Arts
Sacred Spaces, Stigmata’s latest soundscape
As beings capable of complex thought, people tend to create various spaces that they value in life. These spaces could be professional, social or personal. On a different level, they could also be emotional, spiritual or physical. But there may also be a point where the constant search for one’s self worth in life becomes a space that hinders progress. This prompts the question: does one’s Sacred Space -do more harm than contribute something positive to our lives?
Stigmata: A new dimension. Pic by Natalie Soysa
Stigmata’s latest single ‘Sacred Spaces: Solve et Coagula’ is inspired by this line of thinking. The second track off the band’s fifth album, it derives its title from a Latin alchemic term that translates to ‘dissolve and coagulate’, in other words “nothing new can be built, before we make space, by first breaking that which is old.”
Stigmata’s frontman Suresh de Silva explains that musically, the track feels like a series of fused elements, different textures, tones, arrangements, movements, rhythms and styles that are “integrated to create sonic spaces within a holistic spacial soundscape.” He himself got the chance to “flirt with” different vocal techniques and tap into different aspects of his range, vocal styles and expressions.
Drummer Hafzel Preena tells us that Sacred Spaces evolved through the band’s various practice sessions and shows, and when it came to recording the guys brought in other additional elements – orchestral elements, harmonies and tabla parts. “It made the song stronger and powerful, and with much more meaning,” Hafzel adds.
Suresh maintains that the bulk of the work was done by the band. “I just came in and crafted the vocal melodies and chiselled out the lyrics.” His main focus was that the vocals and lyrics needed to narrate what the music was saying cohesively.
Stigmata’s songwriting process, according to Suresh, varies from album to album. Guitarist Tennyson (Tenny) Napoleon usually composes almost all their material. He would then play it with bassist Thisara Dhananjaya and Hafzel. Suresh would come in later and “rain on their parade” (he says with a grin) by making a few suggestions.
But, there are times when Tenny would present an idea to Suresh and the pair would work on it and present it to the guys to add their magic.
‘Sacred Spaces’ has exceeded all their expectations particularly because the band once again got the chance to work with the renowned Romesh Dodangoda, who mixed and mastered the track.
Romesh is a “brilliant soul” says Suresh of the producer who has worked with heavy metal heavyweights such as Motörhead, Bring Me The Horizon, Funeral For a Friend and Sylosis. “Romesh helped capture the essence of the song and give it life at a level of quality that is a very high benchmark for us.”
Stigmata currently functions as a four member band down from five. Lineup changes can be irksome, because it breaks the flow and the spirit of a band and “we’ve had quite a number through the years no,” Suresh chuckles. But their nucleus remains steadfast and unshakeable:Tenny and Suresh who kicked things off two decades ago at S.Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia.
Throughout this time, they’ve forged an “uncanny musical partnership and bond, with a chemistry that continues to evolve.”
Musically, Suresh and Tenny bring out the best in each other and Thisara and Hafzel bring out the best in the both of them. “I am aware this sounds like a RomCom episode but it’s true!”
“We aren’t afraid to expand our musical palette of textures and take the path untrodden. We love what we do and it stems from an honest place of unadulterated integrity,” Suresh says. “We give our heart, mind and soul every single time we work on new music, rehearse or perform live, promote it or release merch.”
Stigmata has also adapted to the times, and aligned their musical and business strategy to create and release music. Instead of dropping an entire album like they have in the past, they have broken it down and are releasing a new song every few months. The video for ‘Sacred Spaces will be released later this month.
Sacred Spaces: Solve et Coagula can be accessed on all leading streaming platforms worldwide from Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music and TikTok, as well as India’s Hungama and Sri Lanka’s very own leading streaming service Shehara’s Sri Lankan Music.
For more information on the band check out their page on Facebook
(https://www.facebook.com/stigmatasrilanka/), Instagram, Reverberation (https://www.reverbnation.com/stigmata), Bandcamp and Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD98w44BSLg) .
Sacred Spaces can be previewed on – https://music.apple.com/lk/album/sacred-spaces-solve-et-coagula-single/1525423999