Zohad Reza Chowdhury

What inspired you to start singing?

Nothing in particular, if I'm being honest. My friend, Maher performed with his band in school, and it inspired me. Also, the fact that music can send out positive messages has also inspired me over the years.

How did your journey with 'Nemesis' begin?

I wanted to sing at a friend's birthday party, and I asked Maher to help me out. So, I went to practice with them. After the jamming session, they asked me to join their band, as they had liked my singing. That's how it all began.

Did you have any mentors?

Not at first, but when I started singing on a regular basis, I realised that I had to train my vocals. So, I trained myself in Indian classical music. But I never had a proper mentor for my singing.

Do you play any instruments?

I play guitars and can also play the drums a little.

You have released a new song recently. Does that mean an album is on the way?

We don't have an album coming just yet. And due to our drummer, Dio being sick, we are not planning on one. We recorded two songs with Dio before he fell ill; one was Ami, and the other will be released soon. We are focusing on singles, and maybe we will eventually release an EP.

What qualities does an aspiring musician require?

Dedication, commitment and the ability to always have your feet on the ground, and to keep going forward. You also have to keep on practising. There are a lot of talented musicians, but sometimes, it seems like they lack proper dedication and commitment. They need to practise and learn a lot more.

What is the life of a musician like?

In Bangladesh, it is pretty normal. The band gets together to practise twice every week. But whenever I come across fans who tell me that they like my music, it feels like a blessing. Whenever people tell me that they appreciate my music, or whenever we go up on stage and see people singing along to our songs, it seems unbelievable.

What kind of music do you enjoy listening to?

I enjoy listening to all kinds of music. But, I mainly listen to rock music. I also love listening to House and Techno music.

What is your favourite tour memory?

We had a tour, The Grameenphone Bondhu Garage, in 2014. It was probably the first time we did a show outside Dhaka. We went to many remote areas and saw people singing our songs, and it was quite overwhelming.

Do you have any message for our readers?

I want everyone to be true to themselves. Everyone should be honest, do good things and support each other. Many of us don't do that. We become too self-engrossed, but I think that we should look out for people around us, and try to make things better for everyone.