By Mahika Panditha For those of you who have been on TikTok, I am 100% sure you have come across this gem of a human being. Gangulee Walpola is an Attorney-at-Law by profession as well as an artist with an absolutely beautiful voice. She has recently begun creating content on social media, which you may have come across. Gangulee has a passion for mental health advocacy and hopes to break the stereotype that professionals are unable to cultivate creative talent. She is one of the most talented people you may come across, and it was an honour to have chatted with her earlier this week. Here’s what she had to say. Before we dive in, tell our readers a little about yourself. In a nutshell, I’m a 25-year-old who is still figuring out her life. Despite the fact that I’m a professional in the legal field, I highly dislike being one-dimensional. I simply don’t prefer to “eat-sleep-repeat”. I want to fight for what matters, but at the same time, entertain. So to some, I’m a lawyer, to some, I’m a singer, and to others, I’m a content creator (and from time to time, a joker). Beyond that, I am also a passionate mental health advocate. When I can, I try my hardest to create awareness and impact young people to speak out and seek help, if and when necessary. You have a beautiful voice. What would you say has been one of the best memories you have had on stage? Thank you for the compliment! I only started performing publicly a few years back. In my limited years of experience, the best memories are always that perfect sync with the audience – when you forget that you’re doing a gig or a job and are simply jamming with strangers. And once in a while, you get to see a person completely enthralled by your voice. It’s lovely! I don’t get to do it on a frequent basis, so when I do get to do it, I absolutely love it. How would you describe your music taste, and do you have any recommendations for us? Anyone who goes through my playlists would simply lose their minds! It goes from Broadway to classic rock to rap. I believe as a true music lover, I can’t confine myself to one genre. Artists from all over the world can drop a song that touches your soul. My favourite songs, however, have always revolved around meaningful lyrics. I always enjoy captivating voices. Artists like Etta James and Tori Kelly just blow my mind. I would recommend anyone to have a listen to Aurora and Jorja Smith, though. Very underrated. You are an attorney-at-law by profession. What inspired you to pursue law? No one in my family is a lawyer. This was a stretch, to be honest. I wasn’t too sure if I’ll have the grit to pursue law and compete with academics, simply because I’m not an academic myself. I’m just curious. I like pushing myself and seeing where I can end up. One step simply led to another and I found myself going all the way to becoming a qualified attorney. What do you hope to change in our country in the coming years? As an attorney, I’d definitely like to see refined laws and regulations with regard to mental health. There are policies that exist on paper, but practically, the applicability is clearly very less. As an individual, I’d like to create more and more awareness with regard to the subject. After all, all the regulations in the world can’t change a person’s perception. I hope to see a kinder, more empathetic island and I will do what I can in the coming years as an individual to make that a reality. Apart from law and music, how do you enjoy spending your time? I read and listen to music. I also enjoy the occasional Netflix series. Apart from that, I get inspired from time to time and come up with content on TikTok. Despite the negativity it gets, the app is amazing to explore your creative potential! The fact that it allows me to speak on behalf of someone that is voiceless is, of course, what eventually pushed me. What would you say has been one of the toughest challenges you have had to overcome thus far? Hands down, depression. Not entirely sure if overcoming is the right word though. Not that I don’t have bad days, but I am proud of getting back up and marching forward. I have faced different personal circumstances that have made me stronger. I definitely also have a strong mother who has faced her own challenges to look up to as a woman. If you had to give our readers only one piece of advice, what would it be? Try and positively affect at least one life in your lifetime. We all have a considerably short period of life. I take “YOLO” in a different way. You only live once, so might as well make use of it. Speak out, help someone in need, and make a lasting impact.   Photos © Image No. 4 – Dillon Abraham No. 2 – Ruvi Balasuriya No. 3 – Hasara Kariyapperuma No. 7 – Dayan Witharana