by Tia Goonaratna

@tiabuffy

If you have ever met Shri Perera or just come across her words, you’d know that she truly embraces the essence of her soul. Being brought up in Abu Dhabi, studied in London, and returned to Dubai to a corporate life, Shri looked for something more than the fast-paced, materialistic life that many live. For her, living according to the pure essence of the soul has become a way of life that she adopted to keep peace of mind, ease of heart, and her soul free. She has put this into lifestyle choice, and offers the same freedom with her brand, Aatmaya. A collection of ‘mainly dream catchers, hand-made creations – in the form of jewellery, organic living and ofcourse a concoction of energy’ that is used to pass on her message.

 How did you end up on this path?

I indulged myself in yoga and meditation. Yoga is not just a form of exercise for me, but a way of life. It cleared away any clutter I had lying around in my subconscious and paved the way for new beginnings. In addition to my practices of yoga and meditation, I adopted an organic lifestyle – I became a vegetarian and I stopped using commercial products. I make my own body oils and hair products. The ignorance that I once had of contributing not to the eating of meat, but to the continuous suffering of animals in the meat industry, as well as my contribution to the commercial industry that one “has” to be beautiful to survive, just ceased to exist. Along with my inner revelations as well as my love for music, I thought it was time I immerse myself in art. With that, came my concept of dream catchers, that when one dreams, I truly believe that one has the ability to make those dreams come true as long as a considerable amount of passion and effort is incorporated with it. You might as well do everything you love with passion, otherwise there is no point doing it at all.

Tell us a bit about the products

at Aatmaya.

I started Aatmaya off with a range of dream catchers which are crafted with earthy, soft colours, and accompanied with healing crystals and semi-precious stones. They are woven with love and care, with colours and stones that aid in chakra healing, and that are matched according to the aura of a person. I believe that vibes and energies are tantamount to helping the soul progress, and I religiously enforce this belief with my dream catchers. I have recently launched a range of handmade jewellery called “Aatma Jewels” which include a collection of handmade earrings and necklaces that emit a raw, tribal nature with a hint of elegance. My jewelled creations are inspired by women all around, my mother, my sister, and my friends – all women who I am proud to associate myself with. My creations contain bits of used jewellery from all of these women which I have combined with other forms of used jewellery to form exquisite pieces. This is how I would like to see it, helps spread feminine energy from one wearer to the next and creates an unspeakable bond. The latest collection from Aatma Jewels consists of pendants that have been created from semi-precious stones and healing crystals which I have come across during my travels.

Why is it important for people to be connected to their pure selves?

You take away your beauty, your money, your ego, your pride, and what do you have? Yourself. That in itself is the importance, or I would rather say, the fundamental truth in being connected to yourself. Because as soon as you are connected to yourself, you are connected to everything. As soon as you consider yourself as nothing, that is when you become everything.

Tell us a bit about the festivals

you attend.

The festivals I have attended are constructed on the basis of love, peace and unity. They are held across the world in places of nature, and present a union of music, yoga, meditation and art workshops. I have also conducted dream catcher workshops at The Gaia Centre, a well-known arts and drama school in Dubai. I have introduced Aatmayain Sri Lanka, Dubai, Spain and Lebanon, with my own organic versions of a stall space, and I don’t think I am stopping any time soon.

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by Ryan Johnson

@lordryanjohnson

 Lee is a professional fitness trainer, and also the co-founder of Natty Muscle Fitness. He started his journey by posting video guides on his training, nutrition, supplements, and tips on what to do and what not to do when building your dream physic. Lee and his team have built a following on social media – his work ethic and dedication towards fitness speaks in high volume. The amount of time he has taken and the sacrifices he has made to spread his knowledge is vast.

Lee became involved in fitness at a very young age. “I remember being 13 and there was this guy in my class who had incredible biceps and chest development. Being an impressionable kid, I remember telling myself that I want to go home and lift something heavy,” remembers Lee as well the movie, Rocky, which was the catalyst that set him on his path.

While many people concentrate on the actual exercise regime and diets, we inquired from Lee about the importance of supplements. “Supplements can really trigger growth and boost your journey if you are an already committed, practicing fitness addict. If used properly it could give you that extra edge to power through and integrate the benefits of your workouts and diet more effectively.” We all have seen the rise of all kinds of ‘shakes’ and tablets, but to many who are new to strict gym schedules, it seems too much of a mystery.

Currently, there are many types of supplements a person can take. Lee explains them as “From protein supplements that help build muscle to glutamine that helps your recovery, as technology develops so does what is available for us to help propel physical strength and growth. Fat burners, Aminos (helps with protein synthesis), Mass Gainers (to gain size and bulk), Creatine (to increase energy levels and performance), L-Carnitine (incredible supplement for fat loss, increase muscle and bone mass, helps with heart conditions and type II diabetes, to treat kidney issues, strengthen immune systems and even benefit breast feeding mothers to avoid deficiencies) you name it, the market has it. With the right knowledge- supplement can be the key to super human performance and functioning.” How you figure out which supplement to take depends on your goal, requirements, food regime, and your lifestyle.

There is a bit of caution as well when it comes to taking supplement. However, with the proper guidance and information, the right supplement can help you achieve wonders. “If you abuse the use of the supplements you could get dependent upon it, and experience negative health effects. One common mistake I see people do is expecting instant results without putting in the work or not making a commitment to a solid meal plan. Not drinking enough water during the use of supplements is another one. So make sure if you do plan to take advantage of this crazy amazing tool, do it responsibly.”

Lee’s fitness company, Natty Muscle SL, first started spreading the knowledge first out of love for fitness, and as they grew, the response they received from the masses made them realise that there is a gap of information. Lee, along with Natty Muscle SL, opened up their supplement store in Battaramulla last week. “If you were to ever step into our store you will experience a vibe that prioritises on goodness than just making money. We will take time to speak with you, understand your background and goals and align you with what serves your highest good. We believe in evolution through the body and mind and we respect your growth more than anything else.” They offer more than just a product, they offer a lifestyle enhancement.

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by Ryan Johnson

@lordryanjohnson

Greg Pallegama is the drummer of O.I.C, who’s been in the Sri Lankan music industry for quite a while. He has performed in many other musical projects over the years, and is respectably known among the peers.

Greg has worked with some of the best artists in the country, and is now sharing the stage with O.I.C with Vishwa Steinwall, Yasun Chanuka, and Karishma Butani. He is also a drum instructor, giving a piece of his knowledge and talent to the next generation. It takes a lot of heart and dedication to pull through in today’s market to make a name for yourself, and Greg has done exactly that while being married to the beautiful vocalist, Monique from the Gypsies.

 How did you get into music, and why did you choose drums?

Started playing the guitar when I was 9 watching dad. Eventually sat behind the drums when I was 11 and was hooked. Played a little bass too for a few years but drums were what the heart wanted. Met likeminded friends at school, and we jammed together a lot during schools functions and even inter school competitions. I was always known as a music person at Wesley, even if it was just plugging in a speaker. Met my then girlfriend, now wife when I was 19 (had already been a musician) and that encouraged me to dive into the music industry no holds barred. It also opened up a world of opportunities. People might say I chose well.

Tell us a bit about your experience being a musician in Sri Lanka.
Well I’ve been a involved with almost all genres of the industry from Rock n Roll to dance band and now acoustic projects. So I can confidently say that it isn’t easy sustaining your craft as a musician especially if you’re working in this industry full time. But having said that, I wouldn’t know what else I would want to wake everyday looking forward to other than this. There are so many individuals who play and perform music solely for the money, and in my opinion, they will never be content in life the way I and everyone I work with are. Being a part of the Rock n Roll arena as well has exposed me to style, societies and personalities. Some good, some bad, but I consider all of it to be experiences along my life’s journey that make me who I am as an artist.

Tell us a bit about O.I.C.
O.I.C is an acoustic ensemble I’m currently fronting, playing weekly at your favourite pub or restaurant. The band comprises of Vishwa Steinwall and drums, Yasun Chanuka on the lead guitar, Karishma Butani lending her vocals, and interestingly enough, I play rhythm guitar and sing as well. The future plan is to shift it into a full on dance band, but that’s only a thought.

How is it being married to another musician? Do you ever work together?
It’s a very comforting feeling being married to Monique as we share the same passion in life. Sure is my daily dose of encouragement and stability. We rarely work together as she performing full time with the Gypsies. On the occasion she has a day off, she joins O.I.C for a jam.

Tell us a bit about your drum lessons. What is the most important lesson other than the learning itself?
I am also a drum instructor by day. I started teaching at the Yamaha School of Music in 2014 and left to continue privately at my residence, also to focus on each student individually. The most valuable lesson I share with my students is “passion and patience” is the key to success and more so, happiness.

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Capturing animals, their behaviour and habits in painting is perhaps among the oldest forms of art known to humans. Art seen throughout the history from cave walls to museums and galleries carry examples of animal etchings, sketches and paintings. However, animal portraiture that aims to capture the essence of an animal, its characteristics, natural behaviour and most importantly its soul, is somewhat rare. This is precisely what the Colombo based painter Ruveka Attygalle Simon does with her artform. ‘Pawtraits by Ruveka’ was born when Ruveka started painting animal portraits of pets with an uncanny way of capturing the inner essence of the featured animals. Soon, her art became a popular way for pet owners to immortalise their beloved animal friends in art pieces on their walls. What sets her animal portraits apart from photographs or average animal depictions, is the careful attention to detail that Ruveka cares to add much like human portraiture, with renderings of expressions, mannerisms and other little quirks that make each animal unique. Today, ‘Pawtraits by Ruveka’ takes on commissioned projects to colour canvases with the souls of much loved animals. Speaking to the Weekend Leader, she shared the details of her craft and what makes it;

How did you first get drawn to art and specifically, animal portraits?

I’ve always liked drawing and took it up seriously about seven years ago. I was instantly drawn to portraying animals – I suppose because I love animals.

What do you look for when capturing the essence of animals?

What makes a picture good is really capturing the expression of the animal. Dogs in particular have some super expressions!

You have started taking on commissioned works for portraits of pets. Can you tell a little bit more about this?

I take commissions for oil paintings of people’s pets. People can send me their favourite photo of their cat, dog or other animals and I’ll have a painting ready for them in about two weeks. The cost is 5000 rupees for a small painting ( about 12 inch by 12 inch) or 10,000 for a big one (  aprox 24 inch by 32 inch) 80% -100% of the price of each painting goes to the Animal SOS Sri Lanka which does such a wonderful job sheltering over 1000 dogs and cats.

Do you have any artistic idols?

There are lots of lovely artists, old and new, that I discover on Pinterest. Diane Hoeptner paints very pretty paintings of cats.

Elke Vogelsang is a wonderful German pet photographer who’s a great inspiration in choosing poses and composing pictures. Joseph Crawhall was a Scottish painter from the late 19th century who painted  birds and animals. Jessies Arms Botke was an American who painted wonderful birds.

Where can someone find out more about your work or how can someone get in touch with you?

My facebook page is called Pawtraits by Ruveka. Find it at https://www.facebook.com/ruveka/. My email is ruveka.attygalle@gmail.com.

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Sajee Seneviratne is a fashion and textile designer who weaves in her inspirations to fabric with fantastic combinations of colour, composition and texture. Her work in textile design has come out in the forms of sarees, westernwear and lifestyle fabrics for interiors. Soon after her graduation, her talent was identified and sought after by fashion brands that value textile art and exquisite specialty fabrics. This is how Sajee started her professional career at one of Sri Lanka’s leading online fashion destinations- www.fashionmarket.lk

Speaking to the Weekend Leader, Sajee discussed how she first fell in love with textile design, the use of fabric in fashion and the entire industry thereafter.

What made you get into fashion and textile design?

 I always had an interest in working in the textile and fashion industry, because I love clothing and have always wanted to build a career around that.  The textile industry being one with changing trends and evolving factors was the reason why I chose to become a fashion and textile designer. I could never choose a career that is monotonous and less colourful and I always wanted my career to be an extension of my lifestyle, not a just a 9-5 job.

 How do you think ‘lifestyle translates to textiles or fashion?

I believe textiles that make up fashion is closely linked to our lifestyle; it is what we do every day and honestly, fashion is not just the clothing, it’s also what you eat, where you live, and how you decorate your house, etc ., fashion is not just a garment hanging in a store, it’s the story of the person who picks that and how they carry that with their lifestyle and daily inspiration.

Can you tell us about something that you are constantly inspired by?

Usually, my inspiration for work comes with colour contrast. I believe that ‘first impressions matter.’ I work with  contrast and statement colours. I’m looking at hereditary and traditional textiles, used in different parts of the world by different cultures and tribes and how it all evolved through time. Also different subcultures all over at different periods of times really inspire me in my work.  My style is using heritage low tech textiles with industrial high tech textiles and techniques to construct minimal yet sophisticated silhouettes. I use colour and inspiration from the hereditary textiles in my designs specially in weaving patterns and also in silhouette designing; there’s a lot you can twist into our Sri Lankan style when you really look at history and fashion evolution.

 Why do you think fashion matters?

I think it really matters because fashion represents who you are. The kind of textiles you value, and the kind of clothes you wear shows your personal style, character, and it is very important that you do it right.

 Where can someone find out more about your work?

My latest collections and work you can shop at www.fashionmarket.lk

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Fashion is perhaps one of the most commercially ingrained creative expressions out there today. As an industry that has evolved to work with what consumers demand, fashion designers often find themselves working with trend analyses, market movements and customer preferences. How does this make fashion designers different to other artistes? How do fashion designers balance what customers demand and their personal bursts of inspiration and creative expression? We asked a budding young fashion designer who fresh graduated to join the industry – Olivia Sharmen.

When speaking about the beginnings of her work in fashion, Olivia remembers that her mother often made clothing, which allowed her to get comfortable with sewing machines, patterns and the craft of fashion, at am early age. However, her fascination with the fashion world comes from somewhere deeper where she yearns to be surrounded by the never-ending excitement that this vibrant industry promises. “I think the word ‘fashion’ is too wide to simply utter, instead I would say I got drawn towards contentment or more of creating lifestyle, since I could be more descriptive of it everyday. I am seeing an adventure ahead, I feel myself too little to handle that but still keep moving because I would rather get knocked down where I’m comfortable than to be isolated in a far-off space.”

Lately her inspiration has been coming from particular lifestyles which is linked to her personal passion in travelling and studying human behaviour in a cultural aspect, to understand how people differ in style and language at the same time.

“I try to combine my work pieces to form bridges among cultures and become universal. Also history which creates all classics is a mystical inspiration that owns so much of detail that one cannot explore within a lifetime.”

For Olivia, the greatest reward as a designer comes in observing her creations and their impact on others.”I find extreme pleasure in looking at what I have done so far. I respect my process of work to bring a sketch into a life and most of all everything that inspired me to do so. As long as I can live my contentment I can live my creativity.”

She sees fashion as an essential part of living and lifestyle. “I think fashion is part of building one’s personality to give all the confidence to stand out. I think choosing clothes for yourself is almost choosing your future since it plays a powerful role in grooming one’s attitude regardless of their gender. I see that anyone first gets judged with whatever hangs on their body and not only in terms of clothes but when being yourself at any situation is quite important for the diversity of fashion.”

Olivia is currently working on her own fashion line as a freelance designer for the retail market. ‘Olivia ToWear’ is now available at PR in Horton Place. Her work is available online at www.behance.net/oliviashar6b2d

For more information Olivia is contactable on olivia.sharmens@gmail.com, facebook and instagram at Olivia Sharmy.

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By Gopitha Kiribandara

The third and final installment of the Wolverine franchise gives much needed closure to the story.  The film, directed by James Magnold has Hugh Jackman stepping into his role of 17 years as the mutant slasher with a heart of gold in Logan. The story centers around the Old Man Logan series and further stars Patrick Stewart, Richard E. Grant, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant and Dafne Keen.

The narrative starts in a dystopian future in which Mutants are on the brink of extinction. No new mutants have been born for the past 25 years, and Logan (Jackman), formerly known as Wolverine, has aged because the adamantium in his skeleton is poisoning him, impeding the healing factor. He and his albino companion Caliban (Merchant) live in an old abandoned factory in Mexico. Logan also has to care for Professor Xavier, who is suffering from a neurodegenerative disease which causes him to lose his powers. As times wears on, he is approached by Gabriela (Elizabeth Rodriguez), a nurse for Transigen, who asks him to escort her and an 11 year old girl, Laura (Keen) to a facility named Eden. After taking on the job, Logan discovers Gabriela is murdered; he is now left to cope with both Xavier and Laura as they flee from the clutches of a formidable enemy.

Logan is a tale that stands out for its sheer brutality; Logan opens with the harsh reality of an aged superhero who finds himself being robbed. The bad guys, of course, are severely dealt with, and the cruelty of it all is not to be missed.  In this sense the film is darker in content and execution than all the previous X-Men franchises. The end times are ushered with unabashed fervor and buckets of blood.  The plot bases and at the same time distances itself from earlier publications of X-Men, and the introduction Laura adds a much needed verve to the plotline. The best thing feature of Logan is that it is one of those flicks that manages to create shock and empathy at the same time. Avoiding clichés, the film is essentially about a killer who learns to mentor a child and discovers his own identity in the process. The child in this case is no other than a carbon copy of himself – complete with a silent ferocity that raises the hairs on the back of your neck. the movie doesn’t overdo on the CGI work either, which makes it refreshingly raw and simple in interpretation.

In terms of performance, Dafne Keen steals the show with her wide eyes expressions and her silent wrath. However it’s Jackman who holds the story together; he doesn’t seem to tire of essaying the role and makes a smooth transition from powerhouse to weakling with ease. When his rage returns at the end of the film, Jackman once again reveals all along why he was the best choice for the role; the feral nature of the beast is awakened as he strives to protect that which he holds dear.

The culminating scene is very emotional, and oddly satisfying, as it brings the whole narrative to a fitting close. Viewers are bound to come fully content that they have indeed witnessed a good piece of cinema.

Ara Interiors came into being when the budding young interior designer Amodha Ratnayake decided it was time to start her own practice and contribute her own take on spatial design to the industry here. This is her story.

How did you first start getting interested in spatial design?

I looked at things in a different perspective and always wanted to portray something novel in what I do. I was fortunate to enroll myself to AOD to broaden my horizons in the field of Spatial and Interior Design. That was an era where ‘Design’ was not majorly known as a profession as it was blooming as an industry in Sri Lanka. Hence, I had to explain myself to lot of people on my choice. However, after a decade, today I’m the happiest to lead my own brand which is dealing with top end corporates and individuals in Sri Lanka.

Can you tell us about some of your most memorable projects so far?

Factory renovation of Niru Diamonds is one of the best projects I’ve handled taking in to consideration the scale and scope. This was my very first large scale project and I cherish my experiences in working with top end consultants and contractors in delivering a piece that met the client’s expectations.

Office Refurbishment project at Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC was a challenging project as it was a year long project where I successfully delivered. It was very challenging as the project work needed to be carried out while the office and factory operations were running. The holistic design focused in creating workspaces to create a positive and energised working environment that would in turn boost overall employee morale and productivity.

Out of many other projects the next best of one of the most liked projects is the boutique hotel project in Nuwara Eliya where it symbolises a perfect blend creativity and modernity. Overlooking the Gregory Lake and the Race Course, holiday retreat is designed with a modern touch of interior design elements while ensuring the exterior finishes blend with the traditional architectural styles of Little London.

 What do you love the most about your work?

It is not only a profession, but a great learning experience. Working with clients in an array of projects means learning the processes of different cultures and set ups. I love meeting people and my profession makes me meet people from different countries, backgrounds on a daily basis.

My work spans from scribbling on design boards in perfect isolation, board room presentations to on-site inspections while the constructions are taking place. I’m blessed to have a very supportive team around me who work day in outto  make the impossible, possible. At the end of the day happiness is a collective effort.

What about the difficult bits?

Being humans we think different to each other. At times, what a client would tell you is not a perfect reflection of his inner thoughts. It is a challenging task to get to know your client and understand his/ her aspirations in a design. Tight deadlines are always a challenging task. There are instances we spend days at a stretch to deliver work in tight deadlines. Finally, the greatest challenge is bringing in something new in every job I do. This urges me to keep an eye on the changing architectural trends and to follow architects, interior designers and to get inspiration from them.

How can someone reach you?

Facebook – Amoda Rathnayake Associates

Web – www.ara.lk

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Photography By Sachitha Buwaneka

Sachitha Buwaneka is a young photographer with a lot of promise and talent. His work is animated in a sense and captures   drama as seen through his keen eye. Following the footsteps of his mother who dabbled in photography during her younger years, Sachitha pursued the art from his early twenties. He then even went on to educate himself formally as a photographer to understand the intricacies of the medium as well as the ways of the industry. Speaking to the Weekend Leader, Sachitha shared his journey into one of the most popular art forms of the day.

How did you first find yourself in
photography?

I first got interested in photography when my mum showed me some of her photography work she did when I was a kid, but I never thought I would go down that road. It was actually a beautiful accident as I  say to anyone that got me into photography because it was my best friend who took me to an event one day gave me a camera and simply said “go ahead”, and I guess the talent my mum has was in me as well.

What do you enjoy the most, being a photographer and what do you find challenging?

What makes it fun is that I get to travel alot and visit beautiful places and people.

It allows me to get new experiences and learn about new things, in a way it is challenging because you never know what might happen so you have to always be prepared to face whatever comes head on. I like to keep my work environment very light and mellow even when I’m under a lot of stress I tend to keep an uplifting mood so I guess it’s always fun.

What about your process?
Is it spontaneous or planned?

I’m a big fan of experimenting, I like to try out things a lot before I take a photo. I was not like that when I started but with time and a little help I got into it. I like to have a more practical or pre-production approach to my photos and less post input. I do have an exact shot in my head I like to execute but at the same time I like to stretch my parameters within that limits that I have.

Why do you think people are influenced by photography? What makes it powerful?

Photography has always been a very powerful medium. Every piece of work has its own story within its frame no matter how random it may seem to be. I believe that photography can bring out the innermost emotions of a human being or a situation through the still frame which can speak of them at an individual level.

If someone is interested, how can they find out more about your work?

You can find my work on Facebook under the name Image Aryan by Sachitha Buwaneka and on Behance under Sachitha Buwaneka.

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by Ryan Johnson

@lordryanjohnson

Riverside, California deathcore giants, Suicide Silence has released a new album self-titled “Suicide Silence.” The album was released on the 24th of February 2017. The album has got massive critical backlash towards the new direction they approached from fans and other music critics as well. Suicide Silence was formed in 2002 which, at the time, was only a side project made up by musicians from other bands. Chris Garza on guitars, Rick Ash on guitars, Mike Bodkins on bass, Josh Goddard on drums and vocalist Mitch Lucker and Tanner Womack who was later fired from the band. After Mitch laid down vocals for their second demo the band started getting more serious and committing to the project. The band released their second demo back in 2004.

The years went by and Suicide Silence made a name for themselves and they were huge in the industry. Releasing platinum selling albums such as “The cleansing” in 2007, “No Time to Bleed” in 2009 and in 2011 they released they bestselling album that reached the billboard hard rock album chart to number 7. Titled “The Black Crown”, the album sold over 14,400 Copies in the United States alone during its first week. Late 2012 tragedy struck a fatal motorcycle accident took Mitch Lucker. The band and fans were devastated filling the vocal duties would be vocalist Hernan “Eddie” Hermida of All Shall Perish. In 2014 Suicide Silence released a new album with the new vocalist on it titled “You Can’t Stop me”. The album did pretty good – it featured artists such as George Fisher, Greg Puciato of Dillinger Escape Plan.

2017 hasn’t been a great year for Suicide Silence thus far, with album sales down to 69% and members of the band lashing out on fans and critics and interviews that made them sound rather frustrated and vapid. The first single they released of the self-titled record was “Doris” which is also the first song of the album. The song got massive back lash from old school fans and new fans as well. The band wanted to go to on a new direction with its sound and you can hear it in this new record of it.  The riffs on the song reminded me and it sounds a lot similar to Deftones or Korn, the vocals of the song were a lot similar to Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno I’m assuming the entire band wanted to sound like these two bands I have mentioned. The down fall of the song was the chorus which was rather off.

Track number four, “Dying in a Red Room”, has more of an industrial field in it, that’s actually one of the slower songs. It’s hard to fathom the fact that an extreme metal band has a laid back song. The song doesn’t work for the band it clearly doesn’t work for the fans new and old. The instrumentation layering is rather basic there is nothing new that you could hear.

The only song that’s actually has the bands signature sound is the last song on the album that has a ridiculous title for it. “Don’t Be Careful, You Might Hurt Yourself” – the song starts off with a freaky whistle and then builds up to a great rush the instrumentation layering on this track is actually better than the other eight songs. Kind of reminds me of Unanswered from the Cleansing album. After that it gets rather melodic on the chorus brings back more of an All Shall Perish Vibe which is actually quite interesting. The album should have been more like the last song in my opinion it would have sold and the band would have sold out but in a less embarrassing way.

The problem with this kind of approach to what they wanted to do is that it has already been done. The nu-metal era was strong and was dominated by heavy weights like Korn, Deftones, Chevelle etc. the 90’s had some solid bands with quality producing Ross Robin did not do a good job on this album.  Lyrically I would say this is one of the weakest work the band has ever produced. The vocal layering wasn’t great at all. I believe the band should have gone with a deferent vocalist for this album. Overall it wasn’t a great album to listen to.

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by Ryan Johnson

@lordryanjohnson

Charin Mendis – making waves with his music locally and internationally, he’s just got back from chilling with the big names at the Grammy Awards.  He’s signed up with Universal Arts, and is affiliated with The Songwriters Hall of Fame, The Audio Engineering Society, and The Recording Academy along with many others. His work also lies on a foundation of diplomas and degrees in music, music production, jazz, and even management. Since the first time he sang on stage to a full audience and he felt like home, he has not put a stopper on his rise to the top. To tell the story in his own words, here’s Charin.

Tell us about your music?

I have 4 singles out: Clocks, Popsycle, Nevermind, and Curls. These are available worldwide on the Sony Entertainment Network, Spotify, iTunes, HMV and over 200 other stores. They are doing pretty well in the Alt Rock & EDM circles.

My version of Clocks is getting some mad love. It was #3 on iTunes top 100 & #1 on the iTunes alternative rock charts. Also charted in multiple territories globally. And you can always request my version even on local radio (Yes FM or Even E-FM) – I am told its getting some good airplay over here in SL as well. Record label also notified me that I am the most “Shazamed” Sri Lankan artist on the American music discovery app ‘Shazam’ – so whoever it is that’s Shazaming my music – Thanks! Didn’t see that one coming!

I have some new music coming out this year. ‘Satellites’ which is one of my upcoming releases should be out within the year if all goes to plan and also a few surprises are in store – maybe even literally.

Tell us a bit about your musical background

Experience & education played a big role in my career. I learnt and practiced my crafts in many areas in the music industry while nurturing my talents. My studies took me to some of the leading arts conservatoires in Europe including The Academy of Contemporary Music (UK) where I studied music production at Leeds College of Music (UK) where I did my BA (Hons) in Jazz Vocals & Composition. Furthermore I graduated magna cum laude with my BBA in Management from Northwood University. ACM was super interesting, even Ed Sheeran went there, also members from Sugababes, Lawson and artists like Zomboy & Newton Faulkner etc also studied there. For a year I studied under DJ legend Chad Jackson (World DMC Champion) & UK #1 Hit ‘Hear the Drummer Get Wicked’. I even scored a perfect 100 marks in one of his classes!

Studied up to my O/Levels at St.Peter’s College. Did my A Levels at Royal College – but I hardly showed up for school during that time & was always punished/pulled up for my long hair lol – music had enchanted me by then.Just after O-levels I started my own rock band with a cousin of mine. My cousin and I parted ways eventually but that band went on make quite a name for themselves in the local music scene. I performed here as a solo artist for a while before leaving the country.

How is working with an international record label different from working in the Sri Lankan industry?

I’m really not sure because I hardly do any local work – but I hope it’s not too much. But first of all you have to do things on time, every-time – So alarms on my phone come in handy! It’s always a challenge – you have to be on top of your game 24/7 and there is no room to compromise on quality. It’s interesting because you are always working with some of the best creative minds in the world today. Every day I find myself going ‘wow’ that new idea is amazing or that lyric makes sense on so many levels etc.

How do you motivate and inspire yourself to keep trying new directions?

Two tricks: I travel to new places and I try to stay single – lol. The latter is not easy when you’re a singer but I have noticed that lesser commitment gives way to endless possibilities. If you don’t settle ‘down’ the only way is up! The world’s your oyster literally.

I travel a lot – I try to travel somewhere interesting every year. Last year I went to the Grand Canyon – now I have a whole folder of songs & pieces for string quartet that I wrote inspired by that. I’ve covered places like Italy, France, Netherlands, England, Scotland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, Arizona, Singapore, Malaysia, India and many others.But my ultimate destination is ‘Space’. (At one point I seriously thought about applying for that mission for the first human colony on Mars– I missed the deadline!)

How was the Grammys?

In essence – It’s always overwhelming each and every time I attend. There is so much of talent, success and fame together in one city and one set of events during Grammy week. Grammy week is “So Lit” to sum it up. And the performances are just monumental each time. Some of the most memorable performances for me include:

When Jay Z &Beyoncé opened the Grammys with ‘Drunk in love’.

Lady Gaga did that tribute to David Bowie.

The mass Grammy wedding where Macklemore, Madonna, Ryan Lewis & Mary Lambert performed while Queen Latifah officiated the marriage of 34 lesbian  and gay couples during the song. Each & every one of us were on our feet and in tears more or less.

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by Tia Goonaratna

@tiabuffy

Tai Hsin Sheik is seeing around the block with his camera running around promoting events and sharing his knowledge. A few years ago, Tai was a software engineer, working for companies such as MSN Email, Intel, HSBC, Exetel, Eurocenter, and a few others. He worked in the capacity of Business Analyst, Quality Assurance, Technical Writing, and Call Centre Representative. “At the end of the day, none of this made me happy and I was not enjoying what I did. The only thing that made me happy was photography. Then I put two and two together, quite my job, and started photography.”

Tai spent  four or five years learning photography by himself while he worked at other jobs. He says that he’s still learning while helping others learn about photography. In the eight  years he has been a photographer, he did freelance work to other photographers, and now works as a professional photographer since 2015.

His specialty is with architecture photography. “It’s quite complicated. People think you just use a tripod get multiple exposures and TADA magic. No no no. You need to go there a day or two ahead of the shoot. Look at the place. Do some location scouting. Also this depends on who I am shooting for, if it’s an architect we need to make sure that all lines are straight and WHAT they want to highlight in that particular place. If it’s for a hotel what kind of facilities they want to show. Also before a shoot I make sure to tell the clients that to keep everything ready like clean the glasses, mop the floors, remove any unnecessary furniture etc. Then look for angles and lighting.” He says speaking of the multitude of factors that has to be taken into consideration.

When he gets a chance, he cover events for friends and their charity events. “I used to do events at a price but the market has been ruined but lots of people so I stay out of that. I do weddings for my friends and anyone I know. I don’t advertise much as there are so many wedding photographers so I think people can get that done for a fraction of the cost I charge them.”

Tai’s personality is evident in his smile. Not just his cheerful nature, but the love for the work he does is stamped with his smile. “Well I think it’s about the end result. If it’s a wedding I have already planned the layout in my head and when I get that perfect shot I just smile. Also since I have gone through vigorous customer service experiences I know how to stay cool and be awesome. At the end of the day If we don’t have a smile the bride or groom or our client is not gonna smile. Smiling is contagious. Also 80% is personality and how you carry yourself and 20% is technical skills. I can teach someone to be a good photographer technically in a few months but I cannot teach anyone how to make people smile, how to communicate with clients etc.”

As someone who underwent a lot of self-learning, Tai is adamant on sharing his knowledge with others. Currently, he’s conducting personal workshops for budding photographers. “When I started this venture there was no one there to help me. I had asked a few pro photographers at that time but they thought I was just like any other guy. But I went on YouTube and Google and learned a lot. So I don’t want people to struggle to come up. I like to see when people are successful because of me. It makes me smile and happy. I never expect anything from anyone though. Also I recently started a YouTube channel which has a little videos about photography.”

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One of the most fantastic things about working in the creative sector is how it allows the freedom to travel across the world, and work from anywhere: And this is exactly what the interior architect and designer Rasoda Buddhi did once he graduated. Taking advantage of the geographical flexibility that his career presents, Buddhi opted for a bigger experience that pushed him beyond his comfort zone at home in Sri Lanka among family and friends. He took on a challenging project designing and building a school in a remote mountainous part of Northern India. It was a journey that lasted many years allowing Buddhi to transform and grow in ways he never expected. After this incredible experience at the Himalayan foothills of Sikkim, Buddhi has now returned to Sri Lanka to commence his own practice of interior architecture. Speaking to the Weekend Leader, Buddhi recollected his debut work experience that helped him grow both as a professional and a human being.

Buddhi’s interest in the built environment and architectural design started at a young stage. He was particularly interested in how people interacted with space and how in turn a built environment influenced the humans inhabiting it.

“Since I was a kid I loved to paint and build. Down the line, this eventually led me to projects with event companies where I designed and painted stage sets and backdrops. During this time I learned more about interior design and architecture by reading magazines and blogs, and I was fascinated by innovative designs that changed the way people live and interact with spaces.”

Turning his attention to the project in Sikkim, Buddhi mentions that the project taught him alot simply through the challenges that it presented from design to implementation.

“The project was for Taktse International School located in Gangtok, Sikkim, a remote, mountainous state. The proposal was to add a new wing of 50,000 sq ft to the school. The location posed unique challenges in terms of sourcing and moving raw materials, contracting skilled workers, equipment and machines. Despite the setbacks, we managed to finish construction within two years and the building was officially opened for use this year.”This ambitious project which gave rise to a one-of-a-kind education institution helped Buddhi prepare for the next stage of his career. It introduced him to the interior design industry in India and gave him confidence to start new projects in the subcontinent, and more importantly in sharing his design experience as a teacher.

“I worked on a few other interesting projects while I was there, like The Copper Room, a business hotel bar, and BB15, a gym & mixed martial arts center. I also had my first experience teaching design, at Taktse International School.”

Back at home in Sri Lanka, Buddhi is keen to test the waters by starting his own practice that merges hospitality with social sustainability. He yearns to share the benefits of new-age development with the communities in rural North-Central areas without influencing their traditional ways of living.

“I’m working on new concepts in hospitality design that can be implemented in less urban areas. These concepts are mainly centered around benefitting the local communities by providing them with the means of sustainable livelihoods.”

To find out about Buddhi’s work log on to www.rasoda-buddhi.com

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by Ryan Johnson

@lordryanjohnson

We all know and love the amazing comedian and scriptwriter,Gappiya. He has been quite active since the last time we caught up with him, and even started his own clothing brand. It’s doing quite well with some extremely funny and Gappiya-esque quotes coming from his mini episodes that he posts online.

Gappiya is still living in Australia with Lilly, but he’s down in Sri Lanka these days organising a few meet and greets. It’s been evident from his social media posts, and the response from his fans, that Gappiya is still the humble, funny, and kind man with both feet planted firmly on the ground. So if you get the chance, follow his page for the next meet up, and go say hello!

What have you been up to since the last time we spoke?

I’ve started doing two weekly videos and I have being experimenting with different kinds of content.

How is Lilly?

She’s very good. Unfortunately she couldn’t make it to the trip this time. She’s managing a new cafe and it’s not a good time to take time off.

Tell us a bit about your Australian life? Has it changed since the arrival of ‘Gappiya’?

Yes. I work full time on Gappiya material and I think it definitely changed our life style. We don’t really have much time to go out or hang out with friends like we used to do.

Are you happy with what you have achieved so far?

Yes, I am very happy and grateful for what I have today. Every day I hear stories about people who struggle to mark their spot on the world. Even though it has being a rough journey for me, I consider myself very fortunate. However there’s lot be done and I feel like I am still at the beginning.

Tell us a bit about your clothing line.

We launched our clothing line last February and so far it’s doing great. We have T-shirts, phone covers and posters at this stage. Currently it’s based in Maharagama, and my sister is looking after it. We are planning to launch sunglasses and beach thongs very soon. We are still very small but growing very fast. If someone needs more information they can just Google “Gappiya Clothing”

How was the response from Sri Lanka when you came to Sooriya Village?

It was great. We didn’t had a massive crowd so I was able to talk to everybody who came. Since I live overseas I never get to hang out with my fans so this was a nice experience. I got interesting insight and feedback to my work which was unexpected, so I am planning to do more meet and greet events in the future.

What more can we expect in the future?

I am trying to look for ways to make longer videos so I think you will see a little bit polished productions in the future. I thoroughly enjoy doing live videos so I am planning to do more live videos. As soon as I get back I like to do a couple of actual live shows on stage so I am very excited about that. Apart from that I am planning to expand Gappiya Clothing and involve more on the Gappiya business side.

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By Tia Goonaratna

@tiabuffy

Kamil Hewavitharana is a veteran in the Sri Lankan fashion industry, and his designs have been worn by prestigious names appearing in fashion shows, beauty competitions, and high-end events. Currently working as the Merchandising and Sales Manager for Romafour, Kamil is also highly active in the fashion industry creating unique designs for models for international competition wear as well as for top names in Sri Lanka for formal wear. Kamil grew up watching his mother design and stitch clothes for his five sisters. This sparked his interest to be a designer, as well as in clothes and even dressing well.

His love for his work has taken him to design some of the world’s most prestigious events. “For Derana Miss Sri Lanka for Miss Earth 2016, I was one of the selected designers for three of the finalists. I wanted to design something unique and my mini collection was certainly just that. When the three contestants walked out they made great impression and I was so happy and proud when the other designers in the crowd and in the competition appreciated my efforts in creating something truly outstanding.”

We asked  about his favourite fabrics, and his secret to designing clothes that always seem to be flattering the wearer just the right way. ‘I love lace, silk, bridal satin and chiffon. I take in to consideration a few points that would enhance my client, model or friend. The factors are there body structure, complexion, personality and occasion.” In summary, Kamil has achieved a lot of his dreams which began while he was a toddler watching his mother, and he’s still climbing up the dream ladder making more of his goals come to life. “I admire Ellie Saab, Zuhair Murad and Balmain. I like nature, flowers, trees animals almost anything and everything. Coming from out of Colombo, I have achieved quite alot for myself and I am very proud of whatever I have achieved up to date . It is a beautiful feeling seeing my clients, beauty queens and models wearing my outfits at important events, beauty pageants, and competitions.

It was a dream for me and this dream is a reality now, in May I am going to launch my label and you will be able to see and purchase my creations from Romafour. Other than my designing, I work at Romafour as a merchandising & sales manager. My message to young people is to have a dream and make it a reality.”

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By Gopitha Kiribandara

A teen science fiction romance that falls a few paces short of being a competent project, The Space Between Us is directed by Peter Chelsom and stars Gary Oldman, Asa Butterfield, Britt Robertson, and Carla Gugino.

The narrative follows Gardner Eliot (Butterfield), a human boy born in Mars. Set in the ‘near’ future, Nathaniel Shepherd (Oldman), the CEO of Genesis, launches the first ever mission to colonise Mars. However his lead astronaut Sarah Elliot (Janet Montgomery) discovers that she is pregnant and gives birth shortly after landing. Sarah suffers from complications surrounding the birth and dies soon afterwards; the identity of the father of the child remains shrouded in mystery. Named Gardener, the child is raised on Mars, his existence kept a secret by Nathaniel who wishes to avoid a PR disaster for his company. 16 years later, the boy hacks into the ship’s storage and gains access to his mother’s past. Eager to find his roots, Gardner sets up online contact with Tulsa (Robertson) from Colorado. Circumstances lead to his arrival on earth, and we see Gardner attempting to establish his identity as he tries to pick up the broken shards of his past.

The Space Between Us has a promising storyline that is hampered by a lack of creativity; masquerading as a sci fi tale, this movie is really a coming of age tale of an outcast teenage boy. The film, which celebrates a dreamy existence, misses many opportunities to hit the mark; for instance while Gardner wishes to enjoy and experience life on earth, not much of the landmarks or the well preserved the countryside. In most sci-fi movies, the earth is presented as polluted, but the act of colonisation in The Space Between Us comes as an experiment rather than a necessary option. However, the writers fail to capitalise strongly on Gardner’s emotions and his confusion at being on earth. The movie is more of a teen romance, as it centres instead on his need for love and acceptance. The plot twists are predictable (Gardener’s escape, the revelation of the identify of his father etc) and jaded. The characters in the film tend to be stereotyped and as a result give little room for the talented cast to expand their creativity. Oldman is effective in his portrayal of a typical CEO and Butterfield continues to hone his already considerable acting skills with a nuanced performance as Gardner. However, the film, as a whole, suffers from a lack of creative originality.

Even before language was formed and speech was shaped into our standard form of communication, people used images to communicate simply. The image still remains to be the most powerful form of expression, with a universality bridging ethnicities, national borders and spoken or written languages. Janith Lekamwasam who is a young visual communication designer and a photographer, is a believer and a practitioner of exercising the power of visuals to express ideas.

His two arts are not too disconnected and this allows him to move between them fluidly and even have each inspire, influence and better the other. Speaking to the Sunday Leader, Janith discussed how he first found his interest in photography and then ventured into visual communication design as a means to make a deeper sense of exercising the power of the image.

How did you first get drawn to  photography?

It really wasn’t just one incident that lead me into this path. But, the very first factor that drove me towards photography was my brother giving me his old point and shoot camera and showing me the photographs that he has taken with it. After that, I met some very creative and helpful group of people when I was studying multimedia.

There were some professional photographers and filmmakers who inspired me to move forward with photography and cinematography.

You are also a visual communication designer. Does that affect your work in photography too? If so, how?

I can’t really tell which is affecting what, but I know for a fact that my photography and design work nurtures each other. I frequently change my sources of inspiration and I have a very similar processes to generate ideas for VC design, photography and cinematography. I find it very convenient being able to toss around my ideas between the areas of my expertise to produce content.

How do you curate a shot- do you have the exact piece in mind when you start or do you experiment a lot?

Most of the time I get an idea when a client explains a brief to me. The reason for that is I do a lot of experiments almost all the time and I keep the good stuff under my sleeve; just to make sure that I don’t have to waste my time experimenting something completely new every single time I get a job.

How powerful do you think photography is, and why?

As person who has a family background of writers, poets, journalists, musicians and tons of friends and family in film and photography industry, I can confidently say that photography is just as powerful as any visual communication form. I really think it’s not the form that is important but how you communicate it. “It’s like sex. You’re always headed to the same place, but you have to find new and dangerous way of getting there.” (Burnt – 2015)

Where can someone find out more about your work?
You can find me and my work in Behance and Instagram. Since I’m active in both of these websites, you can contact me through them as well.
www.behance.net/JaTor_LekSam

instagram.com/jator_leksam

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by Ryan Johnson

@lordryanjohnson

Housni Yakoob is back with some new music after two years.The fellow rapper hinted that he will be releasing a new track somewhere in February. He finally released the track on March 14th 2017. The track features R&B singer/songwriter, Randhir on it as well. The song, titled “Marvels”, is 4.17 seconds in length wise.

The song “Marvels” will take you back to the 90’s R&B and Hip-Hop sessions. Music now has been overshadowed by the Electronic Dance Music (EDM) or modern hip-hip also known as mumbling rap example Lil Yachty, 21 Savage, Desiigner etc. that has been dominating the charts. For whatever reason people still buy music that has obtuse lyrics that has no meaning whatsoever. Music today is more about the image and beat rather than the massage that it used to have. However, there are a handful of people who are still true to their roots and still delivers a great massage and can be an inspiration to many. Housni is one of those artists that will deliver a meaningful message in his work.

The song starts with Randhir singing off two lines that will make you take this song more serious “To everybody going through tough times…keep your head up for me now” immediately it jumps in to Housni’s rap part, reminded me of TalibKweli or Common (Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr). The way Housni’s story is told through the song is quite motivational. Something we don’t hear in today’s music or even hip-hop that’s been dished out on radio. The flow of the song is just brilliantly done. It shows the experience behind this artist and where to come in and how to execute its wordplay. The chorus part that’s sung by Randhir is done greatly, the harmonies and vocal control on it are perfect. The chorus part gets you with its calm soothing melody.

The second verse from Housni is an eye opener, especially the last two lines “With the fire to inspire, steps aside, I’m landing I messed around and faced hell but still, I’m standing” that’s one of my favourite lines from the song. Housni captures the struggle and dystopian lifestyle everyone leads, capturing the struggles today’s youth goes through. After Housni’s second verse, Randhir joins him in a rap verse as well the connection with these two artists is just amazing, you can see them blend in.

The song is produced and mix and mastered by Nishan Daniel. I wish the guitar part was a bit clearer sounds a bit muffled doesn’t really blend well, however the rest of the instrumentation was on point. Overall, the song is done really well these two artist should do more songs together. Marvels will surly inspire a lot of young artists out there.

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