In Search of Self Expression

We choose to express ourselves in many ways. Our unique nature enables us to choose our medium of expression, be it as a painter, a musician or a writer. The goal usually is to communicate our understanding of society as a whole, or everyday truths that are usually not addressed by people in general. That is what Syed Waqeel Ahad attempts with his songs. 

A practically self-taught musician, Ahad used to observe singers in trains, bazaars and other localities to learn how they projected their voice. 
“When I was young, I used to travel by train a lot to our hometown (Kishoreganj) and that is when I first started to get drawn to these singers. They have the purest of voices and I could not help but get lured into their tunes. Their pitch could cut through the sound of the train and reach the listeners. If you have ever heard these bohemian singers, you will know what I am talking about,” Ahad said in an interview. 
As a child, Ahad, now 40, grew up in a household where music was a part of his daily life. His sister and aunt were learning to sing under a teacher named Ranjan Ahmed, and Ahad used to watch them. 
“My father was into music as well. So, I grew up with people around me practising this art. I was always into music, but I did not get any training from any institution or teacher before I entered the world of music. I joined Nazrul Academy (in Dhaka) much later for formal training,” Ahad said. 
The multitalented musician has a penchant for playing different percussion instruments, flute and dotara, a stringed folk instrument. He has difficulty playing the guitar due to an accident in his earlier years, and that has been a real struggle for the singer.
About his fusion experimentation, Ahad said: “Fusion is already well accepted in the urban circle, but the challenge is to maintain the fine line. The blending is very subtle when you attempt it with Baul music, as it is the complete opposite of Western style. There is a big chance that either style will be underplayed or overstressed. I find this challenge very interesting. I am happy that my audience appreciates our fusion, and all credit goes to the brilliant musicians.”
Singer, composer, lyricist, Ahad believes all the elements of music are present in nature and life everywhere. He has travelled to almost every corner of Bangladesh, as well as abroad, to enrich his understanding of music and to experience what other musicians, who are deep rooted to the soil and their cultural heritage, had to offer. He spent a considerable time of his life with the Bauls, living in different parts of the country.
Waqeel Ahad started writing songs when he was a student of class seven; he now has more than 1,000 songs to his name. His songs mostly deal with nature, human psyche, relationships and messages of social awareness. He has worked with renowned local and foreign musicians and experimented with different genres, like Eastern classical, jazz, blues and Sufi music. 
In 2014, Ahad won MTV Platinum Disc Award for the video of Amrito Megher Bari, which topped MTV Bangladesh’s chart for 12 consecutive weeks. In 2013, he represented Bangladesh in the Indian phase of British Council’s musical project, Folk Nations, which featured fusion of folk songs from different parts of the world. 
Ahad emerged on the Bangladeshi music scene through the song ‘Cellphone amar cellphone’, which was written and composed by him. The song was released in the mixed album, Jhalmuri-2, in 2007. He presented songs by Lalon and other Bauls in his next album, Project-365, which was received well by his fans. His songs in the mixed album, Saturday Sessions, were also widely appreciated. He has composed and directed numerous jingles for TV commercials of different local and multinational brands. 
In his latest album, Waqeel-er Gaan, Ahad has fused folk, Baul and Western musical styles in most of the songs, which were also written and composed by him. The album got nominated for the 9th Citycell Music Award. He has also sung five songs for the yet-to-be released film, Nomuna, directed by Enamul Karim. 

In Search of Self Expression

We choose to express ourselves in many ways. Our unique nature enables us to choose our medium of expression, be it as a painter, a musician or a writer. The goal usually is to communicate our understanding of society as a whole, or everyday truths that are usually not addressed by people in general. That is what Syed Waqeel Ahad attempts with his songs. A practically self-taught musician, Ahad used to observe singers in trains, bazaars and other localities to learn how they projected their voice. When I was young, I used to travel by train a lot to our hometown (Kishoreganj) and that is when I first started to get drawn to these singers. They have the purest of voices and I could not help but get lured into their tunes. Their pitch could cut through the sound of the train and reach the listeners. If you have ever heard these bohemian singers, you will know what I am talking about, Ahad said in an interview. As a child, Ahad, now 40, grew up in a household where music was a part of his daily life. His sister and aunt were learning to sing under a teacher named Ranjan Ahmed, and Ahad used to watch them. My father was into music as well. So, I grew up with people around me practising this art. I was always into music, but I did not get any training from any institution or teacher before I entered the world of music. I joined Nazrul Academy (in Dhaka) much later for formal training, Ahad said. The multitalented musician has a penchant for playing different percussion instruments, flute and dotara, a stringed folk instrument. He has difficulty playing the guitar due to an accident in his earlier years, and that has been a real struggle for the singer. About his fusion experimentation, Ahad said: Fusion is already well accepted in the urban circle, but the challenge is to maintain the fine line. The blending is very subtle when you attempt it with Baul music, as it is the complete opposite of Western style. There is a big chance that either style will be underplayed or overstressed. I find this challenge very interesting. I am happy that my audience appreciates our fusion, and all credit goes to the brilliant musicians. Singer, composer, lyricist, Ahad believes all the elements of music are present in nature and life everywhere. He has travelled to almost every corner of Bangladesh, as well as abroad, to enrich his understanding of music and to experience what other musicians, who are deep rooted to the soil and their cultural heritage, had to offer. He spent a considerable time of his life with the Bauls, living in different parts of the country. Waqeel Ahad started writing songs when he was a student of class seven; he now has more than 1,000 songs to his name. His songs mostly deal with nature, human psyche, relationships and messages of social awareness. He has worked with renowned local and foreign musicians and experimented with different genres, like Eastern classical, jazz, blues and Sufi music. In 2014, Ahad won MTV Platinum Disc Award for the video of Amrito Megher Bari, which topped MTV Bangladeshs chart for 12 consecutive weeks. In 2013, he represented Bangladesh in the Indian phase of British Councils musical project, Folk Nations, which featured fusion of folk songs from different parts of the world. Ahad emerged on the Bangladeshi music scene through the song Cellphone amar cellphone, which was written and composed by him. The song was released in the mixed album, Jhalmuri-2, in 2007. He presented songs by Lalon and other Bauls in his next album, Project-365, which was received well by his fans. His songs in the mixed album, Saturday Sessions, were also widely appreciated. He has composed and directed numerous jingles for TV commercials of different local and multinational brands. In his latest album, Waqeel-er Gaan, Ahad has fused folk, Baul and Western musical styles in most of the songs, which were also written and composed by him. The album got nominated for the 9th Citycell Music Award. He has also sung five songs for the yet-to-be released film, Nomuna, directed by Enamul Karim.