KARISHMA SANU SOVVOTA

Tell us a little bit about yourself. What are you doing these days?
I am actually doing nothing recently. I worked on few songs of my own music, lyrics and vocal. I would like to release an album with these songs. Apart from music, I am doing my major in Indian classics under Department of Music at Dhaka University.
You are earning popularity as a young singer. Why the delay in releasing your album?
I think it's a big deal for me. Besides, I am not ready yet to take the initiative for releasing my album. I have not found anyone to do the job for me. But I am hopeful that I will be able to release it soon.
Are you playing anywhere publicly?
On top of learning more about music, I have done few jingles for Grameenphone very recently. I am doing some music concert simultaneously as well. Those are not very serious work though. I am thinking about how I can work more on composing music.
How did your interest grow on music?
My father is a music teacher and my siblings are also singers. Therefore, I was lucky to have been groomed early on about music. From very early years of life, I concentrated on music. Besides, there is a music school at my house named 'Anondom Songitangon School' where people come to learn music. I had privilege to listen to their 'rewaz' everyday. That is how my interest in music grew.
Singing means a lot of practice and confidence. How confident are you as a musician?
I don't know really. I grew up in an atmosphere where music is everything. In fact, my father thought singing is not possible for me since my voice was not melodious. But my plus point is that I don't sing professionally. Therefore, I don't have to worry much about how successful I am with listeners. I sing solely from my passion, mode and emotion. However, I am growing confident day by day.
Why did you choose classical rather than any other types?
Largely due to the family grooming that I received. With a view to improve on that, I concentrated on classical in my academic life. Secondly, I think classical is a huge ground to work on. It provides a lot of theoretical knowledge and scope for improvising one's own ideas.
What do you think of the contemporary other singers and musicians?
It's a tough question for me, I guess. Honestly speaking, Bangladesh is a place where nobody can make a living on singing or composing alone. A singer or musician often has to think about commercial production, which ultimately causes them to drift away from their brilliance. I am upset that we don't really have any platform in Bangladesh where we create something for the sake of creating it.
Do you think piracy is responsible for worsening the condition of our music industry?
No, never. I think piracy is very good in the Bangladeshi context. Anyone can download what they like for free and listen to various kinds of music. They can listen to newly released songs. The preconception that singers do not get money due to the piracy is not quite true, I think. In global perspective, piracy is bad but in our context it is very good.
Who are your favorite singers or bands? Who do you listen to most of the time?
I listen to Anjun Dutt from a very early age. Besides, Dream Theatre, Pink Floyd, Metallica, Beatles, The Doors and Alternative are my favorite. I listen to Arnob, the Bangladeshi singer very often.
What is your future plan? Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
I would like to be a teacher of classical music. I think teaching is much better than singing alone. In fact, anyone cannot make a living with mere singing in Bangladesh. Teaching can facilitate me sticking to my passion, music, and an opportunity to enhance it.