City band members reunite after 12 years to complete an old composition

Bands splitting over creative differences is not new. But seldom does it happen that they come back together for the love of music. Three friends-cum-old bandmates, Bunny, Anit and Surjo, of

Bangla rock band Spectra

planned to reunite after 12 years.

Though they managed to write the first verse of the song Chol Jai some time back in 2019, their plan did not take off because of personal and professional commitments. They tried again during

Poila Boishakh

, but then there was lockdown. Finally, Surjo completed the composition with Bunny and went on to form another band,

Collage

, with new members.

When asked why did they split in the first place and what prompted them to reunite after 12 years before breaking up for good, the band vocalist Surjo said, “I had to leave the city for my job in Hyderabad. So, the band kind of broke up. We had seven-eight original compositions, which were quite catchy and were hits in those times at live shows. We were friends, we still are. So, we thought that innocence just might work again. But then, we all had different priorities, both professionally and personally. Anit left India. Rajiv was not in India at that time. Allan kind of moved on. So, I was left with Bunny. Bunny was playing in other bands, Hereafter and Urban Monks. So, the plan did not work.”

Now, their new single has Surjo singing and Bunny composing while new band members Somenath (bass), Arnab (guitars) and Dipayan (drums) were all too excited to form Collage. Arnab wrote the next verse of the song, aligned with the first one. “Chol Jai is all about nostalgia and going back to the days down the memory lane. We have played this song in front of audience for quite a few times and their response gave us the confidence to have the song released in a proper way,” shared Surjo, who now works in an UK-based retail bank company.

Spectra was formed in 2003 and a few of the then band members were playing with big names like Shohor (

Anindya Bose

),

Pata O Morudyan

, etc. They tried to give a fresh start a few times but the plan did not take shape as they would have liked it. “Coming back together with Surjo to compose the song after 12 years of splitting the band was definitely a very good feeling. Getting to relive the old days once again certainly was pleasurable. I absolutely wanted to join them but I was already playing for two bands and was busy with shows right through the week. It was tough for me to give him time,” said Bunny (Arijit Sarkar).