Armeen Musa's songs are songs to start the day with. Aptly titled "Aye Ghum Bhangai" (or "Let me wake you up"), her debut album pulls the listener into a world of nimble melodies, gentle harmonies, and lush jazz rhythms. Raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Armeen got her start playing in the cover band Enshrined. She later went on to form Armeen Musa and the Grasshoppers. After performing on a series of popular singles, Armeen released "Aye Ghum Bhangai" in 2008 to critical praise. Sung in Bengali, Armeen`s songs combine traditional Begali melodic leanings with jazz, rock, and soul in the style of a contemporary singer-songwriter.

 

Kismot: How did you decide to become a musician?

Armeen Musa: I grew up in a musical family, but was always in denial of my musical instincts. Sailed through my teens thinking I would be a lawyer or an economist and even studied both. But in the midst of it all I found myself separated from my peers and venturing out into this beautiful journey, of discovering myself as a musician.

 

K: What's your songwriting process?

AM: Very random, can happen any time anywhere.

K: Some of your songs seem influenced by jazz music. What draws you to jazz?

AM: It's all the melody and swaying. Also after listening to many many genres, jazz is the one that is comfort to the ears and still mentally stimulating.

K: Where is your favorite place to perform music?

AM: Big Concert Halls. So far, The Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

K: What is unique about new music being made by Bangladeshi musicians?

AM: The new generation musicians in Bangladesh, we are all a product of the music we listened to growing up, and we all listen to the same rock/pop/rnb/jazz but we also have influences of Bengali Music dating back hundreds of years. So our output is all mixed up and different, depending on what kind of Bengali and Western genres we prefer.

 

K: Where would you say you fit in among other musicians from Bangladesh?

AM: We're all doing our own thing, reaching out to our own audiences. So far, I've felt most in touch with the city based group, and am trying to keep my individuality. But to catergorise me, I would be in the songwriters section.

K: What are you listening to these days?

AM: Right now, of Bengali Music, Bappa Majumdar and Zaki Aman and off English: Citizen Cope, The Soothsayers and Camille