Rajiv determined to carry the tone of Clarence

LAST week I met the man who had vowed to preserve the style of Clarence Wijewardena's music, Rajiv Sebastian, who took us to Torana Recording Studio at Kandewatte Terrace, Nugegoda. Rajiv had recorded his brand new album "Thawamath Adareda Mata?" (Do You Still Love Me?) and was working on video clips for the songs in the albums.

He looked relaxed, energetic and contented after introducing the new album. "It was launched last week on June 23, on my birthday," he said.

"It has 16 songs. Most of them are originals. I think the best thing to do as a singer or musician is to do your originals," Rajiv said.

Is Rajiv talking sense? Because he has been singing Clarence's songs for a long time now. His stardom has a lot to do with Clarence's songs if one looks back at his career as a performer. Suddenly Rajiv talks about originality.

"Hey, I admit I've been singing Clarence's songs. There was an unprecedented popular demand for Clarence's style of music and the tone he carried in his voice, especially after his demise in 1996," he said.

"There was nobody at the time who had studied and monitored this legendary artiste's style of playing and singing at the time. I just happened to be the man for the job in catering to the public demand at the time," he said.

"I have been singing Clarence's songs from my youth, and still like singing them," he added.

But then why your name and voice was scarcely in the music scene during the time Clarence's music has peaked the industry in 70s and 80s?

"It was because I was performing as a singer at Taj and Hilton lobbies. I was singing only English songs at that period."

What was the reason for your diversion to sing Sinhala songs shifting from the performer you are singing English songs?

I have been a big-time fan and a friend of Clarence. Clarence's style was unique, and I liked it. It all happened at a dinner dance which was held at the Ceylon Inns. I was opportune to sing Clarence's "Sandapane Gaman Yanna" because Clarence could not remember the verses of that song. So he asked me to sing the verses while he sang the chorus.

He commended me that night saying "there is at least one person who could carry my style and music," he remembered.

Since you made your name after his songs, why do you now say the best way to do things is to do your originals?

This is a fact that led me to criticize even myself for singing other people's stuff. I went on to criticize myself on this as with the song in my new CD, Nadagam Yuge, a viridu track which I sang with Corrine Almeida.

The song has already been banned by the radio stations. It is about "copying", songs and other related material that do not belong to us. The song was an idea of Rajiv.

Referring to the new superstars, Rajiv said that they should also be directed to sing their own stuff rather than getting trapped into singing other people's stuff.

Singing other artiste's songs could be accepted during the period of becoming a star. But it is not appropriate once you yourself is a star, he stressed. "It's like you get the help of parents until you grow, and when you are an adult and can support yourself, you are on your own," he said.

How do you compare the contemporary music or new wave music at present with the music of 70s and 80s?

Just tell me one song other than a song that belong to 70s and 80s that has firmly established itself in the minds of the people, challenges Rajiv. "Tell me one song that has remained after 1990."

Finally Rajiv said he was determined to carry the tone of Clarence even with his originals. He says there are sons today that perform songs of their fathers, and Clarence had none to carry his legendary music.

By the way, Rajiv and the team have worked out a nice video clip for the song "Api Wandanawe Yamu", the 14th song on his album, which was a duet by Sunil Perera and Rajiv.

- Chamikara