Yohani decodes the viral success of Manike Mage Hithe – News
The Sri Lankan singer tells us about her well-liked cowl of the Sinhala monitor.
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Someday in the midst of this yr, a little-known Sri Lankan singer-songwriter conquered the Web with a Sinhala track. The music video of the extraordinarily infectious romantic monitor went viral everywhere in the world in a single day, raking in over 176 million views and relying on YouTube. The 28-year-old singer captivated the hearts of tens of millions of viewers together with her coy smile, dulcet tone and girlish manner.
Yohani de Silva’s peppy cowl of Manike Mage Hithe – initially launched in 2020 by Satheeshan Rathnayaka – grew to become so well-liked that a number of variations of the track, in numerous languages, surfaced on-line, together with in English, Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Telugu and Malayalam, amongst others. US violinist Karolina Protsenko’s instrumental model of the track whereas busking in California has additionally gone viral.
Not solely that, Bollywood additionally bought hooked to the quantity. Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan shared a parody video that confirmed him shaking a leg to the track. Tiger Shroff wowed us as he swayed to the beats of the track. Madhuri Dixit admitted her fascination for the track by sharing a clip. “Coz I really like this track,” she wrote.
Now, followers within the UAE will likely be excited to know that Yohani has been chosen by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau to carry out in Dubai quickly. She will likely be headlining at Expo 2020 Dubai within the first week of March 2022. “Sure, I’ve been to Dubai as soon as (in 2019). And sure, I’m coming to Dubai quickly to carry out,” Yohani instructed Metropolis Occasions, with out confirming any dates.
We caught up with the busy singer, throughout her tour of India, to debate how she feels about changing into an in a single day sensation, her fascination with Bollywood, A.R. Rahman’s music and her early days. Excerpts from the interview:
ON THE SUCCESS OF MANIKE MAGE HITHE:
What’s it about Manike Mage Hithe that anybody who hears it could possibly’t cease buzzing or grooving to the beats of the quantity? How does that make you are feeling?
Firstly, I’m very excited and obsessed with my music. There’s nothing higher for an artist than to see the crowds singing alongside to your music. I’ve skilled that feeling earlier once I used to carry out in pubs, and now, I’m getting that sort of response in my live shows, too. I do my finest every time or wherever I carry out, whether or not it’s a pub or it’s an enormous live performance.
You began your music profession by gigging in inns and have become an in a single day world sensation. Did you ever anticipate that your track would scale such phenomenal heights?
It nonetheless seems like a dream. It’s unreal – assembly so many celebrities and individuals who I’ve appeared as much as whereas rising up. I’m nonetheless adjusting to the large love and assist that’s coming my method. It’s overwhelming, however I’m humbled and grateful. I want to assume that I’m a easy particular person.
Has all this adulation modified you in any method?
I really like music and experimenting with it, in order that hasn’t modified for me. You will note it in my subsequent music video. Consider me, I haven’t had a single day of relaxation because the track (Manike Mage Hithe) was launched. I haven’t even had the prospect to step into and conceal in my studio (my glad place) ever since (the track grew to become successful).
Manike Mage Hithe has a common enchantment to it. The quantity has spawned a number of variations in regional languages like Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, and even Kokborok (Tripura). There are additionally viral instrumental variations. What do you assume makes individuals get hooked to the track?
It’s actually an honour to know that my track has been so well-received. I actually don’t perceive many of those languages (the track is being rendered in), but it surely’s wonderful to know that music actually speaks a number of languages, and with none boundaries.”
At its coronary heart, Manike Mage Hithe is a love track – a canopy model of a Sinhala authentic. What impressed you to come back out along with your model, which has a teen-pop vibe to it?
The track was initially produced by Chamath Sangeeth and sung by Satheeshan Rathnayaka. It has lyrics by Dulan ARX, who can also be a rap artiste. Chamath and I’ve recognized one another for a very long time. He helped me throughout the early phases of my profession. It occurred that throughout the Covid lockdown, I recorded a piano model of Manike Mage Hithe in my house studio and put it up on TikTok.
Chamath occurred to look at it. He then referred to as me up and stated, ‘Let’s do an official cowl of this track with the unique singer’. The subsequent day, I landed at his studio solely to understand that he had introduced in a whole video crew as properly. At this level, we hadn’t even labored on a fundamental monitor for the (track) recording. Nevertheless, he had already achieved a monitor and requested me to sing on it, and that’s how this model of Manike Mage Hithe got here into being.”
The track has now obtained over 176 million views on YouTube and the quantity is rising by the day. To what would you attribute the success of the quantity?
Truthfully, I don’t know. We did this undertaking for enjoyable. We by no means had any technique nor a advertising and marketing plan (to advertise the track) for it.
ON BOLLYWOOD/PERFORMING IN INDIA:
We heard that you simply’re an enormous Bollywood fan. How does it really feel coming to India and getting all this adulation, particularly from a number of the largest stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, and Madhuri Dixit; Tiger Shroff even danced to your track?
I nonetheless don’t know the best way to comprehend all of this. It seems like a dream. I hope that they are going to proceed to take heed to my music.
Did you get pleasure from performing in India along with your band Lunu?
Each the live shows (Gurugram, Hyderabad) that I carried out in India had been very profitable. The most important shock for me was seeing the group responding to Sinhala songs. I’m grateful that the viewers appreciated my music regardless of the language barrier. I need to give particular because of my band Lunu for having my again. They’ve been there proper from the start.
Is it true you’re an enormous fan of A.R. Rahman? Have you ever reached out to him for any collaborations but?
Sure, I’m an enormous fan of Rahman. It is going to be a terrific honour for me to work with him. I’ve tried to achieve out to him (for a collaboration) however no luck as but. I’m conserving my fingers crossed, that I’ll get a chance to work with him sooner or later.
ON HER MUSIC:
Your music incorporates people influences, which appears to be the primary hook in your hit track. Is that the rationale the track attracted so many music lovers?
Really, I’m influenced by many genres of music and a wide range of artistes. I attempt to incorporate all of that and my experiences into my music, and I at all times collaborate with the producers I work with. I actually can’t put a finger on what labored finest (within the track). However I attempt to do my finest in each track. It’s not like I’ve a technique or a concept (to compose music). I simply lock myself within the studio, check out totally different devices, and totally different combos. That’s it.
Rapping was not widespread in Sri Lankan pop music till you discovered a technique to convey it to the fore and incomes the title ‘Rap Princess of Sri Lanka’. Inform us about that?
There was rapping earlier, however a feminine artist rapping was one thing new within the Sri Lankan music scene. I began doing rap covers as a result of I merely loved rapping. Once I returned to Sri Lanka (from Australia) to pursue music, I labored with a number of producers and artistes and learnt rather a lot from them. I’m nonetheless studying and attempting to do my finest each time.
If given an opportunity to carry out with a world artist, who wouldn’t it be?
A dream state of affairs can be a collaboration with both Eminem or Kanye West.
A Hindi model of your hit monitor (Manike Mage Hithe) is being composed by Tanishk Bagchi for the Ajay Devgn starrer, Thank God. What else are you engaged on?
Proper now, I’m specializing in releasing my debut album. I hope individuals will prefer it. In fact, I need to proceed making music and performing.
ON HER EARLY DAYS:
How did music occur for you? When did you will have that light-bulb second that led you to take up music as a profession?
After finishing my grasp’s in skilled accounting in Melbourne, Australia, I had two decisions – both to remain again and quiet down or come again to Sri Lanka and begin (life) another time. Music was my ardour even whereas I used to be finding out there (Australia). I used to do cowl songs every time I bought a break from research. I lastly determined to return to Sri Lanka, take up the problem and pursue music as my future profession.”
You’ve additionally lived and studied in London. Did the publicity overseas affect your music in any method?
Rather a lot. I’ve been lucky sufficient to fulfill inspirational individuals all over the world. I feel they pushed me to do one thing I really like.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF YOHANI:
What’s a typical day for Yohani – apply, work, chilling out, watching motion pictures or one thing else?
Normally, I begin my day with a exercise, then do voice coaching, and naturally, get busy with recordings and practising with my band. Chilling out hasn’t been part of my every day routine for a very long time now. However I attempt to take a break throughout the week, after each third day, once I play sports activities or go diving (Yohani was a celebrated swimmer and water polo participant in class).
How has life modified for you after attaining fame? Do you get mobbed open air?
I’m actually discovering it tough to regulate to it (fame). Folks recognise me in every single place, however I at all times speak to everybody I meet and be pleasant (with them). I’m humbled and grateful (for the success).
What retains you humble, even after attaining stardom?
I need to point out that I didn’t get into music for fame. I wished to do it as a result of I really like music. I’m true to the music. It’s humbling to see individuals embracing my music. However I need to say that I’ve much more to study and that I’m studying one thing new each single day. I don’t assume any quantity of fame will change who I’m. I stated this once I launched my debut single (Aaye), too.
Lastly, any recommendation for budding YouTube performers?
Do what you like. Don’t take heed to anybody who tells you in any other case. Teamwork is essential. It’s (making music movies) not one thing you are able to do alone.
About Manike Mage Hithe
Manike Mage Hithe is a Sinhala romantic monitor sung by a person to a lady that expresses his admiration of her. The unique was carried out in 2020 by Satheeshan Rathnayaka, who additionally options in Yohani’s cowl model that was launched in Might 2021 and went viral in three months. The track was produced by Chamath Sangeeth throughout the Covid lockdown in Sri Lanka. The track has appeared on TikTok and Instagram Reels. The quantity has variations in a number of South Asian languages, however the Tamil and Malayalam variations have been achieved by Yohani.
