FAU professor and assistant director of commercial music, Alejandro Sanchez-Samper, grew up in Colombia, and got his master’s degree in music at the University of Miami. He always dreamed of going to Asia, and at age 37, he fulfilled that dream and combined it with his passion for recording and producing music.

It all started earlier this year when Mariano Abello, an FAU graduate from 2005 and director of the Jazz Conservatory in Kathmandu, contacted the university with an idea to have recent graduates teach and record music in Nepal. Abello also taught music classes at FAU from 2002-2005, according to his biography.

Several months later, Sanchez-Samper submitted an application for a faculty sponsored research project in Asia, and shortly after, he set out for Nepal to collaborate with Abello to produce an album showcasing the Nepalese music scene.

Sanchez-Samper said the most memorable experience was when they created and produced a track called “Brick City” by Anonymous Who, a Nepalese rap group. He asked the two rappers (Aid Ray and Yama Buddha) along with beatboxer Nishanta Gauchan to create an original song about Kathmandu and Nepal, but wasn’t expecting the outcome.

“About 20 minutes later they had a song and hook — in English,” Sanchez-Samper said. “I don’t listen to rap often, but I think they are some of the best beatboxing and rhymes I’ve ever heard. Those are the types of moments that made this the best production experience of my life.”

“Nepali Ho: Contemporary and Traditional Music of Nepal” was released on Nov. 22 and features 14 songs by local artists. He paid for most of the production using $4,500 in donations he raised on the community fundraising site, kickstarter.com. The website is a funding platform for creative projects, without which he says the project would not have been possible.

After he arrived in Kathmandu, Sanchez-Samper met with Abello to begin auditions with local musicians for the album. He explained the purpose of the project and artist compensation (including royalties) to the musicians, and then they began performing.

“What most impressed me right away was the quality of musicianship, as can be seen on the documentary videos on YouTube,” said Sanchez-Samper. “With little or no rehearsal, the level of musicianship was unparalleled.”

Shortly after auditions, the newly formed group began recording the first songs.

Sanchez-Samper spent the next several weeks absorbing the Nepalese culture and recording music, eventually incorporating such genres as rap, rock, jazz and classical fusion into the album.

The final product showcased Nepalese talent and gave the artist’s exposure to audiences worldwide. The project also has a philanthropic motive –– a portion of the proceeds go to a music scholarship fund at the Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory, and to the construction of a school in Chapaguan, Nepal.

“Working with Professor Sanchez-Samper was fruitful for our students, staff and musicians,” said Abello, who recruited the artists and organized the studio usage. “The musicians were very happy with his knowledge and organization as a producer.”

Since the album’s release, Sanchez-Samper has been promoting it and working at FAU as a commercial music professor. He plans to continue teaching and recording, and he hopes to one day return to his homeland, Colombia, to produce a similar album for local artists there.

Nepali Ho is available on siganepal.com or iTunes.