An Interview with Dunali Hettiarachchi!
We recently interviewed a teen singer for the Cliché Teen Journal Interview Blog page.
Read about the interview below!
*A conversation with Dunali Hettiarachchi, a 16 year old singer.*
Question 1: When did you first start singing or playing your musical instrument?
I started to play keyboard in the third grade, at the age of 9. At an early age dad made me listen to Eric Clapton and B.B King, so little me fell in love with music. I started to dance and sing as soon as I heard a song. The first time I performed in front of an audience was at the age of 11.
Question 2: What drew you towards your love for music?
The feeling of the adrenaline pumping when I heard a special song. When I heard/hear THAT note, THAT guitar, THAT voice it hits me, I feel no pain at all. When my words fail to speak, music speaks. Music is my escape from the real world.
Question 3: What musicians/bands/singers are you inspired by?
So, this is a really tough question. You see, I always change my music icons. Yes, I absolutely LOVE Beyoncé, John Mayer, Billie Eilish, Sam smith but honestly, I admire all musicians that tells a story within songs. Jessie Reyez for an example. Musicians that makes you FEEL the music, that is inspiring.
Question 4: What do you enjoy the most about being a singer/musician?
To be able to sing what you feel. You can hit the audience with emotions. You can make them feel valuable. You can decide what you want them to feel. The part that I like the most is making the crowd feel special, you can literally make a person happy with music.
Question 5: How would you describe your “sound”/genre of music you like to play or sing?
I usually play/sing “mainstream” pop songs but I also have a mixed style with blues, soul.
Question 6: What is your goal in the musical career pathway?
Imagine driving in your car during a stunning sunset. Your listening to the radio and then you suddenly hear your own song. That is my goal.
Question 7: What qualities do you believe a good musician/singer should possess?
Okay, let me tell you all a secret. Everyone can sing. Yes, it’s true but only if you practice. A good musician should embrace their feelings not hide them. It may be difficult at first, but I think music should come directly from the heart.
Question 8: How do you feel when you sing/play music?
I feel different, depending on which song I sing/play. Songs about love makes me adore the words. Songs about dreams and goals makes me feel that no one can stop me. Songs about people being insecure, being bullied makes me vomit out the words with pain. The songs that makes me feel unstoppable are the ones that makes me alive.
Question 9: What is the best advice you were ever given (Doesn’t have to relate to singing)?
“No one is you, that is your power”. No one is you, no one can copy you. You are unique. Show everyone WHO YOU ARE. Who are you? What makes you, you? What’s your story? What’s YOUR DREAM? DO NOT LET ANYONE TELL YOU WHAT DREAMS YOU SHOULD HAVE. DO NOT LET ANYONE SAY THAT YOUR DREAMS ARE TOO BIG. Dreams are made to be big, they are made to make you feel like you’re on cloud nine.
DO NOT GIVE UP AND PROVE THEM WRONG.
“WORK HARD IN SILENCE, LET SUCCESS MAKE THE NOISE”.
VIEW DUNALI'S INSTAGRAM PAGE: @Dunali.h
Link to her singing: PRESS BUTTON BELOW!
I started to play keyboard in the third grade, at the age of 9. At an early age dad made me listen to Eric Clapton and B.B King, so little me fell in love with music. I started to dance and sing as soon as I heard a song. The first time I performed in front of an audience was at the age of 11.
Question 2: What drew you towards your love for music?
The feeling of the adrenaline pumping when I heard a special song. When I heard/hear THAT note, THAT guitar, THAT voice it hits me, I feel no pain at all. When my words fail to speak, music speaks. Music is my escape from the real world.
Question 3: What musicians/bands/singers are you inspired by?
So, this is a really tough question. You see, I always change my music icons. Yes, I absolutely LOVE Beyoncé, John Mayer, Billie Eilish, Sam smith but honestly, I admire all musicians that tells a story within songs. Jessie Reyez for an example. Musicians that makes you FEEL the music, that is inspiring.
Question 4: What do you enjoy the most about being a singer/musician?
To be able to sing what you feel. You can hit the audience with emotions. You can make them feel valuable. You can decide what you want them to feel. The part that I like the most is making the crowd feel special, you can literally make a person happy with music.
Question 5: How would you describe your “sound”/genre of music you like to play or sing?
I usually play/sing “mainstream” pop songs but I also have a mixed style with blues, soul.
Question 6: What is your goal in the musical career pathway?
Imagine driving in your car during a stunning sunset. Your listening to the radio and then you suddenly hear your own song. That is my goal.
Question 7: What qualities do you believe a good musician/singer should possess?
Okay, let me tell you all a secret. Everyone can sing. Yes, it’s true but only if you practice. A good musician should embrace their feelings not hide them. It may be difficult at first, but I think music should come directly from the heart.
Question 8: How do you feel when you sing/play music?
I feel different, depending on which song I sing/play. Songs about love makes me adore the words. Songs about dreams and goals makes me feel that no one can stop me. Songs about people being insecure, being bullied makes me vomit out the words with pain. The songs that makes me feel unstoppable are the ones that makes me alive.
Question 9: What is the best advice you were ever given (Doesn’t have to relate to singing)?
“No one is you, that is your power”. No one is you, no one can copy you. You are unique. Show everyone WHO YOU ARE. Who are you? What makes you, you? What’s your story? What’s YOUR DREAM? DO NOT LET ANYONE TELL YOU WHAT DREAMS YOU SHOULD HAVE. DO NOT LET ANYONE SAY THAT YOUR DREAMS ARE TOO BIG. Dreams are made to be big, they are made to make you feel like you’re on cloud nine.
DO NOT GIVE UP AND PROVE THEM WRONG.
“WORK HARD IN SILENCE, LET SUCCESS MAKE THE NOISE”.
VIEW DUNALI'S INSTAGRAM PAGE: @Dunali.h
Link to her singing: PRESS BUTTON BELOW!