We are glad to have a well-known solo artist, Prathap Costa with stage name Costa, from Srilanka on our exclusive platform, He is such a unique artist we have met with and we can see that he is doing well in his current city, Jakobstad, Finland where he is doing music and making impact despite language barrier. He is unstoppable and “No Stress” about it.
He has left his home country for years, He also made it clear to us when asked how long he has been making music on this exclusive interview “I was a teenager with my previous band and have released 4 singles including 2 music videos. But after leaving my home country I was out of touch for almost two years” he disclosed to us exclusively.
He has also been a living proof that no artist knows that one particular song that will launch him/her to the world with his special experience as an artist. where one particular track launched him to the world.
when asked how he ended up in the music industry he made it clear that “During the school time through some random incidents we as few friends came up with a song called loweth na and it became pretty famous than we thought which led us to start a band and do music.
He disclosed more facts about himself in our exclusive interview.
Where are you from?
I’m from Srilanka an island in the Indian ocean and the city that I come from is Kandy which is also known as the Hill capital.
How long have you been making music?
I have been doing songs since I was a teenager with my previous band and have released 4 singles including 2 music videos. But after leaving my home country I was out of touch for almost two years but thinking about what I like I started producing music again as a solo artist and I have now done almost 5-6 songs and have released three songs. I have already released two music videos as well and planning doing the third one.
How many songs /albums have you released to date?
My latest release is a song called Maryam 64 which if translated to English would mean 64 illusions. But this phrase is a commonly used phrase in Srilanka when it comes to different tricks and talks that women do in order to make her look good. I named this song with this phrase because it’s the first word I start the song with and I myself thought it’s pretty catchy so I used it as the title. But in the content of the song, it explains about standing up by yourself believing your own dreams and not following the popularity at the same time it discusses some racial issues growing inside the country.
How have/did you ended up in the music industry?
As a kid I was not so well behaved so my parents thought that putting me to learn an instrument would discipline me and I was sent to violin classes when I was 12 or 13 years old. It was a struggle to learn that instrument because I was not much of a fan of the violin but later I learned that an oriental drum and when I was maybe 16/17 I learned how to play the guitar but through the force of my father that I should learn more. Learning the guitar made me do my own music and I started performing in school shows. But later during the school time through some random incidents, we as few friends came up with a song called loweth na and it became pretty famous than we thought which led us to start a band and do music.
What do you think of the music industry in 2016?
The year 2016 and the year 2015 as I think took music to a whole different level. lots of different Music, breaking barriers of stereotype genres and creating a new sound was established in these years. Especially in the hip hop industry, the songs which were released in 2015 reached 100% in the creativeness I suppose. The year 2016 has just started and you just have to wait and see for the surprises.
Who do you think is the most influential artist?
I cannot give a particular name of an influential artist since my music is influenced by a set of musicians from representing different genres. A$AP rocky, Tyler the Creator, Post Malone, Damien Marley, Mavado, Metro booming, Nirvana and so on.
Who have you collaborated with so far in your career?
I have not collaborated with any mainstream artists so far but all the collaborations I have done is with people who are from different countries who love music so we get together and try to create art.
How do you think you differ from other artists?
Every artist is Different from anybody out there when I listen to my music the only difference I feel that I have in my music is that I say what I feel with no restrictions and I honestly have fun with it. I do music because it makes me happy, and to do what you make you happy you just need to do you, in other words, be yourself, so the only difference that I have compared to other artists is that I’m doing me.
Who Will you love to have a collaboration with?
Well, this is a big dream, but if I mention a mainstream artist it would post Malone or Wiz khalifa , as a local artist I would like to do music with Indrachapa liyanage,
What was the first album you bought as an artist?
As an artist, I have not bought any album so far but I have bought music albums before I started doing music.
What’s your favorite song at the moment?
White Iverson by Post Malone. I’m quite sure that I have listened to that song over 300 times.
If you had to sell your music collection tomorrow, what album/track would you leave in your draw?
If I had to sell a track tomorrow, it would probably be Paavi paavi the second song I have released.
What is your Favorite saying?
My favorite saying is one of the things that my friend always used to say after each and every sentence which I got so used to and now It has stuck in my vocabulary so much that people think I invented it. The saying is # No stress
What other hobbies or interests do you have?
Other than music my hobbies are to design my own clothes, hanging out with friends spending time outside, Smoking the herb, watching documentaries and day-to-day lives of different celebrities.
Do you have any tattoos or piercings?
I have two tattoos one on my chest and one on my forearm. The one the chest is a bible verse and the one on the forearm is a design of a diamond and an eye combined together with a butterfly kind of design. And my both ears are pierced.
Tell us more about your upcoming project or this new project?
The most recent project I’m working on is my new music video for the Audio that I have released recently and these days I’m confused with a lot of concepts so working on that plus making some new music as well.
What’s in the pipeline after this project?
I’m keen on Releasing my EP after this and should focus more on finding live venues to perform my music. It’s a bit challenging because I live in a country where they don’t speak my language and where I’m not doing music in that particular language.
We are sure so many people want to listen to your latest releases if so listen to them
Fabulous.. Good on you son!
Proud of you brother. #onelove