg. Carl added we will do mastering there and cd will be out from this label. Carl he has been helping continuously. He is a true friend. I love him and so grateful for his friendship.

Do you have any interesting stories about the making the 2022 album “Country Blues From Nepal”?

Well, I think the whole process of making an album could be an interesting story. I would write words and send to my friend Henry Jones in USA for editing, phrasing etc... Henry and I became friends few years back through Facebook. I asked him for helping me to write the words. So he helped me writing words amazingly. As Carl's suggestion, one day I went to a studio in Nepal and recorded songs during pandemic and sent to Carl for mixing. I also met Fabrizio Poggi, a great Italian harp player and his wife Angela. I found they are so supportive and we did a collaboration too. I asked Angela to ask to Fabrizo to play harmonica in some of my songs and she told me to send a WAV files for recording harmonica. I played at some of the major blues festivals virtually during this time and featured / interviewed for some major blues publications. Some of my songs got on the radios in USA, Canada, Australia, Europe, UK and in some other countries and got some good recognition as well. Last year I met Adam Kennedy and got opportunity to feature in his virtual photography project. Those things helped me a lot and encouraged me to do an album. Because of pandemic there was ups and downs and we stopped several times. We had a technical issues and financial lack, and I got depressed too. Yves mastered my cd and helped us amazingly. Without his support my album wouldn't be on DeVille Records. It's been two years we have been working on cd and because of Carl, his team, Lance and Kat's continuous efforts and support we are on this stage of “Country Blues From Nepal”. Isn't it interesting?

"Well I don't know much but I think we must preserve the traditional music styles and their history, without it we will lose our own history. Music have no boundaries so we can preserve it from any corner in the world. I think music industry plays the vital to preserve the culture and tradition.  If we do not preserve our traditional culture and styles we may lose it soon and there won't be nothing to show the later generation of music." (Prakash Slim / Photo © by Lance Bowman & Kat McNeill)

What has been the hardest obstacle for you to overcome as a person and as artist and has this helped you become a better blues musician?

You know I was born in the small village where people wouldn't know little about music and wouldn't support artists. I still remember that I didn't have money to buy a $15 guitar. I would go to school, where had a mats made of straw instead of bench and desks. People would laugh seeing me play guitar. So I think economic depression and social circumstances have been hardest obstacle for me to overcome as a person and as artist. Indeed, I have a passion of music and I would think that I will try to be a good bluesman and it is helping me to do a better everyday.

What moment changed your life the most ? What's been the highlights in your life and career so far ?

Well there are some moments that changed my life and career. When I met my mentor Mr. C.B Chhetri in around 2000 A.D. I learnt music (mainly theory) with him and he offered me to join his band and then I started my musical career professionally. This was a great moment for me. In 2017 I met a friend called Fred Love from Tennessee on Facebook, who gifted me a guitar and some slides. That was the highlighting point of my career because after that I could start playing country blues on resonator guitar using slides. Then after a few months I met my mentor, a good friend blues jazz pioneer Mr. T.J Wheeler and Dr. T.D Moore, director of Mt. Zion Memorial Fund, Mississippi. I believe that was really a most important moment of my career when I officially started researching in blues and completed blues mentorship training under T.J Wheeler through Mt. Zion with the help of Dr. Moore. That was the time I totally shifted to the country blues style. For me, another great moment of my career is to connect with my true friend Carl Wyatt, without him it wouldn't be possible to think about an album on international label. While I was playing for CAN'T STOP THE BLUES, I met my true friends Lance Bowman and Kat McNeill and they have been supporting me financially and morally for my career and other areas of my life. I truly believe they have been changing my personal life and career so far. I am so grateful for Carl, Lance and Kat's friendship and love them so much.

How do you want the music to affect people ? What do you think is key to a well lived ?                                 (Ram Prakash Pokharel aka Prakash Slim, Lalitpur, Nepal 2020)

I think if we can aware people for social issues, education, health and other global issues through music would be a great achievement for a musician. We can also empower people through music. I would like to do the same way. For me satisfaction is key to a well lived.

"The most important lessons I think are passion, devotion and patience. If we have a passion and devotion we can get success and satisfaction in our career."

Artist and labels will have to adapt to the new changes. What your predictions for the music industry ? How do you think the music industry will adapt to it ?

Well I don't know much but I think we must preserve the traditional music styles and their history, without it we will lose our own history. Music have no boundaries so we can preserve it from any corner in the world. I think music industry plays the vital to preserve the culture and tradition. If we do not preserve our traditional culture and styles we may lose it soon and there won't be nothing to show the later generation of music.

Prakash Slim Blues - Home