Introduction 

This gives us great pleasure to bring our next singer Alapan Bhowmick, selected from more than one hundred and thirty India Smule profiles, who truly represent the State of West Bengal. This finishes our promise to include a couple more singers’ profiles covered here. We like to say goodbye to all with this feature for now. 

Here is an account of his music as written by Alapan himself about his views on music. A personal meeting with team members was one of the most memorable and pleasurable experiences of the highest caliber of thoughts. Alapan is a very serious musician with a clear vision and maturity. Alapan’s peers are initially Subhajit Chatterjee and later Raian-E-Jannat who themselves are great singers, the links will take you all to their features appeared here on this page. Can’t thank Jannat enough, for her enormous support and absolutely fantastic musical sense. In many ways, Alapan is the perfect candidate that we were searching for. He has the drive to look at all these opportunities as stepping stones to his goal to be a professional singer. He has the drive, training, and vision to reach there. Any help, including doing this feature write-up all are extremely happy moments for the team. The team thanks Alapan from our hearts. 

Please introduce yourself briefly with special references to your music. 

I’m Alapan Bhowmick. I was born in 1990 in a small town in Kharagpur, West Bengal. Academically I’m an IT engineer and professionally am in a different field of banking and content development. Singing has been my spare-time activity and more so a passion ever since my childhood days. Being born into a traditional Bengali family, my initial introduction to music began with listening to Rabindra Sangeets (songs written by Rabindranath Tagore) my father. My father is a retired lecturer and an avid admirer of Tagore’s works. He is a student of renowned Rabindra Sangeet artist Sagar Sen. The inspiration to dive deep into the ocean of music certainly came from my father. Though my beloved mother is not so much into music, her love for music and her constant appreciation and encouragement have always been a significant guiding force in my life so far.

Your earliest memories of interactions with music as a child, all those small things that made you start singing. 

When one’s earliest memory occurs, it is a moving target rather than being a single static memory. There seems to be a pool of potential memories I can recall. But, what I absolutely don’t remember is that I learned weaving melodies by the time I was 3. My mother says I was very keen on listening to my father singing with his harmonium. On one fine afternoon, I was singing ‘Amar Nisitho Raatero Badolo Dhara‘, a popular Tagore song, and a visitor to our house at that time was surprised and asked my mother how I was singing that song with the proper tune at such an early age! Later, when I was 8, my father appointed a singing teacher. But, I remember, I was very reluctant to learn music in a methodical manner. And, my parents never forced me to learn that way. So, basically, the assimilation of music took place quite naturally. My father had a huge collection of Rabindra Sangeet and Adhunik Bangla Song (Modern Bengali Song) cassettes. We had a Philips Tape Recorder. I used to listen to so many songs throughout the day, and when I learned a song, I used to record it on a blank cassette. Now, recording a song has become a piece of cake. But, back then, technology was a thing of the future. So, there were challenges. But, the joy I used to derive then, despite all the inconveniences, was priceless.

Apart from all the musical memories and exposures mentioned above, the influence of different television jingles and theme music of different television shows had a noteworthy impact on my taste in music at the early stage.

Who influenced you the most as a child as far as your music interests and talents?

The taste of music gradually developed I must say. It’s not built overnight. I may say it felt like ‘ I was just sitting on a boat sailing through the diverse musical world guided by different sailors.” ‘They are like the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.’

The first sailor who persuaded me to ride that boat was my father. I was just holding his hands and he got me into the world of Rabindra Sangeet. He not only taught me to croon but also taught me to make out the underlying thoughts behind every song. He taught me how different expressions are required for different lines. I’m still his student. I’ll always be. As I grew up, I began listening to different genres. My introduction to Bengali Modern Songs transpired at home when I started listening to songs by Hemant Kumar on the cassettes.

I was an avid watcher of MTV. Literally, I used to be glued to the television set and listen to every song played throughout the day on MTV (India). I discovered that so many artists were singing so many various types of songs. There were magnificent numbers by composers like A R Rahman, Jatin-Lalit, Shankar-Ehsan-Loy, Pritam. There were solo albums by Sonu Nigam, KK, Shaan. There were bands like Strings, Jal. Pop groups like Bombay Vikings. These people are the other sailors.

Compact Discs(CDs) were popular by that time. I remember, I used to replete them with countless songs and would finish listening to an entire CD in two days with my elder brother. That exposure was important. The multifariousness of music was something that needed to be explored. And, fortunately, the exposure came about. I realized, Music is not a subject belonging to confined territory, but rather an unbounded one.

Describe all your Classical music expertise and detailed descriptions of your Gurus etc.

I don’t have any sort of classical music training. I’d not say that I didn’t get an opportunity to learn classical music, rather I’d say, it just didn’t happen. But, now I understand its’ true value. I understand how integral classical music training can be in one’s musical journey.

Talking about my Gurus, I’d proudly say, I have had the opportunity to learn how to play guitar from an extraordinary teacher. He is Dipankar Mukherjee Sir. Whatever little I can play with those six strings, is Sir’s constant and unselfish guidance. He taught me the importance of understanding the rhythm and chords. He never taught me to play a particular song, but he taught me to play the guitar. The rest was automatically done.

 I’ll always hold dear his words he uttered pointing his fingers to the guitar – ‘Everything but this very instrument will give you pain.’ I’ll be forever indebted to my teacher’s philosophy behind the music.

Describe in detail all your stages from School to college and how your music evolved? and all details and memories, activities, etc 

That’s indeed an interesting journey. I’ve witnessed one thing throughout the long road – Taste evolves! Taste gets richer! When I was in school, I was a regular performer in various programs, festivals, get-together parties. In fact, I was better known for my singing performances than for my excellence in my studies. I also used to take part in various cultural competitions. My involvement with music back in those days solely was with Rabindra Sangeet. I used to perform in front of a large audience. Initially, I couldn’t play the harmonium. Gradually, I learned how to play it. Needless to say, my father has an immense contribution to that.

The moment I started listening to Hindi contemporary songs, my taste got more extensive. One voice, I was completely in awe of, was the voice of Sonu Nigam. I’m still in awe of his singing capabilities. As a boy, I started copying his singing style. I used to sing his songs all day. That way, my singing style changed a bit.

I still remember fond memories, at my college, once when I sang ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho in the Freshers’ welcoming program, the huge round of applause that I received. That was indeed a memorable moment in my life. Throughout my college days, my exposure to different genres happened.

But, the more comprehensive exposure took place after I finished my graduation. As I started learning guitar, I met so many people with diverse tastes in music. We all used to sing and jam all night. Such were those days! I was introduced to Bengali Folk Songs (popularly known as Baul Geeti), western blues music, just to name one in may that. I have learned.

Then, I joined Smule. And, a massive transformation happened. I’ll be running out of space if I start talking about my Smule experience and its contributions to my music. All I want to say is I discovered a different world of music here. What haven’t I learned? I learned to sing Rafi Sahab numbers, I learned to sing Manna Dey numbers. I also learned to sing a few ghazals, one genre that I never got exposed to before. I started experimenting with my guitar covers. I learned to be more innovative with the instrument and arranging songs. I learned to mix different songs of different melodies and still make them sound amazingly synchronized.

I was fortunate to listen to so many extraordinary voices and their ways of rendering songs! I learned how to modulate my voice. A myriad of things! Smule has changed the way I used to perceive music to a significant extent! It has endowed me with so many things that are worth a king’s ransom.

A most memorable moment in your music life

In my opinion, for an artist, a very crucial thing is to get the appreciation he/she deserves. That’s why, after every performance, the clapping and the overwhelming excitement of the audience, make the artist extremely elated. I remember, when I was about 14-15, I was singing a Rabindra Sangeet – Mon Mor Megher Sangi‘- in front of around 1000 people. My father was standing beside me. The very moment I finished the song, I opened my eyes and saw that so many were standing, clapping, and shouting ‘Aro Ekbar, Aro Ekbar'(Once More, Once More). That memory stayed and that was a celestial feeling I can’t express in words.

What exactly does your music mean to you?

Music, either through melody or lyrics, can convey a lot of different thoughts and feelings. To me, music is a combination of multiple things. Words will fall short if I have to describe their contribution to my life in detail. I think music can be so hard to describe and define, but it’s easy to describe how it affects us.

‘Music is a way to express me and my feelings. It’s something that I can go to whenever I need it. Music is a way to express feelings that might be hard to express otherwise. Music to me is a source of stress relief. It helps me calm down or just to relax, on a bad day. But on a good day, music just helps me get through the day.’And the most important one – Music has enormously helped me connect to beautiful people. As-it-is, itself is a language.

What are your views about the general landscape of India’s classical music?

Every form of music is great in its own sense. Though I don’t have much knowledge about Indian classical music, I believe it is one of the most beautiful musical forms in the world. I can’t think of any other form of music in which the songs are perfect both in their magnificence and in their conciseness. It’s incomparable. It represents the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of India. The eminence and evolution of this music through the centuries is a testament to the greatness of our nation.

What are your thoughts about popular music or film music or generally about Telugu regional music?

Film music is in a language people understand. They are about things people relate to. Also, film music is lightly based on ragas but is still easy to hum and are catchy, unlike classical pieces that are elaborate.

What is astonishing about the old songs is the musical variety to relish on and each of the old songs has its own magical impact on listeners. The time is called the golden era where style and subtleness ruled, and when renowned music directors legends like S.D Burman, Salil Chowdhary, Hemant Kumar, Shankar-Jaikishan, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Madan Mohan, O.P.Nayyar, R D Burman composed magical numbers. Singers such as Mohammad Rafi, Geeta Dutt, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Suman Kalyanpur, Manna Dey, Talat Mehmood, and many more ruled.

I’m not at all saying that good songs aren’t being made today. But now the scenario has totally changed. Mind you, there are still some singers who have the best vocal range with unmatchable voice texture like Arjit Singh, Sonu Nigam, K.K, Shreya Ghoshal, and the oscar winner Music Producer and Composer in Our Music Industry, A.R Rahaman sir.

World music and other language music of India. 

The music of India includes Indian classical music, multiple varieties of folk, popular, pop, and, most recently, rock music.

Social responsibility for an Artist, what do you think about it?

 Art Preserves Our Culture. Art is intrinsic to our society. If you look at art throughout history, it has always been the case. Every artist plays a different and necessary part in contributing to the overall health, development, and well-being of our society. Art is about connecting with people’s emotions. It’s personal and at the same time, universal.

A big part of art’s appeal is its aesthetically pleasing nature; the way that we can relate to the artist, even if it’s not intentional, is what speaks to us. We have shared emotions, experiences, and ambitions that we cannot vocalize methodically but through imagery.

I believe that the artist’s role, above all things, is to be as true to themselves as they can — within society, the community, and the world at large. There are plenty of historical examples of how art has become a revolutionary tool that artists must use responsibly.

If you are a socially responsible artist will you take a stand if you can influence the decisions taken at political or other levels?

Of course, there is some truth to art and politics being historically intertwined. I would never deny that some art is fundamentally political, both in its intentions and in the way people experience it. And I believe artists are free to make political claims or talk about political issues, whether in their art itself, on their platform, or in their everyday life. I think it’s good for all kinds of people, artists included, to be able to express their beliefs about politics.

Do you pay attention to the lyrics and meaning of songs? Do you think they are important for music? If yes then why?

I have always paid more attention to the music first. At the same time, as I grew up and as I started understanding more and more, I realized how crucial can lyrics be in a song. 

I highly appreciate the value of a well-written song because it allows you to truly connect with the lyrics. 

Lyrics make you feel connected to the words, make you think about life or even empower you. Lyrics matter because they have the influence to bring a change and impact someone’s life negatively or positively. A great songwriter aims to make music about personal experiences that will touch millions of people. If I talk about Rabindra Sangeet, I’d say, Rabindra Sangeets are extremely well-written and the actual essence of those is in the words, Tagore carefully penned down.

What career ambitions do you have in music. Then how are you planning to achieve it?

Honestly speaking, I don’t aspire to be professionally involved with music in the future. I just want to be associated with music forever, keeping music as my best company. And if I talk about my wishes, I’d say, I’d always love to keep on experimenting with different instruments, arranging songs, exploring different genres.

I’ve incalculable things to learn. I want to invest a substantial amount of time and effort into learning every nuance of chords, rhythms. I want to be a forever student of music.

Where do you see yourself five years from now in your music? 

We don’t know what the future has in its store for us. But, we all hope. 

I want to answer this very specifically. I want to see myself as an improved vocalist and guitarist five years down the line. I want to have a far richer understanding of chords and their progressions. I want to explore more semi-classical genres. Moreover, it’s a learning process. I just want to be a loyal and consistent student. May God bless me with an everlasting thirst for learning and exploring.

Now it is time to list all your favorite musicians 

Singers – Mohammed Rafi, Manna Dey, Hemant Kumar, Kishore Kumar, Manobendra Mukhopadhyay, Lata Mangeshkar, Suman Kalyanpur, Geeta Dutt, Sandhya Mukherjee, Alka Yagnik, Shreya Ghoshal, Sunidhi Chauhan, Sonu Nigam, KK, Arijit Singh.

Composers – S D Burman, Bhupen Hazarika, O P Nayyar, R D Burman, Hemant Kumar, Manna Dey, A R Rahman, Pritam, Jatin-Lalit, Shankar-Ehsan-Loy.

Notes: multifariousness = diversenes

ENDNOTES

Some are made by birth to become a musician. Their talents are identifiable in any circumstances. Alapan is a talent that we place among some of the best singers we brought through these features. It is hard to express the feelings of a listener who experience his songs; there is that magic in his singing that will pull an audience to listen to him more and more. Witnessed it when met with him. The music and the musicians from West Bengal always show a lot of influence on its very rich heritage. It always reminded us about how unique a culture India’s music has in offer for the rest of the world. We are proud to bring such beautiful pieces of excellence that are melted into a beautiful musician like Alapan. Listen to him sing some of the gems of compositions. As a listener, you will see the magic happen. His songs will tell more than words can express.

Discalimer: This is an initiative from the community members of India from Smule app and is not related to @SmuleCommunityIN.