My best is yet to come: Ayub Bachchu in his last interview with The Daily Star

What differentiates a spectacular musician from a true maestro is his everlasting appeal; one that is perhaps earned through an endless drive, commitment and passion for music. Even though Ayub Bachchu had a legendary career with both LRB and as a solo artiste, he continued his never-ending journey towards making even more memorable classics.

In June of 2018, The Daily Star sat down with the legendary Ayub Bachchu for what would be one of his last full-length interviews.

It seems like you have added a new guitar to your already majestic collection. Tell us about it.

I was just practicing with this one; it is a 'Rusty Cooley' signature guitar from Dean. Rusty Cooley is a guitarist I have grown to admire a lot in recent years. His technique is immaculate, and he is one of the fastest shredders in the world today.  Every guitar I own is like a friend of mine, and they listen to what I want to articulate through my tunes.

Do you listen to music from the newer bands in the industry?

Of course. I think the kids are doing some amazing work, and I love all of them. I will not take any particular names of musicians that I like, because that will be unfair to the others who are doing so well. They will go very far if they stay humble and passionate towards their craft.

Could you tell us about some of the new music you are working on at the moment?

I will be doing some new songs that will connect to the audience like none before them. The songs will bring back the feelings one could perhaps derive from "Cholo Bodley Jai" or "Keu Shukhi Noy". I am never the one to think that I have done enough, because I know that a musician's journey is endless. And from my side, the best is yet to come.

A lot of people have complained that the access to the internet and social media has made a negative impact on music as a whole, due to the 'viral' culture that has emerged. What are your thoughts on this?

Before putting the blame on something or someone, we have to look at what we ourselves are doing. The industry will always keep changing, we have to accept that and adapt to it. When you walked in to take this interview, you saw that I was practicing music, and getting ready for the next show. A musician should not think about what is going on around him; he should just be true to himself and keep on making music that he likes. In fact, I will request all the bands in the country to never stop believing in yourself, your day will come.

Do you have any message for your fans?

I want to request everyone to have respect for all artistes. Never share negativity regarding a particular musician or genre even if you do not like them. We badly need unity in the industry, and mutual respect is important not only among musicians, but their followers as well.