The Wandering Musician
Michael Averill’s music was ‘instrumental’ in helping us to connect with the locals in the Himalaya, bridging both cultural and language divides. Ever the entertainer, Michael was rarely seen without his guitar, attracting Himalayan children and Elders alike. Many of those we encountered on our expedition had never seen a guitar, let alone heard one in real life. For those familiar with A Story of Karma, it’s pretty evident just how important Michael (and his music) was in helping shape the transformative journey.
Below Michael shares a bit about his own story into the Lost Valley, and two of his musical creations that were born as a result.
In Michael Averill’s words:
The Nar-Phu Valley expedition was the conduit that shaped my artistic approach as a musician, and a wonderful crash course education into the wonders of human connection. It will forever be symbolic as the first step towards living the life I feel I was meant to live.
Below are the stories behind two of the five songs inspired by the adventure:
A choral fusion of East and West: Michael jamming with Nishta along the Annapurna Circuit
“Nepali Song”
Prior to the expedition, I took a meditation course. One of the exercises required imagining yourself inside an object, like a rock, or cup, and to notice what you felt. I knew Tibetan singing bowls were available in Nepal, and wanted to write a song with one. We met a man named Amrit in Kathmandu who owned a singing bowl shop close to our hotel. I found a bowl I loved, and he encouraged me to take it for the night to play. I tried the meditation exercise I learned with the bowl to see what I felt. It made me think of a song I had written years before.
When I thought deeply about it, the themes of truth, peace of mind, strength, and self-confidence came to mind. When I returned the bowl the next day, I asked Amrit if he could translate those words into Nepali. We jammed out for a while, and Nepali Song was born. That tune became somewhat of a social icebreaker, and a theme of our adventure through culture, connection, nature, and history.
*Listen to Michael Averill’s “Nepal Song”
Nishta
Nishta was the name of a young woman (a didi) we met walking along the path towards the Nar Phu Valley. She was holding a flag, and leading a group of monks towards a peace gathering in a small village called Chame. She noticed me strumming as I walked and took a moment to say hello. She sang beautifully, and shared a variety of farming songs with me. When she asked me to share, I presented Nepali Song, and within seconds, she was harmonizing in the most unique ways. It seemed that everyone around in that moment, including the 8000-meter tall mountains, either took notice or sang along. It was a remarkable experience. We continued this musical exchange for the remainder of our trek that day, and it remains one of my fondest memories of that trip. The song “Nishta," was a tribute to her, and the mutual intention behind our journeys.
*Listen to Michael Averill’s song “Nishta”
Guitar meets singing bowl: Michael jamming with Amrit
photo credit Arek Saczuk
Taking a pause amidst the mighty Himalayan peaks
photo credit Michael Schauch
Michael connecting with the local kids in Nar Village
photo credit Arek Saczuk