US not ready for South Asian Eminem - Ranidu

espite its apparently RANIDU LANKAGE: Sri Lankan increasing popularity in rap artist based in US, contribut- D and Sri Lanka, hip ed to popularise Sinhalese hip hop is yet to find its Asian art hop and R&B in Sri Lanka, released three and works Hi folks, form in terms of originality. with the producer Iraj Weer- An office is a place where you expect least disturbance This, however, remains a aratne. while you are working. If people start messing around in debatable issue among Asian your office, you simply cannot work and your tension rap artists with the million We try to blend styles dollar question before them but retain a South-Asian increases. flavour. being “how we should go This applies especially to those involved in delicate jobs “The industry “has grown over that needs a good touch like music. about.” the last four years (in Sri How to retain a South Asian Lanka)” and, as a result, the I have seen at musical shows that some individuals get flavour in hip hop and rap . “video quality has gone up. worked up and run up to where musicians are playing. The industry has to progress The beat is their drive. The further in terms of its infras- Not only that, sometimes they demand that the musicians music, the culture , the reli- tructure. give them what they want. Even more some individuals gion , the dress, the sound , In Sri Lanka, You have to demand that they sing a song and the musicians back come up with your own promo- the masses, all this could them. stand in their way but their tion and there is no proper way to record the amount of sales. This is simply disgusting and unacceptable. It is not nice style. When you say no.1 in Sri to storm into someone else’s office and make a mess of Lets hear it straight from local Lanka, you do not mean the boys in the region who face biggest song in sales but the things. This is exactly what these individuals are doing the music. most popular song requested whether they are aware of it or not. on the radio”. This is what a live performer, who leads a band had to There are further issues with

copyright laws. Open to experi- say about the situation: “ My office is where I play . I do mentation. not like to see people messing around in my office. “

America is not as open to - Chamikara experimentation as the U.K, European or Australian“ mar- kets.” I am sure the US is not Song Bank ready for a South-Asian Eminem. Club at the end of the street - Elton John BLAAZE: Indian rapartist con- HARRIS JAYARAJ: Composer of Intro: Ab/Eb... Eb... REPEAT TWICE THEN BEGIN... (with real tributed to a myriad of sound- soundtracks for Hindi, Tamil and jazzy feel) tracks for movies; recent Tamil Telugu cinema. hits; Sivaji, The Boss”. Eb G When the shades are drawn Ab Eb With more sounds being And the light of the moon is banned created the more aware- “We were pushed to Bb ness it brings and the more come up with Indian And the stars up above “acceptance it gains.” He feels melodies; now we are open to Ab/Bb

films are a good way to intro- “the global market...when I (Kind of off beat)

duce people to the genre, yet came into the industry it was Walk the heavens hand in hand the ‘Yo Yo’ variety of party rap ruled by bhangra, Indian Ab/Bb Eb G is being overdone now.’ melodies and disco. “ Now, the There’s a shady place ‘Yo Yo’ rap is the most com- music scene in Indian film is Ab Ab/A mercial type of hip hop. It more versatile At the end of the working day shows up the worst stereotypes, than before.” Eb/Bb has little to do with the art and Where young lovers go more with partying than dis- Bb7 Ab/Bb Eb ...Ab/Eb....Eb secting issues or events”. And this hot little trio plays “There are numerous kids : British-Indian R&B singer and rap artist debut “Me Against Myself”, released in U.K in who are into rap and hip hop, 2004.Careers best: ‘Dance with You’, ‘Eyes on You’ and ‘Stolen’ did a Ab - Db/Ab _ Ab

but they need to understand cameo role in the movie, “Kya Kool Hai Hum” his sound Thats where we meet

that imitating rappers in the ‘fusion’. Eb _ Ab/Eb _ Eb

West, with concern to the mes- Thats where we meet sages they bring, is not what “Copyright in is not so strict” compared to the U.K. He G Ab - Fm “ will truly take us to the next thinks, “60-70 per cent of material is pirated in South India“ Me and you rendezvous level. Hip hop in India can only including illegal downloads.” “We use hip hop for the drive, the Bbaug Eb - Ab/Eb - Ab be justified if “energy behind the beat, not the rap.” “Music needs freshness you can In the club at the end of the street we do justice to take any platform you want but you need a strong melody line.” the art form. “Indian music has the potential to outsell Western records.” (REPEAT AT END) Oooh where we meet Oooh where we meet Me and you rendezvous In the club at the end of the street (VERSE 2: SAME AS ABOVE) From the alleyways Where the catwalks gently sway MAF Band Wagon Show tomorrow You hear the sound of Otis And the voice of Marvin Gaye In this smoky room Chamikara Weerasinghe There’s a jukebox plays all night And we can dance real close Beneath the pulse of a neon light Music lovers in Moratuwa are in for a treat tomorrow (Sept 9) as the Bridge: Follows directly after 2nd chorus from Ab -chord Moratuwa Arts Forum (MAF) will Fm Bb7 bring Sri Lanka’s top Western Theres a downtown smell of cooking Singing Sensations on one deck, to Eb Ab perform at MAF’s first Band Wagon From the flame on an open grill Show, to be held at Hotel Ranmal, Eb Bb Moratuwa. Theres a sax and a big bass pumping The show, “MAF Musical Band Gb (or F#)same thing!!!...... HOLD FOR Ab Wagon 01” will be the first in a Lord have mercy series of musical events lined up by Ab. Eb the Forum, the organizers said. You cant sit still Apart from music and dance, the You cant sit still current event and incorporates a 30 minutes sing-along session for the participants. The Programme will feature Melodies Chandral Fonseka of “Kings”, Channa Galappaththi of “Wildfire”, Lincoln de Silva leader of “Super Pink & Purple”, “Lankika and of ‘70’s Chanaka Perera of “Golden Chimes” Manella Joseph of “Winslow Six” Meril Fernando - at OTSC Formerly of “Amigos Romanticas” Eranjan & Wiranjan Perera of The Moratuwa Arts Forum: Derrick de Silva, C. L. Fonseka, Evington Perera, Lucille Pereira, Hiran Old Thomian’s Swimming Club “Super Pink & Purple” Rolinson Fernando. (Project Chairman), Hiranthi Jayaratna. (OTSC) will hold its month of Ferdinando & Priya Peiris of La September Club Nite “Melodies of Bambas” Brian Cooray - Formerly” Silva, Ivan De Silva (Ex-Pink & expected to add more variety to the De Silva will direct music. MAF ‘70’s” on September 15, at OTSC. Pink & Purple” Nihal Fernando & Purple”). Sohan Weerasinghe of “X event, said the organizers. organizing committee comprises Anil Bharathi will sing. Music will Thilak Perera of “Niro” & Solo Per- periment”, Mariazel Gunatileka, There will be a souvenir & ticket Hiran Fernando, Delvin Pereira, be by “Wild Flowers” with Battison. formers Sarath Gunawardena, C.L. Rukshan Perera, formerly of draw with many prizes in the off- Laksiri Fernando, Anuradha Special guest spot will be Ronnie Fonseka, Anuradha Mendis, Lilan- “Super Golden Chimes”, Primal ing. Mendis, Suranga Fernando, Lin- Lietch. thi Jayaratna, Pimal Fernando, Liyanage of “Flame” & Shanelle Bevil Palihawadana will compere coln de Silva, Brian Cooray, Thilak The compere will be Brian Hemaka Fernando & Sumangi will also perform. the show. The “Super Pink & Pur- Perera, Eranjan Perera, Priya Thomas. Jayaweera, Lucky Deva, Chandani Latin dance sequences are ple” led by MAF member Lincoln Peiris & Ivan De Silva. Derek on guitar continues: Think round ‘major’ - Derek

Chamikara Weerasinghe on the first fret of the 6th string of about your next lesson, I mean this tonic, that is to say you are going to E, which is also a minor scale with B to B, a minor scale with a flat- your guitar. one. play the same notes beginning with a flattened 9th (flattened 2nd), a tened 9th (flattened 2nd), a sharp- The In Tune is back with Derek And we finished on the third fret “When you talk about scales, be a different note on the same scale sharpened 9th(sharpened 2nd), a ened 9th, flattened 5th and a on Guitar by popular request. We of the first string. Derek advised they major or minor, you must up to an octave. For example you sharpened 5th and a flattened 7th. sharpened 5th, which is also called provided several basic scale pat- you to sing the notes of the triad think that all scales are based start playing a scale starting from Then you play from F to F, you the Minor 7th flattened 5 th scale. terns for you to practise with, first, say “da ..da. da.” and to play around the major scale.” note D, which is the 2nd degree of will get a major scale with a flat- “Practise them and try to get the including the major scale, the dom- the notes to match that sound as The major scale is the pattern you the natural major scale(Cto C), and tened 5th or (sharpened 4th). Play feel of these scales and their char- inant seventh scale, minor scale you practise them. Also, you can get when you play notes you play upto an octave to reach G to G, a major scale with a flat- acteristic moods. and the minor scale with flattened play them first and then sing. C,D,E.F,G,A,B and C (the octave the next D note. You play D to D. tened 5th interval, which is also They will be helpful to get you 7th. So get back to your previous note or the eighth note) on the gui- The result is you will get a minor called the Dominant 7 th scale. started in terms of thinking musi- Derek also gave a lesson on tri- lessons. If you have got them right, tar fingerboard. scale with a flattened 3rd and a flat- A to A, a minor scale with a flat- cally and to play what you might ads, how triads could be played congratulations. Our next lesson is to play the tened 7th from the major scale pat- tened 3rd, a sharpened 5th and a have in your head on the guitar,” note by note starting from note F This is what Derek has to say same notes but with a different tern. Your next scale will be E to flattened 7th. said Derek. ☞