Bangladeshi rock icon Nagar Baul James has urged young musicians to make music out of genuine passion rather than pursuing fame, money or other rewards.
Known affectionately to his fans as “Guru”, James made the remarks at a press conference in Sweden ahead of a concert for the Bangladeshi community. Reflecting on his own career, the veteran singer and guitarist said music should be driven by an inner attachment to the art and the personal fulfilment it brings.
“Music has to come purely from passion, from an addiction to it,” James said. He also advised those who enter music primarily with the expectation of gaining something from it to reconsider their motivation.
For James, the value of music lies in the act of creating and performing itself. He said he had never entered the profession expecting a particular reward in return. Love, emotion and an enduring passion for music, rather than material gain, have remained central to his journey.
“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.”
His comments come as he continues an extensive European tour that has taken him to several countries over nearly two months. During the tour, James has performed in Portugal, England, Cyprus and Italy. He is currently in Sweden, where his scheduled concert will bring the European leg of the tour to an end.
The tour has also offered James an opportunity to perform before Bangladeshi communities living abroad, maintaining a connection with audiences who have followed his music over the decades.
James’ relationship with music began at a young age. Drawn strongly towards the craft, he left home early in life and gradually established himself in Bangladesh’s rock scene. His musical journey took shape in Chattogram in the early 1980s, when he became the guitarist and vocalist of the band Feelings.
Feelings released its debut album, Station Road, in 1987. James subsequently developed a distinctive identity as a performer, becoming one of the most recognisable figures in Bangladesh’s rock music landscape.
His career has spanned several decades, during which the audience around him has changed repeatedly. Yet James said he has remained struck by the continuity of his relationship with listeners. Looking back, he acknowledged that generations have passed almost unnoticed while he continued to perform.
“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.”
That connection with audiences appears to remain one of the strongest reasons for his continuing commitment to live performance. James said he intends to keep singing for the rest of his life, regardless of the size of the audience.
“Even if, at the end, there is only one person in the audience, I will sing for that person too,” he said.
The Swedish concert will mark the completion of James’ European tour, but his international performances will continue. He is scheduled to travel to Australia afterwards and perform at a special concert in New South Wales on 12 September.
The event will also feature Rupam Islam, vocalist of the popular West Bengal rock band Fossils. The appearance will bring together two prominent voices from the Bengali rock music scene on the same stage.
For James, however, the principle behind his music remains unchanged: recognition or financial success may follow an artist’s work, but they should not be the reason for creating it. His message to younger musicians is rooted in the same philosophy that he says has sustained his own career—sing because the music itself matters.
