For many, 24-year-old Thukten Nyendra, from Chhukha, is now known as the winner of the inaugural Rhythm of Bhutan singing competition and Bhutan’s representative at the first-ever Eurovision Song Contest Asia. But his journey began long before the competition. From a four-year-old boy playing the guitar to a young artist who chose to pursue music despite doubts and limited opportunities, Thukten’s story is one of passion, persistence and finding the courage to follow a dream.
There was a time when Thukten Nyendra was simply a four-year-old boy with a guitar in his hands. His mother, Nidup Tshomo, still remembers those early days without imagining that childhood interest would eventually lead.
“When he was around four years old, he used to play the guitar and sing. At that time, we couldn’t make videos of him, but we did take some photos. We never expected that he would grow to love music and want to pursue it.”
Years later, when Thukten was studying at the Royal Thimphu College, that childhood interest had grown into something much more serious. But for his mother, pursuing music did not seem like an easy or secure path.
“When he was studying at Royal Thimphu College (RTC), he told us that he loved music and started practising. I told him that I could not fully support his passion for music because of the limited opportunities to pursue music in our country. I advised him that it would be better to find a job, and he seemed upset about it.”
For Thukten, however, music was no longer just something he enjoyed; it was becoming a way of life.
“I started singing at 17, but then I never thought I would take music seriously. When I turned 19, I moved out on my own here in the capital city of Bhutan; that’s where I started taking music very seriously. I came here to study as well as pursue music. But studying was just like an escape so that I could do music.”
But following that passion was not always easy. His family initially wanted him to choose a more secure career, while Thukten struggled with his own self-doubt.
“Well, I self-doubt myself a lot. I’m very, very insecure about myself, the way I look, the way I present myself, the way I talk, every little thing about me. I’m very insecure about myself. So, it has always been like the biggest challenge, battling with myself where, you know, the self-doubt comes into the way when I’m trying to do something in my life.”
For Thukten, music eventually became a way to express feelings he could not always put into words.
“I’m someone who cannot express it that well, like all of my feelings and stuff like that. I think I’ve always been like that, where I can’t say out loud what’s inside my mind. That’s when I started writing things down. There was one of these moments where I started writing my very first song, but that never went on Spotify or anything, but it was like I wanted to say it out loud.”
Last year after his graduation, he wrote and produced a nine-song album. Much of it came from deeply personal experiences.
“I wrote and produced an entire album last year called Let Me Tell You a Story. So, that album consists of nine songs, and almost all of the songs in that album is very personal to me. One of the songs that is really personal to me is the song called Let Me Tell You a Story. And another one would be Take Me Back. I think those two songs are really personal to me, like in the very most vulnerable way ever.”
That personal journey has now taken him to a much bigger stage. After winning the inaugural Rhythm of Bhutan, Thukten will represent Bhutan at the first-ever Eurovision Song Contest Asia in Bangkok this November.
For his mother, seeing him reach this point is a proud moment.
“It is a proud moment for me that he will be representing Bhutan. He is also really happy that he got selected. He is very excited, and I am also very happy. I advised him not to get upset even if he does not get through the top 5 and that it’s a good thing that he at least participated.”
For Thukten, the journey is about more than winning a competition. It is about choosing to pursue something he loves, even if the path is uncertain.
And for young people who are still wondering whether to follow their own passion, his story is a reminder that dreams do not always begin with certainty.
Sometimes, they begin with simply taking the first step.
Sherub Dadron Palzom and Pelden Wangchuk
Edited by Sonam Pem
