Semi finalists eyeing the finish line for TNL Onstage
“You should try-out for Onstage” are familiar words for this year’s semi finalists. In its 15 years of aiming the spotlight on Sri Lankan talent, TNL Onstage has been the ultimate test of ability for most who survived the preliminary rounds.
Yohaani saarah
Tharani Welihinda
Sachini Dissanayake
Nadun Wickemeratne
Nabith Maeesh
Kamishka Morais
Imaadh Dole
Hasnah Sherifdeen
Earning her spot in the competition with Ed Sheeran’s “I See Fire” making it to the TNL stage has always been the dream for 17 year old Yohani Saarah. On the younger side of contestants coveting this year’s title, Yohani is also currently a student at Wycherley International School where much of her experience as a performer was gathered. Generally able to appreciate most genres of music she says “my strength is acoustic music” which seeps through to her renditions of other genres- “even techno music.” Planning to take-up a challenge for the Semi-Final round Yohani hopes to take-on “a difficult song,” and work her acoustic magic on it.
Kamishka Morais is a familiar name for those who remember last year’s edition of Onstage. Last year’s attempt didn’t bring him close enough to secure a win, which brings him back to the arena. The classically trained 25 year old feels his experience in the music scene in Dubai and versatility will propel him a little further this time. “I’m the only remaining rock singer in the competition,” he shares, for which he had a stint in a Filipino rock-band to show. At present a basketball player representing his campus at the national level, working with his limited practice-hours he hopes to keep close to professional advice and continue his “belief in second chances.”
“To be honest” Sachini Dissanayake, tells us that she “tried-out for Onstage, because it was on my bucket-list.” Starting-out as a budding pianist at a younger age she says the frustration of being forced to follow written music compelled her to quit. Auditioning with monumentally big songs like “To Love You More” by Celine Dion, this 18 year old feels being genre-specific is restricting. Gravitating to ballad-like, or Jazzy numbers Sachini says her choice of a slower number followed by a livelier tune “isn’t always intentional.” Performing since she was 15 at Bishop’s College where she schooled, Sachini hopes to stick to her trade mark ballad followed by an up-beat number at the Semi Finals.
At 17, Hasnah Sherifdeen is one of the younger yet confident contestants. “I know who I am as an artist” she tells us. Growing-up in England hers is “a fusion of lots of different styles.” Producing and making the music she broadcasts on her YouTube channel, Hasnah’s niche however, is “Hip-Hop, Rn’B and Rap.” It isn’t just her vocal style that set’s Hasnah apart. Producing music and being a classically trained violinist gives her “a broader knowledge” of the music she brings onstage.
For someone who started singing later in life, Nabith Maeesh has come a long way. Clinching a spot in the competition with two original entries, Music for the 20 year old “came later-on in life.” Migrating to Sri Lanka in 2004 much of Nabith’s childhood was set to “my father’s type of music” which was mostly rock. Picking-up a guitar when he was 15, the singer-songwriter feels he needs to work on the audience with his stage presence to make an impression at the next round.
Imaadh Dole has never seen himself as “a rock kind of guy.” Hoping to join the choir at Royal College for his final year in school, subtle genres have always intrigued him. The entire auditioning process happened fast for this 19 year old “got the thumbs-up” from his parents to enter the competition during A-Levels. The pressure of having “just one shot” to impress judges is daunting he admits, hoping to relax during his time on stage. “There are some old Royalists who have won the title,” he says, aspiring to join the seniors he has always looked up to.
Nandun Wickemeratne is admittedly rock-inclined. “I used to play in bands with my friends” but the former Thomian’s plunge into the solo category is an attempt to get noticed for his artistry. Open to all avenues of rock, from the mellower blues to the heavier kind the 18 year old is considering an original song for his next appearance. Fast paced songs come naturally and Nandun’s latest effort is “balancing-out” the tempo. Arranging his own pieces with some help from bandmates he hopes to “live in the stage” to bring a convincing performance.
Tharani Welihinda 20, considered trying-out ever since her cousin “won the soloist category in 2013.” Moving to Sri Lanka in 2005 when she was 11, Tharani “never watched TNL Onstage until 2013.” Rendering ‘Zombie’ and ‘Say Something’ to make it into the competition, she hopes to take on a challenge for the upcoming rounds. Working on an “upbeat number with a jazzy feel” for the semi finals she shares that the biggest challenge the competition has imposed is channeling confidence.
These eight voices will be joined by eight bands who are tuning-up to make it into the final rounds of competition.
First having to prove themselves worthy of a spot at the finals, scheduled for September 26 their immediate obstacle is the semi -final round which comes to a close on September 5.