Chitral Somapala

Chitral "Chity" Somapala
Birth name	Chandana Chitral Somapala
Born	4 November 1966 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Genres	Rock, Heavy metal, Power metal
Occupations	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, bass, Chapman Stick, guitar
Years active	1986–present
Labels	Allister Records, Omega Records, EMI, Dwell Records, MTM Music, Massacre Records, Century Media Records, Metal Heaven, LMP,
Associated acts	Power Quest, Civilization One, Rekuiem, Red Circuit, Firewind, Avalon, Faro, Domain, David Shankle - Group

Chitral "Chity" Somapala (born 4 November 1966) is a Sri Lankan hard rock and heavy metal vocalist and former lead singer of power metal band Power Quest. He is better known for his work with the now disbanded European Power Metal band Civilization One. Somapala gained a limited popularity in his home country Sri Lanka due to his Sinhala language track "Nadee Ganga Tharanaye" which was released in 1998.

Biography

Chitral "Chity" Somapala was born into a famous musical family in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 4 November 1966. Both parents, P.L.A. and Chitra Somapala were renowned Sri Lankan singers. They both contributed on the soundtrack of the film Asoka. P.L.A. Somapala was also working as a film music composer, arranger and producer.

At the age of 10 Chitral "Chity" Somapala started with guitar lessons. He switched to electric bass with 14 years and began singing soon thereafter. At the young age of 17 he was able to hit the Top 40 nightclub circuit in Colombo, and ended up gigging with the leading bands and artists of the country.

In 1985 he joined the Sri Lankan band Shock, an alternative band founded by Diliup Gabadamudalige, the pioneer of computer based music production in Sri Lanka and main figure of the modern music scene of the country.

In 1986, Somapala traveled to Europe (Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Finland) as the bassist and singer of a Top 40 band called Rendezvous later named "Friends". The band managed to back many well known artists in these countries.

After touring for sometime from club to club, playing Top 40 Hits, he decided in 1994 to leave this scene to concentrate only as a vocalist to follow his dream of original hard rock/heavy metal. In 1996 he joined a popular German underground metal act called Court Jester and recorded the album Forced to Believe, which received favourable reviews throughout the European press.

Style

Chitral has been compared favourably to Ronnie James Dio (Black Sabbath/Heaven & Hell) and Klaus Meine (Scorpions).

Work

Chitral "Chity" Somapala live in 2009

In 1998, he contributed the song "Nadee Ganga Tharanaye" for a TV/radio commercial for the Lion beer company in Sri Lanka, which was very much in demand in the country, unique as it was a song with lyrics in Sinhala language sung with a hard rock/metal touch.

Shortly thereafter, he joined Avalon, a German melodic power/progressive band as frontman and lead singer.^[1] In cooperation with others, Avalon was produced by Charlie Bauerfeind (who also produced such acts as Helloween, Gamma Ray, Blind Guardian, Saxon, etc.). Avalon's third album, Vision Eden, received excellent reviews in the international press and the Vision Eden tour saw Avalon as a support act for bands like HammerFall, Uriah Heep, Metallica, Motörhead, Royal Hunt, Pink Cream 69, and many others.

During the summer of 2000 he participated on Avalon's 4th album Eurasia under the hands of Sascha Paeth, who is known for his work with Rhapsody, Kamelot, Heaven's Gate, Angra and others. On Eurasia there can be heard some of the Asian musical influences from his home country Sri Lanka (Music of Sri Lanka).

Besides the vocal parts on Eurasia, Somapala can be heard playing the Chapman Stick. The release of Eurasia was followed by a European tour with Metalium. Avalon disbanded shortly thereafter.

In 2002 he contributed the "Greenland's Theme" for the Isipathana International Rugby Championships in Sri Lanka with Frank Rohles, who happened to be the guitarist of the German Queen tribute band Innuendo. After this session, he formed a melodic rock outfit together with Frank Rohles, called Faro.^[2] The band released Dawn of Forever through MTM Music in summer 2003, and that year he also completed the album Echoes of a Nightmare with the Swedish Symphonic Metal band Moonlight Agony.^[3] Also in 2002, he contributed powerful and soulful vocals for several songs on the album Metanoia, an independent musical project by WOLFF. Once again, he skills as a Chapman Stick player were also used in the song "Rut System" (Metanoia).

At the end of 2003 he was auditioned by the young Greek guitar virtuso Gus G to join Firewind for a January 2004 headling tour of Japan. After the successful Japanese tour, Gus G asked Somapala to join the band on a permanent basis, and they started sharing ideas for the third Firewind album. The result of their collaboration, Forged by Fire entered the Japanese TOP 100 and received excellent reviews all over the world. After a tour with Hammerfall during their Ice Breaker Festivals Somapala decided to leave the band in 2005.^[4]

In 2006 he founded his own band Civilization One, which released the album Revolution Rising in 2007. Civilization One disbanded in 2010.^[5]

He is currently recording and performing with the German band Red Circuit and the British classic rock/metal band Rekuiem, one of the founder members of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement back in the 1980s.^[6]

In May 2010 Somapala joined the British power metal band Power Quest.^[7] After, 17 months and an album release (Blood Alliance) with Power Quest, Somapala left the band on amicable terms. ^[8]

Discography

• 1996 - Court Jester - Forced To Believe (Allister Records)
• 1998 - Avalon - Vision Eden (Omega Records)
• 2000 - Avalon - Eurasia (Omega Records)
• 2001 - Another Piece of Metal - Tribute To Scorpions (Dwell Records)
• 2002 - Shadowkeep - A Chaos Theory - (LMP) - Backing Vocals
• 2002 - WOLFF - Metanoia - (LEICO Music, LC-7701) - Guest Vocals (some songs)
• 2003 - Faro - Dawn Of Forever (MTM Music)
• 2003 - MTM Compilation - Volume 9 (MTM Music)
• 2004 - Final Chapter - The Wizard Queen (Underground Symphony) - Guest Vocals
• 2004 - Moonlight Agony - Echoes Of A Nightmare (Massacre Records)
• 2004 - Mystic Prophecy - Never Ending (Nuclear Blast) - Backing Vocals
• 2004 - Firewind - Forged By Fire (Emi/Toshiba)
• 2005 - Firewind - Forged By Fire (Century Media Records)
• 2006 - Faro - Angelost (MTM Music)
• 2006 - Red Circuit - Trance State (LMP)
• 2007 - Civilization One - Revolution Rising (Metal Heaven)
• 2007 - Moonlight Agony - Silent Waters (Massacre Records)
• 2009 - Red Circuit - Homeland (Limb Music)
• 2010 - Civilization One - Calling the Gods (Metal Heaven)
• 2011 - Power Quest - Blood Alliance (Napalm Records)

References

1. ^ Dillon, Charlotte. "Biography: Avalon". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/avalon-p295253/biography. Retrieved 30 December 2010. 
2. ^ "Faro commence recording second album Angelost". Blabbermouth.net. 22 August 2005. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=40723. Retrieved 30 December 2010. 
3. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Biography: Moonlight Agony". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/moonlight-agony-p693220/. Retrieved 30 December 2010. 
4. ^ "Firewind guitarist talks about Allegiance album, upcoming U.S. tour". Blabbermouth.net. 11 April 2007. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=70330. Retrieved 30 December 2010. 
5. ^ "Civilization One calls it quits". Blabbermouth.net. 23 March 2010. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=137248. Retrieved 30 December 2010. 
6. ^ "Rekuiem begins recording new album". Blabbermouth.net. 18 July 2009. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=123828. Retrieved 30 December 2010. 
7. ^ "Power Quest announces new singer, guitarist". Blabbermouth.net. 9 May 2010. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=139793. Retrieved 30 December 2010. 
8. ^ "Chity Somapala leaves Power Quest". Steve Williams. 3 October 2011. http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/power-quest/718980-chity-somapala-leaves-power-quest.html#post10021100. Retrieved 3 October 2011. 

External links

• Chitral "Chity" Somapala official website (English)
• Chitral "Chity" Somapala on myspac (English)
• Civilization One (band) (English)
• Civilization One Streetteam (English)
• Rekuiem (band) (English)
• Rekuiem official website (English)
• Red Circuit (band) (English)
• Red Circuit official website
• Modern Music School
• Facebook Account

Persondata
Name	Chitral "Chity" Somapala
Alternative names	Chity
Short description	Musician, singer
Date of birth	4 November 1966
Place of birth	Colombo, Sri Lanka
Date of death
Place of death