Contemporising the traditional

Arko Sumon

Arko Sumon is an emerging musician. At present he is working as a music director with Bengal Music Company Ltd. He is a regular member of the troupe Shamogeet and constant onstage companion [on guitar] of Kazi Krishnokoli Islam.
Arko's initiation in music happened like many other youngsters, through listening radio and audio cassettes. He used to copy and sing songs those he felt for. With this inspiration, he introduced with flute and gradually learned playing ektara, guitar, banjo and mandolin.
Later he completed a course on composition run by Swedish Embassy here in Dhaka.
He further bolstered his appreciation with music through joining the troupe Shamogeet. The young musician says, “Before joining Shamogeet, I went over some of the group's songs. The lyrics deeply moved me.”
At present Arko is working on Krishnokoli's upcoming solo album “Bunophul” as the music director.
The album will feature 10 songs. Among them, seven are collected Santal tunes, while two are on the beat jhumur. One song is written and tuned by Krishnokoli.
Arko said that the upcoming album will feature traditional instruments with a dominating role of percussions such as madol, dhak, dhol etc. He informed the album will be released in next month. Bengal Music will produce the album.
Apart from “Bunophul”, he is also busy with Shamogeet's second album. The politically aware troupe has been emphasising songs depicting political issues in the upcoming album. “There are songs on Tipaimukh as well as on Phulbari coal mine issues will be featured in the upcoming album,” says Arko.
About his future plan, Arko said that he wants to modernise Bangla songs, especially through a new approach in musical arrangements but never overlooking the traditional tunes. “We have a vast repertoire of traditional music. I want to use them in an approach that no one can say that I overlooked the tradition,” concludes Arko.