State of the Creators

SEASON FINALE! Watch the video: https://youtu.be/JOGMObhQcvk

 @JonKabir   widely recognized for being a musician and a prominent vocalist hailing from the Bangladeshi rock scene. Jon started his career almost 20 years ago and burst into the scene with the popular band Black. After Jon left the band, he has been delivering the goods with popular rock band Indalo and as an established solo act.

The thing that I find most interesting about Jon’s journey is how he has always reinvented himself as a musician. Neither Indalo nor his solo act pull numbers like his early works - but that hasn’t stopped him from staying true to his authentic creative pursuits - and that’s what I absolutely love about Jon’s career.

Beyond all this Jon is also a fellow podcaster - because that’s also a term these days. So this was also a very cool discussion to have with someone who has been doing this for a few years too.

In this episode we talk about what it's been like to make music for the last two decades, Jon’s creative process and how the digital world has completely shifted the landscape for musicians today.

Special thanks to Akib Shahriar for the camera work and to  @SameerScane   for the studio space!

This episode was recorded in early 2023, and the artwork in the animation was done by the talented  @ahmedfahim-exe  

00:00 - Intro
01:55 - Why Jon started a podcast
04:09 - Effects of not reading books on writing
08:52 - Writing songs in Bangla
09:51 - Bangla language's limitations to craft songs
13:04 - Who is 'Jon Kabir'?
14:26 - Why music?
17:30 - Staying authentic as an artist
23:26 - Starting career anew
25:33 - Confronting challenges 
27:11 - Defining Success in Music
30:54 - Teamwork as a 'loner'
33:04 - Balance between Creativity and Execution
36:35 - Identity struggles within bands
37:08 - The Metallica Syndrome
40:12 - Jon's thoughts to change the industry
43:35 - Breaking the language barrier for global audience
46:08 - Defining quality music
49:41 - Tackling memes and criticism
50:52 - The artistic challenge
52:19 - Making money as a musician
53:57 - Perspectives on new generations
56:50 - The role of emotions in music
57:33 - Creative ruts
58:10 - Creative routine
01:01:22 - The future of music in Bangladesh
01:02:23 - Personal goals
01:03:34 - Jon's favourite artists
01:03:57 - Advice for aspiring artists
01:04:51 - Outro

Nuhash Humayun is a writer and a director from Dhaka, Bangladesh. He made his local TV debut in 2017 - and has since written and directed a growing catalogue of short films, music videos, TV shows and advertisements.

One of his latest horror shorts, Moshari, has won a number of accolades including the South by South West Jury Award and awards from Fantasia, HollyShorts and Melbourne festivals, and is the first Bangladeshi film ever to qualify for an Oscar. It has done so well that Hollywood juggernauts like Jordan Peele and Riz Ahmed are set to Executive Produce the live-action short. In fact his other recent works, like Pett Kata Shaw and Foreigners Only on Hulu has won multiple global awards.

 @nuhashhYT   is currently writing a script for a major Hollywood Studio and is working on his first feature length film. Nuhash is also the son of legendary Bangladeshi novelist, screenwriter and personality Humayun Ahmed.

In this episode we talk about his creative process, how he navigates a complicated landscape and why he chooses horror of all things to make films about.

This episode was recorded in early 2023, and the artwork in the animation was done by the talented  @ahmedfahim-exe  

00:00 - Intro
01:45 - Why horror? 
03:28 - The intersection of horror and Bangladeshi culture
06:34 - Being true to oneself
07:08 - Who is 'Nuhash Humayun'
08:33 - Nuhash's illustrious family 
11:09 - Other side of fame
12:37 - Keeping up with family identity 
15:57 - How family identity affects work 
22:05 - Motivation behind filmmaking
22:59 - Collaboration
28:07 - Defining filmmaking
30:51 - The role of social media
34:37 - Leveraging social media
36:33 - Balancing multiple responsibilities
39:01 - Creative writing process
43:33 - Incorporating audience feedback
46:36 - Defining success
47:26 - 'Moshari' and its appeal
51:37 - Defining quality work
55:09 - Biggest gap in the industry
58:12 - Film production challenges
58:55 - Impact of fame on artistic work
01:02:15 - Overcoming unhappyness through art
01:04:08 - Nuhash's creative routine
01:05:04 - Nuhash's favourite artists
01:06:45 - Nuhash's dream collab with his father
01:09:29 - Envisioning filmmaking's future
01:11:00 - Personal goals
01:12:25 - Advice for aspiring filmmakers
01:14:33 - Outro

Dameer Khan is an indie-pop singer-songwriter and a producer. At just 22, he has released quite a few singles and an EP, all of which has gained millions of views and streams and has gotten him a niche following. I stumbled upon Dameer’s work first in 2017, and almost instantly became a fan of his work. Beyond his nostalgic tunes,  @Dameer 's music videos are cinematic and a joy to watch personally.

In this episode we talked about his journey, his identity as a musician and how he utilises his community to become a better creator. Dameer is big on the use of social media to promote your art - which is always an interesting take these days and we dive deep into that side of things as well.

Just a note that this podcast was recorded in early 2023, and the artwork in the animation was done by none other than the guest of this episode  @ahmedfahim.archives  

AUDIO: https://stateofthecreators.buzzsprout.com/

00:00 Intro
02:05 A colour for each song
04:27 Who is Dameer? 
05:08 Canada
06:44 Dameer's early days
08:38 Dameer's creative family and band "Renaissance" 
10:36 Why study Poli-Science?
14:14 Leveraging a uni degree
16:22 Music in 'Bangla Language'
21:13 Malaysia
23:00 The Harmony of Two Languages in Music.
26:04 Was moving out a good decision?
28:30 Writing music in simple lyrics
33:46 Fandom
38:54 Dameer's dream
43:26 Bangladesh through an artist's lens
45:19 Beginning of a music career
47:30 "Amar Jaan"
48:26 Navigating negativity
50:22 Using autotune
52:54 Defining quality music
55:39: Making money as a musician
01:01:09 Tackling memes and criticisms
01:02:22 The Artistic Challenge
01:04:32 Creative routine
01:05:24 Creative ruts
01:05:55 Exploring other music projects
01:06:32 Discovering new music
01:07:49 Dameer's favourite acts 
01:12:10 Dameer's ambitions
01:15:03 Advice for aspiring artists
01:18:00 Outro

Ahmed Fahim is an illustrator, a designer, and an artist based in Bangladesh. Over the years he’s worked on some of the finest projects in regards to digital illustrations and designs.

However recently Fahim was diagnosed with a terminal illness, it has changed his entire outlook on his creative work and his life as a whole.

So this one gets a little heavy at one point.

Just a note that this podcast was recorded in early 2022, more than a year ago now, and the artwork in the animation was done by none other than the guest of this episode  @ahmedfahim.archives  

WATCH THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/wRreUGapNig

00:00 Intro
05:12 The identity of 'Ahmed Fahim'
07:33 Origin story
09:16 Why illustrations? 
09:49 Supportive parents 
12:47 Why choose architecture? 
14:09 Art as a business
16:46 Seeking inspiration
20:41 Could AI replace artists? 
26:54 Fahim's favourite artists
31:16 Confronting creative ruts
34:51 Personal habits
36:40 Defining quality content
37:21 Living with life-threatening disease
42:33 Driving change through art
45:55 Leaving a legacy
48:18 Words of advice for aspiring artists
49:15 Outro

Rakin Absar is a comedian, an online creator and a social media juggernaut from Bangladesh with hundreds of thousands of followers online. He started his career in Vine, a short form social media platform almost a decade ago, became a significant name with his work on YouTube but then he took a break for a couple of years.

In this episode we explore  @MrAbsar 's journey, how social media has evolved for creators over the decade and how he’s built a career in this. 

Just a note that this podcast was recorded in early 2022, more than a year ago now, and the artwork in the animation was done by the talented Ahmed Fahim.

Hope you enjoy the show. 

00:00 Intro
01:23 Rakin's "real" personality
03:55 Why "Mr. Absar" as a stage name? 
05:56 Start of the career
08:08 Reason behind Rakin's break
10:57 Coming back into the scene
13:57 Professionalism in the industry
18:40 Lack of variety in content
21:41 Dealing with brands
29:05 Financial aspects of brand collaborations
32:16 Career without brands
35:47 Supportive parents?
36:42 Dealing with negativity 
38:38 Out of content?
40:28 Prioritizing mental health as a creator
48:05 Confronting creative ruts
50:42 Biggest rewards as a creator
52:32 Defining quality content
53:37 Creators Rakin looks up to
55:39 Future of creaotrs
57:04 Advice for aspiring creators
58:30 Outro

Find out more about Tawsif: www.tawsifakkas.com

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Taha Ismail is a Bangladeshi filmmaker based in London. He is also the co-founder of Collective Unconscious - a creative production studio & collective working across film, music, fashion & more. Recently, Taha even won gold at the prestigious London Award Show for his work.

I came across Taha’s work through an incredible viral video of his back when viral videos weren’t even a thing. He had recreated in real life - an entire cutscene in the style of popular video game called GTA San Andreas. Today it might not seem a lot, but it was quite a big deal then. Today Taha’s work spans across incredible short films to music videos, and his work has been featured on US television, BBC, film festivals, and many other places.

In this episode,  @tahaismailtvbd   and I discuss his journey and what it takes to be a filmmaker in the modern world. 

Just a note that this podcast was recorded in early 2022 and the artwork in the animation was done by the talented Ahmed Fahim.

00:00 - Intro
01:34 - Why the "Unconscious"?
03:03 - Who is Taha Ismail?
04:30 - Is Film School worth it? 
08:34 - Taha's early days
12:24 - Why Taha stopped uploading to YouTube
15:21- State of YouTube today
16:31- Why create something new?
20:35 - Dealing with identity
21:59 - Catering for different audiences
24:07 - Music Videos vs. Short Films 
29:23 - The lack of appreciation for work
33:16 - What is quality?
34:32 - Supportive parents
35:53 - Creative ruts 
38:45 - Daily rituals
39:38 - Consuming a variety of work
42:37 - Dream collaboration 
43:38 - Taha's goal in 5 years
45:47 - Advice for aspiring filmmakers 

Find out more about Tawsif: www.tawsifakkas.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tawsifakkas
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/tawsifakkas

WATCH THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/lNkJOsSQNFk

Naina Husain is an artist and an illustrator and she is the founder of byNainah.

Her art is inspired by South Asia’s people, its culture, and its colors. She started drawing purely through creative expression, but now she has turned it into somewhat of a creator business - so much so that she’s been featured on outlets like Insider and Mashable.

In this episode we talk about her creative journey, how she utilises social media for her art, and how to sustain a career as an illustrator.

This podcast was recorded in early 2022 and the artwork in the animation was done by the talented  @ahmedfahimfilms .

00:00 Intro
01:28 Who is Naina Hussain?
06:53 Tackling identity 
09:49 Early life
16:19 Stepping into fashion designing
21:08 Starting from scratch
25:24 Building an audience
28:50 Dealing with hate 
30:35 Imposter syndrome
32:48 Creative ruts
33:55 What is quality?
34:16 The biggest reward
35:32 Favourite creators
38:25 Advice for aspiring creators 

Find out more about Tawsif: www.tawsifakkas.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tawsifakkas
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/tawsifakkas

WATCH THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/F6rWR-xp8tI

 @ArmeenMusa is a singer-songwriter, poet, music director, performer and so much more. She studied at the world famous Berklee College of music and has had a great impact in the Bangladeshi and South Asian music scene. She has her own solo set called the Ghaashphoring Choir, and has also been a significant name in the  @CokeStudioBangla   project.

I have been a fan of Armeen’s work from her early days so it was a great privilege for me to have this conversation with her. We talk about her journey, we discuss what it takes to be a musician in this modern era, and we dive deep into her philosophies about art.

Just a note that this podcast was recorded in early 2022 and the artwork in the animation was done by the talented  @ahmedfahimfilms .

00:00 Intro
01:20 Who is Armeen Musa?
02:50 Armeen's Illustrious Family 
06:45 Early life 
08:38 Balancing Music and Studies
13:07 "Bhromor Koio" 
18:34 Why Berklee College of Music?
23:28 Studying Music vs. Practical Application
28:25 Leadership as a Creator
33:00 Are creative degrees needed? 
38:00 Satisfying the creating itch
44:37 Pressure of achieving success 
47:49 Using social media for music
55:38 Why continue as a musician despite the challenges? 
01:02:23 What is quality?
01:07:16 Upcoming projects 
01:08:15 Advice for aspiring creators 
01:11:07 Outro

Find out more about Tawsif: www.tawsifakkas.com

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Abir Ahmed Chowdhury is an independent consultant in the international development sector - with a background in economics and development. He is also my co-founder in  @plaantik . For those who don’t know Plaantik is a football media company that we have been running for over a decade now, and over the years we’ve done some pretty cool things in the world of football. For instance, we just launched a book a month ago, and regularly cater to millions of football fans online daily. 

In this episode, we go through what it takes to run a social media first content entity, that too remotely, we discuss the evolution of media and content that we have seen over the last ten years and how we have been doing this for so long. 

Animation and illustration: Ahmed Fahim

00:00 Intro
01:51 Who is Abir Ahmed Chowdhury?
03:26 Life before Plaantik
05:58 What prompted you to create Plaantik?
10:50 Figuring it out 
15:25 How Plaantik shaped our careers
18:10 Challenges with co-founding
25:50 Importance of community
28:25 Why stick with Plaantik?
33:00 The dilemma of pursuing full time
34:30 Is the audience smarter than the creators?
35:25 Taking criticism
37:25 Is Plaantik biased? 
43:11 The monetary side of Plaantik
50:24 Being adaptable
53:00 Future of football content 
57:25 Abir's advice for aspiring creators

Find out more about Tawsif: www.tawsifakkas.com

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@SeeamShahidNoor is a Product Manager & Sr. Strategy Consultant at IBM - but he is primarily known as a creator in the education space, where he helps aspiring students with tips and tricks to be better at what they do.

With hundreds of thousands of followers online, Seeam uses his expertise from his current role and draws from his degree at the prestigious Harvard University. In this episode Seeam and I sit down from two different ends of the world and discuss his journey, the creator industry and what it takes to be successful as a creator in the education niche.

Intro animation: Ahmed Fahim

00:00 Intro
01:15 Seeam's Harvard University story
04:25 Who is Seeam Shahid Noor?
08:13 Why create content?
13:03 IBM vs. Content creation
15:07 Satisfying the creating itch
16:57 Issue with being a fulltime creator
18:10 Seeam's growth story
25:04 What's hard about building an audience 
30:21 Dealing with negativity
31:49 Is the audience smarter than creators?
33:27 How the audience influences creators
35:04 How audience behavior shapes content
37:38 Lack of a diverse audience     
38:58 Creative rut
41:22 What is quality content?
42:07 Biggest reward as a creator
43:15 Personal goal in 5 years
44:12 Seeam's advice for aspiring creators
45:43 Outro

Find out more about Tawsif: www.tawsifakkas.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tawsifakkas
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/tawsifakkas