Hitting the High Notes
From hitting the high notes to executing those complex harmonies, Ghaashphoring choir is a group for the budding new talents who are out to reshape Bangladesh’s indie music scene. Nusrat Noshin converses with the ensemble to put them in context
Entering the gates of Kolababan, the ambiance is rife with the celebration of spring. Loud music is playing in the vicinity; a
We sit encircling an idle spot on the field. With enlivening cups of masala tea in our hands, we begin.
“I was in a choir when I lived in Boston.” Armeen breaks the ice. “The music scene in Dhaka is very lonely. So, when I returned, I felt out of place. The musicians here work alone in their studios and I was definitely unaccustomed to that. I guess my affinity to choirs and my will to recreate its culture in Bangladesh led to Ghaashphoring.”
She tinkers with the Marigold garland hanging low from her hair. “I missed that practice of musicians living, performing and making music together. The innate love for music is tenfold when you are around like-minded people.” The rest of the members are all ears as she continues. “I returned to Dhaka in late 2014, with the conviction that Bangladesh needs a choir. In early 2015, Ghaashphoring laid its first stone. Every member has auditioned for their position, except for our drummer and guitarist. I used to post audition announcements on Facebook, and here we are now. Simply put, we had no clue about each other, but now, we are like a family.”
To paint a better picture of the cogwheels that run the group, Armeen explains roles and duties. “We all have different responsibilities so that we are as decentralized as possible. I am the music director, I sing for some songs, and play the keyboard. We have someone managing costumes, someone to oversee the instrumentation for shows, etc.”
She goes on to reminisce their first gig. “It was very special. My late father was still alive then and had organized a program for Noboborsho at Cadet College Club. It was the last time he stepped out of the house fit and healthy. This April is going to be the fourth year anniversary of our first performance.”
Armeen sips on her tea and pauses to reflect on the present. “The thing about music is, you get rewarded for persistence and consistency. We are consistent with our rehearsals and persistent about learning and improving. We organize our own shows. In the music industry, you need to generate hype to stay relevant and be visible. Now, we do a lot of shows and other projects which has earned us recognition. We rehearse one night a week to keep our rudiments crisp.”
When asked to describe the feedback they receive from fans, she gives the floor to her bandmates.
“Ghaashphoring’s uniqueness comes from the fact that we harmonize,” Scionara states. “There are groups that sing, but not like we do. We bring something new to the table with our choruses and twists to popular songs. I suppose that captivates the audience and arrests their acoustic senses throughout our performance. We are one of the first choirs in the landscape,” she says and hastens to add, “We have had people inform us with certitude that they will visit our gigs and such. So far, most of our shows have been full-house.”
Armeen gives her two cents: “I believe music lovers here are not familiar with the concept of choirs. So many people working cohesively on stage is a new concept and that has clicked for us. Plus we cherish every moment performing. But, managing so many people is tough, to say the least, and we do incur blunders here and there.”
The group then dwells on the most memorable performance. Dhaka Lit Fest, Unilever Show, a lot of names pop up, but ultimately the unanimous answer is Dhaka Lit Fest 2018.
“It was our first professional performance. The stage was big and so was the crowd,” Armeen says as she fishes for a single marigold from her hair and fiddles with it. “For a big choir, events often struggle to provide with uniform technical support. The Lit Fest had incredible sound systems and we had a full set. We did sound checks the night before and practiced rigorously for the event. It was an unprecedented feeling to gear up for something as big as opening for such a renowned event.”
The conversation progresses to the biggest stumble they have faced so far. Once again, a lot of names get mentioned amidst giggles and bickering. Scionara narrates, “When we were doing our routine sound check at Jatra
They round things off with their future plans. From albums to going international, Ghaashphoring’s plans are nothing short of grand. “Besides albums, we want to go on tours. A nationwide tour is on the horizon, but we also want to go on international tours.” Says Sadia. “We also want to introduce the big band concept in Bangladesh. Lots of instruments, choruses, and harmonies fused to make an orchestra for the contemporary audience. It is, per se, a genre of music and we want to explore that,”
