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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