What inspired you to follow your dreams and take the exciting journey into the music industry?

Well, my passion for music has been there since I was a kid. I started playing the keyboard when I was just seven. My aunt taught me. Whenever a visitor would visit, my mom would call me out and ask me to play something. When I grew older, I joined the school’s choir. When I was in high school, I used to compete and perform in different singing competitions. I used to spend most of my time in the music room as well. Basically, music was there throughout my life. I’m not encouraging anyone to do the same but I dropped out of college just to follow my passion for music. Although that wasn’t a smooth road, I have no regrets at all.

In your professional opinion, what is the most essential element for a successful song?

I think the basic component is its melody. It should be catchy and uncomplicated. The simpler it is, the better the listener can get it. The same goes for lyrics. The simpler it is, the less you’d forget. I’m not saying this theory applies to every composition though, and it’s not actually compulsory to follow this when composing but it’s just my opinion, considering all the hits out there. 

What style of singing do you identify with? Share with us some of the standout performances you have given so far.

Well, my style of singing has been different over time. I consider it progress. Initially, I couldn’t sing classical songs, but the more I practised, the more I could sing. If you compared something I sang this year with one from 2019, you’d definitely notice it too.

When singing, emotions are an important factor to me. Every word and every phrase in a song has its own meaning. So, pouring emotions and the essential flavours into the lyrics when singing is very important. Also, I’m a huge fan of Bollywood and Kollywood music. I think most of the people I meet are fans of my Hindi and Tamil singing more than the ones in Sinhala. 

What has been your most exciting project to date?

Actually, I’ve produced and co-produced so many songs during the last few years. I have been able to co-produce a few hits on the local top charts too. I started working as an audio engineer in 2014. From there, I’ve been working with so many renowned artists in the Sri Lankan industry. In my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a few international artists as well. You’ll be able to witness those projects in the future.

The most exciting project I’ve worked on up to date would be one of my international projects in which I worked with a Bollywood artist named Arjun. It was actually one of those moments in which I felt dreams do come true. I’ve always been a fan of his music. So, it was crazy to finally meet him and work with him. It was definitely an exciting project.

In terms of the overall composition, what is your favourite song and why?

I think it’s a song I’m not allowed to talk about yet. But just to share a little, It’s also an international project. It took almost a year for me to complete it. It’s sort of a combination of different genres I’d say, plus, a blend of different musicians. So that would be the favourite song I’ve produced so far. At the moment, my team and I are working on the video. You’d probably be able to see it by the start of next year.

In what fun ways do you think the internet has transformed the music industry?

To be honest, the internet plays a huge role in music today. I don’t think anyone from this era would be able to take their music out to people if it wasn’t for the internet, which is a good thing. Anyone can now take their music out to the people in a matter of seconds. There are so many solid platforms to publish and market your music. In that sense, the internet is a solid friend of music, in my opinion.

Tell us about your upcoming project.

I have a couple of immediate releases actually – two music videos. They’re a solo and a duet. The solo would be my debut music video. I’m pretty excited. 

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to aspiring singers and song producers out there?

I think today’s artists are really creative. It just takes just a bit of audio production knowledge for a musician today to put out their music. And today’s musicians imagine and dream a lot, I’d say. They’re quick and talented. They explore and experiment with new dimensions in music and try to tell stories rather than just songs, which is amazing.

If I were to offer advice, I’d say, always try to be unique. Gather inspiration but always try to have your own signature in a creation. Create music from your heart. 

Also on another note, it’s always important to support your artist friends. If you’re a producer, research and support new talent, try to collaborate, and feature new talent in your songs. It could be singers, lyricists, or instrumentalists, it doesn’t matter. Always reach out to people. If you’re a singer, always find new ways to showcase your talents. Use every available resource and platform. That’ll take you a long way. 

PHOTOS © CHAMEL SHAVINDHA