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| Sunday, 29 December 2002 |
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Gajan : Hip hop savvy urban sound
People rock, people roll and they rap too. But Gajan Mahesan, the newest face in the local music arena, entered the scene with a different mission, to promote hip-hop music. In the music business since 1996, Gajan together with his brother Krishan, formed `Urban Sound' which still exists. "It's our attempt to promote `hip-hop' music in Sri Lanka", says the 21 year old Gajan, who unlike other local signers was not into singing in school. "I was quite busy doing other stuff", he says. `Urban Sound', according to Gajan has almost made it to the top. "Our first song featuring the `Rude boy republic' was called `Smooth flow'. It was a hit on Sun FM. "We've done many other songs as well. `Gangsters', `Celebrities', `Sri Lanka 2030', to name a few", he says. The band has also done a music video `Stop the virus' promoting AIDS awareness. The song was written by them and the video was produced by YATV. "It was nominated for one of the Australian TV programmes on HIV, says a proud Gajan, who is also a rapping buddy of Bathiya and Santhush. Commenting on how he came to know Bathiya, he recalls. "I met Bathiya at the Showboat Karaoke competition in 1998. `Urban Sound' was invited to do the guest performance at the final round. So was Bathiya. Actually he had won the competition the previous year. It was just Bathiya, at that time", Gajan began singing or rather rapping with Bathiya and Santhush in 2001. "It was September 2001. Ranidu Lankage left the group and I took over", he explains. Being the official rapper in the group, he says he's not much of a composer. "I've tried once. It's called `Kelle' (You better listen to me). That's when I was with `Urban Sound'. `Ethnic Woman' the only English number in B&S's latest album is a hit among the crowd. It features my rap." Gajan says that rapping and hip-hop are all about `freestyling'. It's not an art where one gets to pre prepare. "It has to be your own thinking. The new versions of `Siri sanga bodhi' and `Manusathkule' are done by me. In fact I was told by Bathiya, to kinda re-do the old version done by Randil (the first rapper of the group). Actually it all depends on the freestyle session". He says that if one is really into hip-hop music, he should be able to rap anything at any given time. "That's what a real rapper is all about". To Gajan, performing in front of large crowds is fun, "With B&S, it has always been large audiences. The feeling is fabulous". He puts his satisfaction as a singer into words as he says that people recognise him as part of the group. "People are getting to know me, and it's a great response". Gajan's taste in music is mostly oldies. "I love the Beatles, Eagles and I like Peter Cetera", he says. The young Thomian doesn't stop there. "I'm interested in listening to a lot of R&B and hip-hop as well". But he seems more into oldies music as he says that he really digs into slow jams and early 90s music. When not playing Gajan is an executive at the Metropolitan and says he loves his work, very much. A CIM, stage two student, Gajan plans to do his MBA after completing his CIM finals. And of his musical career, he says in confidence "My bro and I are working on a worldwide music project". His view on singing "Singing is very unique. It's a universal language. It plays a vital role, taking you miles and miles away". He believes that a song can convey a message to anybody, over the world, "It's a different art over all". Any other interests? "Well I watch movies and play cricket", he says adding that life to him is a challenge that means so much of obstacles one has to overcome should get along with. " But you've got to live it and see how it goes." And Love? "..is great. It's a marvellous thing", Gajan says chuckling. |
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by Umangi De Mel
