Mirror Magazine
 

Global reach
By Smriti Daniel
Four albums under your belts, countless performances, international fan clubs, you guys have it all... how does it feel? B&S: It feels fantastic! But we’ve got a lot more to do. With our first Hindi release around the corner, we feel like beginners once again.

This is our first big international project, and we’re determined to get it as perfect as humanly possible. We’re driven and excited and a little bit nervous.
Tell us about ‘Neththara’? Is there any underlying theme?

B&S: ‘Neththara’ in Sinhala and Sanskrit means ‘eyes.’ This can also be interpreted as ‘vision.’ For years now B&S have worked towards the fulfilment of our vision to take Sri Lankan music and play it out loud on a global platform. For us, this album was also a stepping stone into our ‘international phase.’ We’re just glad to see how close we’re coming to achieving our goals.
The title song “Neththara”, we are proud to say, has been included in an international compilation of South Asian Artistes – soon to be launched by Universal Music. The music video of “Neththara” has been chosen as a pilot promo video for this album. This will be broadcast on MTV India and Channel V from September this year. We received this information last week from Mr. Rajath Kakar, C.E.O. of Universal, when we were in Bombay for some production work.

Does the music fall into any particular genre or style? How is it different from your last three albums?
B&S: ‘Neththara’ is an album for every one; it simply features ‘Good Music.’ We refuse to categorise it.

Which track are you most proud of on the album, and why?
B&S: This album features some of the best ballads we have ever sung. Hats off to our co-producers Shyamalangan Sri Ranganathan and Mahesh Denipitiya. We couldn’t have done it without them.

We’ve heard you guys have become real globe trotters... tell us where you’ve been in the last ten days.
B&S: Well, the whole of last week we were in Bombay finalising the upcoming Hindi album. As for this year, we performed in Germany, China, Bangkok, the Opera House in Sydney, Melbourne, the Cannes Festival in France and Kuwait to name a few.

What do you enjoy most about all the travelling?
B&S: Actually while travelling you get some time off for yourself, where you are free of phone calls and other responsibilities for a short time. But the most interesting part is realising that with globalisation almost every destination looks alike. (I mean the traffic signs, buildings and the roads.)
Tell us about your latest concert ‘Hold My Hand’.

B&S: This is an adaptation of ‘Neththara - Live’, specially focusing on the children of Sri Lanka, and helping the ones in need. We’re doing this in alliance with the Gamini Dissanayake Foundation and Lions Club, Colombo 06, Metropolitan. All funds will go to these organisations and they will use it to educate and support children and young adults in need.

What exactly are these two organisations involved in?
B&S: Well, amongst many other things the Gamini Dissanayake Foundation has an Institute of Technology through which they impart to their students some very practical skills. They then help these students to find jobs. Incidentally they have a very high success rate.

The Lions club is behind The Camilla House, and works with mentally and physically challenged children. While their work with these kids has been much admired, they are still in need of funds. That’s where we come in.

Why do you guys like working with kids so much?
B&S: Kids are the future of our society and country. They are full of new ideas and don’t have set ideas on anything. They look at things in a broader perspective than adults without making judgements, which makes it easier for people to communicate new ideologies and concepts to them.

Do you see your music as a way to bring about change?
B&S: Yes, of course. Music is a part of everybody’s lives, though some fail to realise it. If one just stops to think there will be at least one or two songs closely associated with some sort of life experience; these can easily influence your moods and thinking patterns even at a different day and time in life, which clearly shows that music has a major influence over people.

This year B&S turns seven. When’s the party? How are you going to celebrate?
B&S: It feels great to have stuck around for this long; it would not have been possible if not for our team. Ashanthi, Nevanthi, Randhir Mahesh, Sri, Malik and Jude are a few names of many, who have been a vital part of our success. We wish to thank every one in the B&S crew and our families for the support.
We hope to celebrate this in December with the launch of our Hindi album in Bombay, and a special concert in Colombo, which will be very high tech.
‘Hold My Hand’ is on today (August 28) at B.M.I.C.H from 7 p.m. onwards. Tickets are available at Dwellings (Greenpath), GeeBees Clothing (Duplication Road), Saraswathy Bookshop (Nugegoda), My Baby (Liberty Plaza), and at selected D.S.I sales centres. Tickets are priced at Rs. 2000, 1500, 1000, and 400.

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