Ambassadors of Bangladeshi music

by Zahid Al Amin
February 5, 2012

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/2106/ambassadors-of-bangladeshi-music

Many of the young Bangladeshi music lovers may not be acquainted with the name of M. A. Shoeb, a very popular singer of the eighties, whose debut album 'Hits of M.A. Shoeb' was the biggest hit in Bangladeshi music industry with total 3.8 million copies sold throughout the country. This was rather a very courageous and challenging venture initiated by Mr. Shaheen of Disco Recording, at a time, when Bangladeshi audio industry was mostly captured by Long Play and Short Play discs of Indian singers as well as recorded audio cassettes of foreign singers [mostly Indian] were imported from abroad. Accepting all such limitations and adversities, Disco Recording and its young singer M.A. Shoeb took up the challenge of beginning a new era in Bangladeshi music industry by launching the first ever audio cassette of any local artiste. As speculated, Bangladeshi audience gave huge response to this project and just within the span of less than three months; M.A. Shoeb became a household name in the country. His songs were played not only in most of the music stores in Bangladesh, but even in the remote villages during any festivals or occasions. But for past couple of decades, most of the fans of M.A. Shoeb in Bangladesh never knew where the singer suddenly disappeared! The singer also did not initiate in telling millions of his fans in Bangladesh as to where he was living, nor could many in the music industry even tell his whereabouts.

While most of the contemporary singers of M.A. Shoeb, such as Kumar Biswajit, Andrew Kishore and few others already became extremely popular as well as esteemed in the Bangladeshi music circle with credentials of winning numerous national awards for their performances, it was really tough for anyone to even believe that, M.A. Shoeb, the man with velvet voice could have left the country for United States in search of finding a better life. No doubt, he succeeded in building his career out of music industry in the United States, while most of his contemporary singers in Bangladesh were already turned into emperors and kings of the local music industry. But, finally the fans of M.A. Shoeb was excited when they knew, the king of their hearts was continuing music while living abroad, and even made press announcements of releasing albums onwards in Bangladesh. In the recent past, it was also learnt by many that the daughter of this extremely talented Bangladeshi singer is also gradually becoming prominent in the United States as a violinist.

Weekly Blitz editorial team as well as its editor took personal interest in interviewing the father and his daughter, the ambassadors of Bangladeshi music in the West. In Blitz, this is the first ever interview of any Bangladeshi singer living abroad. In future, we shall continue to bring to our readers, few more talented Bangladeshi singers, who now are permanently residing abroad. Excerpts of the interview of M.A. Shoeb and Sharleen Shoeb:

Q: Mr. Shoeb, you have been a very popular singer in Bangladesh during eighties. By this time, Bangladeshi music has changed a lot and now Western influence is becoming prominent in the Bangladeshi songs. How do you assess this and do you think, it is some how disrupting the authenticity of Bangla music?

A: The influence of Western style in Bangla music is inevitable because the world is so connected. I believe that there are certain aspects of Eastern music that has influence the Western style of music as well. I don't think that because of this influence Bangla music has in some way lost its authenticity, I believe it is evolving.

Q: Sharleen, will you kindly introduce yourself to the readers especially in Bangladesh, how you have been encouraged in learning violin?

A: Hello, my name is Sanjidah Akter Shoeb Sharleen. I am 16 years old and I have been playing the violin since I was 8 years old. My love of music was sparked at a young age when I would listen to other children play violin at my school.

Q: Mr. Shoeb, being a senior singer how does you assesses your daughter [Sharleen] as a violinist?

A: I am very proud of my daughter for pursuing the art of music through the violin. I understand that it is very difficult and takes patience and perseverance. As she grows older I believe she will become a better violinist and perhaps contribute to Bangladeshi society with her music.

Q: Mr. Shoeb & Sharleen: Both of your have been the ambassador of Bangla music in the West. Will you kindly tell us as to how you are being receiving by the Western listeners?

A: We have been received with open arms by the Western community. They are very open to new kinds of music.

Q: Mr. Shoeb, for years, you have not released any album in Bangladesh. Will you please tell us the reason behind and what is your plan for the future regarding your album?

A: After moving to the United States I became very involved with raising my family. I wish to release a new album in the near future.

Q: Sharleen, how you would like to assess the richness of Bangla folk music and do you play Bangla folk in violin to the Western audience?

A: I find Bangla folk music to be very enlightening and full of history and culture. I have played Bangla folk music several times during many Bangla culture programs.

Q: Mr. Shoeb & Sharleen, during the month of language movement, please tell us, what makes you to be proud to be a Bangali.

A: We are both proud of the Bangla language that we are able to speak because we understand the brave lives that were lost in preserving the Bangla language.

Q: Mr. Shoeb & Sharleen, being living in the West, what you think about contributing in bringing Bangla music to the international audience?

A: We think that bringing Bangla music internationally is a great idea and can certainly increase the popularity and exposure of Bangladesh worldwide.

Q: Mr. Shoeb, mostly you have been a modern singer, but people knowing you closely also are aware of your brilliance in Bangla folk songs. Amongst the Bangla folk lyricists, Lalon Fakir, Hason Raza, Abbas Uddin, Shah Abdul Karim etc are already very famous in the sub continent in particular. How important is for the Bangladeshi government in establishing a folk music institute and what should be done to archive the rich lyrics of these legendary individuals?

A: Lalon Fakir, Hason Raza, Abbas Uddin, Shah Abdul Karim and others are closely tied to Bangladeshi culture and tradition and they are apart of our cultural roots therefore this should be preserved by the Bangladeshi government.

Q: Mr. Shoeb, will you please share with the readers you memoir of how you became a singer and the memory of your first album?

A: To begin, with none of my family members are singers or musicians, but at a very young age I was attracted to music and felt I should pursue this as a career. I was always involved with music. As I grew older I was always considered to be a live singer who sang mostly on stage on request. In 1981 Disco Recording, a recording company, took the initiative to release an album with original songs where 9 of the 10 songs were written and tuned by me. The music composer was Zahid Hussein.

Q: Mr. Shoeb, being a very popular singer, who could easily choose music as profession, why did you decide leaving Bangladesh for abroad?

A: I understand that I shouldn't have left Bangladesh at that time however, I was invited to Los Angeles, California for a performance and was given the opportunity to become an American Citizen and decided at that time to stay in the U.S. with my family.

Q: Sharleen, being a Bangladeshi, what makes you feel proud of your own country?

A: My parents are from Bangladesh and I was born and raised in the United States. I have been to Bangladesh quite a few times and I am mesmerized and proud of the beautiful culture, language, and traditions that encompass Bangladesh.

Q: Sharleen, who inspired you in becoming a violinist and how do you assess your father as a singer?

A: Because I come from a family background that is deeply entrenched in music and tradition I was initially inspired by my father to play the violin. I respect my father very much as a singer and admire his efforts to spread Bangla music to the West.

Q: Mr. Shoeb, there are many Bangladeshi talents in music, who are residing in the United States. Will you kindly name few of them and say something about their music skills?

A: Few of the Bangladeshi talents in music that reside in the United States include Rathindro Nath, Kaderi Kibria, and Nina Hamid. All are very accomplished artists who have called the United States their home.

Q: Mr. Shoeb, what are the basic differences between Bangla and Western modern songs?

A: Bangla songs tend to be very soft, melodious, and with a particular emphasis to the vocals. Although there are very distinct differences in the way Bangla and Western songs are sung, it is difficult to put into words because each style is very unique.

Q: Sharleen, there are still tremendous lacks in recording and studio facilities in Bangladesh for the local music industry, especially with no real professional technical people. Do you think, those Bangladeshi younger generation members having interest in music should also take advanced courses in studio and sound engineering from abroad?

A: Absolutely! I remember listening to my dad's old albums and compared them to the recording quality of today and I witnessed a huge difference. Although, the number of musical professionals in Bangladesh are lacking at the moment, the few professionals that practicing music engineering are very ambitious and talented. I believe once the numbers of musical engineers grow, Bangladesh will be producing the quality of music that may rival the West.

Q: Mr. Shoeb, there are many private TV channels in Bangladesh as well as World Service of state-owned Bangladesh Television, which reach millions of Bangla speaking people in the world. Will you give you comments on the standard of programs contents both of the private TV channels as well as Bangladesh Television?

A: It is true that there is a multitude of television channels in Bangladesh. Certain channels need improvement in the quality of programming and certain channels maintain a great degree of professionalism. I believe if all the channels could maintain a high degree of professionalism, it would be very beneficial for Bangladesh.

Q: Sharleen, are Bangla folk music becoming gradually known to the younger generation in the West, both Bangla speaking and non-Bengali communities?

A: I believe Bangla folk music is slowly gaining popularity with the younger Bengali generation in the West because of the efforts of such new artists as Habib. However, the Bengali folk music needs more exposure in the non-Bengali populous in the West.

Q: Sharleen, being a Bangladeshi, do you feel any obstacles in the West in gradually establishing your own position in the Western society as a musician?

A: I don't think I face any obstacles when establishing my own position in Western society as a musician because I feel music as an entity is subjective and I can separate Bangla folk music from Western contemporary music.

Q: Mr. Shoeb, many of your contemporary singers in Bangladesh are famous already and few of them even migrated to other nations. Will you please say something about them, and amongst your contemporary singers, who had always been your own best choice?

A: I wish everyone the best in their en-devours in music regardless of where they reside. It is not an easy road and with ambition and perseverance, they can do bold things for Bangladesh music.

Q: Mr. Shoeb & Sharleen: How do you see the increased trend of using loops in Bangladeshi and Bangla music?

A: Although Bangladeshi music has been influenced by Western styles in music, they should certainly try to "think outside the box" and try some originality with Bangla Music.

Q: Mr. Shoeb, what are the basic differences between folk songs of Bangladesh and Poschim Bangla in India?

A: There is not a huge difference and are very similar and both regions of music are wonderful and I honestly don't see a noticeable difference between the tow regions of music. They are Bengali and so are we.

Q: Mr. Shoeb, why Bangladeshi folk songs are even considered to be best favorite of major segment of Bangla music fans in India?

A: I believe Bangla folk songs tend to be favorites for Bangla music fans in India because Bengali folk music contains heart, soul, emotions, and most importantly a message which attains to the experiences of the motherland.

Q: Mr. Shoeb & Sharleen: What is the main ingredient for a better song, lyrics or tune or both?

A: That is a difficult question to answer because there are many "ingredients" that work together to make a beautiful song. We do think that lyrics and tune are major players in the creation of a great song.

Q: Mr. Shoeb, you have worked with many with the Bangladeshi music directors. Will you kindly mentioned few and share your memories with them?

A: I have worked with several talented music directors including, but not limited to, Shubol Das, Alom Khan, Shatyo Shaha, Anwar Parvez, and Zahid Hussein. I have many memories with all these music directors that would be too long to write, however I remember spending long days and nights making wonderful music with them.

Q: Mr. Shoeb & Sharleen, will you tell us how important it is for a singer to have classical knowledge?

A: We think in order to become a great singer it is important to be versatile, and this includes the knowledge of classical music.

Q: Mr. Shoeb & Sharleen: What are the difference between a trained singer and a singer with natural talent?

A: A naturally talented singer has the core material to become a great singer, which is absolutely important; however a trained singer already contains this raw natural talent. The only difference is that the trained singer has fine tuned this talent and made it much more precise and powerful.

Q: Mr. Shoeb, there is a trend particularly in Bangladesh, where new albums are released only on cell phone [to be downloaded] instead of releasing CDs or DVDs. Many people think, such tendency will ultimately kill the local music industry. What do you think?

A: I absolutely agree that this type of action can ultimately destroy the local music industry.

Q: Mr. Shoeb, how important is the role of music video in making any album popular?

A: The music video is not very important in making an album or song popular because the main parts of the album are the songs themselves. If the songs are not good the music video by itself will not make the album popular.

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M. A. Shoeb Interview

Violin by Sharlin

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