Calling all 80’s music fans and potential 80’s music fans!

Ranked with some of the most renowned choirs in the world, Soul Sounds have enthralled many an audience both in Sri Lanka and abroad with their ability to reach out to the audience with their passionate music. Sri Lanka’s premier award winning all women’s choir group, is now scheduled to perform a promising blast from the past – Totally 80s.

It is a special year for Souls Sounds as they celebrate their 10th year anniversary and hope to perform some exceptional concerts throughout this year in celebration. Totally 80s is one of the performances directed by Soundarie David, where the girls gear up for an entertaining evening filled with some of the 80s favourites.

The girls have been working really hard the past few weeks to put together a great show as always. This concert is somewhat special to all of them because the music from the eighties is exciting and the lyrics and different styles make it all the more reason for this to be a must-watch for all. Speaking to Nilanga, one of the girls from the group; she says the group promises to make us all love the eighties numbers by the end of the show.

We also managed to have a sit-down with director, Soundarie David about the concert and other plans for this celebratory year for the Soul Sounds.

1) What makes this year special for Soul Sounds?

Soul Sounds, Sri Lanka's premiere female ensemble started its journey together in 2004, when most of the same group of girls were part of the Holy Family Convent Senior Choir, directed by Soundarie David, decided to compete for the very first time in an international competition in llangollen, Wales. They were placed first runners up in the youth choir category, and since then there has been no turning back, They were so passionate about singing that they formed the first Sri Lankan all female ensemble, and have had several acclaimed performances both in Sri Lanka and overseas, including France, Australia, Austria, Malaysia, Kuwait, India, China and the United States of America. They have not only won awards, but won the hearts of many with their soulful voices.

This year, the group celebrates 10 years as a choir, and to mark this milestone, the group will be celebrating music with 10 shows of different genre of music. Having already finished Christmas, gospel and jazz, they are now on their way to showcasing music from the 80's. 'Totally 80's the title of their next show, on the 15th of June 2013, will be a blast from the 80's.

2) What are some of your performance plans for this year?

Like mentioned above, to celebrate the ten years, the group has lined up performances throughout the year, which will showcase different genres of music. So from pop to jazz, classical to local music, including a few collaboration concerts, the group is bound to keep audiences, both local and international spellbound with their repertoire, presentation and ideas. Being the first group to venture internationally in 2004, Soul Sounds, have always been the trend setters, and will continue to set standards for themselves as they try out new repertoire this year. coming up next month would be a collaboration concert with well known choral group from Norway.

3) What is 'Totally Eighties' about and what can we expect from it this June?

TOTALLY 80's features like the name implies all hits from the 1980's ..so from Belinda Carlisle, to Gloria Estefan, starship, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Queen, to many more of the great artists of the 80's .. Soul Sounds will pay tribute to some of the all time hits of the 80's. They will be backed by some great musicians on keyboards guitar, bass drums and percussion.

4) What sets apart 'Totally Eighties' from all the other performances?

80's music is virtually pop music.. So for a choral group to render pop music, as a group, yet maintain the authenticity of this particular genre of music, is not easy., this is what will set apart this concert from the rest of the concert, whilst maintaining the 'choral' element of Soul Sounds. This concert will be very different, because the group is very much aware of the panache and punch that is required to pull off a concert of this repertoire... So whilst experimenting with new styles, vocal production, choreography and repertoire, the group is challenged and ready to put out a concert with a difference, certainly different from the gospel, jazz style concerts that the group has already finished.

Soul Sounds is exclusively sponsored by DIMO, Deutsche Bank and Fairway Holdings for its 10 year celebrations, and none of the concerts would have been possible without their generous support.

Date – Sunday 15th June
Time – 7.30 pm
Venue – The Lionel Wendt

Tickets priced at Rs 2000, 1500, 1000 and 500 (Balcony) available at the Lionel Wendt for purchase.

By Hasna Saleem