‘Localize It’: Promoting original local music

Friday, 17 March 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

What if the next Ed Sheeran, or the next John Mayer or the next Eminem was living down your road, writing music that you might never hear?!

Please don’t let that happen!

Happening on 31 March at Santore’ Bistro Italiano, ‘Localize It’ is a gig that aims to bring together local songwriters and audiences with a love for original, home grown music.

Speaking about the gig, Nikhil D. Almeida, a young singer/songwriter and one of the organisers of the gig says, “We decided to call the gig Localize It because that’s exactly the idea that we’re trying to push with this event. We want people going out to a bar or pub on a regular night to know that there are musicians here in Sri Lanka writing original music, and that they are desperate for an audience to play that music for.”

“You know, I’ve been working as a musician playing pubs and bars in and around Colombo for the last five years,” adds Lasith Fernando, one of the musicians performing at Localize It. “And I tell you the worse thing about it is when you spend ages writing a song that means something to you, practice it for weeks, try to play it at a gig and hear some guy in the crowd keep yelling, “duuuude, play Summer of 69!”

Rav David, one of Sri Lanka’s finest young guitarists and songwriter’s adds, “I don’t think a lot of people know just how much good music is being written in Sri Lanka. And I hope that gigs like this will be the way forward where the local original music industry is supported by audiences from the very grass roots level.”

Localize It will feature acoustic performances by local songwriters Rav David, Nathan Eardley, Lasith Fernando, Shehara Jayatileke, Nikhil D Almeida and KK.

The event kicks off at 7 p.m. and is also completely free! People who come and enjoy the music will have the option to donate any amount they like to support the performing songwriters. All donations collected will be distributed amongst the performers and will help fund their recording projects.

For more information visit: www.facebook.com/lasithfernando.