Entertainment

Hip hop and D'Tap

by Mahes Perera

College mates at Rahula College, Matara and A Level students, the threesome Tharindu, Pramodith and Dayan were also keen on music and singing. At many school concerts they were the live wires composing their music and performing it much to the delight of their colleagues and the audiences. This triggered off the idea of banding together and moving on the road of professionalism.

Soon D'Tap was formed with Tharindu Roshan - keyboards and also responsible for compositions of the music, Dayan Aravinda - the lead vocalist and Pramodith Thenabadu who wears the mantle of rapper in the outfit.

D'Tap's music is hip hop and r & b and recently they have recorded and released two videos with the assistance of Vasawe Badduge - their visual director for their songs Neth Konin and Landu which is being telecast on TV stations. "Landu was in the Derana Top Charts, we never expected that "voices a happy Tharindu. "Neth Konin was our first complete original.

We have released four singles. There's an English song titled Mad Love which receives air play in Top Ten Pop Charts on radio. The themes of our songs are mostly love themes because we feel that this reaches out to the youth immediately.

We are hoping to release a CD by the end of this year. We already have fifteen tracks worked out and we are looking for a sponsor to help us launch our debut CD" says Tharindu.

Admirers of Bathiya and Santush, Ashanthi and Centigrade, Tharindu tell's us that they want to create their own sound and are determined to achieve it. D'Tap have had their moments on the entertainment scene.

In 2005 they organised their first concert ever seen in Matara at S.Thomas' Matara and they featured Centigrade and Side Effects as well. In October of the same year they were on stage at the Bishop's College, Auditorium and were happy with the response they got from the audience. Last year in February D'Tap performed at the Ray of Hope which was held at the Maharagama Youth Centre, in aid of the Maharagama Cancer Hospital.

Committed to their music its no wonder that Neth Konin and Landu with its melodious arrangements turned out to be a winning story for D'Tap and here's hoping that their new CD will escalate their popularity. Good luck D'Tap!

[email protected]

Japan in focus by Harindra

Harindra Jayalal, has made a niche in the electronic media as news presenter has reached out to the spectators in his presentation of the programmes, Janasarana, Amadahara, Thurunu Shakthi and Sathara Diganthaya, which have won popularity with viewers. His latest programme 'Hathdinnath Tharu', goes on air every Thursday 10.00 p.m. on Swarnavahini.

According to Harindra, 'this programme is presented in a new style. A live programme in which seven veteran TV artistes disclose their long standing experiences to the viewers.' 'Hathdinnath Tharu' is directed by Kelum Palitha Maheeratne. Harindra's first production was "Sathara Diganthaya", a current world affairs news programme.

In his recent visit to Japan to produce a special programme covering important places in Japan, will be telecast on Swarnavahini before the end of July this year.

Harindra a graduate of the Sri Jayewardenepura University and a Post Graduate in Mass Communication of the Kelaniya University, was involved in electronic media for eleven years and it was through Lakhanda Radio, that he first stepped in to the electronic media.

Original artistry

For the first time an innovative program of music will go on the boards with the objective of making audiences sit, listen and appreciate the artistry of our very own musicians.

The concert entitled Jazz piano: Local Edition will be staged at the Russian Cultural Centre on July 13 at 7.00 pm. Three leading pianists will headline three groupings. The music will be original with a Sri Lankan framework.

Leading classical pianist Eshantha Pieris will be in the spotlight in a jazz medium, there's the acknowledged pianist Harsha Makalande who really needs no introduction in our music scene and the talented pianist Kumar de Silva.

The pianists will be joined by drummers Sumudi Sureweera (in Sri Lanka on holiday), Aruna Siriwardhana a senior musician and the flexible Shiraaz Nooramith.

Since the sets will require bass artistry, Alston Joachim, Duleep Gnanakan and Upala Madushanka will be part of the trios in action.

Sunday Observer Fashion Designer of the Year contest by Chula Nanayakkara

The much awaited Fashion Designer at the year 2007 sponsored by Sunday Observer and Daily News will be held on November 3 at the BMICH. The contest held last year turned out to be highly successful with many young fashion designers keenly participating to win the title.

This year too the leading fashion figure and designer Chula Nanayakkara Ariyaratne will be in the forefront to present a fabulous show. The official beautician and hair dresser is Ramzi Raham.

The categories this year will be casual wear, evening wear and saree wear, and all sketches on A4 paper should have with it the coupons that will be printed in the Sunday Observer and Daily News shortly.

Young sugar craft teacher

Sugar craft certainly runs in the family because Shanika Clement is the youngest professional Wilton teacher in the international arena. Daughter of R. L. Clement a renowned pioneer sugar craft decorator, nineteen year old Shanika was successful in gaining her Diploma in Wilton School in America and now has the authority to teach the Wilton Method in Sri Lanka.

She is one of three in Sri Lanka who holds this qualification. Young and talented Shanika has a string of awards behind her. In 2001 she was awarded the Gold for Best in the Show at the British Sugar Craft Guild which is held every four years in London.

Subsequently she took herself to Japan where she carried off the Meiji Kenkani Award at the Sugar craft Grand Prix in Japan in 2003. Last year she won the first place in Best in the Division and Best in the Show at Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show USA. Last year she was selected for the Most Popular Cake Decorator 2006 in Sri Lanka.