‘Make music for passion, not profit’

Bangladeshi rock icon Nagar Baul James, affectionately known to his fans as “Guru,” has urged young musicians to pursue music out of passion rather than in the hope of gaining fame, money or other rewards.
Speaking at a press conference in Sweden ahead of a concert for the Bangladeshi community there, James said music should come from deep passion and personal fulfilment.
“Music has to come purely from passion, from an addiction to it,” he said. “If anyone is making music expecting to gain something from it, I would say--stop right now.”
James has been on a European music tour for nearly two months, performing in Portugal, England, Cyprus and Italy. He is currently in Sweden, where he is scheduled to perform today. The concert will mark the end of his extended European tour.
Reflecting on his long musical journey, James said he never entered the world of music with the expectation of receiving anything in return. Instead, love, emotion and passion have remained the driving forces behind his career.
“I don’t think music should be made to achieve something,” he said. “You should make music for your own peace of mind. If something comes as a result, that is a different matter. Even if I had received nothing in life, I would still have continued singing.”
James, who left home at a young age because of his deep attraction to music, has since become one of the most influential figures in Bangladesh’s rock scene. He began his musical journey in the early 1980s in Chattogram as the guitarist and vocalist of the band Feelings. The band released its debut album, Station Road, in 1987.
Over the decades, his songs have continued to resonate with listeners across generations. James said that whenever he steps onto the stage, he still feels as though he is performing for the same audience.
“I hardly noticed how time passed and generations changed,” he said. “Now I realise that perhaps I have been able to sing for several generations.”
The veteran musician said he wants to continue singing for the rest of his life. “Even if, at the end, there is only one person in the audience, I will sing for that person too,” he said.
After completing his European tour in Sweden, James is scheduled to travel to Australia. On 12 September he will perform at a special concert in New South Wales alongside Rupam Islam, the vocalist of West Bengal’s popular rock band Fossils.