Flautist Shahidul Islam, a native of Brahmanbaria, reminisced about the first time he held a flute at a local Baishakhi Mela, where he would often play and immerse himself in the art. What began as a simple pastime eventually led him to turn his love for music into a profession at Bangladesh Betar in 1999.

Having been in the profession for over 30 years, the flautist has lent his melodies to the works of legendary artistes, including Sabina Yasmin, Runa Laila, Baby Naznin, the late Andrew Kishore, Indian singer Purna Das Baul, and many other notable figures.

When the artiste was first invited to perform his best flute tunes at The Daily Star's staff day, we invited him for coffee, since it would be a unique experience to discuss the flute and its techniques.

We began the interview with the soothing flute tune of "Praan Shokhire Rojoni". At a time when the industry had only a handful of flautists, he, along with fellow flautist Jalal, greatly contributed in transforming the sonic landscape. If a thousand songs were recorded, the two of them provided flute accompaniments for nearly 700 recordings.

"Flute composition is not just about what we've inherited; it's about where we take it next," he mused, adjusting his grip on the instrument. "When we perform on international stages, we don't just represent ourselves—we showcase our country through the sound of the flute. To do that effectively, we must pursue new techniques, new sounds.

The artiste asserts that one thing is more important than technique in this art -- tuning. If a flute is not tuned to A-440 Hz, it may sound out of place when played alongside other instruments," he explained. "It's like speaking the same language but in a slightly different accent—subtle, but noticeable. That's why tuning is critical when performing at international standards."

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For someone like Shahid bhai, whose childhood was immersed in sonorous notes, finding a way to turn his passion into a livelihood was inevitable. Whether on international stages or at home, he is truly in his element when performing live. From making the flute to perfecting its tunes, this flautist's life has been dedicated to the instrument.