From her rendition of Bollywood song "Zara Zara" to performing on stage with Shafquat Amanat Ali, Masha Islam's rise in the music industry has been meteoric. Now, be it TikTok reels or YouTube shorts, her song "Teka Pakhi" from the Chorki Original film "Dui Diner Duniya" is all the rage. We talk to the singing sensation about her life, career, and more.

Your recent song "Teka Pakhi" has received immense popularity. How do you feel about that?

I'm extremely happy. The experience of working on the song was marvelous -- we wanted to create a new vibe in the song, which was challenging. Getting to work with a genius like Emon Chowdhury was a beautiful experience.

You started uploading covers of songs five years ago. What inspired you to start?

I had never anticipated to be where I am today. I started YouTubing because friends and family members wanted to hear me sing. However, I've received immense love from people all over the world, which is my biggest achievement. I love singing in multiple languages, and it fills me with immense joy when I receive appreciation from the native speakers who like my work.

How do you plan your videos?

I don't plan my videos at all and I have no schedule for my platforms either. If I happen to like a song, I'll listen to it all day, and at some point, I'll sing it. I love the spontaneity which is an integral part of my style. I believe this is precisely what has made audiences love me as well.

What is your philosophical take on music?

Like every art form, music has immense power. As someone who practices this art form, I think that it can connect people like nothing else. Even if someone doesn't know a language, melodies can connect people emotionally. Many of my audiences don't understand Bangla, many don't understand the other languages I sing in. Despite that, the emotional connection we've built is priceless.

Who is your favourite Bangladeshi artiste?

I listen to music of all genres, and I look up to many artistes in Bangladesh. However, If I had to name one person, I'd like to mention that I'm a huge fan of the legend Sabina Yasmin Ma'am, whose sweet voice is unparalleled. Her works have had an immense impact on my musical journey.

Recently, you've mesmerised your followers with your dancing skills as well.

(Laughs) I have really loved dancing since my childhood, even though I've never formally learned it. I don't dance often, but when I'm with my friends, I genuinely enjoy dancing. I've recently uploaded a few dancing clips, and audiences loved them.

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A minute with Masha Islam

Have you ever experienced any 'funny' fan moments?

Yes, actually there are several such incidents. This one time, a friend of mine and I were walking, and another friend of ours told someone that my friend was Masha. That person walked up to my friend who pretended to be me and they started a conversation, while I walked away. She even gave them an autograph as Masha Islam!

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Masha Islam: Music is the universal language