When Sushant Ghimire was in grade three, a teacher encouraged him to perform on stage during a Parents’ Day function. He sang Raju Lama’s ‘Timi Lai Dekhera’, making him a crowd favourite at school and in his neighbourhood. Soon, he was invited to sing at deusi bhailo programmes and other events in his locality.

That was when Ghimire first realised he had a knack for singing. From that moment, his passion for music only deepened.

Growing up in Biratnagar, he often spent evenings on the balcony during load-shedding hours, relishing the cool breeze. Imagining himself performing on stage, he would sing Bollywood songs nonstop for over an hour. The cool breeze and songs became his favourite routine.

Even so, the idea of becoming a professional singer seemed like an unattainable dream—one he never dared to chase.

“The scenario back then was different. Music wasn’t a viable career option for common people like me. Telling my parents I wanted to become a singer would have only burdened them—they wouldn’t have been able to invest in it,” says Ghimire.

Although he loved singing, Ghimire prioritised his education. Believing engineering was his true calling, he treated singing as nothing more than a hobby.

However, Ghimire’s high school friends were pivotal in steering him toward a music career. They often skipped classes to spend entire days jamming together. This phase sparked a strong desire to compose his tunes and write original songs.

By late 2017, Ghimire started performing cover songs and playing gigs at bars while juggling a full-time job at a Chinese construction company. His days were packed—starting work at 8 am, finishing by 5 pm, rushing home to grab his guitar and change clothes. Battling Kathmandu’s infamous evening traffic, he would arrive at the bar just in time to perform.

Reflecting on it, Ghimire says, “Although life was full of hustle, there was a unique kind of joy in that chaos.”

Back home in Chatara, Sunsari, his parents would call him every night. Ghimire would go to a quiet spot, often a toilet, to answer their calls. “I lied every time,” he admits. “When they asked where I was, I’d tell them I was in my room.”

In Chatara, life winds down early, with most people asleep by 8 pm. Ghimire knew his late-night bar gigs wouldn’t be easy to explain. “In a place like Chatara, people would assume I’d strayed from good values and fallen under bad influences,” he says. “So, I didn’t bother telling my parents what I was doing.”

Occasionally, while performing, Ghimire would receive work calls about where to place stones or sand. Though frustrating, he endured these interruptions as he juggled college, his day job, and his growing passion for music.

Then, a turning point came in Ghimire’s life. One day, while jamming to Hindi songs with friends in the year 2017, he caught the attention of Anup Sharma, one of the founders of Mantra Guitars, a new-age musical brand. Sharma approached him and asked if he had any original songs. Ghimire mentioned ‘Pari’, a track he had released earlier. After listening to it, Sharma was impressed.

At the time, Mantra Guitars was preparing for its launch and had set aside five dollars from the sale of each guitar for the Mantra Artist Fund, a programme aimed at supporting emerging artists. As they scouted for the right talent to invest in, they noticed Ghimire and decided he was the perfect choice.

After that, Ghimire met with Mantra Nepal, where they assured him of their support in producing music videos and guiding him through the process. When Ghimire returned from the meeting, it felt surreal. The idea that he could become a singer seemed almost too good to be true.

At the time, he was preparing for his 7th-semester engineering exams. However, after the meeting, he decided to skip the exams and devote himself entirely to singing. That moment and decision changed his life for good.

“Mantra Guitar is no less than a godfather to me. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to pursue my career as a singer. They took care of everything—from studio recordings to video shoots. Sometimes, I wonder what they saw in me to invest. I feel so blessed,” says Ghimire.

Ghimire has released ten songs, but he credits ‘Zindagi Sarara’ for making him a household name. The song, with its catchy lyrics, gained popularity after its release, spreading like wildfire on TikTok and social media reels.

Ghimire shares, “The lyrics I write come from the subconscious part of my mind, shaped by my life experiences and reflections. All the thoughts—positive or negative—that have settled in my subconscious naturally flow into my songwriting.”

Growing up in a modest household, Ghimire witnessed his parents make numerous sacrifices to meet his needs. He experienced hardships, including when his family had to plan their meals and worry about the next day. These struggles, he believes, shaped his outlook on life. The lessons he learned during those tough times are deeply woven into his music and lyrics.

His song ‘Man Chari’ reflects a chapter of his life while working at the construction company. Ghimire connects deeply with the character in the song, who yearns to escape the corporate grind and find freedom. “Just like that character, I, too, wanted to leave that job and break free,” he says.

He adds that ‘Man Chari’ carries a universal message about the times we live in. “Today, we’re all part of a relentless race, chasing material success. But deep down, we all crave an escape—to leave it all behind and live peacefully.”

Currently, Ghimire has more than seventy thousand subscribers on his YouTube channel. He credits platforms like Daraz Mahotsav, Garage Fest, and college events for significantly expanding his audience.

Ghimire recalls an experience, “A few years ago, there was a busking event at Eyeplex Mall. The organisers needed a singer, and when they approached me, I said yes because I also needed an audience. That’s how I got to perform in front of a huge crowd. Opportunities like that have played a big role in helping me gain many listeners.”

Looking ahead, Ghimire hopes to sing for movies and expand his reach. He doesn’t want to limit himself and is eager to explore new opportunities. Having already released two Hindi songs, Ghimire plans to dive deeper into the Hindi music scene. He firmly believes Nepali music can reach global audiences, which is exactly what he aims for with his band, ‘Sushant Ra Raga.’