Lochan Rijal is a multi-instrumentalist, a singer, songwriter and a scholar of ethnomusicology. Born in the Panchthar district of Nepal, he grew up around music performed at festivals by the local people of that region. The experience influenced him to explore the potential of sound and develop his passion into his profession. While in college, he began teaching music to school children in Kathmandu while also working in the pop and rock music scene, producing award-winning albums, before moving onto something that fed his scholarly ambitions. In 2014, he graduated with a PhD in ethnomusicology from the University of Massachusetts and Kathmandu University. He also works as the Associate Professor and Head of Kathmandu University’s Department of Music.

Lochan Rijal is passionate about exploring Nepali music and experimenting with new sounds to bring about an innovative approach to sound production that fuses different musical styles. He spent years travelling across Nepal studying different local music traditions and instrument-making techniques. With three albums to his name, he is a recipient of several national and international awards. His latest album, (literal translation: raw sound) is his fourth studio album and features the nearly extinct Gandharva lute 'ārbājā' that he discovered during his research as well as other local instruments. In , he searches for new musical dimensions while encompassing poetry to communicate his philosophy on life, perspectives and stories as a means to promote inclusion for progressive social change.