Natasha’s ProfileFull name- Natasha Marie Rathnayake
Nick name- Nats, Natz, Natty, Natsy, Nat, Tash,
Height- 5.7'
Eye colour- Dark Brown
Singing styles- Soul, R&B, Jazz, Blues, Motown, Funk, pretty much anything really...
Life’s biggest achievement- Being able to do what I'm most passionate about. That to me is my greatest achievement ever! The rest are ALL secondary to me.
Life’s motto-
Treat others like you want to be treated in return.
You are never too old when it comes to learning something new.
There are no mistakes but only life lessons in life's journey.
She defines the word ‘entertainer’ to its maximum – starting off as a model and being a singing sensation at present.
Natasha has redefined entertainment with her electric energy and her ability to grab the attention of many, thanks to her beauty and vigour.
With her new music video in the pipeline, Team Life Online met up with her for an informal chat!
Natasha, you are one of the most inspiring, beautiful young singers in Sri Lanka. In a nutshell tell us how you came into the scene??
Firstly, I'm truly humbled to hear one say that about me as I've never done anything to toot my own horn but purely to survive and self-grow in the gifts and abilities God's given me as a human being.
I started modelling at a very early age as a 15 or 16 year old and it was around the same time that I took to singing professionally as well.
To cut a very long story short - how it all began was when I was looking for an apartment to move in to.
While signing the agreement the landlady, very casually asked me if I knew of any good female vocalists to join a then popular band named Dream Team as the present female vocalist was leaving the country.
Sheer desperation calls for brave and gutsy decisions I'd say... so I told her that I had no official voice training or any sort of professional training but had sung all my life in church and school choirs and maybe that would suffice for me to audition?
She, without batting an eyelid, encouraged me saying "Yes Natasha, you should. The auditions are next week.. Who knows what may happen?" Having got her approval and encouragement, I went for the audition the following week and the rest, as they say, is history.
It’s been one experience after another that has bought me to the place I am in today. It’s been a very long journey with much hardships along the way but I'm truly grateful and blessed by all of it as it has taught me so much and made me the person I am today and I wouldn't trade that for anything in this world.
I’ve seen the making of your new video, and I loved the backstage pics. Tell us why you chose Mount Lavinia and the other lovely locations in the island as opposed to some place aboard?
Speaking from a true Sri Lankan perspective, who is proud of her birth place, my question to you is ‘why shouldn't I choose locations in SL?’ We've got some of the most amazing places and not to mention some of the best beaches in the world and Mount Lavinia is pretty much like second home to me.. That's where I started my first gig as a singer/ entertainer and this hotel holds so many sentimental value and reasons in addition to being one of the most beautiful colonial hotels in SL. The management and staff have always been so kind and endearing to me and my family from the inception. So, why not?
If you hadn’t been inspired to be a singer, what would you have been?
Truth be told, I can't think of myself as being anything other than being a singer or entertainer as that’s all I know and I've always loved and respected the performing arts no matter how small the industry here is.
But if I ever wasn’t a musician I'd most definitely be a psychology, a humanitarian of some kind as I've always been fascinated by people, their behaviour and just to be able to study the subject in an in-depth way would give options to help humanity in general. Cliché as it sounds it is the truth.
I was watching this interview of Priyanka Chopra, where she says her life is not about the money or being famous – but about being great. So what’s your ultimate goal in life?
I relate to her statement or her thought process wholeheartedly.
I'm a firm believer of doing something one is passionate about wholeheartedly. If not what's the point? What good is it to anyone? Never do anything out of obligation. It will take you nowhere but tick off a box on your 'to do list' for that day".
I also believe in "completion" no matter how long it takes. My ultimate goal in life is to do whatever I am doing in that moment in time to the best of my ability, giving it all I've got!!! That to me is happiness!
Do you believe your sense of style and your glamorous looks contributed to your success as a singer?
As shallow and pretentious as it sounds, yes that's "just ONE" of the things that seemed to have gone in my favour.. but without God's favour, blessing, hard work and my support group in my life, I doubt I would have been able to achieve half the things I've achieved today.
So it's all in one combo I'd say and I've got a long, long more way to go as a singer, performer, dancer, and most importantly a human being and I'd like people to appreciate me for my talent than for my looks as one day it will be gone..
