It would hardly be any exaggeration if one says that there is now career everywhere. If you were to travel five years back in time, there were limited ways of getting into a successful career or to fame. Fast forward 5 years back to where we are today, just about anyone can make it big on social media and immediately kick start their profession. Media is the message, again, to paraphrase media guru Prof Marshall McLuhan.

Take Social Media Entertainers Logan and Jake Paul for example. The Paul brothers gained stardom on the now defunct Vine app. Their six-second viral videos soon evolved into 15 minute daily vlogs (video blogs) on youtube and are gaining hundred thousand subscribers on a day-to-day basis, making their channels the fastest growing family on Youtube. The Paul brothers remind their viewers every day about following their dream, no matter the challenges, and preaching them to venture off the beaten path of society and be their own role model. It makes sense seeing how two years ago, they were just two brothers living in Ohio, attending school and making six-second videos on the internet and now they’ve both founded their own company and are landing roles in major film productions in Hollywood. It’s 2017 and it seems that now, the career is in the air. All one needs is a message to the media.

Nevertheless, regarding the Nepali music industry, career development is yet in the future, although it seems it is not as distant as we may think it is. The Nepali music sector contains very few widely recognized female singers. Among them being Anju Panta whose modern songs are loaded with the messages of love and betrayals. Her concerts and solo events are in great demand in Europe, Australia, and America.

Miss Panta voices her concern about the lack of female musical talent and the need to fill the void. She has said she would be immensely ecstatic if Diaspora Nepali girls fill the emptiness of female voice in Nepali music industry.

When Indu, a Nepali American teen studying in Virginia, asked Anju whether she could inspire Nepalese youngsters into the music industry and convince their parents to consider Nepali music as a path to professionalism, the female heartthrob of Nepali music could not fully convince her.

“But I can tell you that there sure are very few female singers in Nepal and thus there is a market for a career. And you know, the medium is already there. All you need is talent,” Anju said while answering Indu at a press conference which was organized by International Nepalese Artists Society (INAS) and coordinated by Ramesh Mainali to inform Nepali diaspora community members about her upcoming tour to US cities.

“I am sure if there was one from your group, your parents would have been so proud so see me sing along side you and there would come a day when you would go to Nepal and do a solo music concert,” Anju said adding that India was seeing it.

Her first concert is scheduled to be held in Manassas on Sunday, August 13th at 5:30 PM. She will be doing a live show, covering all her hit songs from her debut album in 2017 including contemporary hit Nepali songs, Bhanchhu Aaja, Surke Thaili Khai and Purba Paschim Rail. Miss Panta will also perform in other major cities including New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Denver and in the state of Oregon.

She also said 50% of all proceeds will go directly into the hands of children’s’ education through her charity, Anju Panta Foundation. She’s a big advocate on children’s rights and said she will devote all her time in social services after her music career.

She encouraged everyone to attend her music festival as it might appeal to millennials and inspire them to follow their dream and hopefully draw a new generation of female Nepalese singers. After all, it is 2017.

Thanks to singers like Anju Panta, the Nepalese diaspora can quench their thirst for contemporary Nepali music in the foreign soil where live Nepali Concerts are as rare as a blue moon. Let’s hope Diaspora Nepali talents will come forward, seeing Anju calling them on stage to perform along with her.

Sukriti Sharma studies at West Springfield High School, VA. She can be reached at [email protected]