The Sri Lankan music scene is progressing rapidly as more and more members of the youth are partaking in open mic nights and large events such as Revo and TNL Onstage, which act as a prelude for teens interested in music to get on stage and display their musical abilities. The confidence, passion and skill that is required to perform in front of an audience is immense and below two musicians discuss their journey of making it into the musical industry whilst being at the prime of their youth. 

Anithra De Mel, 17, Soloist Singer 

How long have you been singing? 

Music was a big part of my childhood. According to my mom I've been singing ever since I was four and my mom influenced me a lot with music, and as a family we were always very musical when it came to family get togethers. 

What's the music scene like in Sri Lanka for young musicians? Is it hard to perform? 

The platform for musicians in Sri Lanka has really grown because there are so many opportunities for young aspiring musicians and it's really great to witness new talent all the time. It took awhile for the music industry to grow within the youth and there weren't enough opportunities for us to perform but once it come about opportunities arose and then I was able to showcase my talents. 

Where do you usually play at? 

I started out with school events and then in a lot of events outside school like Revolution of sounds which was organized by the interact club of S. Thomas' College. It was an amazing experience and it really helped me boost my confidence on stage. I also enjoy performing at open mics now. 

Do you have stage fright? 

When I finally built up the nerve to actually audition for one of the musical evenings at school which was the first time I've ever performed as a soloist, yes I was a bit afraid but the more I performed the more confidence I gained. 

What advice would you give to other soloists who are curious to perform but are too scared to go on stage? 

If your music is something you want to share with people around you, you should put yourself out there and take a chance.You never know, good things may come your way. 

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Manuja Jayawardana, 18, Soloist Singer 

How many instruments do you know how to play? 

I’ve played rhythm and lead guitar all my life and mostly accompany my own singing as I feel more ‘in control’ of the music. Generally if I step onto a stage to sing, it would be with my guitar. I play and predominantly enjoy the genres of pop, rock and classical music. I learnt to play the guitar before singing and in many ways it pushed me towards singing. Having control of the timing and modifications with improvisation truly makes a performance feel genuine, and that’s why the guitar was especially useful for me. 

Where did you first perform at? 

After learning around 4 chords back in 2011, I came home and played my heart out if that qualifies as a performance! But my first professional performance was at a concert held by Trinity Academy of Music in 2012 where I was given the opportunity to first test out my makeshift guitar-singing model. The first performance is really important in that your confidence, presentation, and overall attitude towards music are influenced by the feedback you receive. 

What was your most memorable performance? 

Off the top of my head, in 2015 the “Talents of Trinity” concert comes to mind. I remember feeling extremely confident about my songs and my stage presence. I had choreographed the whole performance and had ample time to practice for it. I remember seeing my father in the front row with my teacher/mentor/idol Mr. Keerthi Pasquel, with a big fat smile on his face. My dad showed the video to my grandparents the same night and plays it regularly at family functions. (I act like I’m embarrassed but I love it). At the same concert I was announcing and hosting the event with Mr. Pasquel's daughter and I remember switching between outfits when performing and announcing in multiple occasions, having to take off and put on a purple bow tie to adhere to the academy’s dress code. I felt like the audience was engaged with the performance and we shared an emotional connection as the songs I picked such as ‘Someone Like You’ by Adele have an intrinsic uplifting and heartwarming aspect to them. 

How many gigs have you performed? 

There have been many, many performances both large scale and small scale that come to mind. I prefer a small audience because I feel a genuine connection with the audience. I’ve always attempted to execute an emotional style of performing and try to relate to them.  As a student at Ashanthi’s School of Music and Trinity Academy of Music I have had many opportunities to represent both academies on a professional setting and compete in various talent shows such as ASM’s Got Talent. At my current school, (CIS) I’ve performed in various talent shows and won awards and have had many opportunities through my previous school (Royal College) as well. However, I have always enjoyed a casual gig as opposed to a competition and mostly perform for the feel and the moment, which is absolutely amazing. 

Who is your biggest musical inspiration? 

I would have to say, Jared Leto from 30 Seconds to Mars (more recently known as the Joker from Suicide Squad). He has amazing stage presence and a captivating voice and vocal range. I have always looked up to him and watched his performances since as long I can remember. I also see Ed Sheeran, Adele, Sleeping at last, and John Legend as huge inspirations. But perhaps most importantly it would be very remiss of me not to mention Mr. Keerthi Pasquel as the man who introduced me into music, inspired me and guided me with care to become the best performer I could be.