Finding the silver lining
While playing his guitar Anura Jayasinghe’s eyes gaze beyond the sitting room of his home in Mirihana. His strong yet surprisingly sweet voice accompanies the folksy tune he strums. Clearly one of those musicians who lose themselves in song, Anura completely and utterly loves music, which reflects in his voice and general persona.
With his idol Harry Belafonte
Titled ‘Mudalithuma’, the song will be featured as part of an album produced by an international record company. A familiar name to the Sri Lankan music field of yesteryear, Anura was a member of the band La Ceylonians. Many might remember them for their trademark sarongs, straw hats and hits such as “Ruwanmali”. “People now call it calypso,” remarks Anura disgustedly, taking us through his memories of a time when they were a celebration of authentic Sri Lankan music harmony.
He joined La Ceylonians back in 1967 and played the guitar and drums. Their music, he feels, was very Sri Lankan and offered people a different sound from the Baila music that many associate with Sri Lanka today.
The call from the international record label came in the form of a mere facebook message. “At first I didn’t believe it,” he says. Not being as social media savvy as many people today, it took some time for the impact of the message to sink in. The next few days were a blur, with Anura staying up till three in the morning to Skype call the lawyers and producers involved.
The album, titled “Asian Playground” is a project undertaken by “Putumayo World Music”. An initiative by Dan Storper, Putumayo began in 1993 with the intention of introducing people to world culture. The album features music from all over Asia, authentic to their cultures and countries.
A career that spans almost 40 years has shown Anura both the best of times and the worst of times in the
at home. Pic by M.D. Nissanka
music industry. When times were difficult he reveals that he always looked for the silver lining, however faint it may have seemed. Together with his positive, enterprising spirit he never let any chance slip by.
1986 was the year that opened the doors to a career in the international music industry. A defining flight later, Anura found himself in Paris, being inducted as a member of the French Authors and Composers Union (SACEM), with the assistance of the French Government. ‘I wouldn’t have been able to do this without them’ he explains. The first Sri Lankan to be featured by a French record company, his album “Welcome to Sri Lanka” would find its way into the hands of the Putumayo label, decadeslater. The opportunity was the start of an experience which set the path for his biggest achievement up to date.
The Polaroids, slightly faded with time, nonetheless freeze some of the most important moments of Anura’s musical career. In one, he smiles broadly with his idol, Harry Belafonte. The others are also mementos of friendships he has made over time with other musicians, people he has learnt a lot from.
March 15 dawned a typical Sunday morning for many, but for Anura it was a day to savour. It was the launch date for “Asian Playground” which for Anura, will probably be the biggest milestone in his career to date, and for the Sri Lankan music scene, an important achievement for one of their own.