Entertainment / People

World music from Thriloka
 

by Mahes Perera

They proudly claim that they are not 'just another band.' Thriloka they say metaphorically speaking is an island on which you might build anything reflecting the natural world, evoking the best of world music.

And the music they produce is a blend of themes to create maximum listening pleasure. In short, it is world music.

The sounds that Thriloka creates is through bamboos, logs, stones, metal pieces, shakers, cymbals, bells and conch shells. But that's not all. "The members use the Kandyan drums, the low country drum, the Dawul, Udakki, the tabla, thavil, ghatam, Arabic drums, congas, djembe - and I can almost hear you say gosh! that's exciting.

Yes it is and you have to listen to them.Of course the base instruments are there - the acoustic drums, electric and acoustic guitar, the keyboards and the bass guitar. Thriloka launched themselves at the Russian Cultural Centre recently and were rewarded with many thunderous rounds of applause.

Young and eager to impress, this up and coming group comprises six talented multi-instrumentalists.

The percussionist in the group is Pabalu Eranga Wijegoonewardena who has mastered all the drums Sri Lanka has to offer. He started off at the age of ten, moved into dance, played with rock bands Stone Broke, Aakash and Tapas and is now a dance and drum instructor at the Deepashika National Theatre.

The talented guitarist in the group is Sarani Perera, the son of the acknowledged musician, violinist Kalani Perera. However he chose the piano to express his creativity before he switched to the guitar and he too plays with Aakash.

The drummer in the outfit is Harshan Gallage who as he claims was motivated in sitting at the drum stool after he saw a performance of Billy Cobhan in concert. Self taught, but aided by his father Mahinda, he became influenced by the drumming styles of Steve Gadd and then Dave Weckl who is now his all time favourite drummer.

The flautist is Sajeeva Rangana Gurusinghe a final year student at the University of Visual and Performing Arts. To his credit he has performed at many stages abroad and is a student of Hemapala Perera.

The other percussionist adding spice to the sounds is Janaka Priyashantha who is also an acoustic guitarist. The newest addition to the outfit is the younger brother of Sarani, the bassist who keeps the group together with his throbbing bass runs. Uvindu Chamindra Perera chips in on vocals as well, which is a bonus for the group.

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Fashion Designer of the Year 2006

Only two weeks remain for the versatile fashion designer Chula Nanayakkara Ariyaratna's Fashion Designer of the Year Contest 2006 which will be held at the BMICH on November 30, 2006 with a special appearance by Sachini Ayendra.

Sponsored by the Singer Fashion Academy with D.H.L as co-sponsors the event will be enlivened with Latin American dances and entertainment provided by Chandana Wickramasinghe's troupe.

The media sponsors are Sunday Observer and Daily News. Top Sri Lankan models will represent the designers. Tickets are available at Singer Mega Showrooms and at Salon Ramzi's, 65/7A, D.S. Senanayake Mawatha, Colombo 8. Watch out for more news in the weeks ahead.

Umara wins Shanghai award

by Mahes Perera

Ecstatic at having won the Bronze Award at the 9th Annual Shanghai Music Festival, Umara Sinhawansa has many plans for her future music career which she hopes will fall into place soon.

Umara represented Sri Lanka through the Arushri Art Foundation headed by Arundathy Sri Renganathan and the Festival was held from October 27-29. She was further delighted that she knocked off the 2nd runner-up of the Eurovision Song Contest 2005.

"The competition was tough. The judges were all music professors, producers and other professionals from the International scene. The winning song was an original composed by my father Tony called 'Facts and Fantasy' a dedication to the tsunami victims.

For the second song, an international song of my choice I sang Kelly Clarkson's 'Because of You' and I felt a sense of elation that cannot be described when my name was announced.

I was really happy and proud to win the bronze award and more proud to see the Sri Lankan flag flying along with the other 23 participating countries," enthuses Umara, who was offered a recording contract in Philippines. Success came in another form to the young dynamic singer when in September from 17-20 a different Competition was held; in Kazakastan.

"Here they sent a Kazak song for a remix in each country's ethnic music. The remix was done by Bathiya Jayakody and the song won "the most voted Kazak song on radio award," continued Umara.

Daughter of the famous and acknowledged musicians the duo Tony and Ayesha Sinhawansa, Umara has these past years involved herself in studio work, singing for many jingles and laying down tracks for her CD which she hopes to release next year.

That's not all she's a popular choice on concert stages, having performed in 'Across the Barrier' organised by US Aid and 'In Harmony' by Arundathy Sri Renganathan. Music certainly runs in the family because soon her younger sister Umaria will join her to sing in harmony on concert stages. Till then our good wishes to Umara.

The Bates Blues Band

The Bates Blues Band led by Nimal Gunawardene who composed three original songs and adapted a Bob Dylan classic 'The Times They Are A Changin' for their innovative 'edutainment' presentation for clients and media held recently.

The other three songs were 'She's no moron she's your wife', which urges marketers to pay more respect to the consumer, 'Brands & Roses' a brand treatise and 'Ads, Ads, Ads' a consumers lament.

The Blues Band comprised Nimal and Surith - keyboards, Krishan, Dishan and Mahesh - vocals, Asiri Gunawardena - bass, Ranen Francis - guitar and Jehan Rajapakse - drums.

Down Memory Lane with MAF

Next Sunday the energetic members of the Moratuwa Arts Forum are all geared to stage their Tenth Anniversary Down Memory Lane programme. As is customary yearly, this is a sing-a-long event which will be held at Hotel Ranmal, Moratuwa commencing 7.00 p.m.

However, there is a request from the project committee. Music lovers who enjoy singing and are capable of delivering the goods, so to speak, are requested to contact MAF in advance, so that they could be on stage for the sessions. Sunil and Piyal of Gypsies will be guest artistes, and dance sequences will figure at the sing-a-long session. The audience will be entitled to a free song book containing lyrics of one hundred songs.

The orchestra will be a typical nostalgic one - the instruments being the Hawaiian pedal steel guitar, violin, banjo and piano accordion.

The show will be linked by Arun Dias Bandaranaike. This year's project chairmen are Lincoln de Silva (Super Pink & Purple) and vocalist Hemaka Fernando. Songs from the CD performed by the members of MAF will be broadcast over SLBC at 1.25 p.m.