One year of success and a new CD
by Mahes Perera
The young band “Chimes of the
70s” completed a successful year in the music scene in January and the
leader 18-year-old Rukshan Karunanayake who hails from Gampaha is hoping
that the band in this new year 2010 will be a quiet storm capturing the
hearts of more young music lovers. “Our objective is to promote the pop
music of the 70s, preserving the style of music introduced by the great
musician Clarence Wijewardena.
 In fact our repertoire is built around almost all the songs of
Clarence. But we also perform the popular western songs when we play at
special functions, weddings and other occasions,” observes an exuberant
Rukshan.
The band which has grown in numbers from 5 to 10 members is putting
the finishing touches to their debut album which will be released on
their own label Udeshan, recorded in Rukshan’s studio Udeshan. The band
in their one year of existence has composed about 40 new songs for their
repertoire as well as for other musicians who seek their arrangements
and direction. Rukshan was responsible for the arrangements and for the
lyrics, and is hoping to create a video for one of the songs. “We will
be producing on our label an album for a famous Sri Lankan musician who
is living abroad. So far I have composed six songs for this CD and this
album will be released next year.
I am asked not to give out too many details.” Last year Chimes of the
70s has been successful in being the band for an album recorded by
singer Nalin Jayawardena now domiciled in Australia. Rukshan created the
music for the lyrics composed by Dr. Vikumpriya Perera who is living in
the States. The songs were sung by Bhadraji Mahinda Jayatilleke, Isura
Roshan and Osanda Gamage.
The band who more often than not stage concerts to raise funds for
disabled and low income communities, war heroes, hospital and school
welfare programmes comprise Rukshan Karunanayake - guitar, Sohan Anuhas
- keyboards, Dilshan Wijesekera - guitar / vocals, Chamara Jayarathne -
sax, Chaminda Pushpakumara - drums, Isura Roshan - lead vocals, Udeshan
Karunanayake - child drummer, Roshan Jayawardena - vocals, Nirmani
Rathnasekera and Vindya Pieris - female singers.
Therapeutic music
Once again spreading his music
vibes is clarinettist Saybhan Samat along with his Society Band. The
personnel include Louise Anandappa on keyboards and vocals. She hails
from a family of musicians who have made their mark in Sri Lanka.
Daughter of the distinguished pianist and singer the late Gerry Crake.
Louise’ experience and wealth of musical knowledge is enviable. Other
members of the band are Roy de Silva on keyboards and guitar with their
male vocalist Darlan Perera who doubles up on guitar.
“As a band our music is aimed at a different set of music lovers.
Ours is a special brand of therapeutic music designed to ease the
burdens of mental and sick patients, depressed prisoners, injured
soldiers and alcoholics.
We also reach out to disturbed youth under medical treatment,
children in orphanages, residents in elder’s homes, students at schools
too. The music we play is melodious and easy on the ear which sees the
audience joining with the band and singing to their hearts content”,
reveals Saybhan.
In the next few months Saybhan intends to release a CD of their
specialised music, so that more music lovers could benefit from this
musical therapy. A weekly radio programme is on the cards for the band,
so watch out for the date.
(MP)
Passion turned into flesh, an insight into the upcoming album of
Stigmata
by Vimukthi Karunaratne
With a new era about to dawn
upon the Sri Lankan metal industry, I thought I would bring you a little
insight of the pioneering band of this revolution and their new,
upcoming piece of art - the final product of their aggression, pain,
blood and tears harmonized with the musical maturity upon their 10th
anniversary in the industry.
 This is for all the metalheads who crave the music of Stigmata to get
your guns loaded once again for what lays ahead for you. Here are Suresh
de Silva (front man), Tennyson Napolean (rhythm guitar) and Andrew
Obeysekara (lead guitar) of Stigmata sharing their thoughts to give you
a glimpse of what you didn’t know about the upcoming album.
“Over the years, we have become more matured musically and more
experienced, and we constantly tend to maintain and further push our
standards, and this album has captured the sound of Stigmata right now.
“And the new material has a very different feel and a flavour to it
as we never wanted to create another ‘Hollow Dreams’ or a ‘Silent Chaos
Serpentine’. We never wanted to secure ourselves by limiting our music
to a single formula, we always wanted to push ourselves to further
lengths and explore and do something ground-breaking and unique to
Stigmata with each record.” In Tennyson’s words “in our point of view,
the new material is something that is more challenging, interesting and
at the same time more enjoyable for us to play as well as for the
listeners to listen to.”
The new material consists of a lot of different elements from
different genres such as thrash, technical metal, classic death,
psychedelic, grind, funk, progressive rock and even tribal music. The
music is created in such a way that the listener could experience an
array of different feels, textures and moods. And it is incorporated
with very different and versatile lyrical themes adding more depth and
meaning to the songs.
We also think that the new songs have a stronger Sri Lankan vibe in
them than in the earlier compositions.
 This year we are celebrating ten years, we want to release this album
not only to commemorate and celebrate that, but also because people have
been waiting for four years for a new album.
It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, patience and persistence to
get an album the way you want and to capture the sound the way you want.
We have endured and undergone a lot of difficulties and hardships for a
long time now because we are adamant to somehow finish this album, for
us and most importantly for our fans. Considering all things, the
recording process is progressing well and the new album is turning out
to be unbelievable.
We are recording the new album with Ozzy Nugara and this will be
produced by Pierre Pe’lisson, a well reputed French producer and also
the bassist of ‘civilization one’, in Germany. This means a lot to us
and we are completely psyched. We hope to reach out to a wider following
outside the country; especially in Europe and sustain the awareness we
have built and further expand it with this album. We want to give
everyone who has believed in Stigmata and those who haven’t an album to
remember.
In Suresh’s own words “this album is about there being no
prohibitions, no limitations and no bowing down to any trends out there
in the world. And we believe that this album will show the world that
Sri Lankan originality can really roar and bite and leave a nasty scar
for everyone to remember.”
 Before ending the conversation Stigmata wanted to thank every single
person who has had faith in them and in their music over the years and
everyone who has stood by them through thick and thin. They also went on
to say that they are shedding every bit of life in them in order to
release the new album this April along side with their 10th anniversary
celebration. And Andrew ended the conversation “it has always been an
honour, and it has always been fun and awesome to be playing in front of
you.
And when the new album comes, please give it a fair listen without
having any picture of how it should be before. And stick with us,
because we sure love to perform for you all in the years to come no
matter how difficult the situations maybe.” If this caused a spark in
your curious mind, for further information and updates visit their
myspace profile which is ‘www.myspace.com/stigmatasrilanka’ and keep
your fingers crossed for a piece of brilliance. |
