A Christmas Celebration at The Cliff Weligama
We sit down with Q to talk about the music that shaped her, the stories behind her voice, and the joy of performing live. Ahead of her Christmas Eve and Day performances at The Cliff Weligama, she shares her inspirations, her journey as a musician, and the moments of connection that make music so special during the festive season.
Before we talk about the music, can you tell us a little about you where your story began, how music found its way into your life, and when you first realised that performing was something you wanted to pursue.
From the time I was six I’ve loved being onstage doing dance shows, plays, films. I was always obsessed with distinct voices like Nina Simone or Billie Holiday so singing came gradually as I joined show choirs, talent competitions and vocal workshops. Later on in university I developed a deeper appreciation for music when I started listening widely andgoing to gigs. Understanding how music could be soothing, motivating and life-affirmingreally made me think about what it meant to take this on as a career.
What makes a song timeless for you? Is it the melody, the lyrics, the story or something more difficult to define?
It is a combination of melody, lyrics, story AND vocals! I’m a lyricist first, so I consider it to be the heart of the song which will inform every vocal and production choice that comes after. I also think a good bassline instantly makes a song iconic!
Beyond the stage, what have you been listening to lately? Is there an artist, record or song you feel deserves to be discovered?
Right now, I’m in the middle of mixing songs for my new EP so it’s been a lot of my own stuff hahaha! I’ve loved listening to the new albums by some of my favourite artists this year including “Superbloom” by Jessie Ware and “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love” by Olivia Rodrigo.
What does Sri Lanka mean to you as a musician? Has being here changed the way you listen, perform or experience music in any way?
Yes! Sri Lanka has offered me the space and time to grow as a musician without feeling the pressure to be a certain type of way. There’s so much potential here to try and be different things! We’re now living in a renaissance for live music in Sri Lanka so I always attend gigs with a lot of gratitude because there weren’t a huge number of them when I was younger. It can however be restrictive Soul/Jazz/RnB are still niche genres which are underappreciated here, but I’ve not changed my style because I’m confident it’ll grow on people.
What do you think makes a live performance truly memorable for the artist as much as for the audience?
When the crowd is vibing to the music just as much as the artist is! I put a lot of thought into my setlists so it’s super lovely when the audience is engaging with it.
If someone were discovering your music for the first time, what would you hope they understand about you through your voice?
Everything I create is made with the intention of being as radically honest and accepting of myself. I’m not perfect, I’m messy and I tend to feel many things on a molecular level so I’m hoping that by talking about my own experiences (good and bad), people are encouraged enough to accept their own multiplicity.
Christmas has its own particular mood nostalgic, intimate and celebratory. What kind of feeling would you like to create when you perform at The Cliff this Christmas?
Joy! I always approach every gig with positivity and a desire to create a safe space and I’m grateful that as a musician, we get to create little moments of joy and respite for people.
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