Songs are my voice of protest: Agun

A song on the anti-racist movement in the US, composed by Agun, has recently been released. He has also just finished recording for an Eid programme on TV. He talks to Prothom Alo about how he is dealing with the coronavirus crisis and more.

“I don’t have much work now,” says Agun. “I composed a song on corona a few days ago and now there’s recording for a new song. I am doing some online music projects from home. I completed recording for an Eid programme on Baishakhi TV. There is some other work in the pipeline.”

He explains why he composed a song on coronavirus. He says as an artiste, he felt it was his duty to raise public awareness. People were violating the lockdowns, wandering around carelessly. They weren’t using masks and not maintaining hygienic practices. “I am really affected by this lack of awareness and that’s why I want to mobilise public awareness through my music. Songs are my voice of protest. I have sung against racism too. I have sung about the man killed by the police in the US. The song is about racism. It is a huge crime to kill because of colour.”

How is Agun faring during the pandemic? “I am mentally upset. I am depressed,” says Agun, “We are hard working people, but all work is shut down now. You can hardly work from home. The more I read the newspapers or watch television, the worse I feel. I hardly go out. How long can we stay at home like this? We have no idea what lies ahead. Such thoughts are depressing. I am not coping well, but I am trying.”

Agun has gone out occasionally for work, but with precaution. He wears glasses and masks. “I feel tense for as long as I am out. I am scared of being infected with the virus. But people don’t bother about being careful. That upsets me.”

What impact has coronavirus had on work? Agun says they are not happy sitting idle. “It just feels worse as the days pass. There is a gaping uncertainty ahead for the music world. Who will listen to music if they are so anxiety-ridden?”

He sees change in the music world. “But the disaster hasn’t started yet,” he says forebodingly. Once corona decreases somewhat, then the situation can be assessed. “We have already faced mounting damage and the artistes will suffer. The artistes who have no savings, will be in big trouble,” says Agun.