‘Tantalize Rewind’ set to get underway this week
‘Tantalize’ has been a show providing a platform for the young and upcoming local performers to showcase their talent and make a name for themselves for over 10 years now. Starting in 2008, ‘Tantalize’ has become one of the most highly anticipated shows for youth as it provides a stage to share their music, dance, beatboxing and other talents.
Band members of Origins Pix by Sameera Weerasekera
Earlier this year when the committee for ‘Tantalize’ got together, they realised that the Tantalize concert series had reached its peak and it was time to elevate it. Thus the concept called ‘Tantalize Rewind’ emerged.
Bringing back past winners of ‘Tantalize’ together for a throwback concert, the cream of the crop have been selected to put together an eclectic pool of talent together with guest performers Daddy, Doctor, Voice Print and Ridma Weerawardena.
The event will feature dances from Rhythm Pills featuring Ashini De Silva and Theekshana Thilakasiri who won the group dance category in 2018. Kaushalya Ranasinghe who will also be doing a dance as the winner of the solo dance category in the same year.
Kaveesha Chalindra Wijesooriya and Vihanga Wijesooriya who became runner ups in the solo instrumental category respectively in 2017 and 2015 will also be playing the violin and piano.
Dewni De Silva
Officially formed last year in January, upcoming band Illuminate won the band category and were recognised as one of the successful competitors of ‘Tantalize’ and will perform for the Rewind edition. “To be honest, Tantalize has been a life-changer. Winning a competition is something really hard and winning a competition like ‘Tantalize’ is something we really didn’t expect,” Ashane Edirisuriya tells us along with the rest of the band.
Origins is an instrumental band comprising 10 members, who make music with items such as baskets, barrels and pipes. Alongside the traditional Sri Lankan drums, ‘Origins’ aims to create fusion music that will have audiences tapping their feet to the rhythm. They perform wearing their ‘V for Vendetta masks’, which have become their signature look.
“We wanted people to focus on our talent and not our faces, ” they tell us elaborating more on the masks. As the 2017 band category winners, they are bound to put up quite a performance.
The five-man group ‘BLAZE’, who won the beatboxing category in 2017 will also be performing at the event.
“Tantalize has always been about the main purpose,” says Secretary of Tantalize 2019 Dewni de Silva on their CSR initiative. She tells us that last year, Tantalize donated 7 lakhs to the pediatric unit for the Lady Ridgeway hospital. “This time we wanted to do better and bigger so we joined hands with the Ranaviru fund. We want to give all the proceeds from the concert to the Ranaviru fund and help those who suffered during the war.”
Tantalize Rewind will take place on November 29 at the Nelum Pokuna from 6 p.m. onwards. Tickets are priced at Rs. 1500 and are available purchase at bookmy.show/TantalizeRewind
Band members of Illuminate