Today we are joined by artist & activist Jerusha Rai. Born in Kathmandu, Nepal, Jerusha’s love for music started early – be it playing in bands or church choirs, music has always been a safe haven for them.  They have always been interested in people, how societies work and you can tell this curiosity has carried over into their music as well. In this episode, we go over Jerusha’s childhood and the pressure they felt to conform to the individualized, western idea of society.  At 19, they moved to UK where they connected with artists of Nepali diaspora – to whom they credit their knowledge and growth as an artist. Currently living in NYC, Jerusha also shares with us the personal elements that have played into making of each of their albums, which I believe has made their music special to their audience. We discuss their involvement in ‘Haatemalo Collective’ – a volunteer led organization and the instrumental work they are doing in raising awareness and funds for the Dalit-bahujan movement. You can support them here.  Jerusha is humble and soulful, it was a pleasure getting to hear their story and I hope it inspires you to take some time to reflect and go back to your roots to heal and liberate yourself. As always, if you enjoy these conversations, please share with your friends and family. Remember to follow our instagram page @hamro.yatra for updates, subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and leave us a 5-star review. You can also financially support us on thisishamroyatra.com/support.