Photo: Marzuk Ahmed Khan Mojlish
Interviewed by Shahriyer Hossain Shetu
What’s your name?
“Marzuk Ahmed Khan Mojlish, student of ULAB, currently 24 years old and on 7th semester.”
What got you first into learning the guitar?
“Well, basically I never liked music and found it as a waste of time. However, my elder brother was crazy about music. It used to get on my nerves. I hated it and never had peace. Unfortunately, in the year 2008, he got sick and left this world. He was very talented and amazing. It affected me emotionally. In his memory, I started playing his guitar. It was like a mission. His name was Masud.”
Who inspired you to learn the instrument?
“My late brother, Masud.”
Can you describe how you take care of your guitar?
“I think, it depends on the type of guitar we play. If it is the acoustic guitar, I would clean it with oil. For electric guitar, I clean it step by step, which is: opening the parts and polishing followed by cleaning with a towel. I do it every 3 or 6 months. And if I am not using it, I clean it every 6 months.
What has been the highlight (of your career) as a guitarist?
“Honestly, when it comes to guitar, I don’t have any. I never used music as a showoff. I like to do a lot of things on FB, but I always hide something. I don’t want to show off. It is basically for me … and I do get requests, but I mostly deny them, because it conflicts with my personal belief. I do compromise when I do group works, when someone is unavailable or can’t do it, I take it over. When it came to ULAB, I got called on stage, many times because I can adapt any music ASAP. I do get called from all the departments such as BBA, MSJ, CSE, then 2019’s annual culture. My biggest highlight was being in the opening act for Co-Curricular Fest. I was among the people who represented ULAB. I was part of the team that represented ULAB.”
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
“I try to be innovative and try to twist it with my own style. I don’t seem to improve it. I was getting really bored before ULAB, but later I joined ULAB Sanskrit club and got some heads up. My music is completely different. ULAB Sanskriti Shangsad’s style is our traditional one that is sa re ga ma, but for me, I cannot mentally see it that way. I see it as DO-Re-Mi: the Western-style. I am fixated with Western Music. I joined the SS club, on 2019 April 12, two days before Pohela Baishakh. They would call me up and I thought I might learn something. They said that “You will perform for the Baishakh event.” But I expected to learn not to perform, so it was pretty shocking to me. It really got me to notice by the university. Before that, it was just our department. There was a student back then who suggested that I help him perform, as they needed someone what he could do the job.
To be honest, I didn’t know that SS club really existed let alone I registered my name. My learning experience came practically and one after the other. I got many opportunities and I learned on stage off stage, all by myself. I never got offended by people’s ignorance, but I tried my best and focused as much as possible. And eventually, I got my own Bangla Music style, for example, two Bangla songs that I have done in my own way. One of them is “Amar Poth Chola” by Artcel and the second is “Chaiteparo 2” by Orthohin, and “Aaj Ratey Kono Rupkotha Nei” by Old School.”
What is your creative process like?
“For what I do is, when it comes to a song, I want to do it on my own way. I don’t want to follow the original author. I would first study the song, then I would memories it till I hate it because I often get bored of the original. Then I literally make it my own. And provide something with my style. You call it my own twist as I adapt it and make it my version which is, I believe, loved by all!”
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
“Well, I can’t think of anyone but the band called Aerosmith, a very old band. I can guarantee you that no one knows about them right now by they were pioneers of the 80s and even before that. I like them because their songs never sound the same and they add dynamic flavor every single time. The guitar would sound so different from one song to the other. And I would try to learn their techniques. My playing style is quite old-fashioned.”
What is the one message you would give to your fans?
“There was this one saying that my brother used to say all the time that I would tell everyone, “The secret to learning any song, be it guitar, or any instrument, is to always start it slow, and when you do that, when you learn slowly, you will learn a lot faster.” Basically slow and steady wins the race. There is one interesting story I have and many people don’t know. This is regarding the MUN program of 2019 summer:
During the cultural night, we had 5 songs ready. I took part in only one but I ended up taking part in all of them. This happens a lot to me and it is very natural. We had this one song ready “Careless Whisper” by George Michael. So, for me, it was another performance and we went there normally. We weren’t aware of the other bands though. And it turned out that one of the bands was doing the same song. So this had put us into a pretty weird predicament and we thought what are we going to do? And it wouldn’t be right to repeat a song. There was this other singer whose name is Xonex, a pretty popular musician of ULAB. He is much underrated though … I believe, and needs more publicity. He and I have certain symmetry when it comes to music. So we were panicking, not knowing what to do. And they asked Xonix to do something. Then he told me that he needs support and backup. For me that was shocking and it surprised me that he needed my help since he was already using university equipment … he said that I am the only person who could help him and he just needed someone who thinks like him. I thought it was going to be a disaster. And we had only 3 minutes on our hands. He said he had a plan and gave me 4 scales to memorize. I told him I had the scales memorized and he asked me to trust him. They got on the stage and we sat on the sit and I was fixing my guitar. He made a mash-up. He didn’t have his equipment and asked me to provide support for him. And till now, no one knows it was planned on the spot and that to this day, it is considered to be the best performance by SS club. The songs were “Attention” by Charlie Puth, “Chaina Meye”, “Ato Kichu Bojho” by Ridoy Khan. The crowd was literary screaming “ONE MORE! ONE MORE!” like a church sermon! And we made another song of “Shape of You” and “Tomar Jonno,” the second improvisations.
Truth be told, everything was on spot. And I can say that we were very terrified! It was very common though … It was our very first performance and we had the same understanding and we gambled out luck.”
Where did you first ever perform? Do you have any upcoming shows?
“My first performance was back in 2014 in school. I was given in charge of a song for O level graduation, I was in class 9. They told us to come up with something and I was the only capable guitarist. I had to plan a song, find the singers, and one that would fit in the occasion. I found two guitarists and I trained them and we performed it. The name was “Counting Stars” by One Republic. It was the first successful song.
Speaking of upcoming shows, at this point I am waiting for the lockdown to end. However, this time I have been secretly training myself on my own. We don’t have a name yet but we can deliver quality. These people I can rely on. So it’s a both passion and an occupation. Payment? I won’t mind, I have this urge to go on stage ever since ULAB. If it is outside and payment is involved, I would seize that.”
What is your favorite song to perform?
“”One Song,” and my very first song is “One Last Breath” by Creed.”
Which famous musicians do you admire?
“Musicians I admire the most are Myles Kennedy (Vocals) Mark Tremonti (Guitar) – from Alter Bridge.”
What advice would you give for aspiring guitarists or other music artists?
“As frustrating as it can get and I would guarantee you that it will get even worse. Don’t give up and do not let it consume you!”
What’s next for you/your band?
“Our goal is to just perform music and do what we enjoy the most. And that’s the purpose of this band and they can enjoy how we enjoy.”
Where do you want your guitar skills to be a year from now?
“I would like to upgrade my skills from guitar to a Keyboard. I am learning and trying to diversify a bit. I can pull off a song and I believe, as a guitarist, I have advanced a lot and can learn even more!”
Who are your top three musical influences and why is that?
“Top 3 Musical Influences are Aerosmith, Creed and Alter Bridge.”
What new music skills have you learned in the past six months?
“One important skill I have picked up is composing a full song. Thanks to a course from our ULAB called Introduction to Music: GED 339. It helped me to compose properly. The teacher there is Rezwan Hussain Sir, an experienced musician. He helped me to compose so easily! Now I can completely deconstruct any songs, level the song, and calculate the time of the song. I call it “The Music Math.””
What three skills make a good guitarist?
“Determination, inspiration and willpower. Everyone can pick them up, a non-guitarist, and also a guitarist.”