‘We have a hundred complaints, but only need one reason to stay’

I feel like my love for Bangladesh is what resonates most in my tunes. My first release was "Bijoyer Gaan" in 2014, alongside the amazing Bappa Mazumder. That was followed by "Bhalobashar Bangladesh", and then "Utshober Bangladesh", featuring our beloved cricketer, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.

Bushra Shahriar is at an interesting crossroads in life – the passionate soul is a musician, vlogger, and a PHD student at the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. Her latest song, "Eksho Nalish", released yesterday. We got in touch with Bushra for a small chat over coffee.

Tell us about "Eksho Nalish". How did you come up with the concept?

There are times when two people come together; they might not know each other completely. In our minds, we might build an image of our partner that they might not match their actual personality. This can lead to a period of dissonance and anger, but it is oh-so-sweet. In Bangla, we call it 'Obhiman', and that is what "Eksho Nalish" is all about. We might have a hundred complaints, but only need one reason to stay'.

What drives your passion in music?

I feel like my love for Bangladesh is what resonates most in my tunes. My first release was "Bijoyer Gaan" in 2014, alongside the amazing Bappa Mazumder. That was followed by "Bhalobashar Bangladesh", and then "Utshober Bangladesh", featuring our beloved cricketer, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.

That is certainly a refreshing stance made by a singer.

Thank you. As much as we like to spew negativity about where we live, there's just so much beauty, celebration and positivity that we can focus on – and I've always wanted to spread that message through my songs.

Was vlogging a part of your plan as an artiste?

Not at all! I am a very social person, and throughout the Covid-19 lockdowns, I really needed an outlet.

I was surprised to see how many people received it positively. One thing that I was particularly complimented on was my make-up – I never tried to look 'fair', I've always tried to flaunt my dusky skin tone. Many women reached out to me and said that they had previously felt insecure because of the obsession about fair skin, but were inspired by me.

Do you think your 'bubbly' personality will change after you get your doctorate?

Absolutely not! I am over-the-top, and that's what makes me, me!