This week, I have someone truly special joining me. She’s back, and this time, she’s stepping into a whole new chapter of her journey. Life has thrown a few tough challenges her way—from the heartbreaking loss of her mum to pushing through with a broken leg—but through it all, she’s risen stronger than ever.

And now, she’s here with something brand new—a song that marks a fresh beginning. “Samudenna Epa” isn’t just another track; it’s her first-ever single under her own name, a bold step into uncharted territory.

I couldn’t be happier to welcome the one and only Natasha to Buzz with Danu! Let’s dive into the story behind her latest music, the emotions that shaped it, and everything she has in store for us. 

1. What inspired you to create “Samudenna Epa”? Is there a personal story behind the song?

Yes, this is a story very close to my heart.

The song reflects the different phases a married couple goes through — something I believe is an essential conversation for every relationship. It also carries a social message for every couple.

The Sinhala quotes in the video convey this:
Most couples stray when they feel deprived of love and attention, mistakenly believing that promiscuity will reignite the flame and keep the spark alive. But true growth comes from self-realization — understanding that not all carnal desires equate to love. We must first love ourselves for that love to be reflected back to us. After all, we are mirrors of each other — how can we give to someone what we don’t have ourselves?
Love is eternal, lust is temporary.

2. The title is intriguing! What’s the message you want to convey through this track?

The main message is not to give up on love just because a relationship goes through change. As the saying goes, the only constant is change, and a vital part of growth is learning to swim against the tide.

Love is not just physical; it must be felt deeply — from the soul. If love doesn’t arise from the soul, then it’s merely infatuation or lust. This is why, in today’s fast-paced world, it’s so easy to lose connection and get distracted. But like anything worthwhile, love takes work and effort. When that effort stops, so does the interest — and that’s when people start looking for distractions as a coping mechanism, instead of addressing the real issues.

If we want something to last, we must work with intention and care. You cannot expect permanence from something built on an impermanent foundation.
Life constantly reminds us that love is the only thing that is truly permanent.

3. Your music videos always have a unique touch. What can fans expect visually from “Samudenna Epa”?

I’ve always tried to push the boundaries of my own work — I see myself as my biggest competition when it comes to creative expression.

As an artist, I believe I have the power to influence change, and with this video, I’ve used that power intentionally. I hope the media will stand with me in supporting a more progressive approach to conversations about love, relationships, and commitment.

What I wanted to show is that love can overcome any obstacle. If a couple is truly committed, they can withstand anything life throws at them. Packing that message into a few minutes was challenging, but I think we did a great job of getting the point across.

4. Did you face any memorable challenges while filming the video? Any funny or unexpected moments on set?

Oh yes — the biggest challenge was time. Due to my own schedule and that of the actors, crew, and HMUA, we aimed to finish shooting within 12 to 16 hours. But as always, unplanned things popped up and the shoot went on for about 24 hours straight!

That said, I have to give massive credit to the entire team — they were amazing. It was a pleasure working with such a committed, talented, and fun crew. Even though we were exhausted, no one lost sight of why we were there.

And here’s a funny story — we forgot to bring bath foam for the bathtub scene! So, we had to use liquid handwash instead, and with the help of our “bubble coordinator”   (as she liked to call herself — inside joke!), we made it work.

Of course, the actors were fully clothed in the tub! They even joked they came out “fairer” after that bath! We still laugh about what was in that handwash!

5. You’re dropping the video on March 3rd at 6:30 PM. Why is this release date special to you?

Honestly, my initial plan was to release it on my birthday, January 18th, but post-production took longer than expected. Me being the perfectionist that I am, I wanted every detail to be just right.

There was no particular auspicious timing for the release — it was ready by March 3rd, so we went with that.
I believe when you are positive about what you create and believe in its message, every day becomes the right day to share something good. When you live by that mindset, no one can rain on your parade.

6. Every song has a different vibe. How would you describe the musical style and energy of “Samudenna Epa”?

When I first spoke to Azlan Sheriffdeen, the producer, I made it clear I didn’t want to sound like anyone else. I wanted a fresh direction, so we agreed to blend Western and Eastern sounds — something that represents where I’m coming from.

We aimed for a commercially viable track with a pop/RnB twist fused with Eastern elements. It was definitely a risk, but one that paid off and  I’m no stranger to taking risks. 

7. Who are the creative minds behind the video? Tell us about the team that helped bring your vision to life.
    •    Azlan Sheriffdeen produced the song — an insanely creative mind (genius of his time) who always understood my vision for a song and consistently came up with melodies hard not to fall in love with.
    •    Ansaf Ameer wrote the beautiful, soulful lyrics.
    •    The amazing actors Harini Kawyanjani and Chanuka Prabuddha brought so much life to the story — many shots were done in a single take because of their talent and chemistry on set.
    •    Iresha Dissanayake, our talented makeup artist, made sure we all looked great on camera. 

    •    The Friday Entertainment production crew was flawless. They knew exactly how to capture each emotion.

•    Our colorist Nadia Azad is an extremely talented one at that. 
    •    Melanie Wijesinghe and Rochelle Tissera designed the stunning dresses I wore.
    •    I also want to say a special thank you to Shevar Goonawardena and Sinantha Jayathilaka for making all this possible.
Imran Carder for being so gracious to allow us to shoot at his beautiful home. 
  •     My amazing husband, the backbone of all that I am — I love you more than you’ll ever know. (Yes, I know you told me not to mention your name, but this just proves that on some important occasions, I don’t listen to you! Lol!