Bangladeshi rock icon Nagar Baul James, widely known to his fans as “Guru”, has encouraged young musicians to pursue music for their love of the art rather than for fame, financial gain or recognition.
Speaking at a press conference in Sweden ahead of a concert for members of the Bangladeshi community, James reflected on his own career and the motivation that has sustained him for decades. He said music should come from genuine passion and provide personal fulfilment, rather than being treated primarily as a means of achieving success or material rewards.
“Music has to come purely from passion, from an addiction to it,” James said. He added that anyone entering music with the expectation of gaining something in return should reconsider that approach.
The veteran musician is currently nearing the end of an extended European tour that has lasted almost two months. During the tour, he performed in Portugal, England, Cyprus and Italy before travelling to Sweden. His scheduled concert in Sweden will bring the European leg of the tour to a close.
For James, the advice to younger artists is closely linked to his own experience. He said he never began making music with the expectation that it would bring him money, fame or any particular reward. Love for music, emotion and a strong personal attachment to singing and performing, he said, have remained the central forces behind his journey.
“I don’t think music should be made to achieve something,” he said. “You should make music for your own peace of mind. If something comes as a result, that is a different matter.”
James went on to explain that even without any material success, he would have continued singing. His remarks underline a philosophy that has remained consistent throughout his long career: music itself should be the reason for making music.
His own journey began at a young age, when his strong attraction to music led him to leave home. In the early 1980s, he became the guitarist and vocalist of the band Feelings in Chattogram. The group went on to release its debut album, Station Road, in 1987.
Over the following decades, James established himself as one of the defining figures in Bangladesh’s rock music scene. His distinctive voice, guitar-driven performances and stage presence have helped him maintain a strong connection with audiences across generations.
The passage of time, however, has not changed how he views performing. James said he barely noticed how generations of listeners had changed around him. Looking back, he now recognises that his music has reached several generations of audiences.
That connection appears to remain central to his approach to live performance. James said he intends to continue singing for the rest of his life, regardless of the size of the audience.
“Even if, at the end, there is only one person in the audience, I will sing for that person too,” he said.
Following the completion of his European tour in Sweden, James is scheduled to travel to Australia. On 12 September, he is due to perform at a special concert in New South Wales alongside Rupam Islam, the vocalist of the popular West Bengal rock band Fossils.
After decades in the music industry, James’s message to aspiring musicians remains straightforward: recognition may come as a consequence of creating music, but it should not be the reason for creating it. For him, the lasting value of a musical career lies in the passion that keeps an artist returning to the stage.
