Singer Zakia Sultana Cornia, popularly known as Cornia, is embracing a new chapter in her musical journey while remaining firmly committed to the art form that has shaped her career. Alongside recording songs and performing at concerts, she is serving as a judge on the second season of RTV Little Star, a reality show featuring young singing talents.
The role has given her a fresh perspective on musical development, allowing her to assess aspiring performers from the other side of the competition stage. Having experienced the pressures of establishing herself through a reality show, Cornia understands the importance of constructive feedback, encouragement and consistent practice.
Her recent work includes the song Jamdani Shari, which has received a warm response from listeners. She is also planning to release new solo and duet tracks while continuing to perform at live events across Bangladesh.
Despite opportunities to explore other areas of the entertainment industry, Cornia has little interest in pursuing acting or modelling professionally. She wants to build her future around singing, experiment with different musical styles and preserve the distinctive qualities of her voice.
A Fresh Challenge on the Judging Panel
Cornia describes her first experience as a judge on RTV Little Star Season 2 as both exciting and different from her previous professional engagements. Being entrusted with such a responsibility has encouraged her to approach the role with care and impartiality.
She believes contestants should be judged on the quality of their performances rather than on personal circumstances or emotional considerations. For her, fair assessment is an essential part of helping young singers understand their abilities and identify areas for improvement.
The judging panel also includes veteran pop singer Ferdous Wahid and singer Liza. Cornia has enjoyed working alongside them, particularly the relaxed atmosphere during filming. She recalled how Ferdous Wahid kept everyone entertained behind the scenes, making the experience enjoyable despite the difference in their ages.
The final of the programme was scheduled for 18 October, according to the interview. Cornia expressed her appreciation to RTV for giving her the opportunity to participate in the show.
Her Own Experience Helps Her Understand Contestants
Having once competed to establish herself as a singer, Cornia can relate to the emotions and expectations experienced by participants. She remembers what it means to stand before judges and try to prove one’s talent.
That experience influences how she approaches her current responsibilities. She recognises that a judge’s words can have a lasting impact on a contestant’s confidence, particularly when the performer is still young and developing both musical skills and personal resilience.
Cornia therefore believes criticism should be constructive. Pointing out mistakes is necessary, but judges should also acknowledge strengths and explain how contestants can improve.
Children, in particular, need encouragement to maintain their enthusiasm for music. Their performances may not always be technically perfect, but supportive guidance can help them learn from mistakes without becoming discouraged.
She hopes the contestants will take the judges’ advice seriously and use it to develop their abilities. With regular practice and appropriate guidance, she believes many of the young performers could make meaningful progress.
Young Contestants Offer Plenty of Promise
Cornia has been impressed by the talent displayed by several children on RTV Little Star. Some have naturally appealing voices, while others demonstrate an ability to grasp melodies with relative ease.
She sees considerable potential among the participants but stresses that natural ability alone cannot sustain long-term progress. A genuine interest in learning, consistent practice and a love of music are equally important.
In her view, children should learn to appreciate music beyond the immediate excitement of competitions. Winning a prize or receiving praise may provide encouragement, but continued development requires discipline and a willingness to learn.
Cornia wants young performers to recognise the importance of improving their technique and broadening their musical understanding from an early age. She believes that talent supported by regular training and proper direction can provide a strong foundation for future growth.
Her approach reflects a wider challenge facing young performers who gain exposure through television competitions: early recognition can open doors, but sustained progress depends on what they do afterwards.
Why Some Reality Show Singers Struggle to Establish Themselves
Cornia acknowledges the view that some singers who emerge from reality shows struggle to build successful careers once their programmes end. She believes maintaining consistent practice is one of the main challenges.
Many contestants, she observed, come from middle-income families whose hopes are closely tied to their children’s success. During competitions, participants often work hard to demonstrate their abilities. However, some find it difficult to maintain that commitment after the programme concludes.
Cornia argues that performing well in a competition should be regarded as the beginning of a journey, not its destination. Recognition may introduce an artist to a wider audience, but establishing a lasting presence in the music industry requires continued effort.
Singing is a discipline that demands regular practice. Artists must keep refining their skills, learning from experience and finding ways to improve their performances. A successful appearance on television cannot replace that process.
She also believes aspiring singers must learn to cope with setbacks. Success may take longer than expected, and opportunities may not always arrive when they are wanted. Such difficulties should not become reasons to abandon a dream.
For Cornia, patience, perseverance and dedication remain essential qualities for anyone hoping to establish a career in music.
‘Jamdani Shari’ Wins Listeners’ Affection
Cornia is pleased with the response to her song Jamdani Shari. She said the affection shown by listeners has been encouraging and has inspired her to continue working on new music.
For an artist, releasing a song is only one part of the creative process. Understanding how listeners receive it can be equally rewarding. Cornia values the connection created when audiences enjoy her work and hopes each new release will offer something distinctive.
She wants her music to entertain listeners while giving them fresh experiences. Rather than relying on a single formula, she aims to explore different approaches while retaining the qualities that define her as a vocalist.
The response to Jamdani Shari has reinforced her enthusiasm for future projects, although her broader ambition remains to continue developing her musical identity rather than pursue success through any one release.
Exploring Different Styles Without Losing Her Identity
Cornia has wanted to work across a variety of musical styles since the beginning of her career. Repeating the same kind of work does not appeal to her; she prefers to challenge herself and discover new possibilities through music.
For her, experimentation offers an opportunity to grow as a performer. Each new song can bring a different set of demands, encouraging her to approach her voice and interpretation from another perspective.
However, she believes artistic experimentation must be balanced with an understanding of the song itself. Trying something different is not enough if the performance fails to do justice to the composition.
Preserving her distinctive vocal style is therefore a priority, regardless of the musical genre she chooses. She wants to demonstrate versatility without losing the individuality that audiences associate with her singing.
This balance between variety and consistency continues to shape her professional choices. Cornia hopes to keep surprising listeners while maintaining a clear sense of her own artistic identity.
New Solo and Duet Releases on the Way
Cornia’s current schedule includes plans to release several new solo and duet songs. She is optimistic about the forthcoming projects and hopes they will appeal to listeners.
Live performances also occupy a substantial part of her working life. She had recently performed at a concert in Khagrachhari and was scheduled to sing in Cox’s Bazar on the day of the interview. She also had several engagements planned in Dhaka.
Cornia particularly enjoys singing before a live audience. Unlike a recorded performance, a concert allows an artist to respond directly to listeners and experience their reactions in real time.
That immediate connection makes stage performances an important part of her career. Concerts provide opportunities to reach audiences in different places while presenting familiar songs in a live setting.
She intends to continue balancing new recordings with regular stage appearances, allowing both aspects of her work to contribute to her development as a singer.
Singing Comes Before Acting and Modelling
Although Cornia has occasionally appeared as a model in newspaper and magazine fashion features, she has no intention of turning modelling into a professional career. Those assignments were undertaken mainly at the publications’ request rather than as part of a personal ambition to work in fashion.
Acting is not a significant part of her plans either. She may consider other activities as hobbies, but she wants singing to remain her principal professional identity.
For Cornia, music is not simply one career option among many. It is the field in which she feels most committed and where she wants to direct her future efforts.
Her priorities remain focused on creating new songs, performing for audiences, exploring different musical styles and encouraging emerging singers. Her work as a reality show judge has added a new dimension to that journey, allowing her to share some of the experience she has gained throughout her career.
Cornia’s ambitions ultimately centre on continuing to grow as a vocalist. Rather than pursuing multiple identities in the entertainment industry, she wants to deepen her relationship with music and establish a lasting place through her singing.
