Shah’s musical career started when she was in her mid-teens. “But I have loved music since the time I was very young. I think music has been inherently associated with my being,” says Shah. “Singing is my passion. I think God provides everyone with an exclusive talent at birth; and I’ve been blessed with the ability to sing.”

She has witnessed many changes in the way music used to be made way back then and now.

“Back in those days, folk songs popular in a certain region were only limited to that  region. If you went to another region, there would be completely different kinds of songs being sung. But now music is not confined by borders. The music scene has undergone a revolution thanks to technology.”

In her village of Raatmate, Dhading, Shah would sing for her family members every chance she would get. She would hum songs even while doing household chores.

“I would have to perform all the work that you’d expect a village

kid to do. Providing fodder for

cattle, planting crops and so on. But in the midst of all these activities,

I would still find time for myself

that I would devote exclusively to music,” says Shah.

During her school days, Shah was a regular participant at the

school’s weekly music contests. In 1990, she won a singing contest

at her high school and that was when she realised that she could make a living as a singer.  

After completing her SLC from a local school, she came to Kathmandu for higher studies; she also figured that she could use the opportunity to explore a career in singing.

The Capital had a lot in store for the budding singer. One day, she learned that Radio Nepal would be holding a music contest. Back then, Radio Nepal was the only place for aspiring singers to get a break.  So she decided to give it a shot. “At the audition, I sang Simsime Pani Ma. The song’s folk lyrics, funky rhythm and catchy beat instantly caught the judges’ attention and I ended up as the competition winner.”

The song went on to become an instant hit when it was aired on Radio Nepal.

“That was a totally unexpected success. I knew I had given my best, but the response it got was simply overwhelming,” says Shah.

Shah also won the Chhinnalata Puraskar for the song, becoming the youngest ever to receive the award. But before she could make further inroads in the music industry, she fell ill and could not continue making music. She made her comeback in 2009, with the album Rekha-The Line. It was received well by listeners.

Over the years, Rekha has re-invented herself and her music time and again. She started out as a folk artist, morphed into an adhunik singer and now weaves both folk and adhunik elements in her songs.

Shah has put out three solo albums till date—Rekha-The Line (2009), Smriti (2010) and Aakriti (2012)—which include popular numbers

such as Mai Jani Aaucha, Timilai Kehi, Pokhu Bhane, Tasveer Matra, Hijo Samjhi, Maya Garne Haru, Chati Bhari Timrai and  Yo Manche Manche.

Shah, who has worked with many Nepali artists in the past, is now all set to record a duet with Indian singer Gaurav Dagaonkar. She will also be appearing in the music video of the song, which will be shot in different parts of Nepal.