My dream is to represent Lanka in the global arena: Kaushalya

Melbourne-based composer, lyricist and singer Kaushalya Fonseka Mark is no stranger to music and arts lovers. Having bagged the Home Grown award here last year, she clinched the silver SERENDIB award in Australia recently. Kaushalya is the daughter of film legend Gamini Fonseka and multi-faceted Angela Seneviratne. She talksDaily Mirror Life about her tuneful journey in music.

How did all this passion for music begin?

I recall starting music at a very young age. There was a grand piano at home that belonged to my father and I would watch him play sometimes. And just like that I started playing by ear. The tunes I'd hear on TV I'd rush downstairs and try to play it on the piano.  My father then tried to send me to music classes. I was never really good at the theory part of it. I knew about it, and so did many teachers who tried in many ways to teach me.

Particular memories of your earliest teachers?

Well, there were two teachers in particular, Miss Beatrice who first realized I could sing to a tune and then got me in to school productions and Miss Antoinette who never gave up on trying to teach me the theory part of music spending extra time with me, even though she knew I was hopeless. She was the main part of my school life as she always encouraged me when it came to my music.

Your involvement in music in school?

Through school I also had the chance of taking part in Broadway shows and musical productions directed by Mary Anne David. I was also a part of the school choir. All this exposure to music gave me the background I needed to one day fulfill my dream of becoming a musician. I then had the chance of singing with the Rozette and Warren as a part of their group RMC, where a learnt to be a professional musician. It was my first real job.

Then you moved to Melbourne?

Yes I moved to Melbourne for studies and couldn't pursue my passion for a while. But there was not one day I didn't miss it. Music had always been a big part of my life. So one Christmas when my husband asked me what I wanted as a gift, I insisted on a keyboard. And that was the start to something totally different. I had always written poems and was told I was good at it. But I slowly started writing my own songs. I had a few together when my family and my husband would constantly ask me to start doing something about it. So when I got to back to Sri Lanka, I got in touch with a music producer and created my first ever track "How It's Done".

The Home Grown story?

I then got in touch with Yes FM and their show supporting local artistes ‘Yes Home Grown’. And surprisingly , they got back to me saying my song was going to be in their charts. I still remember how I felt. I was so excited. I couldn't sleep for days when I knew the show was on. I received a lot of support from them. And then I was told that it had been nominated in the Best Female Artiste category. I was over the moon. There was no way I could win it but I still didn't want to miss the occasion. So I got leave from work and flew to Sri Lanka to be there.  It was by far the best decision have ever made up to date because I won it, and I would have died inside if I wasn't there that night. But I didn't have a speech ready. I just started crying on stage. I wish I could have thanked everyone such as my family, my husband, my friends and of course Yes FM for being so supportive.

Did this award motivate you further?

Of course, then I continued to write more songs and even did a music video for my first song. I continue to try and break into the international market here which is certainly not an easy task.

The SERENDIB award?

This recent award I received was the SERENDIB award and it is an annual event held to appreciate Sri Lankans in Melbourne representing various spheres such as real estate, community work, performance and arts. I was nominated in the Arts category as I am more passionate about song writing. And I won the silver award. It was another important milestone in my life.

Your dream?

To represent my country internationally. That is my dream. I have some very supportive guys who keep me going and make me feel appreciated even though I'm not there yet. If you like to follow my journey in music please like my Facebook.page  "KK Music" which also has links to my You Tube channel featuring the music I've done so far. I've also got a new track which will be out this week and it’s titled "Can't Get You Off My Mind" which was also written and composed by me and produced by MarKia, which I'm very excited about. It's a tad bit different to my precious style of music.

By Ramesh Uvais