Creating opportunities for young performers in Kandy
Angela
The Open Mic at Castelo, Kandy, recently has opened up a great opportunity for all young performers in the city, as many budding musicians see it. Organisers Kishin Siva and Adrian Selvarajah have sparked a fever for some good entertainment among the hill-city dwellers, and Mirror Magazine caught up with some of the artistes behind the mic in January.
Lael Senanayake is a 27-year-old youth worker whose first memory of public performance involves “Little Drummer Boy”, a snare drum and a wobbly microphone. He started guitar lessons at 11 and has been heavily involved in the band at his church from his teenage years. “I never really was the ideal person for performance with my ‘shy’ character,” Lael says, “but I always feel at home when given a chance to sing with a guitar in front of a crowd!” And true enough, the Christian-music inspired singer was one of the most relaxed at the Open Mic, with a gentle voice. Lael does mostly covers but has also recorded a few originals, dreaming of part-time music production and maybe even an album in the near future!
Angela Munasinghe, 18, is a dancer and model who has always loved the stage and lights. She is currently involved in more “responsible” pursuits like a degree, but always finds time for her music. “It’s an undying passion,” she says, “and my mom’s a good singer too, so she has been really supportive”. The Whitney Houston and Adele inspired diva possesses a strong voice herself, and performs regularly at Rotary events and at her church.
Chrishali and Niluka
Dion Nanayakkara, 19, sees himself as a regular guy, but the ladies swoon when he gets behind a mic with his clear voice and passionate delivery. He has been performing since kindergarten, as a soloist, vocalist for live bands and as achorister. Dion makes an effort to perform at every opportunity, and finds the Open Mic at Castelo a unique experience. “The atmosphere is amazing,” he explains, “just listening to these artists under the night sky with the breeze blowing past.”
Dion
While most of the artistes that picked popular contemporary numbers for their set, 19-year-old Dilruwa Dassanayake went old-school with the classic “Top of the World”. The budding lawyer with her country lilt, confident style and the guitar on her knee was “never” interested in music until very recently. “I saw one of my friends entertaining a group of people by playing the guitar, and that’s the day which changed my life,” she says. Dilruwa, with a few originals to her credit, performs simply to entertain and “make [her] audience happy”.
Among the many groups that performed, the duo Chrishari and Niluka(both 21) stood out as having a surprisingly good vocal blend for their first time performing together. Chrishari is definitely the “voice” of the two, also interested in public speaking, while Niluka, the guitarist, “has no other interests besides singing and playing the piano and guitar”.