State of the Creators

Tawsif Akkas

State of the Creators is a podcast that explores what it means for creatives to build something out of nothing. Digital creative Tawsif Akkas sits down with talented creatives from Bangladesh to Australia - and around the world - to talk about the process of creating, the struggles of being a creative and explore how to leave a legacy in this fast paced digital world. Through State of the Creators, Tawsif not only aims to deliver a compelling podcast series but also build a creative community to help the next generation of creators flourish. Find out more at www.tawsifakkas.com.

  1. 08/10/2023

    How to Play the Long Game as a Musician feat. Jon Kabir

    SEASON FINALE! Watch the video: https://youtu.be/JOGMObhQcvk  @JonKabir   widely recognized for being a musician and a prominent vocalist hailing from the Bangladeshi rock scene. Jon started his career almost 20 years ago and burst into the scene with the popular band Black. After Jon left the band, he has been delivering the goods with popular rock band Indalo and as an established solo act. The thing that I find most interesting about Jon’s journey is how he has always reinvented himself as a musician. Neither Indalo nor his solo act pull numbers like his early works - but that hasn’t stopped him from staying true to his authentic creative pursuits - and that’s what I absolutely love about Jon’s career. Beyond all this Jon is also a fellow podcaster - because that’s also a term these days. So this was also a very cool discussion to have with someone who has been doing this for a few years too. In this episode we talk about what it's been like to make music for the last two decades, Jon’s creative process and how the digital world has completely shifted the landscape for musicians today. Special thanks to Akib Shahriar for the camera work and to  @SameerScane   for the studio space! This episode was recorded in early 2023, and the artwork in the animation was done by the talented  @ahmedfahim-exe   00:00 - Intro 01:55 - Why Jon started a podcast 04:09 - Effects of not reading books on writing 08:52 - Writing songs in Bangla 09:51 - Bangla language's limitations to craft songs 13:04 - Who is 'Jon Kabir'? 14:26 - Why music? 17:30 - Staying authentic as an artist 23:26 - Starting career anew 25:33 - Confronting challenges  27:11 - Defining Success in Music 30:54 - Teamwork as a 'loner' 33:04 - Balance between Creativity and Execution 36:35 - Identity struggles within bands 37:08 - The Metallica Syndrome 40:12 - Jon's thoughts to change the industry 43:35 - Breaking the language barrier for global audience 46:08 - Defining quality music 49:41 - Tackling memes and criticism 50:52 - The artistic challenge 52:19 - Making money as a musician 53:57 - Perspectives on new generations 56:50 - The role of emotions in music 57:33 - Creative ruts 58:10 - Creative routine 01:01:22 - The future of music in Bangladesh 01:02:23 - Personal goals 01:03:34 - Jon's favourite artists 01:03:57 - Advice for aspiring artists 01:04:51 - Outro

    1h 5m

  2. 08/04/2023

    Nuhash on Creating Films That Transcend Boundaries | State of the Creators 035

    Nuhash Humayun is a writer and a director from Dhaka, Bangladesh. He made his local TV debut in 2017 - and has since written and directed a growing catalogue of short films, music videos, TV shows and advertisements. One of his latest horror shorts, Moshari, has won a number of accolades including the South by South West Jury Award and awards from Fantasia, HollyShorts and Melbourne festivals, and is the first Bangladeshi film ever to qualify for an Oscar. It has done so well that Hollywood juggernauts like Jordan Peele and Riz Ahmed are set to Executive Produce the live-action short. In fact his other recent works, like Pett Kata Shaw and Foreigners Only on Hulu has won multiple global awards.  @nuhashhYT   is currently writing a script for a major Hollywood Studio and is working on his first feature length film. Nuhash is also the son of legendary Bangladeshi novelist, screenwriter and personality Humayun Ahmed. In this episode we talk about his creative process, how he navigates a complicated landscape and why he chooses horror of all things to make films about. This episode was recorded in early 2023, and the artwork in the animation was done by the talented  @ahmedfahim-exe   00:00 - Intro 01:45 - Why horror?  03:28 - The intersection of horror and Bangladeshi culture 06:34 - Being true to oneself 07:08 - Who is 'Nuhash Humayun' 08:33 - Nuhash's illustrious family  11:09 - Other side of fame 12:37 - Keeping up with family identity  15:57 - How family identity affects work  22:05 - Motivation behind filmmaking 22:59 - Collaboration 28:07 - Defining filmmaking 30:51 - The role of social media 34:37 - Leveraging social media 36:33 - Balancing multiple responsibilities 39:01 - Creative writing process 43:33 - Incorporating audience feedback 46:36 - Defining success 47:26 - 'Moshari' and its appeal 51:37 - Defining quality work 55:09 - Biggest gap in the industry 58:12 - Film production challenges 58:55 - Impact of fame on artistic work 01:02:15 - Overcoming unhappyness through art 01:04:08 - Nuhash's creative routine 01:05:04 - Nuhash's favourite artists 01:06:45 - Nuhash's dream collab with his father 01:09:29 - Envisioning filmmaking's future 01:11:00 - Personal goals 01:12:25 - Advice for aspiring filmmakers 01:14:33 - Outro

    1h 15m

  3. 07/25/2023

    How Dameer Builds a Global Community with his Music | State of the Creators 034

    Dameer Khan is an indie-pop singer-songwriter and a producer. At just 22, he has released quite a few singles and an EP, all of which has gained millions of views and streams and has gotten him a niche following. I stumbled upon Dameer’s work first in 2017, and almost instantly became a fan of his work. Beyond his nostalgic tunes,  @Dameer 's music videos are cinematic and a joy to watch personally. In this episode we talked about his journey, his identity as a musician and how he utilises his community to become a better creator. Dameer is big on the use of social media to promote your art - which is always an interesting take these days and we dive deep into that side of things as well. Just a note that this podcast was recorded in early 2023, and the artwork in the animation was done by none other than the guest of this episode  @ahmedfahim.archives   AUDIO: https://stateofthecreators.buzzsprout.com/ 00:00 Intro 02:05 A colour for each song 04:27 Who is Dameer?  05:08 Canada 06:44 Dameer's early days 08:38 Dameer's creative family and band "Renaissance"  10:36 Why study Poli-Science? 14:14 Leveraging a uni degree 16:22 Music in 'Bangla Language' 21:13 Malaysia 23:00 The Harmony of Two Languages in Music. 26:04 Was moving out a good decision? 28:30 Writing music in simple lyrics 33:46 Fandom 38:54 Dameer's dream 43:26 Bangladesh through an artist's lens 45:19 Beginning of a music career 47:30 "Amar Jaan" 48:26 Navigating negativity 50:22 Using autotune 52:54 Defining quality music 55:39: Making money as a musician 01:01:09 Tackling memes and criticisms 01:02:22 The Artistic Challenge 01:04:32 Creative routine 01:05:24 Creative ruts 01:05:55 Exploring other music projects 01:06:32 Discovering new music 01:07:49 Dameer's favourite acts  01:12:10 Dameer's ambitions 01:15:03 Advice for aspiring artists 01:18:00 Outro

    1h 19m

  4. 07/05/2023

    Leaving a Mark with your Art ft. Ahmed Fahim | State of the Creators 033

    Ahmed Fahim is an illustrator, a designer, and an artist based in Bangladesh. Over the years he’s worked on some of the finest projects in regards to digital illustrations and designs. However recently Fahim was diagnosed with a terminal illness, it has changed his entire outlook on his creative work and his life as a whole. So this one gets a little heavy at one point. Just a note that this podcast was recorded in early 2022, more than a year ago now, and the artwork in the animation was done by none other than the guest of this episode  @ahmedfahim.archives   WATCH THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/wRreUGapNig 00:00 Intro 05:12 The identity of 'Ahmed Fahim' 07:33 Origin story 09:16 Why illustrations?  09:49 Supportive parents  12:47 Why choose architecture?  14:09 Art as a business 16:46 Seeking inspiration 20:41 Could AI replace artists?  26:54 Fahim's favourite artists 31:16 Confronting creative ruts 34:51 Personal habits 36:40 Defining quality content 37:21 Living with life-threatening disease 42:33 Driving change through art 45:55 Leaving a legacy 48:18 Words of advice for aspiring artists 49:15 Outro

    50 min

  5. 06/20/2023

    Using Comedy as a Shield ft. Rakin Absar | State of the Creators 032

    Rakin Absar is a comedian, an online creator and a social media juggernaut from Bangladesh with hundreds of thousands of followers online. He started his career in Vine, a short form social media platform almost a decade ago, became a significant name with his work on YouTube but then he took a break for a couple of years. In this episode we explore  @MrAbsar 's journey, how social media has evolved for creators over the decade and how he’s built a career in this.  Just a note that this podcast was recorded in early 2022, more than a year ago now, and the artwork in the animation was done by the talented Ahmed Fahim. Hope you enjoy the show.  00:00 Intro 01:23 Rakin's "real" personality 03:55 Why "Mr. Absar" as a stage name?  05:56 Start of the career 08:08 Reason behind Rakin's break 10:57 Coming back into the scene 13:57 Professionalism in the industry 18:40 Lack of variety in content 21:41 Dealing with brands 29:05 Financial aspects of brand collaborations 32:16 Career without brands 35:47 Supportive parents? 36:42 Dealing with negativity  38:38 Out of content? 40:28 Prioritizing mental health as a creator 48:05 Confronting creative ruts 50:42 Biggest rewards as a creator 52:32 Defining quality content 53:37 Creators Rakin looks up to 55:39 Future of creaotrs 57:04 Advice for aspiring creators 58:30 Outro Find out more about Tawsif: www.tawsifakkas.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tawsifakkas Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/tawsifakkas

    1 hr

  6. 05/03/2023

    Going from Creating Viral Videos to Award Winning Films ft. Taha Ismail | State of the Creators 031

    Taha Ismail is a Bangladeshi filmmaker based in London. He is also the co-founder of Collective Unconscious - a creative production studio & collective working across film, music, fashion & more. Recently, Taha even won gold at the prestigious London Award Show for his work. I came across Taha’s work through an incredible viral video of his back when viral videos weren’t even a thing. He had recreated in real life - an entire cutscene in the style of popular video game called GTA San Andreas. Today it might not seem a lot, but it was quite a big deal then. Today Taha’s work spans across incredible short films to music videos, and his work has been featured on US television, BBC, film festivals, and many other places. In this episode,  @tahaismailtvbd   and I discuss his journey and what it takes to be a filmmaker in the modern world.  Just a note that this podcast was recorded in early 2022 and the artwork in the animation was done by the talented Ahmed Fahim. 00:00 - Intro 01:34 - Why the "Unconscious"? 03:03 - Who is Taha Ismail? 04:30 - Is Film School worth it?  08:34 - Taha's early days 12:24 - Why Taha stopped uploading to YouTube 15:21- State of YouTube today 16:31- Why create something new? 20:35 - Dealing with identity 21:59 - Catering for different audiences 24:07 - Music Videos vs. Short Films  29:23 - The lack of appreciation for work 33:16 - What is quality? 34:32 - Supportive parents 35:53 - Creative ruts  38:45 - Daily rituals 39:38 - Consuming a variety of work 42:37 - Dream collaboration  43:38 - Taha's goal in 5 years 45:47 - Advice for aspiring filmmakers  Find out more about Tawsif: www.tawsifakkas.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tawsifakkas Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/tawsifakkas

    49 min

  7. 04/12/2023

    Using Identity for Creative Inspiration | State of the Creators 030

    WATCH THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/lNkJOsSQNFk Naina Husain is an artist and an illustrator and she is the founder of byNainah. Her art is inspired by South Asia’s people, its culture, and its colors. She started drawing purely through creative expression, but now she has turned it into somewhat of a creator business - so much so that she’s been featured on outlets like Insider and Mashable. In this episode we talk about her creative journey, how she utilises social media for her art, and how to sustain a career as an illustrator. This podcast was recorded in early 2022 and the artwork in the animation was done by the talented  @ahmedfahimfilms . 00:00 Intro 01:28 Who is Naina Hussain? 06:53 Tackling identity  09:49 Early life 16:19 Stepping into fashion designing 21:08 Starting from scratch 25:24 Building an audience 28:50 Dealing with hate  30:35 Imposter syndrome 32:48 Creative ruts 33:55 What is quality? 34:16 The biggest reward 35:32 Favourite creators 38:25 Advice for aspiring creators  Find out more about Tawsif: www.tawsifakkas.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tawsifakkas Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/tawsifakkas

    41 min

  8. 03/20/2023

    How Armeen Musa Tackles The Evolving World of Music

    WATCH THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/F6rWR-xp8tI  @ArmeenMusa is a singer-songwriter, poet, music director, performer and so much more. She studied at the world famous Berklee College of music and has had a great impact in the Bangladeshi and South Asian music scene. She has her own solo set called the Ghaashphoring Choir, and has also been a significant name in the  @CokeStudioBangla   project. I have been a fan of Armeen’s work from her early days so it was a great privilege for me to have this conversation with her. We talk about her journey, we discuss what it takes to be a musician in this modern era, and we dive deep into her philosophies about art. Just a note that this podcast was recorded in early 2022 and the artwork in the animation was done by the talented  @ahmedfahimfilms . 00:00 Intro 01:20 Who is Armeen Musa? 02:50 Armeen's Illustrious Family  06:45 Early life  08:38 Balancing Music and Studies 13:07 "Bhromor Koio"  18:34 Why Berklee College of Music? 23:28 Studying Music vs. Practical Application 28:25 Leadership as a Creator 33:00 Are creative degrees needed?  38:00 Satisfying the creating itch 44:37 Pressure of achieving success  47:49 Using social media for music 55:38 Why continue as a musician despite the challenges?  01:02:23 What is quality? 01:07:16 Upcoming projects  01:08:15 Advice for aspiring creators  01:11:07 Outro Find out more about Tawsif: www.tawsifakkas.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tawsifakkas Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/tawsifakkas

    1h 11m
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5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

State of the Creators is a podcast that explores what it means for creatives to build something out of nothing. Digital creative Tawsif Akkas sits down with talented creatives from Bangladesh to Australia - and around the world - to talk about the process of creating, the struggles of being a creative and explore how to leave a legacy in this fast paced digital world. Through State of the Creators, Tawsif not only aims to deliver a compelling podcast series but also build a creative community to help the next generation of creators flourish. Find out more at www.tawsifakkas.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Tawsif Akkas
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2023
  • Episodes
    39
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 State of the Creators
  • Show Website
    State of the Creators