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In this episode of Long Take: Life as an Artist, we meet Khayam Sanu Sandhi, a singer, songwriter, and producer from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Inspired by poets Kazi Nazrul Islam and Rabindranath Tagore—two towering figures in Bangladeshi culture—Sandhi aims to create new music that resonates deeply. “They created thousands of songs—I’ve made hundreds so far, but I aspire to compose thousands,” he shares. Tune in now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or other platforms! Tune in now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or other platforms!

Sandhi’s musical repertoire spans pure Indian folk and classical music, rock, punk, romantic love ballads, children’s...

In this episode of Long Take: Life as an Artist, we sit down with Sharmin Sultana Sumi, a Bangladeshi lyricist, composer, vocalist, and entrepreneur, best known for her work with the internationally acclaimed folk-rock band Chirkutt. Sumi shares her philosophy of music and life, rooted in resilience and fueled by personal hardships.

Sumi opens up about her career path—from overcoming initial struggles as a female lead singer to performing on international stages alongside legendary bands like Scorpions, collaborating with the Norwegian band Casa Murilo, and performing at MTV India, South By Southwest, Jaffa Music Festival, Womex, and more. She introduces...

Bangladeshi rapper Gold Cube sent us his 'Dec 18, 2024, Quota Reform Movement Monologue'—a spontaneous recording. We decided to publish it as an add-on to Episode Six.

#LongTake #Norient #Anthropology #podcast #Goldcube #Bangladesh #QuotaReform #ThomasBurkhalter #PuranDhaka

In this episode of Long Take: Life as an Artist, we meet young Bangladeshi hip-hop artists Gold Cube, Paital, and RizwanOnTheBeat. Through their lyrics and beats, they tackle social issues and shed light on the challenges young people face in Bangladesh.

We meet Nirob, also known as Gold Cube, along with Paital and Rizwan, at the home of their local idol, Skibkhan—listen to the episode featuring him here. Together, we explore Puran Dhaka, the Old City of Dhaka, where they were born, live, and work—a place they are deeply proud of. Through hip hop, they strive to represent the people...

In this episode of «Long Take: Life as an Artist», we meet Bangladeshi rapper Skibkhan, a member of the pioneering hip hop crew Deshi MCs. He delves into the creative process behind his lyrics and explores his role and responsibilities as a rapper in Dhaka.

Bangladeshi rapper Khan M Sayeed, popularly known as Skibkhan, strives to pack as many words into a bar as possible while keeping his lines simple and not overly complex. As a founding member of Deshi MCs, the group credited with introducing ‘Bangla Gangsta Rap’ and hip-hop to Bangladesh, Skibkhan has played a pivotal role in...

In the third episode of «Long Take: Life as an Artist», Asif Iqbal, known as Aia Lemonsky, recalls how writing songs gave him strength to survive his time in prison. He sings us some of these songs - with the sounds of Dhaka in the background. Listen to this episode on Spotify or on YouTube.

Music, writing, and drawing served as lifelines for Aia Lemonsky during his time of imprisonment in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Reflecting on that period, he recalls how music gave him the strength to face each day, writing helped him organize his thoughts, and drawing became a form...

In the third episode of «Long Take: Life as an Artist», we meet Mohamed Rai, a session drummer, handpan musician, and former scuba dive instructor from the Maldives. He tells me what it means to work as a musician in the many tourist resorts, and he talks about his love for water, waves and silence. His friend Hanan drops by and leaves to catch the ferry. Listen to this episode on Spotify or on YouTube.

Mohamed Rai started drumming when he was three years old, encouraged by the musicians in his family: his grandfather Ibrahim Ahmed (Molhudhoo Thuthu), and his...

In the second episode of Norient’s podcast Long Take: Life as an Artist, Maldivian singer, producer, and artist Zara Mujthaba shares insights into her musical journey and life on Thulusdhoo island, her involvement with the influential Maldivian collective Dinba Family, and her perspective on the evolving tourism industry in the Maldives. She remains hopeful for the future of music in the Maldives and sees potential in the younger generation of artists.

As one of the first independent female artists in the Maldives, Zara Mujthaba, has paved the way for others, releasing groundbreaking solo albums that have attracted attention for both...

Yakawrath, also known as Fira, is an experimental psytrance musician and a 2D/3D artist from the Maldives. In the debut episode of Long Take: Life as an Artist, he opens up about his journey as an underground artist in Malé City, describing how the quiet of the night fuels his creativity. He likens his life to a sine wave, filled with highs and lows, but through it all, he remains devoted to a constant phase of creation, continuously pushing boundaries in both his music and art.

As a co-founder of the band Wagon Park in Sri Lanka, Yakawrath has released...