Music runs in my family - Billy Fernando

We meet all kinds of highly talented people, and starting music from the age of seven seems to be a huge achievement. For Billy Fernando it seems to run in his blood.

His father, Tennyson Fernando, was a veteran musician, a well- known musical instrument manufacturer, a performer and also a teacher of music. Father would have been his soul inspiration.

Coming from a musical family itself is a huge privilege , especially when you have your first experience in a band with your own family.

Billy performed with his brothers for most of their school functions and events. He was the music director for events organised by many schools while still being a student.

He also began to be interested in music composition and played as a drummer for his alma mater, playing the trumpet at the same time , and then became the leader of the college Western band. At the age of 11, Billy performed with the Sri Lanka Philharmonic Orchestra as a percussionist.

He is a highly talented musician who has mastered many musical instruments to a professional standard. As Billy says, he could get a decent sound from any instrument, as soon as he figures out a scale on it. “That’s all I do”, Billy said. In an Interview with Montage he gave his candid opinion on music. Excerpts :

Q: What’s the progress with your band and studio work ?

A: The band has been there for three years. Recently we toured in Australia, Canada, the US and the UK. The next few months will be very busy for us and I’m performing solo as well, and also becoming the brand ambassador of an Australian Company.

Q: When did you start your musical career ?

A: I started music when I was four and my musical career at six. I started my own Gospel band Ezra, worked with BN’S for sometime. We have covered most of their Sara Sihina concerts. Afterwards I started my solo career.

Q: Did you have any particular instrument apart from the guitar ?

A: I played drums. I was more or less a drummer. My father saw a soloing talent. With the family background performing music, it inspired me to go ahead with my musical career.

Q: You seem to be rather silent these days , after your latest release, Sitha pura sari sara. Are you working on another song or an album ?

Latest song

A: My latest song was released on December 13. It is a remake of the Gypsies’ oba kemathinam mata kiyanna sung by Piyal Perera. I have already released it on radio as well as on television.

Q: You formed Ezra who were the pioneers of Gospel Rock in Sri Lanka. Didn’t you become the winner in the TNL on stage in 2002?

A: My first experience of forming a Gospel Rock band had a negative aspect. All the denominations had the feeling that we were selling Jesus to make money and taking advantage of it to become popular. After we won the competition we started playing gospel music in pubs and clubs. They appreciated our music.

Q: What was the response when you played gospel music in pubs?

A: We played once a month or once a fortnight. But we did not force religion on anybody and neither did we sell religion in the pub. We just played music.

Q: Your kello kollo was a hit. Was it your debut? What was the response?

Hit

A: My first release was Premawanthiye and people got to know me with the song Yuwathiya. It became popular. When the listeners became familiar with my next song Kello kollo they were interested in Kello Kollo and it also became a hit.

Q: In that song you have the influence of Rock N’ Roll. It reminds me of Elvis Presley’s style. What made you to be influenced by that ?

A: That credit should go to my father. At family parties and gatherings we used to entertain people. My father used to sing Hitiwana baila.

I blended it into a rock n’roll song. Being in a family of seven, and all being musicians I was inspired to do. All of us are musicians , doing different jobs in the IT sector. Only two of us stuck to music and became professional musicians.

Q: As a musician ,what do you think of the local music industry?

A: Sinhala pop music is growing very fast. As for Sinhala classical music, it remains the same for the past 10 years. In Sinhala classical music artistes get trapped in a limited space.

Option

Even I was caught in that trap for some time, but managed to get out of it. Our people are used to hear the same kind of music repeatedly. We have no intelligent music audience.

Q: Why do you say so?

A: If the audience was given the options of choosing they would do so. But there is no such option for them to choose . About 70 percent of the listeners are compelled to listen to whatever is broadcast on radio.

Q: Have you faced any criticism during your musical career?

A: The main criticism is that I’m too westernised. Another criticism is that I’m too aggressive as a drummer and guitarist and also too straightforward in my lyrics.

I believe in writing what I can understand. Some people are being too poetic in their lyrics. Rather than saying mama obata adarei they go to the extent of saying mama obata isurumuniye pem yuwale pemwathatath wada adarei.

I do not want to bring history but as long as I can convey the message that is all I need. I went to several radio stations and they told me to re-write the lyrics and play along with the octopad but I didn’t respond to that.

Q: Who are the members of your current band 2forty2? Are there any new replacements ?

A : There are some changes. On the guitar it is Nigel, drums-Bonjo, on bass Johan. He replaced our original bassist Chamal. And on the keys and classical vocals, Sithara. Our pianist Chevonne will be coming to Sri Lanka and we have a replacement which is only used for the concert.

That is Millan John. He has also been selected for the Berkley School of Music which is an achievement.

Rock scene

Q: Commercial rock seems to be rather new to the rock scene here. What was the purpose of splitting up with Ezra and forming a commercial rock band called Acid Rain? Why did you move on to commercial rock ?

A: Ezra is still there. But it is not active. Basically, we are active if the need arises.

As school leavers, it was not easy keeping the band active depending on our parents’ money. So we moved on to commercial rock.

Actually the most wanted music is commercial music. It is somewhat similar to pop rock. Pop music is popular music. Therefore, the most popular music can be called commercial music.

Q: Are you categorised as a band which performs only for commercial events? Do you have any idea of doing a concert of your own ?

A: Commercial events are the least priority. We formed the band to support my music. We are the back-up band for BN’S Sara sihina concerts. There are a very few artistes we wouldn’t mind performing with. The band is capable of doing their work even without me.

Solo artiste

Q: Do you normally perform as a solo artiste ?

A: I have been going solo for the past 10 years. To put in a better performance, I launched 2forty2. I have been playing in different bands.

Q: Do you use backing vocals when you perform ?

A: Yes, I do.

Q: Your instrumental performance, Baila was superb. It reminds me of a Spanish guitar concerto. As a guitarist what are your styles ? Classical, Hawaiian or flamenco? Or is it a mix of everything ?

A: It is covering influences of Dutch and Portuguese. It had an influence of 6’8 rhythm, which has now turned into a so-called Baila. It is a mix of everything but the roots are coming from kafirinna music. My personal genre is pop rock and classical.

Q: Do you think the music industry is giving proper recognition to musicians ?

A: I think pop music has the better half of it. I wouldn’t say musicians are not getting recognised. There are no different genres such as pop, classical or rock. All are going mainstream.

Q: Do you think only a few musicians are getting selected and sidelined ?

Mentality

A: Even in the pop category it happens. It happens because of the mentality of the radio stations or the power of money. It is all about media play or the management of a TV or a radio station. That makes the main impact here.

Q: Mawbime naamayen was released during the final stages of the war against terrorism and it became a hit among the listeners for its encouraging lyrical content and beautiful melody. What was the concept behind it? Whose idea was it?

A: During those days, I wanted the war against terrorism to end. I wanted to convey the message to the people and scream out the topic of war, so that the people will get the message. So I told my lyricist Chandana Perera, to compose Mawbime Naamayen which became popular.

Q: Do you think being born to a famous musical family inspired you to proceed with your musical career ?

A: My biggest inspiration and encouragement for me to be a musician is my father Tennyson Fernando and mother Rosalita Fernando. The reason why I became a drummer is because of my brother. All my roots which came from my family enabled me to play in the Philharmonic orchestra at the age of 11 I had to play the gong.

Veteran musician

Q: Your father, Tennyson Fernando, was a veteran musician, one of the best musical instrument manufacturers and also a performer and a teacher of music. How did you see his role in all these fields ?

A: He was certainly the best manufacturer for musical instruments. Thanks to him and my grandfather, all the musical instrument manufacturers are following their footsteps now. And up to this day, they still make the products of the highest quality.

Q: Why do people import these products when they can be made locally ?

A: Twenty-five years ago my father had good business for all those were locally made. They had the knowledge and if there was enough machinery it would have been improved even more. In a third world country they give priority to cheap products.

Q: What is your role as a music composer and a producer?

A: As a composer I have done 300 songs during the past seven years. I have composed for a lot of beginners and a few popular artistes. This year I decided to pull back on composing for other artistes. Rather than composing for others, I want to do my own thing. I do a very few songs. For a year mostly one depending on how they receive it.

Q: How would you describe music ?

A: Music is a language with no barriers whatsoever. It is a matter of chemical reaction, memory power, every beat of your heart. It is the power and expression of all these things. It is the easiest way to get through to a person.

Q: When you compose your songs what comes to your mind first? Are there any specific aspects you are concerned with?

A: It depends on some conversations we have , and life’s experiences, At certain times I take up the guitar and compose it. It is like a gamble.

Q: you described music. How would you describe yourself?

A: For me life is love. Love doesn’t mean only romance, but all kinds of things. Love is not only based on romance. And it is about music. If love is life, life is love.

Q: Do you think all the reality TV shows help to promote good musicians ?

A: In reality, TV or radio shows you strain talent, select 100 percent moderately talented singers and gives them a chance of winning a lottery. A poor person will get a good life while all the others are marketed and being promoted.

It is bringing something out of nothing. I am not against it. Those lottery winners also have some hidden talents. As for me, I would rather promote myself through my talent.

Q: Those who listen to Rock n’ Roll and artistes of those days such as Eric Clapton, Elvis Presley, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, do not like the concept of rock music. And those artistes were the pioneers of rock. How do you see this ?

A: There is a clear difference between Rock n’ Roll and Rock music which is catered to the tempo of your heartbeat and blood pressure.

It depends on which aspect of the music people like. You like rock. What makes you like rock? There is a reason for it. In rock, you cannot dance.

Q: What is your position in the band 2forty2? Are you the lead vocalist, playing the lead guitar, rhythm or the bass ? Or are you going solo?

A: I’m going solo as well as being the leader of a band .

Q: What is the guitar brand you use at the moment ?

A: Yamaha. I’m a personal fan of the Yamaha APX model because it has a very thin body and has no issue when plugged.

Q: What would you like to tell the upcoming youngsters in the music scene ?

A: Do music if you love it. If you think that you will get the girls or money, you will be doomed.

Treat music right and you will be treated right.

Q: Finally , what are your aspirations ?

A: My ultimate goal is for the music industry standard. And also to be a big part of the musical industry of being competitive with the rest of the world.

I already have my roots in trying and changing.