Rayhan Islam Shuvro

From rocking out in obscure underground concerts to establishing himself as one of the country's most promising upcoming musicians, Rayhan Islam Shuvro's rise in popularity came as no surprise given his god-gifted talent and work ethic. His cover of "Amar Prithibi" on YouTube prompted Rubayet Chowdhury to eventually become the vocalist of Black itself. Shuvro has been working on various projects while also being a co-producer in Adit's "Fatman Garage" studios. We had the pleasure to catch up with the chief of "#bhaiergram".

What really got you into music?

I started music very casually. I used to live in Bogra when I saw this band performing in a fair. The reaction that they induced from the crowd really prompted me to start playing guitar. I saved up money to buy myself a guitar, and then eventually moved to Chittagong. The move to a bigger city was eye-opening. I could see how vast the knowledge of music can be as I met amazing musicians who inspired me a lot. That was more so the case when I came to Dhaka. 

Tell us about your current projects. Do you plan to release a solo album anytime soon?

It has always been a dream of mine to have my own solo album. However, I want to take it step by step at the moment. Adit bhai (Adit Rahman) will be featuring me in a song and it comes out really soon. I will also be featuring a few new artists in some standalone tracks very soon.

What is your philosophy when it comes to music?

For me, it is something that you pass down to someone. I am an ardent fan of the likes of Damien Rice and Guthrie Govan. Listening to music and following someone you really admire makes you realize that they will always intangibly be there for you no matter what. Music is something that can make a huge difference in your life if you're going through a bad time, and I myself want to make something that would do the same for others. Even if at least one person appreciates my music, it means the world to me. 

Who are your favorite Bangladeshi artists?

That is a difficult question! I really love Arnob da's (Shayan Chowdhury Arnob) music, and also him as a person. It is a privilege to be able to know him personally. When it comes to bands, I absolutely love Indalo and James bhai's songs. I can't leave out Adit Dada, he is an absolutely amazing person and musician. I respect all the artists in the industry for the hard work they do, and hope I can reciprocate the same.  

Anything you'd like to say to all the listeners out there?

I just want to urge you all to support good music and hardworking artists. We put it all out on the line when we decide to take this as a career, so a little appreciation goes a long way.

By Sadi Mohammad Shahnewaz