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By
Lakna Paranamanna
I heard Aquarius for the first time last December at
the Galadari during the press conference which introduced
them to local audiences, or rather renewed their memories.
After listening to them play, I felt that it was quite
disappointing to hear that they were only due to perform
in Sri Lanka for one month.
However, recent visits to Galadari indicated that they
were still performing but with some changes in the group
as well. The Bottom Line met Benji Ranabahu, the band
leader of Aquarius to talk about their extended stay
in Sri Lanka and how the experience of performing has
been so far.
Marking their presence in the music industry in Sri
Lanka about 12 years back, Aquarius had started their
journey in music with just four members. Naming their
band after a discotheque, they used to play in during
the first few years of performing, they have seven members
in the band now. “All the initial members were
performing in other bands and after we collaborated,
we were touring in Europe and the Middle East,”
said Ranabahu. Thereafter they have been in the music
scene in the Middle East especially in countries like
Dubai and Qatar.
They mostly play for discotheques and clubs .Aquarius
consists of Shiran Munasinghe (Drums), the only other
founder member in the band apart from Benjy, Ray de
Silva (Keyboards), Dhanushka Jayasekara (Guitar), Gavin
(Saxophone).
“We came to perform in Sri Lanka only for one month.
But in January the hotel management suggested that we
should extend our contract for another extra month since
they felt that the local crowd was really pleased by
our performances,” said Ranabahu.
So their extended contract period had come to an end
in February. “We were thinking of flying back to
Dubai. But after some chats with our friends living
in the Middle East we realised that this was not the
best time for us to return as the current global economical
crisis had resulted in adverse effects. So performing
there was not predicted to be favourable,” explained
Ranabahu.
So they had decided to stay on and continue performing
in Sri Lanka and the hotel management readily agreed
since Aquarius music had blended and attracted the local
crowd well. “Lanka was happening and the crowds
also were used to our performances and preferred us,”
he says, smiling.
The group is very happy and feel appreciated seeing
the response of the audience. “We mostly play retro
music since the majority of the crowds that come to
see us are the people who used to know us. So they enjoy
music of the 70s and 80s.” But they also attend
to the preferences of the younger crowd and said that
they always have a variety in what they play including
retro music as well as new hits.
Maribel Hernandez and Dhenise Hernandez from the Philippines
were accompanying them before and now several changes
have been made within the
group and their latest addition to the group is the
pair of female performers, Apple and Ice. “The
previous girls left since their contact period ended
in January. Now we feature another pair of Philippino
singers, Apple and Ice. They have been working with
Aquarius a few times before. “Apple has worked
directly with Aquarius and Ice has been performing with
another band which used to play back to back with us
in Doha named Street Noise,” asserted Ranabahu.
“They are really good performers and the quality
of voice as well as performances are at a really good
level.” He remarked adding female performers are
important since they strive to reach out to a bigger
audience. “They are important since they add a
different element to the performance adding more action
and flavour. Their performances include involving the
audiences with singing and dancing.”
“I think that is one reason for the local audiences
to love our performances,” he added. He also said
that the experience of performing in Sri Lanka has been
very nice and exciting experience. “Our audiences
have been very appreciative and we should also especially
mention the management of Galadari since they have been
very welcoming and helpful. It is all like being part
of a big family.”
Very soon, they will be adding another new member to
their group. “Mano from Wildfire will be joining
us very soon. We have decided to start our practices
this week onwards,” Ranabahu concluded.
Pix by Thushara Dasanayake and Rukshan Abeywansha
Apple
Full
name: Apple
Alog
Nationality: Philipino
The knack for singing had been in Apple ever since she
was a kid. “I used to first hum and then sing along
to the collection of my father’s songs when I was
barely seven years old,” she said recalling her
inspirations that directed her into singing.
Her singing sessions at home had developed into performing
in front of a real audience when she was 15. “I
joined a band named Axis. That was my first approach
into professional singing. Since then I have been performing
in various bands in Philippines.” Until 2007 Apple
moves into performing abroad and her first destination
had been Doha where she also works with Aquarius.
“Benji is a very cool person to work with and so
are the other members of the band. They are very easy
going and helpful.” Sri Lanka is the second country
that she has arrived to perform and this is her first
visit to Sri Lanka. How does she find the experience
performing in Sri Lanka? “It has been a very nice
experience. The people are very fun loving and they
really appreciate music. Also it is very similar to
Philippines so I really like Sri Lanka.”
Her favourite music genre is RnB and her favourite artists
are Mariah Carey and Beyonce. She said that her favourite
part about being a singer is that she can easily express
herself through singing. Apple says that she does not
have anything definitely planned for the future and
will change her plans when the time calls for it.
Ice
Full
name:
Aileen Arellano
Nationality: Philipino
Ice seems like the more fun loving and free spirited
out the two and the first question that popped into
my mind was, how did Aileen become Ice? “My nickname
used to be I.I. So since there are two ‘I’s
my friends used to call me ‘I’s. That is how
Aileen became Ice,” she says laughing. Singing
had been her hobby as she was heavily influenced into
music through her father. “My father used to have
a band so I used to listen to them playing as a kid.”
She had been involved with several bands during her
high school days and soon after she finished high school
she had started performing abroad. Ice has been singing
in several countries, mostly in Asia such as Singapore,
Malaysia, Hong Kong as well as Doha Qatar. Her favourite
country to work in is Malaysia. “I was there for
a long time. I like it because it is like my second
home.”
She also said that she likes the audiences in Sri Lanka.
“They are really cool. They interact well with
us.” Her favourite part about being singer is the
spirit and the liveliness which she experienced while
singing.
What are her future plans? “I live for the moment.
I do not believe in planning ahead. So far my journey
has been good. Apple and I, we are very similar in that
way. I think that is why we get along well,” she
said, laughing.
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