Sadi Mohammad Shahnewaz

Khan Moidul Islam Shuvo, also known as Drockstar Shuvo by many fans, has been consistently delivering hit songs for the last two decades. The renowned vocalist, who is known for songs like “Nitol Paye”, is still hustling on amidst the pandemic. We talk to the frontman for Fuad and Friends and Shuvo Jatra about his current projects, future plans and more.

How have you coped up with the pandemic?

Even though it hasn’t been easy, I have tried my best to stay busy during the ongoing Covid-19 phase. I have released acoustic arrangements of 3 new songs and 2 old songs from my YouTube channel, for which I have played all the instruments myself. I like to think of these 5 songs as a digital ‘album’.

However, I did not have access to my best gears during the recording – it was done without my midi keyboard and a basic Indian Givson guitar. Even though I thought that my midi keyboard broke, I had actually forgotten to plug it in correctly during the recording sessions!

Is it difficult for you to manage a full-time job and music simultaneously?

Not at all, to be honest. I love working at Asiatic. Even after a tiring workday, when I hit the first note in a practice session, all the fatigue vanishes from my body! You can say that I love what I do and do what I love!

You are well-known for the consistency of your voice. Do you have any special secrets to spare with upcoming vocalists?

The key is to constantly keep singing. You’ll notice that if you don’t sing for a month, your voice will take a significantly long time to reach its optimal state. Warm ups are also very important, as hitting high notes without warming up your voice can hinder or permanently damage it. There are many warm up lessons on YouTube that anyone can access, I would strongly recommend following one of your choosing.

The music industry has to adapt to the lack of shows. How do you see the industry going forward?

I will say that even though I miss doing shows, alternative methods of interaction and earning are coming up – which is essential for the survival of the industry. There are apps in development, including one from my own workplace, that will ease the process of streaming online shows. All in all, I am hopeful for the future.

What is your ultimate destination as a musician?

I just want to keep on singing; there is not ultimate “goal” for me. I don’t want to compete with others, I just do what is best for me. There will be times that I will be super-active in the industry and others when I’m barely visible – and that’s okay. To jump higher, you have to pause for a bit – this is something that I believe.

Photo: Sheikh Mehedi Morshed