A Chat With Syed Abdul Hadi

Syed Abdul Hadi

To begin with, can you please tell our readers about your latest endeavour titled "The Legend Syed Abdul Hadi"?

I have been pondering for some time now and planning on an album with a variety of the compilation of songs I've recorded over the years. My prime focus was on the songs from the 60s to the 80s. During that period, the record labels were not yet commercial, thus my songs were only played on the television and the radio. Due to that reason, many of my songs were lost and many more were on the verge of obsolescence. Therefore, I decided to sing the songs again, so that they may last for years to come.

What kind of songs can the listeners expect to discover in your latest album?

Often, I was told by many that they could not find the type of my album in the market that they were looking for. Therefore, keeping the fans on my mind, I have added songs from three different categories which were in demand- modern songs, film songs and patriotic songs.

Can you share with us the modern experience you had re-recording the vintage melodies?

It was definitely a fascinating experience to re-record the age-old songs. However, before the recording, I was rigid about the fact that even though we were recording with the latest equipment in a state-of-the-art studio, I wanted my songs to sound and feel as if they were from back in the days. Hence, we used all acoustic instruments to preserve the authenticity. Nonetheless, given the time frame of my songs, my vocals are not exactly the same as they were forty years ago. So the listeners might find a slight touch of modernity in that aspect. 

Were you able to include all the songs of your choice in the album?

I had a hard time with the older songs, many of which I could not recall. So my fans stepped forward and provided me with the songs they had archived. Many of my fans even suggested the lost songs they wanted to listen to, but the problem was, even though I could recall the tune compositions for those songs, I couldn't recall the lyrics. I had to work for a year and a half for the album to materialize, and as far as I am concerned, there has not been any such production in our country.

How was the feedback after the release of the album?

I am glad to say that the responses from my fans are always optimistic. However, those who used to listen to songs on CDs earlier don't do so now. Everybody is so reliant on the internet. The compilation of my four-CD album was my commitment, and I am pleased to have achieved it; it shall remain as a testament to the music industry. It is joyful to know that even the listeners from the young generation have expressed gratification towards my album. 

Could you enlighten our readers about the documentary that was made on behalf of you?

Previously, I got many such proposals, but I had to contradict. I did not think that I was worthy of a documentary. It was a part of the overall project of Bangla Dhol, the music label who wanted to release a documentary along with my four-CD album. Overall, I'm rather grateful that Sadat Hossain has given his best to produce the documentary, also titled "The Legend Syed Abdul Hadi".

Interviewed by Zahid Akbar

Narrated by Minam Haq