Immolation as Preservation: Kshitiz Moktan of Chepang discusses 'Jhyappa' LP

Interview by Parisa

Photo by Steklovata Inc.

In their latest album Jhyappa, New York-based “immigrindcore” group Chepang takes an introspective turn, exploring themes of inner peace through the lens of Nepali philosophical traditions and blistering grindcore. In this email interview, we caught up with guitarist Kshitiz Moktan to discuss their music as a means of meditation, realization, and self-preservation. 

​Your new album, Jhyappa, musically calls back to the style of your first EP, but lyrically it marks new territory by exploring themes of inner peace and self-reflection. What have the past two years since your last release looked like for you—creatively or otherwise—that inspired this more introspective direction?

The last 2 years have been all about self-realization and really understanding ourselves and what we want to do with music and life in general. As we mature as humans this is I think a natural progression. Sometimes this search leads you to places where you have been before and which is why this record led to our first EP and felt natural to head to that direction naturally.


In the liner notes, you describe the album as exploring 'self-immolation as a means of self-preservation.' It’s such an intense, seemingly paradoxical yet profound idea — to me, it evokes notions of non-attachment or ego dissolution as a means of liberation. Is that what you were drawing from, or is there another philosophical influence behind that theme? And generally, what does self-immolation mean to you in terms of creating art?

That is so true what you think it is . And that is where this influence comes from. We are from Nepal, where a lot of this philosophy is in our culture. A lot of newer generations do not understand this, however what is to note is that there are sciences and hard data that prove that us (Nepalese) have this spirituality ingrained in us, even if it's subconsciously. In terms of creating art , this actually has been ongoing in every record we have done where we have liberated ourselves from this paradox of certain musical genres or grindcore music in general. However what is noted is that Jhyappa we actually now speak about it .


While the album does explore more personal topics, it also doesn’t stray away from politically-charged themes, i.e. the sample in “Khel” features former Prime Minister KP Oli discussing power dynamics. Can you talk on the significance of staying rooted in political discourse and how it ties back into the idea of self-preservation? 

A lot of people really now are influenced by what they see in front of them without really knowing themselves and what they want. There are powers outside of our powers who are controlling us, be it politicians to religion, self-realization and self-preservation, especially in these times, is very important. Sometimes with this said, it does feel like "Khel" aka "Game" where us humans are always challenged with what's going around us and the need to win becomes even further important.
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Some of the lyrics explore meditation as a path to ultimate truths. Can you elaborate on this in terms of your music as a means of meditation? Chepang’s fast and brutal sound might not be what one traditionally associates with meditation - but does that intensity help you access insight in a different way?

Yes it does, intensity is just what you heard in the. music but you really play close attention, this is actually sort of meditative art for us. We are in a state of trance where we have nothing but spirit and spiritual world ahead of us while playing this music.


Beyond the themes, let’s discuss the production and making-of this record. You all got signed to Relapse Records (congrats!). Did that have much of an impact on how the record came together logistically?

None, the record was already written before the signing to Relapse Records. And we are very lucky to be in a label like Relapse where we can connect to more people with our introspective music.


The term ‘Jhyappa’ is slang in Nepalese that means ‘complete a work in an immediate manner’. It’s evident that there’s a really compelling tension between immediacy and vision in this album’s process. What does the idea of ‘jhyappa’ say overall about the ethos of the band, or perhaps that of ‘immigrindcore’ in general?

Immigrindcore really does not mean anything except us being immigrants and playing grindcore music. "Jhyappa" is fitting for this record as we felt like this record was a completed work that came to a full circle with reference to our first EP and its energy and vibe of music.

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You have some shows lined up for later in the summer, any other tour plans or anything else you’d like to mention?

Planning is in the works but nothing confirmed yet. We all work 9-5 so PTO's are kind of hard with work. Hope to definitely tour EU next year. Cheers!

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