Mathabhanga (Cooch Behar), Feb. 15: Uttar Bedwin, a local band, has captivated audiences here with not only performances but their debut album Tumi.

Six youths have helped the Bangla band fever catch up in this remote district of north Bengal.

Rajib, Sushanta, Anindita, Sukhomoy, Anindya and Bibhas, all of them from Mathabhanga town, have a steadily growing fan following.

The band members, away from media exposure, have been popularising contemporary Bengali songs with their own home-grown lyrics.

It is not that their efforts are disjointed or irregular, but the band has pledged that their music should remain the balm for the masses and the voice of the common people.

But music cannot be their sole pursuit as they have to contribute to their families as well. As a result, some of them spend time daily going from home to home tutoring students, some help run the family business or run their own small businesses.

Rajib Dakua, the nephew of tourism minister Dinesh Dakua, earns a living by taking private tuition.

The guitar player was inspired by the cassettes of bands from Bangladesh and his dream of putting together a band finally came true three years ago.

Anindya Biswas runs a photography studio and plays the electronic pad (synthetic drum set) for the group. ?In our lyrics we try to highlight the problems the people of the town face, the political developments in the state and the country, and, of course, love,? he said.

The band has been performing live for the past two years. ?We put together our best numbers and produced the album Tumi in cassette as well as CD format last year,? said Susuanta.

?Uttar Bedwin will touch the hearts of not only the people here but the whole of north Bengal. The members have tremendous talent,? said tourism Dinesh Dakua, while releasing the album on January 26 at Nazrul Sadan.