To mark the occasion of World Music Day, Dhaka Tribune has interviewed a handful of iconic musicians of Bangladesh music industry. The artists enthusiastically talks about their favourite idols:
Ayub Bachchu
I am highly inspired by the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century, Jimi Hendrix. I take him to be the music god of my world. With his undesirable technique of guitar amplifier feedback, Hendrix favoured overdriven amplifiers with high volume and gain. He helped to popularise the use of the wah-wah pedal in mainstream rock, and pioneered experimentation with stereophonic phasing effects in music recordings. Everything about the gifted artist inspires me.
This day is really very important for all musicians around the world. Music is a symbol of peace. But whole music world is in a trouble because of piracy. Piracy has become a curse for the music industry. Awareness among the musicians and industry people will not suffice. The audience should step up in anti-piracy efforts and unite with us. The government will also have to stand up against piracy. It’s hampering the creativity level of an artist and discouraging upcoming singers to pursue a career of music.
Ayub Bachchu has been a strict advocate of the anti-piracy movement. He is a founder member of BAMBA and working against audio piracy.
Fahmida Nabi
I want to wish everybody musical greetings on this occasion. I am really very sorry to say that we have enough channels to celebrate ‘World Music Day’ but, they are not taking any initiative to celebrate it. This is not a complaint against the channels, it’s a whole-hearted request to them.
Shirley Bessey who is one of the most popular female vocalists in Britain during the last half of the 20th century, inspires me a lot. Her songs, voice, lyrics has always left me spell bound. I am her die-heart fan. The way she offers a journey towards her songs, it’s just amazing.
Bappa Mazumder
Bangladesh has a rich pedigree of its own music and tradition. We should do a festival to remark international celebration of World Music Day. I have already performed in Paris and France on this occasion.
I take Eric Clapton as my guru, I haven’t come across anyone more soulful and melodious as Clapton. He is one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time. His music and the way he plays guitar, inspires me a lot.
Arnob
Who else but Tagore, I learned to see the world with the specs of Tagore.
I have tried to understand the prodigy as a person, his ideologies and versatility. Everything about him is fascinating to say the least and has an impact on me.
His work is modern still and Tagore’s followers should learn to love him, not his work only. I cannot praise him enough, his achievements has made a place of its own in the history of the art world.
I admire the improvisation, command and understanding of music by the great artist Ustad Zakir Hossain. He has inspired me from my childhood and I think highly of his album “Making Music.”
Kona
Runa Laila, Runa Laila and Runa Laila, I love her, I follow her and I idolize her, she is a diva in her own right and her music, as well as her voice is timeless. One day, I hope I could be as big a star like her. I am sure that many singers of our country feels the same about Runa Laila.
Sometimes I hum her songs without even realising what I am doing.
Among Indian singers, I like Sunidhi Chauhan and Shreya Ghosal. From the West, I like Celine Dion and Shania Twain.
World Music Day should be celebrated with much more oomph, also it is a great platform for upcoming singers to show their talent, as the motto of the event is to host concerts and shows free of cost for everyone.