ZAREEN NAWAR

“I might have been making a name for myself during the tail end of my teenage years, but that also entailed eventually making deals and working with questionable people,” divulged Dameer Khan. The once-emerging, unprecedented talent recently spoke with The Daily Star over a call from Canada to share his story — involving a critical legal dispute with his former management and the rise of his nightlife business prior to the release of his brand-new song, Khancha .

Earlier this year, the Amar Jaan singer had shared what he legally could about his situation online. Now, he sounds enthused, with an assured confidence. “I had some terrible experiences that revealed how corrupt certain ranks in the industry are, but I got lucky to some extent because I am a man. It also made way for me to begin DJing.”

“Generating music is my craft, but once the legal dispute began, it unfortunately kept me from making my music. However, the booming nightlife in Canada saved my life,” said Dameer. He acquired business skills he wouldn’t have learned otherwise. The young Bangladeshi diaspora in Canada, whom he called “stubbornly patriotic,” sought Bangladeshi music over other South Asian genres. “This led to my partners and me launching a show booking venture, eventually working with artistes from other countries.”

On finding his way back to music, he made the most of his contacts. “To maintain my relevance, I DJed and kept my existing music around people. I negotiated with labels, secured funding for new music, and worked with a team of Bangladeshi creatives—we shot a music video last March.”

He was referring to the Khancha music video, directed by Monzur Anik. It was released on August 5, aligning with the day of the July Uprising. A reflection on the revolution, the track is intrinsically artistic. He recounted, “Remember how we were terrified that our phones might be tapped before and during the Internet shutdown last July? We collectively felt as if we were caged in by our government, on top of witnessing their brutalities. It made me think of the Bangla proverb, ‘If you clip a bird’s wings, you don’t need a cage.’ The concept of the song originated from that thought.”

Khancha boldly calls out the lies constructed by the previous regime, serves as an anthem for Bangladeshis to have a backbone, and flaunts Dameer’s dynamic vocal range, with the promise of fresher music ahead.

Looking ahead, Dameer believes Gen Z must restructure artist management to move forward effectively for the future. “We barely have institutional strength. A person with talent doesn’t always have business sense, especially in a country where IP law is ignored and musicians aren’t properly paid. We need labels, support, and legal protection. Don’t get me wrong—the industry has many well-intentioned people. I survived thanks to my community and family. But it’s a cold world, and new artistes need to be careful.”