Composer Bishwo Shahi was raised in Kathmandu, Nepal, and moved to London in 2005. His father was a musician and his first musical excursions were as a guitarist, composer and music arranger in Nepali pop and folk groups, but today Bishwo focuses his attention on composition and sound engineering.

Bishwo describes his music as being rooted in Nepali folk and classical music but with an electro-acoustic twist. His compositions are inspired by the landscapes, nature and people around him and often incorporate sounds from the natural world. His latest album 'Missing' draws on his field recordings of life in the Himalayas - the sounds of mules, yaks and bells, monks chanting, birds and rivers, singing bowls, prayers and festivals.

Bishwo considers it very important to continue to use these distinctively Nepali sounds because they serve as a reminder of his homeland and assert his identity as a Nepali musician. They also convey the deep spirituality reflected within his compositions.

In London, he has continued in the same creative vein by recording the sounds of his life here - often recording domestic activities, such as frying an egg and transforming them into beats or backdrops for his pieces. Interestingly, Bishwo was experimenting with creating his own sounds before he was exposed to the electro-acoustic phenomenon in London. Other influences he discovered in his new home include Kate Bush and Malian musicians. He finds constant inspiration in everyday London life: "I can feel rhythm, whatever I do, I can feel melodies". Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.