Bangla, Bangladesh

Bangla, a leading contemporary fusion band from Bangladesh merges Bengali folk songs with western music. Formed in 1998, the Band has brought in a unique sound to the music of Bangladesh – a blend of folk, Baul and western jazz-rock.

Shayan Chowdhury Arnob, trained in classical music, fine arts, filmmaking, animation and an Esraj player, started the Band. Anusheh Anadil, the lead singer of Bangla has trained in Indian classical music under Ustad Sagiruddin Khan – the sarangi maestro and Kalpana Bhattacharya of the Agra gharaana. She went on to learn Baul music under Kangalini Sufia and Rob Fakir. Faizan Ahmad Buno, Bangla’s Bassist is a musician, sound engineer and a photographer. Al Fahmi Kazi Bashar Kaartik – Bangla’s lead guitarist and Dotara player is a member of Prachyanat, a popular experimental theatre group of Dhaka. Nazrul Islam is the finest Dhol artist of Bangladesh and Tarek Bin Taher Akhanji Jibon is a drummer.

Bangla is acclaimed for its performances in Bangladesh and across the globe. They performed recently at Rostock, Germany along with musicians such as Bono (U2) and Bob Geldof, at the Your Voice Against Poverty concert.

Bangla’s debut album, Kingkortobbobimuroh, is one of the highest selling albums in Bangladesh. Their second album Prottutponnomotitto spoke out against the rise of fundamentalism in Bangladesh and was well received. The album produced in collaboration with musicians from England is a tribute to Fakir Lalon Shai.

BANGLA

ANUSHEH ANADIL

Lead Vocalist & Mondira

SHAYAN CHOWDHURY (ARNOB)

Vocals & Guitar

FAIZAN RASHID AHMAD (BUNO)

Bass, Vocals & Guitar

AL FAHMI KAZI BASHAR (KAARTIK)

Guitar, Vocals & Dotara

NAZRUL ISLAM

Dhol

TAREK BIN TAHER AKHANJI (JIBON)

Drums