Poonam - The upcoming star in your musicdom
Rising from mixed albums Re/Evolution, Varitation No. 25 and Bonno, Poonam is the voice symbolising pure magnetism. Her yodelling vocal with creative flavour makes her forthcoming solo album one of the most anticipated,
New Age (NA): How and when did you become inclined towards music?
Poonam: My mother did a higher secondary course on music and, was my teacher since when I was two and a half years old. I was born in Doha, Qatar and moved to the USA at the age of eight; however, I never stopped taking music lessons. Music was always like an innate part of me.
NA: When did you record your first single?
Poonam: In the end of 2004, my aunt, Papiya, introduced me to music producer, Fuad Al Muqtadir, whom I affectionately call dadu. He heard my voice and instantly proposed to record a song called Basto Shohore, which later made to the album Re/Evolution in 2005. I am extremely grateful to my aunt for initiating this break for me.
NA: Tell us something about your upcoming album.
Poonam: The album will most likely have 10 songs of which three have already been recorded in New York at Fuad’s studio. As Fuad came back to Dhaka, I’m now recording in his studio.
There will be an original song called Jugey Jugey composed by Fuad and Shanto and it’s about the Tajmahal. The song is based on some true events. The best thing about the piece is that it has a part where a poem is recited and it’s wonderfully fused with the song. Lyrics wise, the track is very conceptual; I think my listeners will love it.
I finished recording another remix song called Naach Mayuri and another original track Jodi Kokhono, composed by Fuad and the lyrics were written by Rajib and Upol. There will be another interesting track Jodi Kokhono, which will be a slower number…often bluesy with flavours of Western gospel music.
NA: How would you differentiate yourself as a singer from your other contemporaries?
Poonam: Everyone is doing so well, plus, I think it’s for my listeners to decide how different I am.
NA: How many producers did you work with so far and how do you pick your songs?
Poonam: So far, it’s been only Fuad. As a producer he always picked my songs, gave all the guidelines and, all I did was sing my heart out.
NA: Positives and negatives of working with a producer.
Poonam: There are hardly any negatives to talk about since I worked with only one producer. Working with Dadu is so comfortable. We clicked instantly and the output was real fast and crisp.
NA: Who are the other producers and artistes that you like? Would you like to work with others as well?
Poonam: I love listening to productions of Habib, Bappa Majumder, Arnob and really admire Mila, Elita, Armeen, Anila and Sumon of Aurthohin. I would love to work with new producers and collaborate with other artistes.
NA: Your musical inspirations.
Poonam: The list of course starts with my mother, then, Sabina Yasmin, Runa Laila, Lata Mangeshkar and Celine Dion; I also listen to a variety of songs from different genres – mainly pop, hip-hop, rock and anything that sounds good. I think I’m more inclined towards Bengali songs because while staying abroad, Bangladeshi tradition was more emphasised in my home. Obviously, there is also a loving place for Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul Geeti.
NA: Do you play any musical instrument? If you were born as a musical instrument which one would you be and why?
Poonam: I play the Harmonium but only during rehearsing. If I was born an instrument, I think I would love to be a piano because there is something different about it. You can play the low and also the very high notes of music and bring out a whole lot of emotions – it’s really amazing!
NA: Why did you choose music as your passion and what is the purpose behind it?
Poonam: I never felt music to be a purpose. I do music for the love of it…for my mind and soul.
Poonam is now rehearsing hard for concerts in Bangladesh. She talks about having complete faith in her Dadu – Fuad, and is planning to take listeners with a storm. For us, it’s just a wait!
Poonam: My mother did a higher secondary course on music and, was my teacher since when I was two and a half years old. I was born in Doha, Qatar and moved to the USA at the age of eight; however, I never stopped taking music lessons. Music was always like an innate part of me.
NA: When did you record your first single?
Poonam: In the end of 2004, my aunt, Papiya, introduced me to music producer, Fuad Al Muqtadir, whom I affectionately call dadu. He heard my voice and instantly proposed to record a song called Basto Shohore, which later made to the album Re/Evolution in 2005. I am extremely grateful to my aunt for initiating this break for me.
NA: Tell us something about your upcoming album.
Poonam: The album will most likely have 10 songs of which three have already been recorded in New York at Fuad’s studio. As Fuad came back to Dhaka, I’m now recording in his studio.
There will be an original song called Jugey Jugey composed by Fuad and Shanto and it’s about the Tajmahal. The song is based on some true events. The best thing about the piece is that it has a part where a poem is recited and it’s wonderfully fused with the song. Lyrics wise, the track is very conceptual; I think my listeners will love it.
I finished recording another remix song called Naach Mayuri and another original track Jodi Kokhono, composed by Fuad and the lyrics were written by Rajib and Upol. There will be another interesting track Jodi Kokhono, which will be a slower number…often bluesy with flavours of Western gospel music.
NA: How would you differentiate yourself as a singer from your other contemporaries?
Poonam: Everyone is doing so well, plus, I think it’s for my listeners to decide how different I am.
NA: How many producers did you work with so far and how do you pick your songs?
Poonam: So far, it’s been only Fuad. As a producer he always picked my songs, gave all the guidelines and, all I did was sing my heart out.
NA: Positives and negatives of working with a producer.
Poonam: There are hardly any negatives to talk about since I worked with only one producer. Working with Dadu is so comfortable. We clicked instantly and the output was real fast and crisp.
NA: Who are the other producers and artistes that you like? Would you like to work with others as well?
Poonam: I love listening to productions of Habib, Bappa Majumder, Arnob and really admire Mila, Elita, Armeen, Anila and Sumon of Aurthohin. I would love to work with new producers and collaborate with other artistes.
NA: Your musical inspirations.
Poonam: The list of course starts with my mother, then, Sabina Yasmin, Runa Laila, Lata Mangeshkar and Celine Dion; I also listen to a variety of songs from different genres – mainly pop, hip-hop, rock and anything that sounds good. I think I’m more inclined towards Bengali songs because while staying abroad, Bangladeshi tradition was more emphasised in my home. Obviously, there is also a loving place for Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul Geeti.
NA: Do you play any musical instrument? If you were born as a musical instrument which one would you be and why?
Poonam: I play the Harmonium but only during rehearsing. If I was born an instrument, I think I would love to be a piano because there is something different about it. You can play the low and also the very high notes of music and bring out a whole lot of emotions – it’s really amazing!
NA: Why did you choose music as your passion and what is the purpose behind it?
Poonam: I never felt music to be a purpose. I do music for the love of it…for my mind and soul.
Poonam is now rehearsing hard for concerts in Bangladesh. She talks about having complete faith in her Dadu – Fuad, and is planning to take listeners with a storm. For us, it’s just a wait!
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