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Sonam Sherpa, Parikrama’s lead guitarist is a one-man army

Parikrama’s Original Rocker from Kalimpong

Sonam Sherpa, the lead guitarist and co-founding member of Parikrama goes rock-and-roll for soundplunge_test’s Parikrama Documentary Catch 22

If there is anything that Sonam Sherpa has, it is a solid sense of humour (besides two Gibson Les Pauls, one of Delhi’s top music schools, a bluesy kick since he was fifteen and a funky collection of bandanas). Do not get blindsided by the disarmingly friendly attitude though, Sonam is one of the top guitarists of the country, even having been voted in the top ten by Rolling Stone magazine. The beloved lead guitarist of Parikrama is one of its founder members and has stayed steadfast by his band which made history for the rock music scene in India from a non-entity to a killer wave right till date.

A child of the 70s, Sonam remains partial to all the classic 70s music from Velvet Underground to The Beatles, Lynard Skynard, Jethro Tull, Ledd Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Neil Young, Bad Company and Smokie, among others. His mother bought him his first guitar at nine, and his mentor developed his passion for music. There was no stopping from then on. Sonam had come to Delhi to get a Bachelors degree in Commerce, and music happened by chance (initially, Parikrama was supposed to have been a four month project.)

Yet the love of rock-and-roll stuck on with them, and they figured out how to survive without compromising with their music. Sonam on his part utilised his vast knowledge of music with Parikrama into the Parikrama School of Music. Started about ten years back, Sonam’s school conducts exams with the renowned Rock School Trinity of London. Clearly, amongst the musicians who take their music very seriously, Sonam has been given to say, “One thing that I desired was The Iron Heart by Laney. It has everything to keep me rocking.” Sonam is partial towards his gear and moves with his kit, which according to his Parikrama page is “…various Carl Martin custom fx plus a what-else-but a Jim Dunlop ‘Cry Baby’ plus a Talk-Box, E-bow, Blues Harps and any bloody-blaring amplifier.”

Sonam remembers each day he spent with Parikrama, the regular ones and the big ones like when they played with Iron Maiden at the Download festival in UK and their first gig. Parikrama will always remain the most important part of Sonam Sherpa the top-notch rocker, and Parikrama always a part of his life. Amen to that.

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