Ryan Henderlin:

'Bringing a song to life'

by Heshan Perera

Eighteen years is rather late in the day to entertain the idea of singing. But this is exactly what Ryan Henderlin did. His first exposure was to classical singing, which put him on stage under renowned choral directors for choir and solo performances.

Ryan was exposed to music from a young age, though he never thought he would end up singing. His dad is a singer and grandmother plays musical instruments by ear.

He has two uncles who are musicians; one is a brilliant pianist and the other an exceptional bassist in a jazz band.

Thus we could say he got music genes in him. Ryan was educated at St. Peter’s College, Colombo 4.

His first experience in singing was singing in the school choir. Being the person he was, a stage was the last place he thought he would ever be, but he is increasingly becoming a name to be reckoned with in the local music industry.

Ryan has sung alongside foreign Christian artistes such as Don Moen, Paul Wilbur and Brian Doekson, performed in musicals such as ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’, and stage productions such as ‘Our Town’ under distinguished directors. Currently he is competing in a reality singing competition named “Yes Superstar season 3”.

YO: Who is your favourite artiste or who inspires you? And for what reason are they your favourite?

It's Michael Buble and Josh Groban for their excellent vocal range and I appreciate their musicality.

YO: What challenges have you had to face in your music career?

Nothing in particular. I believe that anyone can overcome any obstacle or challenge with hard work.

YO: What's the best experience or incident you've encountered at a concert or in your musical life?

I would have to say the time I went to an Elders' Home to sing carols for Christmas. The smile in their faces was my best experience.

YO: What's your genre or signature style of music?

Pop

YO: What do you do apart from your musical life?

I am currently studying for a Degree in Management. I am actively involved in stage productions and I also do comedy skits on social media.

YO: What are your future plans in music?

To take Sri Lankan music to greater heights. Music is my passion and I intend to use it to help make a change in society.

YO: Tell us about the fashion aspect when you perform onstage, does it play a big part? What kind of costumes do you wear for concerts?

Definitely. People come to be entertained and costumes do play a major role in creating the atmosphere and bringing the song to life.

YO: Lots of musicians get lost on the way, how do you plan to keep your name and your momentum going on?

I look to challenge myself and always aim to give an out-of-the-box performance.

I try to improve my musicality in any way whenever I can and never be content with what I have achieved thus far.