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| Sunday, 7 March 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Zara Waas - Still in school Holy Family Convent, Dehiwala and just sixteen years, Zara enjoys being behind the mike at SLBC where she says you can get a good start in broadcasting.
I don't believe in putting an accent, because half way through in your presentation you can slip and that will reflect badly on you. I think just being yourself is the best and I believe in being impromptu in my spoken word however I plan out the music that I'm going to play." ######## Savanthi de Silva - finds DJing exciting and different from her 9-5 job at the British Council. A product of Bishop's College, Colombo her music tastes extend to include oldies to pop and jazz and definitely not hip hop.
Behind the mike I want to be myself and not adopt a style to impress the audience. I don't like accents and I do not like those who put on accents. Lot of people look towards SLBC to learn something. At the moment I plan out what I'm going to say but as time goes by I will aim to be impromptu in my presentation". ######## Shreeni Wickremaratne - has a particular leaning for country music and soft-rock. With a classical LTCL in the bag and now in the final year of her languages degree she finds DJing something quite different where you become a friend to many people.
Accents tend to give you an insincere image and creates a bad impression with the Sri Lankan listeners. To some extent you have to plan out what you are saying but ultimately it should come to you naturally." ######## Araliya de Silva - just sweet seventeen and a student of Holy Family Convent, Colombo, finds being a radio presenter on SLBC a new experience where she can learn something new and keep in touch with her love of music and her thirst for news. "The audience I intend catering to is the youth - my contemporaries.
Yes I have to change my style behind the mike because this is something new and I have to do my best. Which means I must plan out what I'm conveying to my listeners'. ######## Lavannie Selvanayagam - a trainee researcher at the Swedish Research Co., who has completed her CIMA and has sat for the final in BSc Business Administration Degree, Larannie has been interested in being a DJ ever since she was a kid. "Music runs in my family and during my school days at St. Bridget's Convent, I always studied at home with the music on and my Mum used to be worried as to how I could cope.
I don't believe in phony accents - you get caught out. I want to be myself and keep the listener with me and visualise him/her in front of me." ######## Winston de Valliere - after so many years in print, Winston thought he'd add another feather in his media cap. "My interest in music is R&B, standards and jazz and SLBC is the best place undoubtedly.
I think that you speak the language the way it is best spoken. I don't think presenters should be criticised because they come from a cross section of a more western society and it shows in their peculiar accents. Presenters should reach for perfection in diction, presentation, syllable accentuation and tone - this makes the difference". ######## Antoinette de Alwis - a singer and leader of a dance band, Antoinette enjoys her role as a DJ. "I always had this idea of doing something that will be an extension of what I'm already doing. I'm a singer and with my love for music, I have this chance to communicate with people - I'm a people oriented person.
The '60s and '70s music is popular now. Take the song 'You To Me Are Everything' it is still enjoying popularity. Talking behind the mike matters, you have to be careful about pronunciation, because the listeners are critical. For me its impromptu talking, I feel comfortable that way." |
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| Produced by Lake House |
"A DJ has to be friendly and play good music. I cater mostly to
the younger generation with R&B, slow-rock, a bit of rap - but not the
heavy stuff. I do play music for the older audience when I co-host Brunch
Time Beat and here a musical mix is required. I've been also co-hosting
the weekly Pop Club which reaches out to a youth listenership.
"I was keen on joining SLBC because it is the main radio station
and is popular too with its music from the '60s '70s and '80s. The
experience is exciting, you can play the music you like and you know that
someone out there is liking the same music.
A product of Methodist College and St. Bridget's Convent, working at
SLBC is something new. "I was tense and frightened on the first day
but now I'm getting used to it. I chose SLBC because it is more recognised
and I'm catering to a youth audience. I like songs that have a meaning and
no, I don't think I should change my style of talking. I should be myself
and project my identity.
I like pop music and pop ballads. SLBC has a march over the private
stations because it is heard islandwide. What's more being the oldest
radio station I like the practice of using your own name and having your
own identity unlike in the private stations, the DJ's have various other
names.
I love adult contemporary music and music from ballads to fast tempo. I
like the experience of going live, but I've got to be careful as to what I
say - because once you express it you can't get it back. So I believe in
planning out what I'm going to say - the more you plan, the more confident
you are. Yes, I need to change my style. I normally speak fast, I need to
slow down.
Hopefully I would like to add objective and constructive business and
political subjects.
From the stage too I have to visualise the audience, it's the same
behind the mike in studio - the only difference is I won't be singing to
them! As to what particular audience I will be catering to - actually it
will be a mixed listenership, I'm able through my experience to bridge the
gap.
