Remember the 15-year-old rocker who made waves with his band Akash
during 2004 TNL Onstage with ‘I Wanna Rock You’?
Well that boy, Lanthra is all grown up and with the help of his mate
Krishan, is all set to take the music industry by storm with a new band
on the block. Meet ‘Doctor’, the band who has the cure for any music
ailment comprising Lanthra on lead, vocals and guitar, Krishan on
keyboards, Harsha on drums, Kushal on lead guitar and Dilesh on bass
where everyone gives their own style to the vocal scoring.
 “At
the time I was in ‘Akash’, Krishan joined us in 2005 but then we had to
disband in 2006 due to personal commitments” says Lanthra. He then
decided to join forces with Dilup Gabadamudalige and was performing
alongside him but it was only when Lanthra met Krishan at AIDS Walk that
they thought they should do their own thing together.
“We were known as Lanthra and Krishan back then and played at major
gigs”, says Krishan. It was around that time that they met up with
Dilesh and Harsha who were in the same school as Lanthra. Kushal,
popular after being in the finals of TNL Onstage sometime back, met up
with the band when he was looking for an outfit to lock horns with.
Their first gig saw them performing to a packed audience at the ‘Teen
Revolutions 2007’ which got them a good feedback. About a month ago,
they released their single and music video Aththamai Kiyanne on local
television which got some favourable responses. They are planning to
release a video for their next track called Mage Girl friend which is
sure to make some hearts go a-breaking.
While talking about how they brainstorm their music, Lanthra tells,
“Everyone of us is influenced differently but we jam together to produce
the music that signifies ‘Doctor’ spirit”. Doctor plays music to cater
to the type of crowd and the theme of the concert. “We dress accordingly
and keep the interests of the audience at heart when we perform”, said
Lanthra.
They say that their music caters to all categories in the line of
Sinhala, English, Retro and Commercial blends that infuse many of their
influences together. “It’s a spur of the moment thing when we combine
our energies to make it sound right,” says Kushal. At the moment, Harsha
and Dilesh are studying and Lanthra, Kushal and Krishan find themselves
in full-time jobs. “We hope to go international very soon but it will
take time to make a name in our own country”, they said.
Speaking about what they would advise bands to break it big, they
said, “Perfect practice makes perfect”, Lanthra said.
“I would like to thank my father, the ‘Doctor’ band manager Nimal
Perera who used to play bass for the Gypsies”, says Lanthra. They also
want to thank their bosses, Krishan says, “I especially want to thank
Chami Alakolange for giving me time off to commit to the band”. Doctor
would also like to thank their family especially their respective
parents, friends and fans who have supported them so far.
- Nilma
Pix by Chinthaka Kumarasinghe
Location:
Trans Asia Hotel |
