Straight from the heart” but strictly “no love songs”, that’s singer-songwriter Anupam Roy’s third album Bakyobageesh, a collection of eight songs which he describes as “a social commentary where every song is a reaction to certain events in our lives and in our society.” Heavy on humour, satire and lines that hit hard, almost like “pots and pans being hurled”, Anupam takes us through his fresh brand of music and lyrics he fears might be “disturbing” for listeners.

Chaka

Talks about: Too much confusion all around us. Cultural and political randomness that surrounds us. Chaka is the wheel, the singer who wants to be a poet finds himself tied to. It keeps on turning and he can neither control its direction nor speed.

Sounds like: Rock ’’ roll with complex guitaring.

 

Je shawmaje

Talks about: That feeling you get sometimes of feeling out of place. Being a misfit.

Sounds like: Ballad and pop-rock. One of my old songs, when I used to have fun composing a song with at least six major chords.

 

Babu re

Talks about: Questioning the term ‘babu’ used in our daily lives. How does one become a babu? What is that special attribute which makes him one? Is it economy? An anti-capitalist song.

Sounds like: An experiment with Bangla folk. Dafli and dhol meet drum and bass to create dance grooves.

 

Bakyobageesh

Talks about: A social commentary. There’s so much going on around. How does it affect us? Roads are dirty, industries are suffering. All we do is talk about it but do nothing. In the end we are scared. It’s the title track.

Sounds like: Alt-rock. Starts off with the usual singer-songwriter sound till the band takes over.

 

Ghawrkuno ghash

Talks about: The song is about old friends and how the definition of the Bengali adda has changed. We still need friends and most of them have relocated to another city. So you end up Skyping or video chatting. Friendship remains intact as people find new ways to communicate.

Sounds like: Old school swing and pop. Sweet and simple piano and violin melodies create a nostalgic yet fresh sound.

 

Maatir rong

Talks about: Memories of childhood. The para I grew up in and how its character has changed with every season.

Sounds like: Indie acoustic. Beats of the Indian tabla lend an earthy sound.

 

Deshlai baksho

Talks about: Randomness, which is the actual state of our mind. It’s a fun song about the things happening around us. Too much information causing too much confusion. The words hit us like pots and pans. It resembles our society and the incidents that come and hit us directly. Every day I wake up to find my peace lost. As if someone’s entered my room, painted on my walls and I’m unaware.

Sounds like: Alt-pop with an influence of dance music and synth sounds.

 

Rajprasader bondee

Talks about: Homophobia. I wrote this after the gay rights act was passed by the Supreme Court making same sex love illegal. The song talks about our society as a palace prison where we are trapped and the right to love is dictated by a court of law. Everyone is entitled to love and there can’t be any law that prohibits any kind of relationship. I ask questions like why are they imprisoned? Because they are gay? Why does the king hate them?

Sounds like: Acoustic and a bit dramatic. Violin solos on minor heighten emotions.