10.1.7 TNL ROCKS! is a name that needs no introduction. Since its inception 19 years ago TNL has become a radio station that has won the hearts of many people. For one it was the first private English radio station to be incorporated within our tiny little island paradise.

TNL is a radio station that is always innovative and very supportive towards promoting local talent. Thus their flagship event “TNL Onstage” Sri Lanka’s first reality programme was born and is now in its 12th instalment. “Onstage” as it is fondly known is a competition which provides local musicians to make a name for themselves.

What is most unique about Onstage is that its results are judged by respected musicians and are based purely on talent and not on petty voting systems like certain other reality shows.
TNL has many milestones in its 19 years of broadcasting, but, one that stands out particularly is the awarding of the NAB Award for Broadcast Excellence.

Catering to a market which consists of young adults aged 18 and also the “young at heart” is certainly a challenge with new music coming out almost every day and people’s tastes changing quite frequently. Yet, they have always been on top of their game and have never failed to impress.

Life Online spoke to some of the radio personalities at TNL; each of them were give a couple of quick questions and this is what they had to say:
 

Dilshan Michaels and Ishara - the two very interesting hosts of the “BIG SHOW”

Q: What drives you to come to work at 5 in morning?

A: A white van and a really fat paycheck. Completely untrue. We just love the job.

 

Q: What do you feel about waking people up?

A: It's done best when we do that with a prank. Works quite well

 

Q: The most embarrassing thing you have done on air?

A: we've rapped, sung the theme song of the Big Bang Theory, trying to find Ishara a boyfriend (fun for Dilshan, embarrassing for Ishara) and the list goes on.

 

Q: Out of the people you have had on the show who by far is the coolest?

A: Yikes this is too hard but we will go with Danny Morrison, so much fun !

 

Kyra - host of SoundFX

Q: What is it like working at TNL?

A: It’s like drinking a slushie really fast in the Colombo heat. Very refreshing and invigorating.

 

Q: Tell me a bit about your show?

A: My show is called SOUNDFX, 9am to 1pm weekdays. I try to keep my listeners sane at work by promoting frequent head banging breaks and internet cat addiction. Try it. It works! 

 

Q: If you were not a radio personality, you would be a?

A: I would be making Kyra-shaped dents on a couch, be covered in fur and probably invest in knitting needles..
 
 

Q: What would you tell the little girl, teenager, young lady that wants to make it in business, entertainment and life in general?

A: Girls, we have one more X chromosome than men. Use it!  Whatever you decide to do. Reach for the stars is the natural way to go. We are made of stardust after all :)
 

“Unconditional Moments” with Jackie

Q: Why did you choose to be an RP?

A: I've worked at boring desk jobs for years, so being an RP at TNL ROCKS is my dream job! I guess I'm glad I was chosen to be an RP (instead of the other way around!)

 

Q: What drives you to do your job?

A: It’s always about the fans! TNL ROCKS has the most loyal fans I've ever met & they are my motivating force to do a good job.

 

Q: Your most memorable moment on air?

A: When I first started at TNL, and I was rocking out to my favourite Blind Melon song, and accidentally went 'on-air'! Thank goodness my awful singing didn’t drive all our listeners away!


 

“Everything Goes” with Chase D

Q: What do you think separates TNL from other Radio Stations?

A: The music format we follow is contemporary hit music, giving us a lot of variety with our music and besides that we always make it a point to think out of the box not only when it comes to shows but also when it comes to integrating radio with new media such as YouTube, Facebook, and twitter.

Q: 3 Things that make you feel that you have done a good show?

A: Three things? Well that’s bit of a tough one. It’s hard to really evaluate it... yes it should be a tight show, good talk segments and so forth. But there is more to it than that, if you walk out of the studio once you are done with your show and have a smile on your face, then you know it’s a good show.

Q: If you could interview one person living or dead who would it be?

A: There are so many people I would want to interview but thinking about it in this moment in time, there is something I'm working on right now and if I could Interview James Hetfield from Metallica it be legend - wait for it - DARY! (yes I took is off HIMYM)

 

Andre who works at “The Hangover Café”

Q: How'd you get started?

A: I was pretty much a radio groupie when I was a kid growing up, this was before the Ipod or even the CD player. So I used to listen in to my favourite radio station on this walkman that I got for my birthday and listened non-stop on my way to school, while doing my homework or pretty much anytime I was allowed to.

A few years later I got on air for a competition on a local radio station and won some free pizza. And my friends were like "you sound kinda good" and that I should seriously consider the possibility of going on radio. Eventually with a little bit of a push from my friends and a little bit of luck I landed my first show.

 

Q: Your favorite moment on air?

A: My favourite moment has to been when I first went on air. I had been preparing for a good few hours on how and what I should say, but in the end when the show host wanted me to make some remarks during the end of the show, all I could bring myself to say was "hmm...what’s up?" because my mind had completely gone blank with excitement.
That was my most favourite moment on air, because you can't seriously muck up more than that.


Q: The 'worst' part of radio work?

A: If you say something wrong, you cannot take it back. You have pretty much made a fool of yourself in front of a lot of people.

 

Q: The 'best' part of radio work?

A: Being able to entertain people who just want to vibe to some good tracks and make a difference in their day.

Anything and Everything with Stivi

Q: Tell me about your show?

A:   I've been doing The Late Late Request Show. There's tons of amusing things to keep you going, such as callers who call you as a dare who try to change their voices so they could get another song, who want to prank you etc. It’s highly entertaining nevertheless! It’s a Saturday night after all!

Q: How has it been working at TNL?

A: Working at TNL! This place is quite loony in a good way! It's definitely the most fun place to work. Makes you feel right at home! The best is at night, coz you've heard the ghost stories, and it’s all quiet and lonely... it tests your nerves!


Q: If you could prank someone during your show, who would it be and why?

A: I'm not considered a prankster in general, but I would really like to get back at Dino from News Radio. Let's just say I owe him a few evil-ness! lol! The other option would be Dilshan Michaels [a big drama queen through and through] from the Big Show, but I've done it once, so that wouldn't be any fun doing it twice.

"Another State of mind" at the "Acoustic Cafe" with Sam

How did you end up at TNL?

A: A couple of people had told me I should try to host a radio show, though I have a feeling that was solely because of my accent. I saw an ad in the paper from TNL one day asking for presenters and I thought I'd give it a shot.

Q: You do a late night show? How do you make sure your audience stays with you until you sign out?

A: I update them on what their favourite bands are up to. Normally we're so consumed with our own lives that suddenly a band we like puts out an album and we don't even notice. I try to make sure they don't miss out on the fun stuff.

Q: The craziest thing you have said on air??

A: Usually talking about the animals in my house is entertaining enough. Plus, there's a gorilla in the studio. I had a conversation with it on air once, though it didn't say very much. Apart from that things stay pretty normal.

By Reihan Stephen