HAVING SUNG FOR THE QUEEN AT THE MILLENNIUM COUNTDOWN IN LONDON, AND PERFORMED WITH THE LIKES OF SIR VAN MORRISON, JAMIE CULLUM AND BURT BACHARACH, DOCTOR TURNED MUSICIAN SUMUDU JAYATILAKA HAS JUST RELEASED HER NEW ALBUM ‘FOR ALL WE KNOW’
WORDS: Tina Edward Gunawardhana
Brit Sri Lankan Sumudu Jayatilaka is a singer-songwriter who has ascended the notoriously difficult music ladder in the UK. Despite spending six years studying and acquiring a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) degree, it was a career in music that beckoned. Her rich velvety voice has earned her the respect of legendary performing artistes such as Sir Van Morrison, Burt Bacharach, Peabo Bryson, Jamie Cullum, all of whom she has performed with.
Sumudu holds the distinction of being probably the only Sri Lankan who has sung at iconic venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, The London Palladium and Ronnie Scott’s. Her latest jazz album ‘For All We Know’ is released on all digital platforms. The album is a collection of songs that have played an important part in her career written by some of her favourite songwriters including Harold Arlen to Lennon and McCartney.
How old were you when you first started singing?
I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t singing. It was just part of learning to speak. Probably around two years old. We were always singing in my family.
When did you realise you wanted a career in music?
It took me a long time to believe there was such a thing as a career in music! Many other people told me I should have done it long before I ever thought I could. I was studying medicine and found myself being asked to sing ‘Alfie’ for Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s concert at The Royal Albert Hall. That was a big turning point. It still took some time even after that.
When and where were you professionally trained to sing?
Singing came naturally to me. I’ve had no formal training but I was immersed in music from a young age. I sang in the choir and I learned a lot through that. I sang jazz in the swing band and took part in music festivals and speech and drama festivals. I’m sure that helped with interpreting lyrics. I had piano, violin and flute lessons and there are many transferable skills such as ear development and pitch, phrasing. I learned to sing largely through listening and singing along with great singers.
