PARIJITA BASTOLA

Age: 17Hometown: Baltimore, MDResident: Severna Park, MDParijita is the first of her family born in the United States. When political unrest began in Nepal, Parijita’s dad decided to move the family for safety. Parijita’s dad came to America first, but when he tried to bring the rest of the family over, immigration made it impossible for their older daughter, Priyankana, to join them. The only way Parijita could communicate with her sister was to write letters. It was Priyankana who introduced Parijita to soul and R&B music. Parijita went on to perform at school in musicals and choir and, eventually, in a blues band. For the past five years, Parijita has been gigging at restaurants and bars and recently performed at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.