International success is slow in the coming for Sri Lankan artists whose blatantly high levels of potential and talent go unnoticed on far too many occasions. The sad truth in the case of English performing artists is they often face obstacles catering to the niche market they belong to. However the lack of opportunity has done little to deter the expression of potential as seen by the continuous growth and constant production of new English tracks.

As of recent years, the English artists have crossed over to the mass market and are recognized by formats that offer a star studded pedestal for motivated performers to find their spotlight. However many English performers have made their way into the hearts of the public with little opportunity and limited platforms throughout the past years, in essence paving the way for newer generations to find their way to success.

Many established bands in the contemporary local English music industry have also contributed to pioneering and expanding the industry to accommodate novel genres such as alternative and hard rock. A few exceptionally well produced tracks spring to mind when considering the local talent and the high quality of their performances.

Following are a few such examples of tracks that deserve the credentials of international success and pale even foreign tracks in comparison.
 

Sweet Betrayal - Hollow

Hollow is a Sri Lankan band that identifies itself with the metal genre and has been in existence for a fairly long time. they were placed as TNL Onstage band winners in the 2007 rendition of the popular contest.

The lyrical content of the song is of excellent quality and stands to prove the caliber of song writing skill that exists in Sri Lanka. The acoustic version of the track plays much smoother than the original and qualifies as a high quality listen given the rich acoustics of the track.

The vocal performance is also an intense one with the lyrical tone being conveyed as it should. The track specially catches attention due to its emotional quality, a refreshing contrast from their other tracks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIZd3qiCliA

Pack It Up – Natalya Gunarathna

Natalya is a young artist now based in Canada whose talents range from dance to music and covering a wide array of sub fields such as theatre. She is also a well versed song writer with strong lyrical content.

Pack it up is a collaboration with Aslan another talented artist who has enjoyed extensive commercial success locally. The track is a high tempo commercial pop number with amazing vocals.

The vocal performance in this particular track is of the highest quality and is greatly complimented by the production quality which seems on par with international standards. The multi faceted Natalya who showcases her versatility in the music video is a stunning reminder of the quality of talent we possess.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrhJxM8DjN8

Butterfly – Magic Box Mix-up

Magic Box Mix-up also known as MBM, is an excellent entry in the contest of local artists, having achieved top honors at TNL Onstage, the band enjoyed significant commercial success through the release of their originals.

The band is in action presently following a short lapse due to personal pursuits of its members and is set to parallel and surpass their previous success stories. Butterfly was a huge success back at the time of its release and was a regular part of the band's repertoire in many of their performances.

The track is best categorized as a contemporary track with stunning guitar work and low timbre vocals. The band has other original tracks that also qualify as treats to the listening ear.
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9piH6vLQN4

Back Away From Me – Shuaib Jabbar

Shuaib, another TNL Onstage contestant is a personal favourite mainly due to the underplayed accompaniment and the heavy emphasis on his vocals.

Speaking of vocals Shuaib is extremely talented and has a naturally gifted vocal tone and timbre befitting of the melancholy track. The lyrical content once again is beyond the ordinary and speaks in fluid rhythm on what appears to be a well thought out theme.

He is another very young artist who exemplifies the hidden potential both in songwriting and vocalizing. The Onstage finalist has a stunning quality to his voice that enthralls audiences as I have experienced firsthand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxOcMXodPBg

Your Lullaby - Icarus

Icarus is yet another TNL Onstage contestant who released what is possibly one of the most commercially successful tracks in the local English music industry in a fully acoustic setting. The track plays out beautifully with well versed lyrics that deal with adoration of love. A sweet musical tone accompanies the entire song while the vocals are strong and consistent reaching a wide range.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3__C0rGU_XU

By Dilshan Seneratne

Pictures sourced from internet