When the pandemic hit, Zeshan B was living in the Bronx. His wife works in health care, so her job was considered essential. Meanwhile, he lost all his work as a performer, and he channeled his lockdown angst into new music.

“My industry was considered nonessential,” he said. “While I was on the back burner, the only thing I could do was write.”

Now, Zeshan B and his family live in Chicago, and he’s preparing to release his new album, “O Say, Can You See,” later this month.

In this episode, host Erin Allen talks to Zeshan B about dreaming, his new album and surviving the concrete jungle.