“Nazrul created not only music, but also artistes” – Swani Zubayeer

Versatile singer and national film award-winning music director Swani Zubayeer has a knack for experimenting with different styles and genres. The artiste grew up in an environment where he learnt to retain and respect our unique cultural identity in all its diversity and richness. In a conversation with The Daily Star, the artiste shared his connection to Kazi Nazrul Islam and his music. 

“Kazi Nazrul Islam used to visit our family quite regularly. My maternal grandfather, poet Khan Mohammad Moinuddin was close to Nazrul. Both of them were behind bars in Hoogley jail for six months for their rebellious role in writing editorials against the then British Raj in a Newspaper, edited by Kazi Nazrul Islam,” says Swani. “My grandfather wrote a book, 'Jugsroshta Nazrul' that later earned UNESCO award.”  

“My mother Khurshid Jahan would sing Nazrul Sangeet. My maternal uncles and aunts would also often sing Nazrul Sangeet and Rabindra Sangeet, and our Old Dhaka house had a constant cultural ambience. I remember those memories, and they have an internal impact on my psyche and I always feel that Kazi Nazrul Islam is our family member. I have been learning Nazrul Sangeet since then. I find wonder and joy while I render his songs. It baffles me how the poet composed such vast volumes of music in a career spanning just 22 years. He not only created music, but also artistes at the same time. He would love to give freedom to the artistes, which was his unique quality,” said Swani.

Bengal Foundation has produced Swani Zubayeer's latest Nazrul Sangeet album “Keno Megh-er Chhaya”, for which Swani himself arranged music and instrumentations, while several noted Indian instrumentalists recorded symphony of classical pieces for the album. 

The singer-lyricist-composer released his debut album “Saara” in 1998, and has eight solo albums to his credit. Swani Zubayeer earned his Master's Degree in Western Classical Composition from the Royal University College of Music in Stockholm, Sweden and also received training in Indian Classical Music from Ustad Mazhar Ali Khan and Ustad Jawad Ali Khan. 

His vision is to create a symphony orchestra in Bangladesh for which he sacrificed a musical career in Sweden.