Shayan, famed for her flaming lyrics, unique style of composition and careless style of singing, found her niche in music from an early age. It took her several years to release her first album “Shayan-er Gaan” which enabled her to make a lasting impression among the audience of the country. In a conversation with the Dhaka Tribune, Shayan talked about her musical journey.
What are your inspirations behind protest songs?
I am a social being. I cannot isolate myself from the society. I do not play songs related to protest all the time, however, if I realise that something is not right, I find it is my duty to raise my voice against it. I observe the dark side of the society, accumulate my thoughts and feelings and express them through my songs. That is how I find solace.
Any interest in politics?
Not at all. I keep myself away from this field. As a musician, I have a social responsibility towards my people. If I could bring a positive change in the society, I would feel content. A few of my numbers relate to political issues that are an unavoidable part of a society. I am not up for politics, but my songs have political flavour.
Why you are not affiliated with bands?
I have been trying to connect with people through my songs. Unfortunately, I have yet to find the right partners. I am still looking for people with whom I can share my ideas rather than impose my style on someone's creativity or dominate someone's thought. On the other hand, I enjoy playing solo. It gives me a sense of freedom. I enjoy jamming with other musicians; it is a learning experience.
At present, what are you working on?
Well, I have been working on two albums simultaneously. One is of love songs and the second one is of my usual style. It consist songs related to women issues, human rights, freedom fighters, war criminals and many others based on different stories. I have yet to decide the names for the albums.
Who is your favourite musician?
Shahnaz Rahmatullah is my favourite musician. I grew up listening to her songs. There is always a mark of my childhood in my songs, and Shahnaz has a bigger role to play. Lata Mangeshkar is also one of my favourites. Others in my list include Tagore, Nazrul, Kishore Kumar, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, Leonard Cohen, Tracy Chapman and Bhupen Hazarika. On the other hand, Joler Gaan has thrilled me with their music.
Why do you dress in black all the time?
There is no mystery behind my attire. Black is my favourite colour and I already have ten to twelve black suits in my wardrobe. I am quite lazy and dressing up like this is easier as I don’t have to think about what to wear in different occasions. However, during Eid, I wear colourful dresses which match with the ones my nieces wear.