Uncaging next gen rockstars

The longevity of any musical genre lies in its ability to be passed down to future generations, who adapt and evolve it with their unique talents while staying attuned to the preferences of fans. With Rock music almost on the verge of being dethroned by other forms, the point where the music scene will be looking for their next pool of rock stars to revive the genre is not too far away.

In Bangladesh, rock and band music lacks a structured infrastructure or formal training opportunities for mastering the craft. Unlike classical music, which has a few institutions and courses available, rock and Western instruments rely heavily on self-learning. 

Most renowned rock stars in the country are self-taught, as access to learning these instruments remains scarce and often unaffordable for the general public. 

Aiming to discover and develop new talent for the music industry, the reality TV show 'The Cage' is coming up as quite the musical talent hunt. The musical reality show will air later this week on 28 January at 11.30 PM on DeeptoTV.

The show's concept is straightforward— contestants from all over Bangladesh submitted clips of themselves singing or playing an instrument on social media. 

After a rigorous selection process, a few hundred finalists were chosen to compete in front of the judges in Dhaka. There, they will be grouped into different bands, with the competition ultimately resulting in the selection of the best band among them.

The panel of judges feature accomplished musicians with different skills and expertise, including Raef Al Hasan Rafa, Tashfee, Arbovirus' Asif Asgar Ranjan and Warfaze's Palash Noor.

"While you could call this a talent hunt, it's really about nurturing those with potential and guiding them onto the right path," explained Ranjan. "In addition to skill-building workshops and sessions, we'll prepare them to tackle real-world challenges that young aspiring musicians face in the country."

Rafa believes that the participants who made it to Dhaka are already skilled and capable of performing with confidence. The focus now is on giving them a roadmap, along with the connections and community needed to progress further—not just identifying the best singer, guitarist, or band.

"The kind of guidance we lacked while growing up is what we aim to offer them," Rafa remarked. "For me, it's about passing on the philosophical understanding of what it means to be a musician in this country."

The judges preferred participants who demonstrated the ability to write and create original music over those performing covers, a key factor they considered while forming the bands.

"Every band needs a songwriter, someone with a vision—not just guitarists who can shred at lightning speed. We aim to strike a balance while forming bands, ensuring each group has a diverse range of skills and musicality," Ranjan explained.

To facilitate this, participants will have ample time to interact, forge friendships, and build connections. The judges believe these connections will not only enhance the bands but also help create a supportive community that could benefit them in the long run.

"We will give them free will to select and choose their own band members. Free will is the most important aspect or else this would become no different to Splistvilla," pointed out Rafa.

One of the initial goals of 'The Cage' was to encourage and integrate a largely untapped pool of female rockstars—something the country significantly lacks. While many women traditionally gravitate towards classical music, their presence in the rock scene has always been minimal. 

This might lead one to wonder if the sole female judge on the panel is there simply to promote the idea of attracting more women to rock music. But is that all Tashfee is bringing to the table, especially when there are other highly popular and qualified vocalists on the panel?

"Well, first of all, I'm a vocal coach. I understand vocals, and very importantly, I know how to protect your voice. Unfortunately, there aren't many active professional musicians in the scene who put that much effort into maintaining their voice throughout long periods," Tashfee responded.

"Secondly, I'm self-taught. I had to research, study music and hustle for over a decade—did all the hard yards myself and that is what I want to offer to all these kids coming in. "

Palash Noor brings a wealth of experience to the table. A discovery of the D-Rockstars talent hunt over 15 years ago, where he won the Best Vocalist award, Palash is now the lead vocalist of Warfaze—arguably the biggest band in Bangladesh.

In addition to his vocal talents, Palash is deeply involved in music production, hosts music talk shows, and has a strong grasp of digital content creation. One key focus of the program is to help participants learn how to sustain themselves solely through music, without needing to take on other jobs due to limited opportunities or financial instability in the industry.

"We had to work separate jobs alongside professional music because we lacked the knowledge to commercialise our musical talents effectively," Palash explained. "Here, we aim to groom participants on how to commercialise their abilities and thrive as musicians."

Rafa also feels they need to know the right ways of monetisation, to figure out where the avenues lie that return the most money for their skills.

"For instance, marquee concerts may not be as financially rewarding as performing at university, school, or college shows. To secure such opportunities, it's essential to build a strong network and connections. This circle of contacts is the lifeblood for us professional musicians," explained Rafa.