Surya Sen discusses his long-awaited homecoming experience, the evolution of his genre-bending sound, and his ambitious hopes for the city’s electronic music scene.
Surya Sen, the British-Bengali rapper and producer hailing from North London, has carved out a unique space in the electronic scene with his acclaimed debut mixtape, ‘At What Cost?,’ along with fan-favourite tracks like ‘Buccho Ni Ba Bhai.‘ With a reputation for pushing boundaries and tracks that resonate globally, Sen recently brought his undeniable energy to his ancestral home, Bangladesh, for his much-anticipated debut performances. On May 30 and 31, hosted by the Bhai Bhai Soundsystem and Breakfast Club, Dhaka firsthand experienced Surya Sen’s groundbreaking sound, pushing the envelope for electronic music in a scene that’s still passionately carving its own path.
What was the experience like bringing your music to Dhaka for the first time, and what did that homecoming mean to you?
I had no idea what to expect. A big part of why I do this is to celebrate Bangladeshi culture abroad, especially with tracks like ‘Buccho Ni Ba Bhai.’ But I wasn’t sure if folks here were big on Electronic music, so there was that little worry. My sound tends to fuse House, Rap, and other genres, I wondered if it’d be a bit much.
Then, I did a show in London with a friend of mine, Dameer, and he was the one who told me I should really come out here sometime. After that, I got to know some people from the Bhai Bhai Soundsystem and thought, ‘I want to see if I can make a show happen.’ From there, we just quickly sorted a couple of shows.
The reception was just next level. I performed all my songs, and a lot of the crowd knew all the lyrics, which was incredible. After the live performance, I went straight into a DJ set. It was honestly amazing. Being on stage in Dhaka was a real eye-opener, showing me just how much love this city has for Electronic, House, and even hip-hop music.
Your music is known for fusing UK garage, house, and hip-hop. Can you tell us about the journey to developing this distinctive sound and what influences led you to these genres?
My influences growing up were very hip-hop heavy. My favourite album back then was easily Illmatic by Nas – very East Coast hip-hop. From there, I just dug into different hip-hop producers like DJ Premier, Pete Rock, and many others.
As I got older, I became more and more immersed in London’s Electronic scene. I’d visit a lot of the clubs like Fabric, and that was my ticket into House music. At the time, of course, the UK Garage scene was taking off, so I tapped into that as well. I kind of figured that no one’s really combining these elements and making their own version. Not many people were doing that kind of sound, that specific fusion. That’s pretty much where it came from. Plus, I absolutely love sampling music; I think that’s how I really tap into my own head, my psyche.
You’ve spoken about wanting to integrate your UK and Bengali identities into your music. How does the name Surya Sen, with its historical ties to a Bengali revolutionary, play into this fusion of identities and your overall artistic purpose?
When I first started out with music, I didn’t really see many Bangladeshis pursuing this art form much, to be honest. So while I was mixing up so many styles sonically, I also wanted the blend of my UK identity and my Bengali heritage to be a core part of who I become as an artist as well. I wanted to be someone other Bangladeshis could look up to and think, ‘Hey, I can be a rapper, too.’ Because among Bengalis, there’s a bit of a stigma around pursuing art of this kind, and I wanted to challenge that.
As for the name, I came across Surya Sen and the Chittagong armoury raid while reading up on the history of colonial rule in Bengal. And he was a bit of an unsung hero, wasn’t he? I fell in love with his story. When I first made ‘Buccho Ni Ba Bhai,’ I actually wanted to name the track Surya Sen. In the end, I decided to keep that for myself.
Having experienced the burgeoning electronic music scene in Dhaka firsthand, what do you envision for its future, and what role do you see yourself playing in that growth?
I think it’s going to explode. I think we’re seeing it blow up right now, as we speak. I had to come and really see this for myself, and feel it. There’s a real buzz here. You can feel it in the air – all these creatives are genuinely trying to push things forward. The Bhai Bhai Soundsystem, and so many other amazing DJs and performers, everyone’s doing incredible work. As for my future in Bangladesh, I cannot wait to come back here. It was one of the best, truly one of the best weekends I’ve ever had. One of the best crowds I’ve ever had, too. I have a new project I’m working on, so expect to hear more new music soon. After that, I really want to tour Bangladesh again. Whatever Bhai Bhai Soundsystem needs from me, I’m there. I want Dhaka to become a mandatory stop for all producers touring in this region. I’m excited for things to come.