Rockers @ ULAB

( Daily Star - July 22, 2007)

Hey all, here is the update on the Rockers at University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB).

Tasneem Hasaine Ami and Eashir Arafat are both third semester BBA students of the university and are the members of the uprising underground band called 'U-Turn.' With Ami's melodious keyboard and vocal skills and Eashir's bass, U- Turn was able to reach the second round of the D Rockstars this year. The farsighted band was also featured in the mixed album Adhar and will soon start recording their first album! Inspired by Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Deep purple and Metallica, the band can be seen performing at different underground concerts, private universities, schools and colleges.

Alok Kumar is an ambitious Media student of ULAB who also happens to be the drummer of a relatively new underground band named 'Fear.' Alok has been playing the instrument from January 2005, and dreams of becoming the best drummer in Bangladesh. The mixed album Adhar 2, which was released in January this year, features Fear including Alok's awe-inspiring drum beats. Though Fear is a new band, it is said to have nearly 30 underground performances. Metallica, Dream Theater and Scorpions are the band's inspirations, while Alok's personal gurus happen to be Mike Portnoy and Kenny Aronoff.

Apart from the undergrounders who someday hope to make it big, there are others like Jonathan Anindya Das and Hassan Nabil who play guitar to explore their inner musical talents and identities. They both are third semester Media students of ULAB. Unlike others, they are self-trained, have no involvements with any bands and are highly influenced by Blues and Jazz! However they have performed at several programs, mostly solos. When asked about music, Nabil simply replied, “Satisfying Thirst....Nothing Else.”

Music might satisfy someone's thirst, it might be just a hobby, or as something that someone does for a living. But for all these rockers of ULAB, it's the music that keeps them alive. What more to say about this ULABians? Guys, just KEEP ON ROCKING!!

(G. Sumdany Don is a 9th Semester student of ULAB and is the President of the ULAB Film Club)