Rubayyat Jahan is a new British-Bengali female vocalist who collaborated with Raja Kaasheff or Raja Kashif, a United Kingdom-based Asian singer/music director for many projects. The duo was in Kolkata and The Kolkata Mail correspondent Priyanka Dutta caught up with the duo in an exclusive chat about their works and future projects. Excerpts..

Tell us about your journey.

Rubayyat Jahan- I started singing from a small age. I had love for music always. I then went to UK and then maintaining my love for Bengali songs was a challenge. I sing for a mixed audience in UK. So I sing English and Bengali songs as well as they are very happy to hear different kinds of songs. Raja has composed a number of Bengali songs. We have come to Kolkata to make the audience know about our music.

What is the biggest challenge that you face in UK?

Rubayyat Jahan- There is a challenge. I think Raja will be able to say more as he is not a Bengali but working in Bengali.

Raja Kashif- I will not say I am promoting Bengali music. There are legendary people who have done great work in Bengali music. Rubayyat shared works of legendary artists and I became a fan of them. I want my Sri Lankan, UK friends and friends from other countries to listen to these fantastic songs.

How did you two collaborate?

Raja Kashif- I actually asked her to collaborate. I had a song which had Bengali lines apart from a few other lines in other languages. It is then that I contacted her. I was born and brought up in UK. So I am learning the language. I know Kolkata is the best place for a musician to start his/her journey and hence we are here.

You can sing in Bengali. So are you learning how to speak in Bengali?

Raja Kashif- I can understand Bengali but at the moment I cannot speak it properly. I am learning it and the next time you interview me, I promise I will give you good lines in Bengali.

What are your next projects?

Rubayyat Jahan- Anubhabe, a duet is our next project. Kabir Bokul has written the lyrics. The music has been composed by Raja Kashif.

Where will you be releasing the song?

Raja Kashif- We will be releasing the song digitally as there is not much scope for physical CDs in today’s world. Though it is a sad state, we need to move with the times.

After Anubhabe, what are your other projects?

Raja Kashif- Duti Chokh is a semi-Classical song which is next in line. We also have a song for Baisakh. The new generation crave for acoustic music and we are providing the audience that. I will not say I am doing something new. I am just presenting old music in my own way. I am reinterpreting the old music. So if you find any resemblances that will happen.

Rubayyat Jahan- We hold on to the old world charm in our music. You will see that the music of the 80s is again making its comeback in films and young singers are again singing those songs.

Will we get to see you composing music for Bengali films?

Raja Kashif- We did some songs for Bengali films in Bangladesh. But everyone wants to work in Kolkata and we also want the same. We know there are many talented people working in Kolkata. But we also want to make our mark here with our acoustic based songs. Hopefully after this interview, people will take interest and we will get the desired break in Kolkata.

Wishing Rubayyat and Raja all the best for their songs and musical compositions!!