Shehan Kaushalya is an innovative musician who has created music for youth over several years. His song Sepalikavo rocks the dance floor and has touched the hearts of youth. Shehan’s style has taken his music into a different dimension. Educated at Ananda College, Colombo and the University of Colombo he has created his path for a journey in music. Despite a packed schedule, he spoke to Youth Observer while making the visual for Sepalikavo.
Q: Is Sepalikavo your comeback song?
Yes, my comeback happens with Sepalikavo. I created this song sometime back and thought this year would be great to release it. I created the melody. The lyrics are by Himali N. Liyanage. The producer is Yasas Medagedara. This song has a Latin origin. The Sepalikavo Dance Challenge did a value addition to this song, with a new concept.
Q:What is the Sepalikavo Dance Challenge?
I created its concept first. Then I chose Sachini Nipunsala to be my host as she is creative and talented. We worked together in originating a few dance moves and released it on social media, requesting viewers to create and follow the steps. We got a tremendous response. Therefore we decided to select ten winners. It was a hit.
Q: Why is Sepalikavo an exception?
The song Sepalikavo has a soulful melody. Initially I created it as an acoustic version to give listeners a real sentimental feeling. Then I thought of remaking it as a Latin version. That went really well and people embraced it. I have now released the acoustic version. This song is about a boy who’s attracted to a young and beautiful girl during the course of an evening. The acoustic version describes what I imagined.
Q: Although you create songs once in a while, they are all embraced by the audience. Why is that?
Take sepalikavo for example, there was a big crew behind it. Also there were many sponsors. I don’t apply the concepts of marketing to my songs. Most of the time, I create songs for my own satisfaction. I thought of experimenting with my song Sepalikavo. It was embraced by the masses. I also got great feedback for my other song ‘Mage Hithe’. It was released in 2012 yet people still love it and it is still on their play lists.
You could call me sentimental. I’m more into sentimental and soulful music and unfortunately or fortunately I dislike marketing my songs, as when the hype wears out all is forgotten. It may be the reason why my journey as a musician is low key. I have got many invitations in the music industry to perform various kinds of songs but I find it hard to accept if it does not suit my style, you might say it’s vanity but that’s just me.
Q: Do you have one particular lyricist?
No. Himali N. Liyanage and one of my best friends - Hasith Gunasekara write songs for me.
Q: Does a music video affect the popularity of the song?
A video decorates the song while emphasising and highlighting the audio. Sometimes what we hear in a song isn’t explicit in the music video. They must complement each other.
Q: What’s the feedback on your songs?
I can’t express how happy I am with the public response to my songs, especially for Gimhana Warsha, Me Susum and Sondura whichare based on my personal experiences. I haven’t had any negative comments about my songs and that’s not what usually happens. An artiste has the possibility of receiving at least one negative comment for his work. I consider myself the exception.
Q: How did you get into to music?
My first step into music was in 2008 with my song Adare. Kasun Kalhara was the music producer and the lyricist was Sanjaya Epa Senevirathna. Leesha is another song I released in 2009. I did the melody to that song. It is one of my favourites. We put a lot of effort to making it. It has a big creative value. I learned a lot while making it. It was my first music direction to a song.
Q: Who was your inspiration?
You could say I had the passion for music. Kasun Kalhara was one of my inspirations. My family too had a great deal to offer as they too are musically involved and Rookantha Gunathilaka.
Q: Your favourite singer and genres you are interested in?
Josh Groban, Celine Dion and the Indian singers Argith Singh, Krishnakumar Kunnath and Sonu Nigam. I love Latin music. So, in the future look out for my new style.
Q: Voice is the basic equipment for a song. As a singer how do you perceive it?
The main instrument that we use for a song is the voice. That is the most powerful weapon I have. From the beginning I did experiments on voice. I learned how the voice generates, how to evoke feelings by voice, the biological side of a voice, how to balance physical and mental stability and how it affects a creation. I learned a lot of things through self study. I did a lot of exercises for physical and mental stability. Meditation and Yoga are the exercises I recommend.
They are what I do. Lots of people ask me how long it takes to train a voice to make it good. Actually, the voice evolves and develops throughout our lifetime. My voice also has evolved a lot as I do a lot of voice exercises. Some people tell me that my tone has changed with time. I don’t worry about it, because that it is the final result of my exercising it. I’m a vocal trainer for children. Although I had stopped doing so for sometime I have recommenced classes again due to the many requests.
Q: What are your views on music?
I know that music is a universal language that connects our heart and thoughts. Even without words it evokes romance, love and laughter. As we all know it is something that we are all touched by. It has the power to heal a person who is emotionally distressd. It has the magic of creating pleasure in the human heart and also melts hearts that are as hard as rocks. Most importantly it purifies our feelings and senses. This incredible force unites nations and renews bonds. This unseen force is the gateway to connect to our spiritual nature and to the universe. Music has the unique ability of turning our mind to a place uninhabited with judgments, fears, doubts and self limiting beliefs.
Q: How has music helped you in your most difficult times?
Music has rescued me from the lowest points in my life. It is something divine that continues to propel me forward. I think that spirituality and music are interconnected. It has awakened my aspirations and thoughts. It has enlightened the path of my inner journey. I am inspired to reach my goals the deeper I delve into music. I consider music as the language of my soul.