A new voice in the local music industry

By Shailendree 

Wickrama Adittiya

Shania Rebecca Jayasuriya is a 20-year-old musician whose interests include swimming, music, and writing. Having studied at Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya, Jayasuriya is currently pursuing a Trinity College Music diploma at Ashanthi’s School of Music and is at Level Eight.

While she has written non-fiction and is currently working on a book, Jayasuriya is known for her music. Her most recent cover, Hallelujah, has over 1,200 views on YouTube, while her cover of ‘Bang Bang’ by Dua Lipa has over 1,400 views and her cover of ‘When We Were Young’ by Adele has over 4,300 views.

Speaking to the Daily FT, the singer said her interest in music began after she completed her Ordinary Level exams and that she has been posting her music online only since last year. Jayasuriya has received positive feedback and support so far.

According to her, the songs she has enjoyed performing the most are ‘When We Were Young’ by Adele, ‘Bang Bang’ by Dua Lipa, and ‘Stay’ by Rihanna.

You have to know your techniques and tactics. You have to be aware of your target audience and what kind of music they usually listen to. Nowadays, young people tend to listen to a lot of EDM, future bass, contemporary R&B, etc., so it is best if we can align our music to these genres

Despite being relatively new to the field, Jayasuriya puts in a lot of effort into the work she posts online. 

“We have to record both audio and video and then edit it. I have to practice and rehearse on my own beforehand. I also have to think about other things like hairstyle, makeup, dress, etc.,” she said, adding, “I am lucky I have a great team of people to help me, but it is still hard work!”

In terms of support, Jayasuriya’s family and friends are extremely supportive and help her with everything. She especially has the support of her parents. However, this does not mean that she has not faced certain challenges when creating music and finding an audience.

“When it comes to composing new beats, finding a music producer who is able to create a track similar to the sound you are going for is rather tough. We are all musicians and therefore, we do not all think in the same way; each and every one of us has very different tastes in music as that is what makes us unique!” she explained.

Jayasuriya added that, due to this reason, it can take a long time to complete projects but that in the end, it is worthwhile when things turn out well.

Finding an audience is a harder task, she said, adding, “You have to know your techniques and tactics. You have to be aware of your target audience and what kind of music they usually listen to. Nowadays, young people tend to listen to a lot of EDM, future bass, contemporary R&B, etc., so it is best if we can align our music to these genres.”

Despite these challenges, Jayasuriya intends to focus entirely on music for now and is currently considering offers made by various record labels. “This will definitely help me in growing and nurturing myself more in this field,” she said.

When it comes to composing new beats, finding a music producer who is able to create a track similar to the sound you are going for is rather tough. We are all musicians and therefore, we do not all think in the same way; each and every one of us has very different tastes in music as that is what makes us unique!

However, she also acknowledges the importance of having a back-up plan in terms of a career and an avenue to fund her dreams. “Since I also have a keen interest in writing, I might consider freelancing for a while to earn some extra pocket money,” she added.

When asked what her fans can expect from her in the future, Jayasuriya said she plans on releasing a few originals. “They can expect me to work really hard at being the best I can be as a singer,” she added.

Pix by Upul Abayasekara