Basanta Shrestha aka 11:30 Basan hails from Chitwan. However, he was born in Tarku Ghat, Lamjung on April 15, 1980 to Babu Ram Shrestha and Sakuntala Shrestha. He spent his entire childhood in his hometown -- Chitwan.
While he was still a kid, he was very mischievous and most of the time used to entertain himself by playing games. Once, it so happened that while playing with his friend, he met with an accident and fractured his hand. He shares that those memories are still fresh in his mind. "I used to love playing game ball. Earlier, we used to hit each other with real balls but with time we started making balls of mud and hit each other with it!"
He received his basic education at Siddhartha Boarding School, Chitwan and later completed his School Leaving Certificate from Bal Kumari Higher Secondary School, where he also did his studies till the middle of intermediate level. Soon after this, he decided to quit studying.
ENTRY IN THE MUSIC SCENE
Whenever there used to be any function at his school, he used to actively participate in them. His father always used to encourage and motivate him to do something worthwhile in music. From an early childhood, he used to listen and sing songs of Swor Samrat Narayan Gopal. However, when he started off, he we was more fascinated with rock and introduced himself by singing rock flavored numbers. He established himself as a front-man of the rock band 'Shadows'. He was involved with the band for eight years and toured various places of Nepal in connection with concerts and other performances. The band also released their album 'Suna Hamro Aawaz'.
When 'The Shadows' reached the height of popularity, name and fame included, 11:30 Basan declared to his other band members that he wished to release his own solo album as well. The members were not comfortable with it and didn't agree to his decision. Thereafter, 11:30 Basan decided to go solo and turned his childhood dream into reality. It is only after this that he changed his name from Basanta Shrestha to 11:30 Basan. His recently released debut album 'Emerge' has been well-received in the market and the response so far has been great.
He shares that he has not received any formal education on music but has learnt almost everything regarding it under the guidance of senior artists and musicians and also from his friends. All the songs featured on 'Emerge' has his composition and music compilation. After making his stand as a solo artist, he has already shown what he is capable of at various musical events and proposals to tour abroad have already started flowing in. "In my initial days in the Music Industry of Nepal, I, in fact we, as the 'Shadows' had to struggle a lot to make our music heard but after going solo as compared to our earlier struggle, I didn't face the same situation. I want to make my career in music and besides that I cannot think of any other vocation!"
ME/MYSELF
I am a peace loving person. For the sake of reaching to the top or whatever, I have never used anybody or made anyone a scapegoat. I do not have this habit of making anything an issue, rather I find joy and happiness in compromises. For me, music is not just a hobby or a simple passion...it is my life. I want to spend my entire life in this field...as long as I live!
LOVE/MARRIAGE
I believe that love is all about understanding. It is about understanding your partner thoroughly so that life becomes more simpler without any confusions to lead ahead. I think that a love marriage is more appropriate than an arranged one...precisely because of the comfort level between the couple. Marriage is a necessity. Marriage plays a vital role in ones life. After marriage, one should learn to be happy and lead a contented life. "As of now, I have no intention of settling down. Now, my one and the only first priority is my work. I want to focus on my career now...marriage will come much later