Bangladeshi music producer and singer Sanjoy Deb, who recently earned widespread praise for artistically representing Bangladesh at the opening stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has reflected on the hardships behind his success, revealing that there was a time when he could not even afford to pay rent.
Speaking in a recent interview, Sanjoy said his journey in music was far from easy.
“Of course I faced obstacles,” he said.
“When I started, I had very little knowledge of music production. I made terrible music. My friends were annoyed, and even my parents would ask, ‘What are you making?’ But they still encouraged me. I never let those comments stop me because I simply loved making music.”
The producer said music had always been his greatest passion.
“Nothing attracted me as much as music. I wasn’t interested in gaming or many other things. I do enjoy the artistry and strategy of football, especially during the World Cup. I watched almost every match in the last tournament, but I realised nothing is more important to me than music.”
Sanjoy said the challenges he faced only strengthened his determination.
“I’ve gone through many strange and difficult experiences because of music, but I never thought about giving up. I believe music is a universal language that connects people. Leaving behind meaningful work has always been my biggest motivation. I inherited that mindset from my family. My parents, grandmother and grandfather never taught me to give up.”
Recalling one of the toughest periods of his life, the musician revealed that he struggled financially after moving from Silicon Valley to Los Angeles.
“When I moved to Los Angeles, I didn’t even have enough money to pay my rent. My parents didn’t know about it. For the last five years in that apartment, I slept on the floor just to save a few hundred dollars so I could invest that money in making music.”
To survive, Sanjoy said he sold his self-produced music beats for between $100 and $150.
“I did whatever I had to do. Looking back now, the entire journey feels incredible. I loved music then, and I love it just as much today.”
Sanjoy Deb gained international recognition after collaborating with Nora Fatehi on the FIFA World Cup anthem Sir Sir.
The duo later released another track, Champion, for which Sanjoy wrote the lyrics, composed the music and served as music director.
