Mahes Perera
Just two days ago the leading band in our music industry Sohan & the
X’periments were in concert to raise funds for a deserving cause to help
the critically ill children of the Lady Ridgeway, Hospital.
We all know that the requirement of funds for a children’s hospital
has no demarcated limit - the more the funds the greater the facilities
that could be provided for the sick children. The show titled `Sohan &
the X’periments - live in Concert’ was held at the BMICH on Friday,
April 24.
 Those
in musical action were Sohan and Yasmin, Sunil Perera of Gypsies fame,
Corrinne, Rajiv Sebastian, Ginger and Ronnie. The compere for the
concert was Clifford Richards a versatile singer and saxophonist.
Like one wag remarked `the more the hip-hop singers are born the
greater is the popularity of our evergreen singers and bands!’ The show
was organised by Dr. Wijith Gunasekera and Dr. Ms. Kalyani Guruge.
Electronic coverage was by ITN.
Sohan & the X’periments have for a spell of three decades been the
band that have been sought after for corporate functions, dances and
inevitably occupied the top slot at the prestigious end of the year
dances.
They still do so and was responsible for a rousing revellers night at
Cinnamon Grand to welcome the New Year 2009. The grapevine reveals that
they will be the band this year too at Cinnamon Grand to greet 2010.
Speaking to Sohan a few days before the concert he expressed the
opinion that more musicians should lend their artistry for such worthy
causes. Only thing is the situation is such that musicians are unable to
perform on an entirly free basis, and so they have to think of a
concessionary rate to help the organisizers in their endeavours.
The music scene now? “It has never been bad as this. Most of the big
events are cancelled and as always it is entertainment and the
hospitality trade that gets affected first”. As a senior musician what
would your opinion be to a situation where musicians performing
regularly at a venue, have to give way to foreign musicians?
“It is not correct on moral grounds. Here in Sri Lanka we do not have
a proper union to make official protests. Moreover, sad to say our
musicians are not united and so I don’t blame the organisations that
contracts the foreign musicians.
There are many of these musicians playing around in the global night
spots especially in the Middle East. Financial reasons prevail and so
the supply is greater than the demand. Besides the cultural attitudes
are different. Our female singers are influenced by our cultural norms,
and are not as free in their rapport.What could your fans expect from
you this year?
We hope to release a CD of English originals in December 2009. Our
last one, Colombo Carnival did extremely well in the States, Australia,
Middle East and London. As for tours, there’s nothing in the offing for
this year, hope the climate for us musicians will change in the next
year 2010, and we will be able to spread happiness to all music lovers”. |
