Entertainment

Timeless hits

by Mahes Perera

[email protected]

Suddenly musicians and singers are busy recording albums of their artistry which they neglected to do before. And joining this band of artistes is Damayantha Kuruppu who decided that since music is a more than a hobby for him, he should give music lovers the pleasure of enjoying his vocal stylings. The result is his CD Timeless Hits which was released recently.

When did your music career commence here in Sri Lanka? "I was a member of the band Lonesome Star led by keyboardist Diliup Gabadamudalige. It was five piece outfit - lead guitar, rhythm guitar, keyboards, bass and drums.

I handled vocals and we jelled with success. But unfortunately my stay with the group was for only five years and then I had to leave for London to study for a degree in Hotel Management. But the music vibes drew me to join a band in London, while doing my studies. The band was a Sri Lankan band called Electric Image and they were a popular band at Sri Lankan dances and functions. So my interest in music was kept alive."

Timeless Hits contains ten covers of English songs and two Sinhala songs. There's Thaniwee a song of Clarence's which was sung by Milton and Damayantha gives the song an unplugged treatment.

The other is Menike an original the lyrics and music is by Theja Iddamalgoda. Joining Damayantha on the covers is Mariazelle who duets with him on "You've My Best Friend" and "Somewhere Between."

Other tracks are your all time favourites like I Need You, Judy, Help Me Make It Through the Night, Song Sung Blue, Save the Last Dance, with the music arrangements and recording handled by Thushara Kuruwita. Damayantha states with conviction that his biggest influence was Clarence Wijewardena.

He used to spend a lot of his time listening to the Moonstones rehearsing, at a friends place. In the Western idiom Damayantha's music influences are R+B, Soul and Fusion. "I used to enjoy the radio programmes on SLBC's Studio STX which I presented along with the compere Shelley Poobalan, in 1982 when I came back from London.

The programme was called 'The Beat Goes On' and when Shelley died tragically, Channa Perera took over but unfortunately owing to circumstances prevalent at the time the programme was shelved.

However, I continued involving myself in music when I was working as the GM at the Dolphin, Waikkal and at the Coral Garden, Hikkaduwa. The disco Submarine at Coral Garden kept us busy," reflects Damayantha.

In the midst of organising and presenting musical shows which Damayantha is now involved in, Mariazelle has been encouraging him to release this CD. "In fact she selected the songs I should sing," commented Damayantha.

Now that you've released your first CD would there be follow ups? "As a matter of fact I'm working on a Sinhala CD of originals which I hope to release by Angust and simultaneously a CD of Western songs of duets."

Issuki - modern dance comes to Sri Lanka

American modern dance is now incorporated into the performances of companies around the world including Sri Lanka. This will be reflected in the show Issuki which will be staged by the innovative nATANDA Dance Theatre whose choreographer and dancer is Kapila Palihawadana.

The show will be held at the Lionel Wendt on April 4 and 5 and tickets are available through the American Centre, the German Cultural Centre and the Lionel Wendt. nATANDA is a bold and energetic company which pushes the boundaries of dance theatre in Sri Lanka.

Kapila who was once the principal male dancer in the Channa-Upuli Performing Arts School and still is a principal dancer in the Oosha Garten Ensemble is highly recognised for his innovative dance style which blends traditional dance elements with western techniques in the modern tradition.

It is a dance style that looks beyond the boundaries of form, physically, culture and geography to something richer and more vibrant. Issuki in Pali means jealousy.

The performance focuses on the complex mix of emotions that make up jealousy - including anger, fear, hurt, betrayal, anxiety, sadness, loneliness, envy and powerlessness expressed through body language.

This new modern dance breaks ground in its combination of three distinct dance forms - the traditional Kandyan dance, classical ballet and Angampora (Sri Lanka Martial arts). The show brings these forms together with the modern elements of movement and technique originated in America by Martha Graham and Doris Humphrey indicating exciting and new areas in the growth of Sri Lankan dance theatre tradition.

Here in Sri Lanka modern dance continues to be innovative, with works of high quality and new forms evolving as dance maintains its presence in the general globilization of culture.

nATANDA comprises 17 dancers who are trained in traditional Sri Lankan dance as well as in the foundations of western classical ballet, thus adding an exciting new dimension to the rich dance heritage. Don't miss out on the experience.

M.P.

Dance act with a difference

An unusual live act by the German electronic duo Schaeben & Voss will take the stage at the Barefoot on April 9 7.00 p.m. The live act has been making music from 1998 for dancing a far cry from the kind of electronic music that set out to demonstrate a mastery of complicated and academic sound processing techniques which was prevalent in the late 1990's.

What the duo Schaeben & Voss feat. Schad Privat enjoy and actually thrive on is groove and dance floor music and their spontaneous style has resulted in a long line of fans.

With electric bass, electric guitar and vocals the duo's energetic entertainment should not be missed. They reach out not only to the young groovers but to older electronic fans.