Jackson turns hard on drums

Chamikara Weerasinghe

Ranil Senarath, musically and lovably known as Jackson or Jackey, the drummer of Stigmata will have to make a couple of tough decisions shortly.

Jackey is sure about one thing that he will not give up drumming. He is looking forward to find flexibility so that he will be able to hit his favourite instrument, the drum.

He is determined not to lose a trick as far as his musical career is concerned , no matter what cards may be laid on the table.

When I first met him at Clancy's at Rock Unplugged, which was organised by the Rock Company, Jackson said in his friendly voice that he wanted to show me a picture.

He showed a picture of a beautiful young lady and asked me what I would think about her.

I did not know anything about her and Jackson was waiting for an answer from me with a schoolboy smile, and then he said," This is Malina, the girl I love and I am planning to marry her next year."

Jackson , former member of Picaso Recess, left that band because of his desire to play drums on a fixed basis. " I wanted to play with a band like Stigmata, that's why I had to leave Picaso Recess," he said.

Jackson is currently getting ready to contribute to Stigmata's next album with his pair of sticks. The following is an interview with Jackson on his musical career.

Why did you choose an instrument like the drum instead of an instrument like the guitar or the keyboards?

I used to love rhythm and beat patterns even from my school days save my urge to play a drum , which came later. Rhythm and beats are the main important parts in a song. There can be no song without rhythm, or without the presence of beats whether they be silent or accentuated.

In fact I liked dancing very much during my school years at Trinity College in Kandy.

I did my Advanced Level exams in 2001. I was a prefect at college. There was this annual prefects' concert called "Thrit Tharanga" at the school.

In our particular year they were looking for a drummer to perform in an instrumental item.

The Prefects' Board asked me if I could undertake the task of drumming .

I was not serious about playing a drum then, but I said, "I could give it a try." That's how I slowly budge myself into drumming.

How did you develop your technique?

I got myself a couple of X-ray sheets and a pair of sticks to experiment with. I still have them at home. Whenever I go to Kandy I lock my room and start striking them. I mean I still like practising with my old X-ray sheets because I believe it is one of the most effective ways to develop your drumming technique.

Please explain how you use these X-ray sheets for your practising purposes?

I lay one X-ray sheet on a chair, tighten their ends from either sides with gum tape.

The other of course I put in a "chily chily" bag (polythene bag)and place on another chair with a stapler machine inside it to serve as a weight so that it won't move when you play.

How do you keep pace with time?

Drumming involves concentration. Practising is all about that to get your beats right on time. It may be called a form of meditation as with the aspect of concentrating.

Didn't your parents complain against the noise you were making in the house with your domestic practice sessions?

NO. They were very supportive. Their help has been invaluable for my career as a drummer.

I have a brother who can play bass guitar and we used to play together.

Amma (the mother) bought us our instruments, a bass guitar, a rhythm guitar, a flute, and a set of Tablas. Jackson is an employee belonging to the banking sector. I asked him how he manages his person as drummer in a key heavy metal band in the country. I must admit that it is not without difficulties I handle all this. And I must also confess that my superiors have been so kind.

How did you join Stigmata?

I used to be a fan of Stigmata before I joined the outfit in 2005 at a time Suresh (vocalist), Tenny (guitarist) , Andrew(guitarist) and Wije (guitarist) were looking for a drummer. I played for Stigmata's Silent Chaos Serpentine album in that year after three weeks of strenuous practice. I got acquainted with them at show by them played in Colombo named Black Christmas in December 2002.

Do you have any particular influences on your make up as a drummer?

Yes, I am greatly influenced by drummers, Vinnie Paul of Pantera, Richard Christie of Death, Chris Adlor of Lamb of God, Joey Jordison of Slipknot and David Groel of Nirvana.

I like Tyronne Silva a lot , a local drummer playing in Germany. He is a session musician there and I learn from him.

The King of Sinhhala film song

Hi folks,

I would not have been prompted to write something of the sort in this column had I not read this article by Jayantha Anandappa titled "H.R. Jothipala, A national icon?", published in 2006 in an English newspaper on September 4 among my collection.

The writer argues that it was print and electronic media that has glorified the late playback singer of yesteryear -H.R. Jothipala to make him look a national icon.

He had said, "Though from time to time Jothipala sang original (uncopied songs) tunes, it is not unfair to say that he made a name and a living by generally singing copied Hindustani film songs (mostly for third rate commercial films, and for the radio or private recordings)."

It is very difficult to understand what Anandappa was trying to point out with these words in parenthesis than what he says about the singer's copied singing of Hindustani film songs. The former has nothing to do with Jothipala being a singer.

Besides Jothipala was not just a singer. He was a movie star. He did the right thing by contributing with his voice to the scene.

In fact, Jothipala received much less publicity from print and electronic media when one compares him to an artist like Elvis Presley who became a superstar by virtue of singing copied old black rhythm-and-blues songs in the same way Jothipala copied Hindustani songs.

Pardon me if Presley sounds too big to be compared with Jothipala, but that's what he did. Presley too sang original songs from time to time, so did Jothipala. Presley legitimated rhythm-and blues music as rock-and roll. Jothipala legitimated Hindustani songs which he sang with Sinhala lyrics as Sinhala film songs.

Presley was a good singer. He never stripped the vitality of the original songs he sang. So did Jothipala he never stripped the vitality of the originality of those Hindustani tunes he sang.

Presley did not sing out of key. So did not Jothipala. Presley's voice had a strong carrying power. So did Jothipala's voice.

They both sang copied songs. I do not know whether Presley is a national icon, except that he is called the King of Rock-and-roll. But if Presley is a national icon, I do not see any reason why Jothipala cannot be so. And I do not mind calling Jothipala, "The King of Sinhala Film Song."

Chamikara