Mallung Records X Space Eka
I have just completed my first artist residency in my home country, Sri Lanka.
My musical journey has drawn me to my heritage over the last six years, and this is as close any anyone could get having never lived in their heritage country.
The residency took place on Kaley tea estate, Ilukpitiya. A group of wonderful people congregated for a week to embark on a new venture. New label boss, Rachitha Seneviratne, brought together a crew of ritual drummers and contemporary musicians who are interested in making new cross-genre sound and music.
How this is achieved is a question we have tried to answer individually, and coming together to discuss and develop these ideas has been one of the most fruitful experiences of my life to date.
SpaceEka (The Space), founded by Jayamputhi Guruge, are working together with Kaley Tea Estate to uplift the communities who work for them via education, healthcare and further opportunities with those who attend residencies here.
Our crew:
Jayamputhi Guruge (residency co-facilitator, SpaceEka founder)
Rachitha Seneviratne (residency co-facilitator, Gihing Ennang founder)
Shalini Wanninayaka (movement artist)
Shehan OB (videographer and photographer)
Chamila (chef)
Ruwan Wijalamage: Sri Lankan Traditional Drummer & Dancer, Choreographer, Folk singer & Sound researcher. Graduated; BA Hons in Drama & Theatre University of Visual & Performing Arts (UVPA). Visiting lecturer at UVPA & University of Moratuwa. OIC, Cultural Development at the Madurawala Cultural Centre.
Galagedara Piyumal Madushanka: Sri Lankan Traditional Drummer and Dancer, Low Country Ritual Artist, and Low Country drumming and dancing instructor.
Sumudi Suraweera: ethnomusicologist and drummer, co-founder of Music Matters.
Nadika Weligodapola: composer (film, contemporary folk, fusion, experimental), music producer, performing artist, founder of THEEVRA
Uvindu Perera: talented bassist and double bassist, jazz influence, experimental style
Vinthya Perinpanathan: Born in the Netherlands, based in the UK. Sri Lankan composer and DJ, studying a PhD in Sri Lankan music culture and history.
Nisal Subasinghe: Sri Lankan producer and DJ, now living in Singapore.
We spent the week getting to know each other in the most beautiful surroundings, having fruitful conversations and making music together, both collectively and individually.
Mallung Records will release music born out of the residency, as well as a sample pack we recorded during the week. I am extremely excited for my first releases as an artist to be via this label — it just makes sense!
More info coming soon, I just wanted to archive a quick summery before continuing on my research trip here in Sri Lanka.
