Onirbaan.com- The Home of G-series/Geetanjoly!! - Tahsan: Up-close and personal

Every person who has romance in his or her heart would love to live in a house like his. A very old fashioned vintage house decorated by huge garden at the front. The driveway is equally old fashioned with precision trimmed green hedges along the winding driveway. The only thing that was missing was the gravel laid driveway; otherwise anyone would mistake it for an English Country House. The guard in Olive, at the gate was equally old fashioned but humble. We drove along the driveway and found the teenage heart-throb under the porch waiting to receive us with his boyish smile.

The boy has charisma that no words can define. His graceful smiles could indulge any grown up. But still

everything about Tahsan was so innocent and calm. Born as the youngest child, has an MIT grad older brother residing in USA. Living alone with his parents, single and bachelor, Tahsan’s been the good boy of the family.

Many readers may not know the information of Tahsan having a Masters in Business Administration from our esteemed Dhaka Uni. IBA. Now waiting for his intern to conclude, Tahsan worked with UniLever-one of the biggest multinationals in Bangladesh, for about a year after his BBA was complete on 2003.

His college life can be imagined when you hear the list of BD heavy-metal legends who went to the same college, none other then Notterdame-Dhaka. But talking about his School, it was very clear-how proud he is to be a Joshephyte.

After the brief but heartiest welcome and reception part, we went directly to his work station, from where he produces the great songs and tunes that he is so popular for. The room was big enough to accommodate any badminton court, and the ceiling was so high, it looked very close to the sky. The neatness of such room, describes how disciplined this rocker is in his personal life.

We had a long discussion with the young maestro regarding his music and the band –Black. And there

came the first shock for Onirbaan.com. This calm and poised looking kid has decided to take music as his profession and been turning down much attractive job offers from many well known Organizations. It’s not everyday in Bangladesh, you hear a MBA graduate deciding to take Music as his Profession with so much confidence.

When asked how his parents are taking this decision, he agreed, it was not easy at first - “But my devotion to my music and the confidence shown in me by Mr. Khalid of Gseries has helped my parents to bless me with my future plan.”

Tahsan believes there’s no substitute for more training and lessons to become what he dreams of becoming. There are great needs of proper Schooling in Music. He plans to enroll himself at a very well reputed Foreign Music School in the coming years and get proper academic background in Music (don’t worry girls, he will be back), sounded very mature and well planned. After all he is been trained by the country’s best, at Dhaka IBA. We hope and pray that soon the dreams of this devoted soul would come true and we, the audience would be gifted by higher magnitude of his music.

Listening to this young M.B.A graduate, Onirbaan.com was overwhelmed by the fact that Dhaka IBA -Institute of Business Administration- is producing such excellent Young Gentlemen who not only knows the Corporate Culture well, but also respects and practice its rules and values in real life.

Before we go into the question and answear part of the interview, we would like to inform our readers that we have decided against printing any of Tahsans comments on the Rockfest issue since we feel that we have already published most of the points talked about during the interview and that we have already established many points which pose some seriously questions on the validity of such an event. We have concluded our investigation until some new information is brought to our attention.

Now to the question and answer portion of the Interview:

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Onirbaan: So Tahsan, you have been working on a new album for the past couple of months. How was it like this time working on your solo project?

Tahsan: Honestly, it was very stressful this time. Things were simpler when I used to do music for fun. Things have changed so much… the number of fans and critics has increased, so have the expectations from them. So this time it was like walking on a thin line, working to win over the maximum audience while maintaining my quality expectations. Earning a living means going for big hits, but doing that while also going for critical acclaim, that' s hard… too much stress bro.

Onirbaan: How different will this album be compared to your past solo album?

Tahsan: Last time I played around with the keyboards/synths a lot. This time I have limited the use of the keys to a minimum and tried to use more of acoustic drums, piano, guitars and bass. So no pop tracks except perhaps the first track. I’m back to where I belong, to my rock roots.

Onirbaan: Can you say a little bit about the songs? And rate them so that we know which are the ones you like most.

Tahsan:

Track 1 Prematal: This is the only track that will remind you of kathopokathon. Even if my last album was not in your playlist for too long you might just love the bass line in this song… 7 out of 10

Track 2 Shosta khov: This is my best composition ever… I hope ppl will love the sound of my piano, acoustic guitars n the drums. And musicians, who are into playing around with different scales at a stretch, you’ll have fun grappling with the chords. 9 out of 10

Track 3 Kichukkhon: This is a sweet no frills love song. G-series is banking on this song to pay my bill :) 8.5 out of 10

Track 4 Krittodasher nirban: I’ll die a happy man if just one single person gets what I am trying to say in this song… Unrated.

Track 5 Kada: An average song dedicated to my best friend, who is working his ass off trying to make my life miserable. 7 out of 10

Track 6 Niranobboi: Nothing to do with religion, a lot to do with mysticism though.

Track 7 Odrishsho robi: To all you rockers out there who r single. Tried to make a genre of my own… kept my original tone, and didn’t try to scream, thinking I might sound like a wannabe-metal-vocal.

Track 8 Ekattor: Tried to write a song about the Great War, but couldn’t succeed this time… but the emotions are there. 7 out of 10

Track 9 Chader hat: How can u not like the bass and the drums not to mention the wah wah guitars. Scale busters, eat your heart out. 9.5 out of 10

Track 10 Sroter sheshe: Irish Bagpipes and Shanai - 'nuff sed... Works as a good mood capsule and definitely crosses the age barrier. 9 out of 10

Track 11 Chayar shorir: Old school desi rock track. Sounds better at around 100 kmph. 7.5 out of 10, 10 out 10 with sony explode inside ur hot rod.

Track 12 Aena: Anyone for country? 7 out of 10

Onirbaan: What do you like best about being a musician?

Tahsan: Living a bohemian life, not having a 9-6 work life…

Onirbaan: How would you describe your sound and Black's sound to a person who has not yet seen or heard your music?

Tahsan: Black is an alternative rock band, so we try to do altrock numbers in black. And… I explore different genres in my solo projects. In kathopokoton it was synth pop, this time it is acoustic rock, next time it might be psychedelic fusion.

Onirbaan: Black performed in Onirbaan few days prior to the tragedy. Tell us about your experience performing for the Onirbaan.com Audiences.

Tahsan: Its was a cool, one of a kind experience… singing and reading the threads ion big screen was kinda fun. It was great to see how enthusiastic people are about our music. We loved every bit of it.

Onirbaan: Now let's talk about career as an actor. How did you start?

Tahsan: Career!!! I am a lousy actor, even if I could make it as an actor, I would not want to become a pro… once in a while just for fun maybe.

Onirbaan: How has success changed your life?

Tahsan: Success??? Still have a long way to go bro… I haven’t changed that much, I’m still your average bangali… but things have changed quite a lot around me.

Onirbaan: Has it become difficult to enjoy some quality time alone with your friends without being bothered by your fans?

Tahsan: Hey, still not that famous… pushing the modesty aside, it all kinda makes life less boring. Enjoying the fame while it lasts.

Onirbaan: So Tahsan, why do you think kids these days look up to you and your fellow band members?

Tahsan: Do they? I guess its cuz, we are sth that they can call their own, a part of Bangladesh. Perhaps because we have changed the common notion that musicians find refuge in drugs. Or perhaps we brought in a change in the music industry along with all the other bands under g-series. Or perhaps we rock… I think u should ask the fans.

Onirbaan: What are some of the critiques that people give you and your thoughts on them?

Tahsan: Too many out there to mention and to rationalize… I just try to learn from the ones with substance, and ignore the rest. Bottom line, I am my biggest critique, n I see that as a strength…

Onirbaan: If you could pick three (3) musicians past or present to play a dream concert with you whom would you pick and where would your dream concert be?

Tahsan: Joe Satriani in guitars, George Winston in piano, Fredrik Thordendal in Drums… Tahsan in bass and voice, huh huh huh. Live in Dholaikhal.

Onirbaan: Do you have anything to say to your fans who will read this Interview?

Tahsan: Always dreamt of becoming a professional musician. But seriously, I never thought that there would be enough people out here who would listen to my music. Thanks for proving me wrong. But hey, still have a lot to do right? Hope u’ll all be there for me till the end. Rock on… Thanks onirbaan.com

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