Rockstar Jon Kabir spills the beans to K Tanzeel Zaman about “I started a Podcast”
When was the last time you enjoyed a truly authentic interview? One where you actually got to see the real skin of the interviewee? If it was recently, the chances are it was on an online podcast show.
With more and more constraints, many channels in the electronic media – with their tight censorship, schedules and strict formats – no longer allow journalists or anyone for that matter to get more than a superficial insight into their subject.
In a post pandemic Dhaka, online podcasting changed that all. The more informal atmosphere and relaxed time scheduling lead to some truly invaluable advice and insights from the most interesting people. It wasn’t until a nationwide lockdown that people’s interest peaked in a new format of “talk show”.
Jon Kabir, a man donning many hats, is one such individual who decided to push the envelope further into the uncharted realm of entertainment. Even though the term podcast is widely renowned around the globe, the average Joe of Neo Dhaka City has still not fully grasped the concept of a Podcast. Going into the creative depth, the rock star shares more about his curious journey with ICE Today below.
Jon bhai, why a Podcast?
Being a musician, I believe that we lack the infrastructure which can support us to monetize our content in Spotify or Apple Music. I really believe that we need to redefine how we consume music now.
From that perspective, finding out how a non-musician person perceives music has always struck my curious chord. Is it just background noise to them, a source of entertainment or just tones on a different note? These questions led me to formulate the journey of my podcast.
What was your initial experience when you kicked things off with your podcast?
I have to be honest. I was a bit skeptical about what I could possibly learn. But now that the snowball has started to roll, the possibilities are really exciting.
Do you think the lockdown had a role to play in making podcasts more acceptable?
Lockdown or not, I believe we Bengalis love to listen to stories. We were brought up in a different time. Think about it, back in the day, when load shedding was prevalent, our parents or grandparents used to tell us stories. Those experiences have made us who we are today. We always had it in us to be listeners.
However, it is a bit shocking to realize that no one in the mainstream has thought of starting a podcast.
How has talking to your peers in the podcast affected you on both a personal and professional level?
I am very selfish when I start something new. When it came to doing my research, I spoke to a lot of people to pick their brains. A lot of them said that it will work and were excited but somehow, they always reverted back to the conventional ways. It was then I realized that I have to kick the ball on this. And that’s exactly what I did. I made sure that I took all the creative and technical decisions. That being said, I have an excellent team that helped me implement my vision and make the podcast come into fruition.
What really made you start your podcast?
I wanted to see something authentic online. I don’t know why; I always see people saying things both online and on screen they don’t really mean. I wanted to portray my guests as human beings. Besides their larger-than-life persona, they do have a side which is just as real as it can get.
Who’s your favorite podcaster?
Joe Rogan. He is something else. I wish I could run my podcast as explicitly as him. That guy is something else, he can command a conversation and bring out the most grounded version of his guest. And that alone is phenomenal. He literally had everyone as his guest on his show. From Undertaker, the wrestler, to Elon Musk. The best thing about him is his melo-tone, he will make the viewer think that they are a part of the conversation.
When I saw Steven Tyler of Aerosmith speaking to Joe about how Spotify is ripping him off with the craft, he opened my eyes. It made me realize that besides him being my idol and being ‘The’ Steven Tyler, he is a man who has his own struggles to deal with. He is like a god to me and Joe made it possible for me to see him as a mere mortal. I wish I could do what he does.
Spontaneity and Improvisation. What kind of role do they play in your podcast?
Before every episode my team always asks me what I am going to talk about. Till date my answer has always been, I don’t know. To bring out the comfort level of my guest and get them to a certain frequency is not really based on some set equations. It varies.
What process do you have when it comes to picking your guests?
I want to host people who are influential; not straight-up glamorous celebrities. I am talking about business tycoons, politicians and people who spread positivity.
I want to bring out the relatable side of politicians like Tabith Awal and Bobby Hajjaj. They do, at the end of the day, have their own preference for music.
Which one of your podcasts do you cherish the most?
The episode with Shomi Kaiser. She’s my childhood crush. When she graced me with her presence at my show, I could not help giggling throughout. I really loved that experience.
Where do you see your podcast show going?
I am going to be honest. I started this in order to do my research as a musician. But now that things have fallen into place, I want to continue. It started off as a research but now that it has evolved into a journey of enlightenment.