INTERVIEW: British Nepali Guitarist of SYMBOL OF ORION/GRAVEN IMAGE – Saujan – Tells All

INTERVIEW | Saujan
British Nepali Guitarist
SYMBOL OF ORION | GRAVEN IMAGE

After a weekend of the largest anti-immigrant protests to take place in the UK in decades, we of course present to you a story about an immigrant and his family who moved to the UK 20 years ago and has been ripping it up on stage with bands like GRAVEN IMAGE and SYMBOL OF ORION. Meet our good friend, British-Nepali guitarist Saujan. Almost a week after Nepal went through an immense revolution where martyrs lost their lives for the cause, we thought we’d talk to this quiet master on the guitar. He gets into life in Nepal and immigrating to the UK and getting stabbed.

On a side note, because we can’t just pretend this past weekend wasn’t a shock to many of us, if you live here in the UK, look out for each other out there, protect people who might be targeted for what they wear (hijabs, burqas, shalwar kameez) and the color of their skin. It’s going to be a rough few years for us here in the UK.

Respect.

UA: Thanks for doing this interview! Can you tell everyone your name, what band(s) you play in and what your ethnicity is.
Hello and Namaskar to everyone. My name is Saujan Rai. I sing and play guitar in a metal band Symbol of Orion, and guitar for Graven Image. I am originally from Nepal but have been living in London for the last 20 years.

UA: So now that you’ve been here for 20 years, do you consider yourself British Nepali or still Nepali because you weren’t born and raised here?
My nationality is still Nepali. Even though I was born in Nepal, I consider the English culture as part of me as well because I grew up here, went to school, college, and university here, and built my career here. England gave me my identity. I’d call it British Nepali. The best of both cultures.

UA: Nice! So how old were you when you immigrated over? Do you remember when your parents told you that was happening? That’s a HUGE life change!
I was around 14 when I came to the UK. To be honest, moving here was something most Nepalis foresaw, since many of our fathers served in the British Gurkha Army. Before coming to the UK, we had already lived in Hong Kong, Brunei, and Singapore, so as British Gurkha Nepalis we were quite used to moving wherever our fathers were posted. So, was it a huge life change? Yes and no. It was definitely a big moment for all of us, but at the same time, change is good and this one was for our betterment. “We are going to the UK for your better future” – Dad

“Even though I was born in Nepal, I consider myself part of English culture too, since I grew up here, went to school, college, and university here, and built my career here. England gave me this identity, I’d call it British Nepali. The best of both cultures.”

UA: Respect man. I can’t believe before turning 14 you had already lived in so many countries. That also obviously means that when you lived in Hong Kong, I was there! Hahaha Huge respect to your dad too for being part of the British Gurkha Army. When you arrived here as a 14 year old – what was that experience like? Where did you all first live and what was the school experience like?
Haha defo! We must have been around Hong Kong at the same time for sure. HK is a special place for me as a kid, and my sister was also born there. And thank you for honouring my father. Respect to you, too, brother, for doing this.

I was a teenager when I got here and was sort of familiar with British culture hearing from my farther and so I felt like I transitioned pretty quickly. I live in Ruislip, West London now, and I’ve been here since then with my family. I went to a local school here called Rooksheath. It wasn’t great and it wasn’t bad, it was normal. It was a diverse school, so I guess I kinda fit in with everyone.

UA: Yeah that’s the beauty of this city – just how diverse the city is. Once you arrived here who were the people you connected with the most at school/life? Us immigrants and world travellers tend to find each other because we seem to understand each other’s life experiences best.
Yes sir, this city London is a special place, you meet everyone here. I’m sure you’ve felt it too.

Honestly, at school I connected with most students and with local kids too. I feel back then everyone was friendly to each other, no phones, no social media, straight up real friendships. And as you said we tend to find like minded people and here we are talking and sharing about our life and experience.

UA: Sick – in terms of you getting into guitar and heavy music specifically – where/when/how did you get into it?
I started playing guitar around 02-03 when Nepal went through a Maoist Movement and all schools were closed for weeks and months. So since I had nothing much to do, I picked up a guitar to learn. My uncle wrote me some Major and Minor chords, and that’s how it all began. Nepal always had a healthy underground metal and punk scene. And the majority of guys were into it. I used to borrow cassettes from my neighbour’s brother who had a big collection of metal, rock and punk cassettes. You name it, he had it. He probably had a couple hundred cassettes. His room was full of band posters. It influenced me a lot to why I listen and play metal now.

UA: So you got into it in Nepal. What were those early bands that grabbed you? And what about them got you?
Back then in Nepal you’d listen to everything and anything I just wanted to play metal because it sounded good to me. It was the heavy guitar sound that I liked. In terms of bands I was listening to basic bands Metallica, Iron Maiden, Cradle of Filth, Linkin Park, Korn just what everyone was listening to then.

UA: Yeah – most Nepalis I know LOVE their metal! What was the first riff you learned to play? And how soon after picking up the guitar did you start playing in bands? What was your first band like?
Yeah, metal was very popular in Nepal back then and still is with other new genres and underground scenes. The first riff I was taught by my uncle was Metallica’s Unforgiven 2 – the clean guitar plucking part. And I would say prob around 06 I started to play in a band. It wasn’t like a metal or a rock band, it was more of a band suited for functions and we would play during festival parties within Nepali communities. In-terms of real band – Symbol of Orion is my first real metal band since 09 and it’s still going on.

UA: That’s cool you had an uncle who was a metalhead! Makes it seem so generational in your family. Did you have any push back from your parents like many of us desis? Hahaha
Yeah my uncle was prob around 18-19 y/o then and it was the perfect age for me to get involved with the older generation in music. He taught me guitar and my neighbor’s older brother that lives next to my house in Nepal gave me access to his metal, rock and punk cassettes. I’m sure you’re aware since you lived in HK, a lot of Nepalese love their metal and punk bands.

Tbh my parents were pretty okay for me to do music but I know what you mean. A lot of my Nepali musicians friends have now completely stopped playing due to family pressure – it’s like “you gotta work first” or “drug addicts play metal music or play guitar” so it was kinda of a taboo and our parents also had the same perspective that only “bad” people play guitar or listen to metal music. Overall my parents were okay. They didn’t say “NO”, they were supportive throughout and even bought me my first Flying V on my 15th birthday. For them it was more of don’t do drugs and don’t waste your time.

UA: That’s sick that you got a Flying V from your parents! So coming over to the UK how did you find your way into Symbol of Orion and then eventually into Graven Image as well.
Yeah it was a cheap unknown Flying V that I saw at a small music shop. We Symbol guys already knew each other, our parents knew each other too from their military days in HK or Brunei or the UK. We all met here as teenagers and eventually decided to form a band and play metal. And with Graven Image, I’d say it was fated to happen. I first met Charlie years ago in a gig. I started to record Symbol with him and eventually started to work in his studio, Monolith, where I met the rest of the guys. It was Charlie who bought us all together and the man behind the genesis of Graven Image.

UA: Oh so Symbol is a band full of immigrants or children of immigrants?
Yes we are, most of us migrated or settled here for betterment after our father’s retirement from British Gurkha Army. Now my parents are back home as they have fully retired and Yes we are children of immigrants.

UA: That’s fucking amazing – do the lyrics talk about these types of experiences?
Not really, we thought of it but never got around to put down into a song. No reason haha…

UA: Cool cool – to wrap this up, with all the bullshit far right going crazy right now – do you have any instances of racism that you or family members have faced?
Yes I have many times and by many nationals and my parents I don’t think they understand racism fully they are simple people. When I was young I would fight back names calling like “Chinese” or “DVD” to the point where I got stabbed, I was prob around 18-19 y/o but now I just walk away and laugh I find racism funny now. Racism, discrimination it’s everywhere and in every society and I’m sure one must have experienced it once in their lifetime, it’s not a nice feeling.

UA: You got stabbed?
Saujan: It was name calling and talking shit which led to a gang fight. 

UA: What does “DVD” mean? And you got stabbed!?
Haha back then we had Chinese people selling DVDs on the streets, the old school way, so they thought we were Chinese too here and called us “DVD”.

It was name calling and talking shit which led to a gang fight. We were playing basketball at the park and this dude out of nowhere just started taunting us by calling us Chinese. It was 6-7 of us Nepalese guys against the rest of them including dogs. There were about 10 of them. We Nepalese guys – we mind our own business, we respect everyone but when someone disrespects us we don’t take it nicely.

Trust me bro we Nepalese in the UK have dealt with a lot of shit. Eventually you know we respect everyone. There was a lot of discrimination in the army too, and there still is. The most racism and discrimination happens in the military lol.

UA: Any last words to your Nepalese brethren in Nepal during this tense time?
Be strong and this is not the first time, we need to fight till every corrupter and corruption has been pulled out. Not just for my Nepalese brothers and sisters, I say it to everyone around the world to fight for right and peace. Namaste.