A Nepali-American Folk Fusion Band
Himalayan Highway, formed in Kathmandu, Nepal in 2022, is an instrumental folk fusion band that blends Nepali folk music with American Bluegrass and Old-Time traditions. The group came together when American mandolinist Zoe Levitt and Nepali sarangi player Prince Nepali met in Kathmandu and discovered their shared passion for traditional music. Joined by Anish Tamang on guitar and Yuson Maharjan on percussion, the band explores the surprising tonal and rhythmic similarities between these seemingly distant musical cultures.
Since their formation, Himalayan Highway has been an active part of Kathmandu's vibrant music scene, performing at local venues and major festivals including Jazzmandu and Echoes in the Valley, and hosting Nepal's first Bluegrass Festival. Their journey has been one of cultural exchange and musical exploration, bringing the sounds of the Appalachian mountains to the Himalayas and vice versa. Their upcoming debut album, supported by a grant from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Foundation's Arnold Shultz fund, aims to capture this unique fusion of sounds. Through their music, Himalayan Highway hopes to showcase the universal language of folk traditions and the beauty that emerges when diverse musical cultures intertwine.
Press
“A hot mix of Nepali and bluegrass tunes that’s creating quite a buzz.” — Bluegrass Today
“A fresh spin on traditional tunes, with infectious harmonies and catchy beats.” — Nepali Times
“A for cultural conversation not just with words but with sound.” — Himalayan Times
Bios
Prince Nepali
Born into the Gandharba folk music tradition of Nepal, Prince Nepali is the fourth generation in his family to play the sarangi—a unique bowed instrument from Nepal. He began playing music at the age of four under the tutelage of his father, renowned sarangi recording artist Shyam Nepali, and quickly developed his own distinctive style. Prince has integrated the sarangi into various musical genres, including jazz, Irish fiddling, and singer-songwriters. He performs regularly with internationally acclaimed artists such as Bipul Chettri, Ani Choying Drolma (a UNICEF National Ambassador), and Deepak Bajracharya. His performances have graced stages worldwide, including in Australia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Japan. In addition to performing, Prince is a sought-after sarangi instructor and music educator, teaching early music education at the Kevin Rohan Memorial Eco Foundation. He is also the founder and director of Sarangi Ghar, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and showcasing sarangi music globally.
Zoe Levitt
Currently splitting her time between Boston and Kathmandu, Zoe Levitt grew up immersed in bluegrass and folk music in Cambridge, Massachusetts, attending summer bluegrass festivals throughout New England. Her passion for various forms of folk music led her to begin songwriting in 2020 under the mentorship of Celia Woodsmith of Della Mae. In 2022, after graduating from MIT with a degree in Geology—a journey profiled by MIT News—Zoe decided to pursue music and songwriting full-time. She received an MIT Eloranta Fellowship to explore traditional music in Nepal, where she lived for two years, deeply immersing herself in the local music scene. Zoe discovered a remarkable kinship between American bluegrass and traditional Nepali music, which is being revitalized by a talented group of young Nepali musicians. She was awarded Club Passim’s Iguana Fund scholarship at Miles of Music camp and has performed at venues such as Club Passim, MIT, Berklee College of Music, and throughout Nepal as a singer-songwriter and with her band, Himalayan Highway. Zoe also teaches mandolin, guitar, and singing at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival and Joe Val Bluegrass Festival Kids Academies.
Anish Tamang
A rising multi-instrumentalist, producer, and session artist in Kathmandu's music scene, Anish Tamang is a self-taught musician who began playing guitar at the age of five. He adeptly navigates various genres, including Korean classical, jazz, gospel, R&B, and indie music. Anish has performed with renowned artists such as Shyam Nepali, Ani Choying Drolma, and Anil Shahi. He served as the music director and audio engineer for Psalms Unplugged, a Nepali Christian project fostering collaboration among Nepalese Christian worship leaders, vocalists, worship teams, and bands. As a sought-after composer, arranger, and recording artist, Anish is dedicated to reinventing Nepali folk music for younger and international audiences.
Yuson Maharjan
Yuson Maharjan is a passionate and experienced percussionist skilled in instruments such as the Indian tabla, Nepali madal, dhimey, khin, and Western cymbals. He excels at infusing intricate, soulful Asian percussion into diverse genres, including classical, jazz, folk, rock, and Arabic music. Yuson performs with traditional sitar musicians and contemporary bands like Vairabi, The Triplets, and Ashish Maharjan's Essence, and formerly with Lakhey. He has collaborated with artists such as Albatross, Diwas Gurung, and Singapore’s Tropic Greens. His international performances include appearances in Germany and India. Yuson holds a master's degree in tabla performance from Tribhuvan University and teaches percussion to students worldwide. He currently serves as a tabla instructor at the Modern Indian School in Kathmandu, Nepal.
