Rabindra Sangeet continues to entertain and rejuvenate people. This came to fore recently when the band Samantak and Mates featuring Sahana Bajpaie gave a soulful performance in the city. The team performed some acoustic numbers, songs by Tagore with modern arrangements, a few folks numbers and some old melodies. The band which has four members led by Samantak has been entertaining people for the last five years in India and abroad.
Samantak got inclined towards music at an early age and started learning guitar and took vocal training. He also writes lyrics and arranges music. Inclined to play songs by Tagore and folk songs, he has been deeply influenced by well known composers like Sachin Dev Burman Himangshu Dutta and Kabir Sumon as well. Besides writing romantic songs, Samantak also believes in taking up social issues through his lyrics such as conveying anti-war sentiments.
“Music is something which stays with you even after the song has stopped playing,” says Sahana Bajpaie, who is a teacher by profession while singing is her passion. She performs with three-four bands, one of them being in London where she lives with her family.
When asked about what inspired her to become a singer, she replied, “I studied at Santiniketan where we had singing classes almost everyday. Music in that institution is inculcated in the students in a very natural manner and so it came to me naturally. Singing has been my passion since I was a child. I used to sing with my friends and have collaborations since I was a teenager. Professional singing was very accidental for me. We had recorded a few songs in Santiniketan and when their CDs came out people really liked it.” Considering her presentation, it is not unusual to see a large number of youngsters among the audience in her shows.
Long association
What makes Sahana’s singing synchronise well with Samantak’s band is their long association which goes back to five years. In fact, it was through music that they came to know each other. This was evident from the performances they two put up during the show.
On being asked what type of songs they like to sing, Samantak said he preferred to perform original songs written by him and also old melodies and folk songs and mostly acoustic music. Sahana, on the other hand, likes to sing Bengali folks songs, melodies composed by S.D. Burman . Her main focus, she said, was Rabindra Sangeet.
Having been in the field of music, the two singers emphasise that aspiring artistes need to persevere and keep up their patience. More so, since it is difficult to eke a livelihood by music. The two advised that one needs to endure and continue doing what one wants to, but also have a backup plan in case things do not work out.
Besides doing shows, the two performers are busy with other ventures. Samantak is composing music for web series produced by Shree Venkatesh Films while Sahana too will be working in web series besides singing singles for which music will be arranged by Samantak.
The collaboration between Samantak and Sahana shows how art has no boundaries as they two not only present memorable songs of yesteryears to today’s generation but also showcase the vernacular music at international level.