Arts
What would life be without a song!
Shehara
Two of Soul Sounds’ leading soloists – Dinushka Jayawickreme and Shehara Liyanage will share the spotlight at the next Soul Sounds concert on February 10 at the Lionel Wendt theatre.
‘Nella Fantasia’, the show is in aid of Tiny Stars preschool and day care centre and will feature a fascinating mix of genres from jazz to contemporary pop, Broadway, sacred and Sri Lankan music, and promises ‘something for everyone’.
Founder and Director of Soul Sounds, the premier all-girl choral ensemble in the country, Soundarie David Rodrigo is happy to be presenting her two leading soloists in this show.
“As members of Soul Sounds, I have worked with both of them individually and they are both “stars” in their own right,” she says.
“Shehara sat for her Grade 8 Trinity Pop Rock Exam, under me, at the Soul Sounds Academy, and received a high score of 98, last year.
Similarly Dinushka became an Associate of the Trinity College of Music, London, in voice, again receiving the highest score that year in the country, and was awarded a special award.
She has sung with the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka as soloist, and was a resident Scholar at the AIMS music school in England last year,” Soundarie said, illustrating their capabilities as singers.
The singers also have an impressive line-up backing them- Soundarie herself on piano, Christopher Prins on drums, Dhanushka Seniviratne on keyboards, Pradeep Rodrigo on bass, and a few other well known musicians who will make a special appearance for certain numbers.
Here Dinushka and Shehara answer a few questions from the ST Magazine:
How did you get involved in music?
Dinushka: I have been singing since I was five years old, so my relationship with music and singing in particular has been long! My parents realised that my sister and I loved music so they have always been a great source of encouragement my whole life, supporting me in my musical journey.
Shehara: My involvement in music initially started when I sang with the Merry-An Singers at the age of five. My parents were a huge influence, they would get me to listen to a lot of great singers back then which I believe has influenced me a great deal in the way I sing today.
What are you doing apart from music?
Dinushka
Dinushka: Apart from music I am involved in theatre and am a member of ‘The Workshop Players’- having taken part in musicals such as ‘The Sound of Music’, ‘Evita’, ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ and ‘The Phantom of the Opera’.
I am also a teacher of singing and drama at the Soul Sounds Academy and a programme officer at the International Centre for Ethnic Studies.
Shehara: If I’m not singing I’m usually talking. I work for a leading radio station (Yes FM) and I currently do the show from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. So where my voice is concerned my day is split into two parts where I talk during the day and sing more often than not in the night.
What has your experience at Soul Sounds been like?
Dinushka: The experience has been nothing short of amazing and challenging. The journey has been a very ‘musical’ one, but there have been many obstacles along the way which we have overcome together. This has allowed us to form bonds which we know will last a lifetime!
Shehara: Beyond Amazing! Having been there during the initial stages and seeing how far we’ve come makes me so proud. We’ve been through the best and worst times but we’ve always come through because we believe in each other.
And nothing makes us happier then singing together on stage or where ever. I’m truly blessed to be a part of this group. The guidance we get from Soundarie not forgetting her famous line when we have a lot on our plate would be to “take it one day at a time” which surprisingly works!
What drives you to perform?
Dinushka: My sheer love for it. As my family and friends know, I am quite the drama queen and what better outlet for my ‘dramaticness’ than the stage!
Shehara: My drive comes from the people. They believe in me so much that I want to better myself every time I get on stage. If someone walks up to me and tells me they enjoyed my singing or they could relate to it, that makes me happy. When I sing it really comes from the heart. So to be able to reach out to them and make that connection is important.
What aspirations do you have for your music careers?
Dinushka: Being a full-time musician in this country is not easy and that is why I sing primarily as a hobby. Personally, I would like to commit and challenge myself more, broaden my repertoire and get more qualified in the field.
I would also like to help facilitate the musical education of future generations and give them as much exposure as possible. Maybe one day I can take my singing beyond the shores of Sri Lanka!
Shehara: Oh that’s a tough one! I would love to break into the music world internationally but it all depends on being there at the right place at the right time.
You have to have a lot of luck. I guess for most singers that would be the ultimate goal they would all strive to reach. Little Sri Lanka has heaps of talent and it’s about time we got recognized for our talent internationally.
‘Nella Fantasia’ will be on February 10 at 7.30 p.m. at the Lionel Wendt Theatre. Soul Sounds is exclusively sponsored by Fairway Holdings and Dimo. Tickets are available at the Soul Sounds Academy, 57/2, Kassapa Road, Colombo 5.