Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Thursday, 15 September 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
It was a night to remember for many who took the stage as TNL Radio presented the much-awaited local talent showcase Onstage for the 16th consecutive time. Perhaps more so for eight young musicians who together created history in every sense of the word. First held in 1999, TNL Onstage has become Sri Lanka’s most popular English music battle of the bands competition. It’s dedicated to finding and nurturing the talent of local musicians.
An eight-member urban spiritual band calling themselves Kingdom Life took home the entire gamut of awards on offer in the band category at this year’s competition. Kingdom Life is made up of Thilanka on keyboards, Gayan on vocals, Dexter on bass, Previn on drums, Gloria on vocals, Sheahan on lead, Avishka on vocals and Subodha on vocals doubling as the manager/executive producer of the band.
Together this talented young group won the awards for Best Band, Best Original Song, Most Poplar Band (in the “Rock the Vote online competition”), and the Wild Elephant Wild Take Award while Sheahan was also adjudged the Most Dynamic Musician by an esteemed panel of judges including veteran musician Harsha Makalanda.
Kingdom Life was conceptualised in 2014 when Subodha started to write a completely different genre of music. Having previously performed with Sri Lanka’s hip-hop forefathers Brown Boogie Nation, Subodha found his life taking a dramatic turn when his lyrics started to center on the power of God to transform lives.
“Kingdom Life is a vision from God which I got in 2014 to make urban music and to impart spiritual gifts in youth. So we are hoping to create a new genre of music called urban spiritual,” adds Subodha. The members of the group are all individually gifted yet come together to create a unique sound that captivated both the judges and audience.
As the winners of TNL Onstage 2016, Kingdom Life receives a one-year recording contract with TNL. Kingdom Life is now gearing up to record their first EP titled “Urban Spiritual Music” which will include songs such as “I Believe in Miracles”, “In His Name” and “Freefalling”.
