I have a right to use Sinhala oldies- Iraj

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

NEW generation star Iraj has just finished his music video for his hit “Mata Hithanna Be”. The Sri Lankan hip hop icon has spent Rs.1.3 million for the making of this music video, a budget that even a producer would not allocate for making a teledrama.

“I spent over one million rupees for the music video and I am sure I have done something special,” Iraj told “In Tune.”

He declined to elaborate on his creation stating, “Oh you gotta see this thing, man. It’s totally different from my previous videos. You will know what I mean when you see it.”

The news is that Iraj’s music video will be telecast today on Derana TV Iraj Show at 10 pm.

Iraj has shot through the local music scene and entertainment industry to reach new international heights. He is no frog in the well.

“My search is on. I have always wanted to do something different. That’s how I like it and I am looking for new ways to do my music my way. That’s what it’s all about,” he says.

The artist released his debut album, “Iraj” in 2004 with Ranidu, which became Sri Lanka’s fastest debut album before local critics say Jack Robinson.

The album registered record sales with Iraj’s modern sounds combined, fused, melt, discharged and unified with Sri Lankan folk music, traditional drama, adopted Portuguese kapirinna music and urban sounds.

Iraj made his mark on the album with tracks like “Ninda Noyana Handawe, J-town Story, Ran Ran Ran and Surangana Kirilliye.

Iraj plays his synthesizer keyboard for which he won the Best Keyboardist title in Sri Lanka at the age of 16.

Iraj made his presence in Sri Lankan music with Ranidu and Yauvana Wanigasekera in 1998, Then he banded up with Ruki and hip hop band Urban Sound. His chart topper “Roots” came in 2002, which was produced with Krishan and Ruki.

Roots gained air-play in BBC Radio 1. Iraj has the tracks Ill Noize and Ahankara Nagare which had already hit the European Asean Charts, under his belt.

This is how Iraj fielded various criticism levelled against his music and videos.

As pointed out by a number of senior musicians and singers in the local music field and many critics, your music is based on computer technology. How do you take this?

I do hip hop. And I do it my way. I play a synthesizer keyboard. And I play every instrument be they drums, sitar, guitar or flute on this keyboard.

How do you play them on that if you do not have any knowledge about the original instrument. You must know how they work in order to use the synthesizer which will require special skill.

Having said that I must also say that of those artists who criticise me, many artists like to work with me when they want to produce their music videos.

They also complain that you are using old Sinhala folk and Noorthi tracks to produce your music.

I am a Sri Lankan. I don’t do House, I do hip hop. My style is hip hop. I do it with my sounds. I grew up with Sinhala culture. I heard Sinhala traditional music. They are still ringing in my ears.

And I have every right to use Sinhala traditional songs, folk songs or noorthi songs just as much the other artists can use them.

I have a right to blend them to make my music, which I do because that is a part of me.

Besides, I am sure if they can do what I can do they will be pleased to do it.

And I don’t think that most guys who criticise me these days know anything about hip hop. They think hip hop is just sound. It’s not. It’s a culture.

The way you dress, the way you think, what you say, all count when it comes to this style.

Iraj’s influence on new wave sounds in Sri Lanka has been significant that there is a trend among the youth to follow hip hop. The culture is developing slowly as it did in other countries.

Iraj is becoming popular in India from recent times with his hit with Ranidu “Ahankara Nagare” which has earned the attention of India’s HOM Records. The video of Ahankara Nagare in their album Asian Flava Vol. 01, is telecast on MTV India and Channel V.

Country Roads at Mount Lavinia Hotel tomorrow

COUNTRY ROADS: the popular concert of country & western and folk music get rolling again tomorrow(Sunday) from 7 pm at the Empire Ballroom of the Mount Lavinia Hotel.

This year is the 15th annual concert of this series presented by the Country Music Foundation (CMF) to raise funds for needy children across the island.

“It is a landmark event and there are some nostalgic moments as we organize this year’s event,” noted Feizal Samath, founder and President of the CMF.

Tickets are available at selected Cargills Food City outlets on Staple Street, Majestic City, Mount Lavinia (next to St Thomas’ grounds) and Dutugemunu Street (former Park & Shop, Kohuwela) and at Mount Lavinia hotel.

This year’s show kicks off with the Mavericks, a band from Germany. Mavericks has been playing at this concert for the past 12 years. Astrid Brook from the UK, Cosmic Rays, Anno Domini (AD) - a folk outfit -, Wildfire and the Country Revival Band will perform.

The concert this year is sponsored by Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel with SriLankan Airlines. First Choice Airways and the Hemas Group is sponsoring Brook’s visit to Sri Lanka.

Proceeds from the concert will go to local charities through Save the Children. The CMF is also supporting projects by Chrysalis, an Association of Former UNICEF Staff Members in Sri Lanka, to improve and protect the health, welfare and rights of disadvantaged children in Sri Lanka.

Robin Zebaida performs in Kandy

BRITISH pianist, Robin Zebaida gave an exclusive piano recital at the E. O. E. Pereira Theatre of Kandy Engineering Faculty, Peradeniya University on Friday.

Zebaida played classical piano pieces gave of Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Greig, Faure, Rachmaninov, Scriabin, Gershwin and Godowsky.

The concert was organised by the Kandy Music Society in association with the University Arts Council at the E. O. E. Pereira Theatre, Engineering Faculty. Robin Zebaida has given concerts across the world in his flourishing international career. His music is broadcast on several national networks.

Critics have described him as “a pianist with Herculean stamina,” a performer of “exquisite elegiacal playing and fiery thunderous brilliance” and one, able to achieve warmth and empathy with the audience which is rarely seen.

‘Sathsara 2007’

SATHSARA 2007 organised and presented by Moratuwa Arts Forum with a view to bring out the latent musical talents of schoolchildren was concluded last week amidst a large gathering of musicians, school principals, students, parents and well-wishers.

The project was a great success as pointed out by the chief guest singer Victor Ratnayake. Among the panel of judges were Prof. Mahanama Wickremasinghe, Prof. Ranjan Wickrematunga and Visharadha Neela Wickremasinghe.

Winners of the contest were: Nuwantha de Silva (St. Sebastian’s College) - Tabla; Madusha Mendis (Our Lady of Victories Convent) - Flute and Sanduni Wanigaratne (Rawatawatte Catholic School) - Harmonium, under-15 years category.

G. D. Ashan Madushanka (De Soysa Maha Vidyalaya) - Harmonium, over-15 years category.

Jude Lakshan Silva (St. Sebastian’s College) - Violin and Hasanki Thiloshini Gamhewa (Our Lady of Victories Convent) - Violin under the same category.

The project committee comprised Asoka Peiris, Lankika Perera, Surani Fernando (Secretary), Herbert Silva, Erinton Perera, Berty D. Fernando, Tharanga de Alwis and Sankalpa de Mel.

“Before country was ‘cool,’ Crystal was ‘class”

NEVER has one reviewer captured a platinum clad, Grammy Award winning career so beautifully in so few words.

Crystal encapsulates everything the dazzling qualities of her name implies -although that name came to her in quite an unusual fashion.

“Crystal” came at the suggestion of Brenda Gayle Webb’s older sister, Loretta Lynn - who knowing there was already a ‘Brenda Lee’ currently successful in the music industry -suggested her younger sibling adopt the name ‘Crystal’ when she began recording.

Once re-named, her musical boundaries have since been seemingly limitless - as proven by her latest much anticipated project - “All My Tomorrows” - a mood influenced collection of American standards.

Songs such as “Cry Me A River,” “Sentimental Journey,” “It Had To Be You,” and “Smile” somehow reach the heights their songwriter’s must have dreamed of when piped through the beautiful chords of Crystal Gayle.

“These are songs any artist loves to sing,” said Crystal in a recent interview. “They’ve endured to become timeless.”

Strange to think of anyone as young and vibrant as the artist in question as a “timeless classic” herself-but that indeed describes the course Crystal Gayle’s career has taken.

In the mid ‘70’s, Crystal was the focal point of her own one hour prime time special on CBS television-a special that earned the glowing praise of viewers and critics alike.

Chic, hip, and cool with a romantic mane of hair that swept around her ankles, in one evening of television Crystal Gayle moved country music to the highest platform it had yet reached in the eyes of the viewing and listening nation.

The blue eyed beauty from the Appalachian coal mining town of Paintsville, Kentucky would never again linger in the shadow of being Loretta’s baby sister. Drop dead beautiful and dressed in designer threads, Crystal took country music to town on her arm in the ‘70’s and introduced it to mainstream audiences.

The result was a career crossover that’s still produces beautiful results-such as those captured in the grooves of “All My Tomorrows.”

But in the beginning...

Country, folk, pop, rock ‘n roll, Broadway show tunes, gospel...all found equal place in her heart, growing up as the youngest of eight children. Like sister Loretta Crystal too was a “coal miners daughter” before she was a platinum selling singer and a worldclass entertainer.

While still in school, she signed her first recording contact. Her debut single, “I’ve Cried The Blue Right Out Of My Eyes,” was written by Loretta (already a star) and reached the Top 20 on the national country music charts. Three more singles were released over the next three years-all making an impact with radio and listeners.

What next emerged was uniquely Crystal. Her warm, resonant vocal styling, individual as a fingerprint, captured the imagination and attention of audiences not usually tuned in and turned on by country music.

There was an undeniable sophistication and a beguiling charm about her look and her voice that was a memorable imprint on every audience-every listener.

Her first album project began a roll out of smash singles to come. “Wrong Road Again,” (her first of many hit singles with producer Allen Reynolds) became her debut Top 10 record.

“I’ll Get Over You,” became her first #1 single. By her fourth album, “We Must Believe In Magic,” Crystal Gayle became the first female artist in country music history to achieve platinum album sales.

Driving the engine of the album was the song that was to become her enduring career signature song to date: “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.”