When Sheyana Wijesingha was born London was swinging.
Jimi Hendrix and Cream were rocking and Led Zepplin were championing an infectious mix of rock and blues. But among this mix, pop and folk were just as popular. The musical era she was born into has left a profound mark on the singer-songwriter.
Sheyana moved to Tasmania from London as an eight year old and soon began making music of her own. Her own journey was preceded by her parents’ romantic meeting.
Her Sri Lankan father and Tasmanian mother met on a ship bound for England, and perhaps taking inspiration from their meeting, Sheyana’s songwriting is often romantic and illustrated with images of distance, yearning and love. Her voice is dipped in blues, rock and folk and with guitarist Scott Mainwaring it soars gently above an acoustic ballad, struts confidently to Mainwaring’s impassioned guitar licks and swaggers to candid tales of love and heartbreak.
With Mainwaring as a constant musical collaborator, Sheyana has carved out a musical niche for herself on Tasmania’s North West Coast. Her debut album Firehorse is a testament to her influence and the talent she gathers around her. And that talent has not gone unrecognized – Sheyana has recently supported some of Australia’s most respected musicians: Renee Geyer, Diesel, The Angels, Ian Moss and Bill Chambers among them.
Her songs from the soul are tempered with solid musicianship, both by Sheyana and Mainwaring, as well as the album’s contributors.
Catherine Gale August 2009
Having completed a number of recordings on a local and national level including, Bloomers: - Australian Women Singer/Songwriter compilation CD and Apple Slice compilation CD of Tasmanian Original Artists. Sheyana was commissioned to workshop, write and perform several songs for a committee Arts project titled "Hidden Caves, Common Ground", funded by the Australia Council as well as other community projects.
Sheyana has performed around Australia at numerous events, festivals and concerts, appeared on live radio in Sydney and ABC Tasmania. also played at Gone South 03, supported Ian Moss 02 and Renee Geyer in 04. In the middle of all that Sheyana released her debut album "Firehorse" featuring the single "Clear Pools of Blue" which had airplay on local AM and FM radio stations.
'Sheyana' made it to the finals of the ABC’s Fresh Air Competition with her song 'Two Birds'. Fresh Air was an ABC Radio Regional Production
Fund initiative, offering unsigned musicians living in regional Australia, who write and perform original adult
contempary music, the chance to be heard on ABC Radio across Australia and exposure to a world audience on ABC
online.
Sheyana is an experienced musician and artist and spends a major part of her life songwriting, performing, teaching, recording and working with an amazing talent of fellow musicians throughout Australia and is currently performing and recording with guitarist Scott Mainwaring.
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