A trailblazer in contemporary music

Musician cum theorist, Nadeeka Guruge, who first came into the limelight as a member of alternative trends of Sri Lankan music, has been a trailblazer in popular music for the past decade. One of contemporary music�s inventive and controversial musicians, Nadeeka has done collaborative projects with some of rock�s most exotic figures and is largely credited with introducing synthesisers and African rhythms into the new wave vocabulary, yet some of his own compositions have grown increasingly unpopular as the years have passed.

Nadeeka, has been investigating what he refers to as �political folk music� and he says that out of all the genres that he experimented so far, political folk music is his favourite. However, he says most of the time people misunderstand its intent and measure it with the same yardstick they�d apply to other alternative music trends in the country which sometimes kills the effort. He tries to bring in his favourite music genre in his music compositions.

Nadeeka�s latest incursion in his experimental music exercise is the work he did for the upcoming film �Cinderella� by Inoka Satyangani and he feels it�s the best work he�s ever done.

In an exclusive interview with Anuradha Kodagoda of the Youth Observer (YO), innovative, trendsetter of Sri Lankan music Nadeeka Guruge spoke about his musical career.

YO: From where did your music influence come?

Nadeeka: As a child I was brought up in a multi-cultural musical environment where I listened to various genres of music such as classical, pop, rock, baila and various other alternative trends of music. Because my parents love music and my father played the guitar. I grew up with music from my childhood. It is a part of my body.

YO: If you did not end up being a musician what would you have done?

Nadeeka: I was also thinking about this quite recently. (Laughs) I would have been an agriculturalist because I learnt agriculture and still love it. Or otherwise I may have ended up being an intellectual.

YO: Tell us more about your childhood?

Nadeeka: I had a �magical� childhood, which a child can only dream of. I have five siblings. I think my childhood experiences are the basis of my specious views. My father was into agriculture and he was in charge of forests and farms running into thousands of acres. We had more than 10 horses and we used to play and spend most of the time in the forests and farms and it was our kingdom in our imagination. I still carry the pictures of my colourful childhood wherever I go because it was full of fantasies. I believe that I am what I am because of my vibrant childhood.

YO: You use different vocabulary and different forms of expressions some may think you are exaggerating. Why is it so?

Nadeeka: Some would see my different behaviour, my language, my music and everything else as being eccentric. I believe that I�m different compared to other people. I think the culture and society that we live in is lacklustre. I believe that language is the limitation of mankind. If anyone has language ability and exposure this world will be different.

YO: Do you have any role models?

Nadeeka: Yes there are many in different fields. Rather than calling them role models, I like to call them �heroes� in my life. In Literature, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Martin Wickramasinghe and Simon Nawagatthegama are my heroes and I�m fascinated with the way they saw the complexities in society through the extraordinary skills of language that they had. When it comes to Western classical music, Johann Sebastian Bach is my hero. Also Premasiri Khemadasa, Clarence Wijewardena and Sunil Shantha are my heroes whom I really admire.The extraordinary work they have done for Sri Lankan music is unparalleled. I have many local and international artistes who admire. But I grant that I must find my space in music.

YO: Why did you want get into music?

Nadeeka: I always believe that if someone wants to do something unique in any form of art, they must be aware of their ancestors contribution to the Arts, but my music genre is to reveal new dimensions in music.

YO: Out of all the music compositions, what�s the most successful and challenging music composition that you�ve done so far?

Nadeeka: For me all aspects of music are quite challenging. That�s why I wanted to do it over and over again. Once the magic of music fades away, I don�t think I would do music ever after. This would take another 15 years - to write and compose his ultimate composition and if I do that I think that would be my last and would be the end of my musical career.

Pic: Chinthaka Kumarasinghe