Pulling through as a musician

It was, perhaps inevitable for the music industry to see huge losses in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. Since social gatherings can put one's well-being at risk right now, live shows have been cancelled, hindering the biggest source of income for musicians and putting their future in jeopardy.

"We are not doing well at all," says a concerned Bappa Mazumder. "You see, as much as we try to stay positive, I cannot help but think what will happen if three or four months go by like this." The artiste is trying to divert himself from reality as much as possible, spending more time in his home studio to make new music. "I am trying to learn visual editing, something that I've wanted to do for a while now. One thing that I am grateful for is being able to spend more time with my wife and daughter." Bappa asserted that even though innovations like online concerts on social media are helping, more needs to be done to keep musicians afloat.  

Another star in the industry, Kona, says that anxiety is her bane during these times. "I can't explain the emotional roller-coaster I am on right now, as I keep scrolling through my news feed and am terrified of whatever is going on around the world," she says. The talented singer spends her time doing daily household tasks, barely able to concentrate on music. "I entered self-isolation with a sore throat. Moreover, it is very difficult for me to get myself to practice in this state of mind," says Kona, who believes that everything will be alright soon. "In spite of all the negativity, I believe that we will come through as a nation. Every now and then, when I see something positive on the internet, I pray that it is true," she says.

Mahadi

Positivity is the strongest weapon one can yield in the middle of a pandemic, according to Mahadi. The artiste, who is also the Head of Business in the retail chain Swapno, has taken a huge step in helping out struggling musicians gain employment. "We were having constant meetings about the HR crisis and shortage of workers we were experiencing; so, I convinced the team to hire out-of-work session musicians. I am glad to say, they are doing very well." The commendable initiative, Mahadi's brainchild, is now providing food on the table for the families of some of the most neglected professionals in the country. "After the coronavirus hit, everyone was concerned about the day-to-day earners, and what will happen to them. However, no one thought of musicians who perform and earn on a daily basis, as music itself is unfortunately not considered a "real" profession in this country. I am happy that my organisation could do something for them."

Minar

Minar, who is now recording at his home studio, is skeptical of how sustainable it would be to work from home as a musician. "During the Eid season, a lot of investment in music come in from the record labels. However, this time, there is little to no initiative," says the concerned artiste. "I had planned out 2020 meticulously, but the pandemic has poured cold water on all my plans. Musicians have gone into survival mode by now." However, the singer is utilising his time at home, concentrating on his artworks. "I am painting almost every day, and want to hold an exhibition of these paintings after this ordeal ends. No matter how cornered we are, I believe that we will find a way to get through this together." 

Rafa

Raef Al Hasan Rafa has found his time in quarantine extremely productive. "I know that the lack of shows has been a nuisance, but I have used this time indoors to rediscover myself as an artiste," says the AvoidRafa frontman, who feels like he had hit a musician's block for a while, before. The multi-instrumentalist noted that once a performer finds success, his work starts becoming formulaic. "For the last three or four years, I feel like I had been making the same kind of music with similar chords, which people have grown to associate with me. However, now, I have been experimenting with different types of sounds." Rafa explained that it is inevitable that online fests and shows will become the norms, if the situation stays the same. "Modern problems require modern solutions. We are already seeing initiatives like online-ticketed festivals for musicians. I am sure that we will find a way," he adds.

Photo: Sheikh Mehedi Morshed