The Sound Of Music

Ishara JAYAWARDANE

Music is such an incredible medium. Imagine watching a film about the holocaust or a film about a child who escapes a concentration camp but loses his parents. What really brings life into this film isn't just the emotions but the music surrounding it. It can be heartrending when you imagine this. Music helps us to experience life in a way that is both personal and meaningful. Music has the capacity to evoke compassion and sorrow. It can also inspire and entertain. Music is life.

Can you think of any major film chosen for a film festival that doesn't have a song track? It has to, if the Director wants to convey something to their audience.

The Colombo Music Festival - Senses and Soul to be held from August 24 - 26, 2012, will bring a wide array of music to foreign and local audiences.

It will include all types of genres and an abundance of talent. Daily News ZEST met up with Colombo Music Festival Founder and Event Director and Mantra Moods Director Haadia Galely to discuss and explore the heart and soul of the event.

Q: How are the preparations going for The Colombo Music Festival 2012?

A: So far we have confirmed most of our venues. Water's Edge (Battaramulla) will be our main festival event venue. We have fringe events taking place.

Some have been confirmed and for some we are just waiting for the letters of confirmation. We are having a music competition - one is regional, which is going to be youth based and the other one is going to be named Spirit which is actually going to support the regional one in terms of all the winners from the regional event will be absorbed into the main event - Spirit.

The only reason we could not make it island wide is because you can't accommodate everybody. When we come into a competition we have to give them food and lodging, so being the first festival (as I've also told my international collaborators) we still don't know what we can afford or can't afford. So rather than going all out and saying we are going to have this huge thing we thought we could trim it down, which is why regionally we will have the event that also allows the participants to be comfortable in their own area. We will send our judges out for the finals into each province and absorb the winners into this main event.

That is one fringe event that is a fairly big fringe event. We are looking at eight venues for the fringe events. We are covering all genres of music.

Q: Why have you called the Music Festival "Senses and Soul"?

A: I think those are the elements right... Your senses, your emotions, the moods, the attitudes...All that kind of captures what music actually portrays. If you go deeper to what music can do, such as therapy and rehabilitation you'll see there is more that music can do. Music is a tool to draw attention to issues and enhance and event.

Q: Who are the artists performing and how many are coming?

A: As of now there are 23 local artists and international artists from eight countries. We also have a representation of the record labels: Sony, Universal and World Wide Records. M Entertainment has invited them to come and join us. Then a talent scout company called the Fridge will come down and look at our professionals where they will be promoted all over the world. The cultural section of foreign missions/embassies are considering helping us out by bringing the musicians in. If there is a presence of nine countries I'll be happy. And I think we've almost got there. If there are too many we won't know where to accommodate them for three days. The Taj will take a spill if there is an overflow. The record labels would be more interested in the competition because for record labels they want originals not cover music. They want to take on someone who does originals and promote those people.

Q: What kind of musical genres can we hope to see?

A: Jazz, Alternative, Pop, Rock, R&B, Oriental, Folk, Reggae...we are giving everyone a slot. Because there are a lot of musicians we don't want to keep one out. Which is why we are trying to spread it out. We also have social activities where we have artists coming in to show their work of art but it has to be based on the theme of music. Sega the artist will be coming in.

Q: Is there anything special about this music festival which makes it different from other festivals?

A: Well I hope so. I hope it will be beneficial to musicians. Festivals are generally a platform and a meeting place. It is a cross cultural connection. I don't know how many of our own musicians actually sit together and do something together.

The whole point of the festival is for people to be given an opportunity to expand on their horizons. We have outstanding and world class talent. Music educators are also coming along and they will be contributing through workshops and sharing their life experiences.

Q: Given a rough estimation what kind of a crowd are you targeting?

A: The modest number that I would like to see at the Water's Edge would be 3000 - 4000 a day. That's the modest crowd. And we hope it will swell.

Q: In conclusion tell me something about Mantra Moods?

A: Mantra Moods was initiated by me with Vikram Jith Sinh.

The whole idea was to promote music and musicians. Vikram has done it in India and I have done it in Sri Lanka.

It is a non-profit organization with an aim to promote music and musicians. So it has been pretty much a very modest outfit. Mantra Moods is going to be re-launched with the festival and we are looking in terms of helping it to grow a little bit bigger.