Whether in journalism, music, or public discourse, she has consistently chosen engagement over retreat. She believes culture itself emerges from people’s responses to their circumstances. Songs, literature, and art often reflect the realities people are trying to navigate. That understanding has shaped not only her worldview, but also her creative work.

Karim grew up in Saudi Arabia within a vibrant Bangladeshi expatriate community. Culture was not something reserved for special occasions. It was woven into everyday life.

“Parents are usually a child’s first muse,” she says.

Her father, Mohammad Nurul Karim,an English lecturer, became known for organising Eid gatherings, Pahela Baishakh celebrations, Independence Day programmes, and musical events that brought Bangladeshis together. Her mother, Dilruba Begum, meanwhile, taught patriotic songs and children’s songs to community youngsters.

Neither was a professional musician, but both believed in nurturing creativity. If Karim sang a note incorrectly, they would point it out. Looking back, she sees even those corrections as encouragement.

“If I didn’t get that encouragement from home, I would not have been able to move forward with music,” she says.

Another important influence arrived later in Karim’s life.

She credits her husband, award-winning filmmaker Ashfaque Nipun, with reshaping how she approaches setbacks and uncertainty.

“Crises are inevitable,” she says. “But they don’t have to define you. What matters is how you respond to them.” And this philosophy appears throughout her career.