A Dirty Dozen with KSHITIZ MOKTAN from CHEPANG – April 2025

According to a recent press release: “Relapse Records welcomes blistering grindcore force CHEPANG with their label debut, Jhyappa, set for release on May 23rd. Hailing from Queens, New York, by way of Kathmandu, Nepal, CHEPANG has never been your by-the-numbers band. They dub their music “immigrindcore” and use samples from Nepali pop songs. They sing in Nepali. They embrace their immigrant identities. CHEPANG melds these elements together into an album about self-immolation as a means of self-preservation. Jhyappa touches on these philosophies through a ferocious grindcore attack that sounds as violent as the means through which the band wishes to achieve redemption. True to that mentality, CHEPANG has played the world over on the backs of their prior records. From playing Obscene Extreme in Czechia to tearing down the walls at Baltimore Soundstage as part of Maryland Deathfest, the band is poised to revisit the world-over once again with their unique grind.” We get guitarist Kshitiz to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

There is an underlying focus on groove to this record that was never there for previous chepang records in our discography. No hidden nuggets tbh, it’s a groove oriented straight to the point grind record.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I think during my teenage years I started listening to punk fast music and then the passion to find more extreme versions led to me where I am. I don’t think I consider myself a musician but rather consider myself as a song writer. I have no knowledge of how to read music.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

It’s a mix of diverse musicians and bands across all genres. It’s too hard to count. If we stay specific to this new album, this album was mostly influenced by Japanese grind bands such as Force & Multiplex mixed with groovier Sepultura records such as Chaos AD & Roots.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Max Cavalera since he has been a big influence since my childhood not only with his music but who he is as a person. Looks like he is real chill dude.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

Explore and eat at various spots. That’s literally all of us when we tour, we are looking at what restaurants we should hit to eat out.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Misanthropic Chaos is the term I would use to describe our music. Very abstract yet with a focus and intensity delivered with utmost power and energy. Hmm never had that cringe moment or disagreement. Music is abstract at the end and it’s up to the listener on how they want to relate to it. There is no right or wrong, it differs with each individual.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Our vocalist Bhotey Gore – he is chef by profession, so cooking is his passion. As for the drinks everyone. We actually never do sort of hanging out and playing acoustic guitar songs, we barely hang anyways due to work and life.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I have never experienced this.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

Like I said, I am not a musician so I would not know this. And music, not my job, is more of a passion and hobby and gives me happiness in creating it.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

What do you think when you are playing live music on stage? Is there something you are thinking? Personally, I am happy with all the questions I have answer to.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

No Regrets. Even if it’s a misstep or accident , it’s a happy accident and part of the creation process. We call it evolution and we are happy where we are.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Sepultura – Chaos AD. It showed how heavy and groovy extreme music can date during a time when accessing this sort of music was hard for me growing up in Nepal. It was a mix of both Punk Energy but groove metal that was something that was very refreshing.

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Category: Interviews