Singer-songwriter Joy Shahriar is making a comeback after a six-year hiatus with his latest solo album, “Boka”. The album consists of a total of eight tracks, with the first single, “Tomake Bhulte Shomoy Lagbe” (“It Will Take Time to Forget You”), already available on his official YouTube channel.
This album marks Shahriar’s fifth studio release, where he not only showcases his vocal talent but also takes credit for writing and composing the lead song. The closing line of the track is inspired by a poem penned by the late poet and filmmaker Abul Hossain Khokon: “Tomake bhulte arektu shomoy lagbe amar” (“It will take me a little longer to forget you”). Shahriar has dedicated this particular song to Khokon, affectionately known as “Mama” to him.
In a recent press statement, Shahriar shared the inspiration behind the song’s creation, expressing gratitude for the influence of individuals outside his immediate family, with Khokon being a significant figure. The singer-songwriter recalled his initial encounter with Khokon’s poem, which he instantly admired and later transformed into lyrics in his unique style. Following Khokon’s demise, the poignant line remained etched in Shahriar’s memory until one evening in May, during a creative session, it organically found its place in his latest composition.
Apart from the lead single, “Boka” will encompass other tracks like “Dukkho Elegy”, “Ekla Thakar Gaan”, “Baba”, and “Shopno Protarito”, among others. The album’s musical arrangements feature Tanim Hasan and Maruf-ul Haque on bass, Mahaan Fahim, Ahnaf Khan Anik, Ontu Das, and Michael Shirsho Das on guitars, Rafiqul Islam Forhad on keyboards, and Jalal Ahmed on flute. The sound engineering for the project has been meticulously crafted by Amjad Hossain Bappi.
Listeners can anticipate the release of all eight songs from “Boka” on various audio streaming platforms scheduled for this coming November.