There’s no easy way to describe Maria Soysa, brimming with talent, this singer, songwriter, drummer and radio personality is one of the most well known female musicians in the local English music circle. Whether she’s entertaining us with the best tunes on air or performing on stage, she’s truly unforgettable. “There are pictures of me singing and dancing for my parents and anyone who visited our house when I was around 3, so I guess it started then.” Maria fondly recalled. She began singing more seriously once she joined the church choir and received vocal training from a lady in the choir.

Besides singing, she taught herself to play drums at the age of 12 when her older brother, after watching her play on their mother’s pots and pans, invested in a drum kit for her. Truly gifted when it comes to music, she is also a dedicated lyricist, and believes in writing what she feels instead of just writing something that might agree with today’s pop audiences, stating that she finds it easier to express herself and communicate through her lyrics.

 

 

At just 13 years of age, she took a big leap in to the industry by participating in TNL Onstage. Singing 3 original songs, she made it to the finals; and the experience of singing on such a large stage cemented her decision to be a part of the entertainment industry.

“I saw the ad for the competition in the newspapers and showed it to my mother who was okay with the idea but my dad was not too keen for it. He was worried that my studies would be neglected. So I made a promise to him that I would always balance my music and studies properly to make sure I got good grades. And I kept it throughout my school days”

The talented beauty has been a part of a number of groups since then, from Restricted, Whirlwind and Magical Vinyl to name a few, and also has the distinction of being the first female vocalist for a metal band.

With the longevity of any band uncertain due to numerous unforeseen circumstances, Maria decided to focus instead on her solo career and has begun talks with a producer to start work on her first debut album. “Between work and studies (she is currently enrolled at the Trinity Academy of Music) I don’t have that much time, so I made the decision to cut back on performance to focus on the album.”

When asked to describe what the album would sound like, she said it would definitely have pop elements as she wants to embrace all genres, and firmly states that musicians should never be afraid to experiment with their music.

Known for her lively personality, (when asked to describe herself she breaks out in to laughter before cheekily saying, “Tell them to Google Maria”) her position as a radio broadcasting executive perfectly complements her.

Aspiring early on to be a radio personality, at 21 she was instead given the opportunity to join a station as a newsreader, “I took the job but made it clear I would love to be an RP if a position opened up, and thankfully my boss who was also a RP gave me that chance. It was a challenge at first but I love a good challenge and the satisfaction you get when you achieve what you wanted.” Maria explained.

 

 

“There’s this saying Jennifer Lopez uses, “If you can’t go in through the front door, go in through the back”, and I firmly believe in that! Be patient, work hard and always be positive that things will happen.” She added.

2 years later, she joined the TNL Radio Network, where she’s gained first hand experience on not only excelling as an RP but also learning what happens behind the scenes at a station. “I want to grow as a professional in the radio industry by learning as much as I can and help to improve our standards. The industry is constantly changing and we have to change with it to keep people interested.” She said eagerly.

 

 

Running between work, studies and singing, Maria credits her job for teaching her valuable time management skills.” It’s funny because as a child I use to stay up late watching Vh1, and when my mother asked why, I told her I was training myself for my job; so it all worked out well.”

As a successful female entertainer in the industry, Maria’s wise words of advice to any one looking to break into the market is, “Decide if this is what you want, whether to be famous or established as an artist. It’s not easy and you won’t always get everything you want at once; you must work hard for it. Plan everything, be patient and stay focused. Don’t ever let go of your dreams, if you don’t believe in them, no one else will! 

 

 

 

 

By Lake Argent

Pics courtesy of Pavithra De Mello