Catch ‘Funk in your Trunk’ in Trinco
Funk in your Trunk is not your average band – ensemble. Six familiar faces in the Sri Lankan music scene form the unconventional group which has been jamming together for “about 8 months now” according to ChanakaAbeyratne. “All of us are full-on rock fans” he admits, being the designated axe-man, but the group has come together to test newer waters of alternative music. Warming-up for their debut season the band is packing up to perform at Live Trinco when we catch up with a few of them.
Truthfully speaking, vocalist Scheherazade Asmone who has 11 years of expertise in the business feels years of performing have expanded their appreciation of music. Having shared the stage be it in commercial bands, or even more casual gigs, “All of us knew each other” she says, even before Funk in your Trunk started rehearsing twice every week. The realization that “it was time to do some original songs” got the veteran performers teaming-up.
Master of synthetic effects Germaine Fernando says “for most of us, performing cover music was our bread and butter” when starting-out. Picking up tricks of the trade during novice days isn’t a synch to un-learn but the band is opting to go back to the simple groove of old-school funk. In some respect, it wouldn’t be fair to limit their style to Funk Germaine feels. Original lyrics courtesy of their combined efforts are matched to music which “will depend on our mood before practice- It’s mood-specific, not genre-specific.
The attraction in retro tunes for the band comes down to the fact that “they are simple, but just so cool” says Chanaka. Mirroring the sentiments of his crew, he says they would take on the sounds of “artists like James Brown” any day. Bringing their unique concoction of music, which is inspired by multiple genres, “even electronic music,” numbers like ‘Marbles in my Pocket,’ and ‘Reflection’ are original pieces Funk in Your Trunk’s acquired flavour has to show.
Catch the band live at “Live Trinco” next week.