Arbovirus (band)

Arbovirus is a Bangladeshi rock band formed in 2002 in Dhaka. Their current line-up consists of Sufi Maverick as the vocal, Suharto Sherif, and Asif Asgar Ranjan as the guitarits, Aldnane Alam on bass, and Nafeez Al Amin on the drums.

ARBOVIRUS
ARBOVIRUS, 2017.
L-R: Suharto, Aldnane, Sufi, Nafeez, and Ranjan
Background information
OriginDhaka, Bangladesh
Genres
Years active2002–present
Labels
Associated acts
Members
  • Sufi Maverick
  • Suharto Sherif
  • Asif Asgar Ranjan
  • Aldnane Alam
  • Nafeez Al Amin
Past members
  • Ishtiaq Ahmed Shobhon
  • Ahsanur Rahman Himel
  • Ishtiaq Hossain Jishan
  • Farhan Tanim
  • Muntasir Mamun Shuvo

Till now they have released three Studio Albums, one EP, and twelve singles through various mixed albums.

History

Formation and early years (2002-2005)

Suharto formed the band with Ranjan on 2002. The line consisted of Suharto and Ranjan on guitars, Shovon on vocal, Himel on drums. Bassist Salek from Reborn played as a guest member. Around mid-2003, Ishtiaq Jishan, and Farhan Tanim joined as a bassist, and drummer respectively. On the same year Sufi joined as a vocal to complete the line up.

Band's early releases includes singles like "আর্তনাদ (ARTONAD)" in the mixed album "আগন্তুক (AGONTUK)", which earned them their first record deal with the label G-Series.

64m 53s (2006)

Band released their debut album 64m 53s on July 20, 2006 under the banner of G-Series.

On 26 January 2006, Arbovirus performed their first international show at the Salt Lake Stadium on the eve of Indian Republic Day along with Warfaze, Artcell, Metal Maze, Lakkhichhara, Cactus (Indian band), Insomnia (band), and Fossils.

Struggle with the line up (2007-2011)

In early 2008 Jishan and Tanim moved abroad to pursue higher education. Aldnane Alam joined shortly after Jishan left. Shuvo (Ex Aurthohin) joined as a drummer, but he also left the band as he would permanently move to Australia.

In 2011 - drummer Nafeez Al Amin joined the band, and the same year they started recording new materials.

Montobbo Nishproyojon (2012-2013)

In 2012 - partnering with Livesquare, and Apex Footwear Sprint as a sponsor - band signed a deal [1] for the 2nd album.

In December 2012 - the band performed in the "Urban Youth Festival".

They made two collaborative tracks with Beatbaksho, rapper Amewu and one of the Voice of the Germany producer DJ Werd. They also performed the entire set on the Ekushey TV, including their title track "Raise Your Voice", and "Grime Time".[2]

Arbovirus released their second album Montobbo Nishproyojon on 5 July 2013 at the Russian Cultural Center.[3] The album consists of 8 tracks. In order to bridge the 7 years gap with their audience – the band decided to give it away as a free Digital Download, and never released any physical version of it until the release of Bishesh Droshtobbo.

Bishesh Droshtobbo (2017)

Their third album, Bishesh Droshtobbo, was initially planned as a B-side album of the 2nd album with the left over tracks from their second album. But later on the band decided to add more songs to it and release it as a full-length album which now consists of 9 tracks.[4]

Band organized their first ever solo concert since their foundation to commemorate the 15 years of the journey and the launching of their third album. The concert was held on January 13, 2017 in Russian Cultural Center. The album was released on their YouTube channel, and double CD of both Montobyo Nishproyojon and Bishesh Droshtobbo was made available through pre-order home-delivery. [5] Since the band didn't sign up wit any record label, they took over the CD production and packaging among the teammates. All the packaging were personally done by the band members and associated teammates.

Lyrics

Almost all of the lyrics are in Bangla, mostly written by Ranjan, except for 'Artonad' by Shobhon, 'Ja Ichhe Tai' by Sufi and 'Shopnadishto' by Rumman.

The band's lyrics broadly covers various elements from self-recognition to the political disarray of Bangladesh, from the 9–6 corporate life to middle-east peace politics, from the inner struggle to strong optimism, from the incoherent feeling of letting a loved one go to, although they portray a broader humane and optimistic view.

Their later releases are more vocal about the moral bankruptcy and political hypocrisy that all the members experienced over time. Several of their songs contain elements of Suicide, War Crimes in Bangladesh, Religion, Atheism, Middle East, Identity Crisis, Exobiology and many other issues.

Associated acts

Guitarist Ranjan has been contributing to different bands as a lyricist for quite a long time, even long before he formed the band. He has contributed lyrics to many prominent musicians including Miles, Artcell, and Aurthohin. Besides – he has an experimental project named Purple Haze, and Lare Lappa.

On January 15, 2015 - Sufi along with Polash from Warfaze, Shakib from Cryptic Fate, Jamshed from Powersurge performed at the curtain closing show of Rockstrata, one of the pioneering Heavy Metal bands of Bangladesh.[6]

Bassist Aldnane also have been playing and writing lyrics for the Experimental rock band "Kral". He is also a part of the Progressive Instrumental super group Air and Air who has released their first studio album in 2014.

Drummer Nafeez has been a regular session player; notable among them are Dethrow, Breach, Kronic, Elita Karim and Friends, and Jazzy Chopsticks. In 2019 Nafeez got the endorsement from Soultone Cymbals.[7]

Discography

Studio albums
  • 64m 53s (20 July 2006)
  • Montobbo Nishproyojon (5 July 2013)
  • Bishesh Droshtobbo (13 January 2017)
  • Bishesh Droshtobbo : Shorashori Shomprochar (13 January 2017)

Extended Play
  • Otopor (14 April 2019)

Singles (in various mixed albums)
  • Aartonad in Agantuk 2 (2003)
  • Obhishap in Din Bodol (2004)
  • Shopnadishto in Lokayot (2004)
  • Shohor in Boka Manushta {ft. Sumon 'BassBaba' of Aurthohin} (2007)
  • Shurjo Shontan in Live Now (2007)
  • Prayoshchitto in Bonno {ft. Fuad Almuqtadir} (2007)
  • Addhek Kotha in Rock 101 (2008)
  • Keu Karo Noy in Rock 202 (2009)
  • Prarthona in Rock 505 (2010)
  • Bangladesh Gori in Gorje Uttho Bangladesh (2011)
  • Agontuk in Rock 606 (2011)
  • Goal in Rock 808 (2015)

Band members

Current members
  • Suharto Sherif – Guitars, backing vocals, (2001–present)
  • Asif Asgar Ranjan – Lyrics, Guitars, (2001–present)
  • Sufi Maverick – Vocals (2003–present)
  • Aldnane Alam - Bass (2009–present)
  • Nafeez Al Amin – Drums (2011–present)
  • Mong Sai Marma - Bass (touring) (2017–present)

Former members
  • Ishtiaq Ahmed Shovon – Vocals (2002–2003)
  • Ahsanur Rahman Himel – Drums (2002–2003)
  • Ishtiaq Hossain Jishan – Bass (2003–2008)
  • Farhan Tanim – Drums (2003–2009)
  • Muntasir Mamun Shuvo – Drums (2010–2011)

Timeline

References
  1. "Arbovirus signs deal with Apex Sprint". The Daily Star. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  2. "Urban Youth Festival at Goethe-Institut". The Daily Star. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  3. "Montobyo Nishproyojon: Essentially infectious". The Daily Star. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  4. "আর্বোভাইরাসের 'বিশেষ দ্রষ্টব্য ..." Kalerkantho. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  5. "#infected by Arbovirus". The Daily Star. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  6. "Rock Strata: One Last Live". The Daily Sun. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  7. "Nafeez Al Amin endorsed by Soultone Cymbals". The Daily Star. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
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