At what point did you three think about forming a band called “Ashes” and playing together?
Zunayed Evan: We formed the band when we were kids. At that time we did not actually think about the name ideologically. We just liked the name a lot, so we decided on Ashes.
The lyrics of Ashes are primarily penned by you (Evan)?
Evan: Yes.
When did you write them?
Evan: When it comes to lyrics, when we are jamming a song that is when the lyrics are written. Sometimes we make a song out of lyrics written a long time ago.
Please share some moments from the time when you recorded the album “Charpoka?”
Evan: “Charpoka” was recorded a long time ago. It was recorded in 2010-11. That is when the lyrics of the album were written. The album was eventually released in 2014. Those moments were beautiful moments. At that time we were not so involved with studio and music composition.
If I were to explain a little more about the lyrics, then I used to write my thoughts the way I felt them on pages. Then I used to share them with the band. Then we work on the song together. So everyone in the band contributes to the songs.
Could each of you tell your fans the name of your favourite song of Ashes?
Tawfiq Ahmed Bijoy: I actually have a lot of favourite songs from Ashes. If I were to mention one from them, I would say “Urey Jawa Pakhir Chokhe.” There is no specific reason why it is my favourite. I just love the song.
Sultan Rafsan Khan: If I were to pick a song, I would say that there is this one song from Charpoka album, which is really one of my favourite songs. The song is quiet underrated. And I think we have never played the song in any show. The song is titled “Holud Lamp Post.” The overall feel and groove of the song is brilliant. Right from the start that is what I felt. If any of you have not heard that song, then please listen to it.
From the singles we have released, I really enjoy the song “Nijer Jonno.” It is a really nice song. And after that all the other singles we have released, I pretty much like all of them.
Evan: It is tough to pick just one song. However, from all the released tracks of Ashes, I think there is this one song, which could be described as our signature song. Like how there is this one song of every band that is considered to be there signature song. This is the song with which the band works the most or the song that is most widely listened to by the fans. So that song for us is “Kemon Acho.”
After that it really depends on the moment, as in which song I am enjoying at that moment, or the song that gets released at that moment. I really love the songs we are releasing in recent times or will release soon. I would like to mention the track called “Nirruddesh”. I really like the song.
And recently one of our songs was released. It is titled “Ami Bodley Jabo”. It is also one of my favourites.
Rafsan: That song is also my favourite. “Bodley Jabo”. (smiles)
Did you ever think while making the songs, that people from so many different walks of life will listen to Ashes, and will be able to relate with them? Did you ever think that your songs will be sung by the youth almost like a generational anthem?
Rafsan: At one point when we saw that the kind of music which were doing in the first place, and the kind of response we were receiving for them, and then we definitely felt that, if we kept making this kind of songs, or make better ones, then obviously people will listen. Then we felt that the songs definitely have the potential to be sung like anthems by the fans. After that point, I personally never had any more doubts about whether the songs will be likes by the fans or not. Had we made really bad songs, then this probably would not have happened. (smiles)
Evan and Bijoy: (Laughs)
Rafsan: From that point onwards I felt that “No, what can possibly go wrong?” We cannot intentionally make bad songs after that point, as we have already set a standard for us. So I did not have any doubt after that.
Which bands do you listen to and which would you consider as your musical inspiration for the songs of Ashes?
Rafsan: I am inspired by a diverse set of musicians. I listen to everything from metal, rock, hip-hop, pop, etc. I listen to pretty much everything. I try to take inspiration from different genres and then try to expand on them or explore them more to incorporate new matters with them. So this is what it is in my case. I cannot unjustly choose and specifically mention a genre or a band among the ones that inspires me. (Speaking to Evan and Bijoy) Why don’t the rest of you say your take on it?
Evan: (gestures at Bijoy to start)
Bijoy: I cannot specifically mention one or two bands as well. As a kid I used to listen to Metallica and Iron Maiden a lot. Then I listened to Bon Jovi. After that I heard Porcupine Tree. So that is the blend actually. If I specifically mention one or two bands then it is injustice to the rest. (smiles)
Evan: Pretty much same.
So you also listened to Bon Jovi, Iron Maiden…?
Evan: No, I did not listen to metal that much. I used to listen to rock. I still listen to rock.
Were you inspired by someone or band when it came to song writing?
Evan: No. Not at all!
What is the story behind writing the song “17 Prishtha?”
Evan: The story of writing “17 Prishtha” is from a long time ago. The songs of our album which can be considered as hit songs were actually worked on in 2009-10 and 2011ish. The songs were recorded in 2013 or 2012. The album was released in 2014. People started listening to them from the end of 2014.
So this happened a long time ago. I found one of my old diaries. And there were some stuff written on the pages, from the time when I was in school. In one page, it was written, “Aaj amar mon bhalo ney.” (My heart does not feel happy today.) So, I found the diary in 2009, so the words were written a long time ago. So I was wondering, what actually happened on that day, that I would write something like this. The words do not sound too serious, but after reading them I was feeling a little sad for myself. (smiles) So it was quite an ordinary incident. After that I just started putting music to the song. I was not thinking of it as a song for the band after putting it into a preliminary tune. I thought the words “My heart is not happy today” does not sound good. So, after putting the song in tune, with four lines of lyrics, I recorded it on my phone, and then I sent it to Bijoy. I told him at the time that “Dost, listen to it if you want to. This is not a song for our band or something we will work on. Then Bijoy forced me to complete the song, because he felt that the song was really beautiful. He used to often ask me to play the song and sing it for him. So this is how it is. So this is the story behind why it was chosen to be recorded.
The song “Amon Chena” sounds like it was performed from a place of strong feelings. What is the story behind that?
Evan: The song “Amon chena?”
Yes.
Evan: Actually lyrics are interpreted subjectively. Many fans think that “Amon Chena” is a very romantic song. “Amar ekta Manush hoilo na.” (I don’t have someone just for myself.) The line before that was “Chhotobelar khelar shathhi boro howe bodley gechhe.”(My childhood friend has changed after we grew up.) This “someone” is not a specific person. This is all the feelings of loneliness that envelopes us. The point is feeling that loneliness. The first line of the song was “Amon chena chinbe loke takano jabe na chhokhhe.” (People will recognize me one day and won’t be able to look me in the eye.) This means that when we deal with people around us, there is always this “curtain” or barrier during our interactions. Since, there is this curtain we are able to talk with each other while making eye-contact. Without that curtain we wouldn’t have been able to talk with them with that eye-contact. Since we keep some really small and tiny secrets within us, we are able to talk with someone with eye-contact. So, that is the reason at the end of the day, we are all alone. The main concept of that song is this feeling of loneliness.
Is the song “Ki Ar Hobe” about existential crisis
Evan: Yes. Quiet so. “Ki ar hobe ebhabe beche theke?” (What is the point of living like this?) So it speaks about the destination in each of our lives. How everything is meaningless or the destination is unknown. “Amar boyosh bere jabe, kalo thhote chaer cup e.” (I will get older while sipping tea with darkened lips). This is how it is.
(To Rafsan) You wrote the solo of “17 Prishtha?”
Rafsan: Yes.
Which one is your favourite solo?
Rafsan: From Ashes?
Yes.
Rafsan: I think the solo of “Charpoka” is my favourite. (Laughs)
Bijoy and Evan: (laughs)
Please share some words for your fans?
Evan: To the fans I would say that, four tracks of our next album “Ontoshar shunno” has been already released. A few more tracks are on their way. We upload the songs. We are no longer living in the times of CDs. We do not listen to CDs anymore. We approach each songs differently. For example, for the song “Nijer Jonno” we asked the fans to Bkash the money to purchase the song. So, we do not give the CD and Bkash option every time. When we give these options, whenever we give them, we hope that the fans try to purchase the song. Many people download the songs from YouTube and then upload them. Different agencies does this from different places. We hope that they do not do this anymore. Otherwise, it is quite difficult to continue making music by ourselves.
(To Rafsan) Do you have something to add?
Rafsan: This is what it is, actually. I would say the same. (Laughs)
Bijoy and Evan: (Laughs)
Rafsan: We also actually want to say the same.
Bijoy: We are all on the same page.