Suzana Ansar with Khansar

Background

Syed Ansar and Imran Khan met at Forest School, East London. As teenagers they started to record and write music together, inspired by The Beatles and Oasis, they had a release with the album "Eclipse". Khansar is the mixture of both boys surnames 'Ansar' and 'Khan'

Syed's sister, Suzana, also studied at the same school, and joined with Khansar.

Yamin Chowdhury, nickname 'Shagor', is a trained tabla player. Learning Benares Gharana from guru Sanju Sahai, Yamin has accompanied artists from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan as well as performing with fusion and world music. Coming from a famous musical dynasty, relatives are Mahmudur Rahman Benu (Bangladesh freedom fighter '71 Mukti gaan fame) Khairul Anam Shakil, Nazim Chowdhury and Ali Jakker.

Joining forces with Suzana Ansar in early 2000, they performed as a duo, with harmonium and tabla for many years before joining forces with Syed and Imran to create the band Khansar and start working on the album in 2005/2006

Content

What started off as an experiment or hobby, as the songs shaped up an album release seemed more possible. They try to mix Bangladesh and England. Recordings were made in a makeshift studio and vocal chamber in the bedroom and living room, 2005-2008 before shifting to a professional studio in London and Dhaka.

Choosing G Series, Bangladesh, to reach a wider Bengali audience. The album is a fusion with music of a western feel, using melodies from the poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, Bengali folk and Adhunik as well as self-penned songs.

All vocals are by Suzana Ansar, besides duet with Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan on "Amar Jamindar" and "Ruler Snapper" written and sung by Syed Ansar. Additional vocals by Imran Khan, rhythm/tabla by Yamin Chowdhury, mixed and mastered by Khansar/ZooEl, mastered by ZooEl, and produced by KHANSAR.