He did not try to fit in, but perhaps discover who he is and act upon what he believes. Perhaps it was through that sense of alienation mixed with the essence of music that had given rise to the artiste inside Shafkat Ahmed Dipto.
Biography
For one thing, it is as if music has always been in his blood. His mom was an artist of rabindrasangeet and may be that’s where he picked it up. ’I was very young, probably in class-2, when mom taught me the harmonium. Then I wasn’t really a very good student of music but was really full of mischief.’ Music kind of bloomed in him throughout time. It was much later, around 1993 when he chose to play drums. ‘My first instrument was drums which I got acquainted to through a neighbour called Shiblee when we used to live in Rampura. That was around 1992.’ In 1993 he met someone who kind of completed self-realization in the world of music. His name was Murad. ‘Murad Bhai was kinda like my guru’ said Dipto. Later he played with a band called “Light years” with Arifin, Faisal and Shaharier.
Other then with Light Years and the other unnamed band, he also did a band where he was on drums and Arnob on keyboards. Later that dissolved too. In 1994 he was involved with various bands rather loosely. Around 1996, he formed the band Perspectivewith Arif, Monir, Titu and Zimi. ‘My first album was from this band through Sargam and the album’s name was “Ebong Himu” (based on Humayun Ahmed’s novel)’. They did another album too called Bhanga Bari Ebong Notun Kichu Rong in 1998. Then for some reason, Perspective gets broken too. Soon after, he starts the band Aronno. The band was in the best fifteen at the Benson n Hedges Starsearch in 1999. At that time, the track “Tar Chire Geche” was a huge hit amongst fans. The line-up changed quite a few times with a long break where Dipto continued as a solo artist. After nine years, the band had come back with a launching on 17 June, 2011 at Café 33 with some changes in the line-up.
In the meantime, following up Dipto’s story- in 2002 he had to leave the country to come back again in 2005. He released his first solo album Ekta Shorolanko at 2008. He had won the award as the best singer at Meril-Prothom Alo (critics choice) and also won the award as the best lyricist at Channel I- Citycell Music Awards the next year. In 2007, he releases his second solo album Akashe Agun Jalie Dao.
‘The reason I did solo albums is because there are certain songs which cannot be done with a band, not really band material, such as the song Ontor Nai’, he added. In 2009, he did a mixed album Golokdhadha with few new female artists. After almost 3 years, Dipto got back with Aronno and this year is back with his third solo album Roshayon. ‘The album is about what goes on around young people, their lives, their lifestyles, their love, the society, their problems- the album is about all these feelings and so is titled Roshayon which defines the chemistry in their lives.’
Why does Dipto do music? ‘I want to share my feelings with other people. That’s the reason I do music.’ He said.
