BBC Radio 1's Stories - International Radio 1 - Nihal in Sri Lanka

Nihal heads to Sri Lanka's capital Colombo to ask the question: how does a music scene, set against a backdrop of war and conflict, develop and flourish? His journy takes him through the thriving Colombo music scene to see what is being produced 18 months after the end of the war between the government and Tamil Tigers. From the beach raves in the south to the well-established hip-hop scene, young Sri Lankans have found ways to create music relevant to them. This music not only represents daily lives and challenges but also mirrors experiences unique to those who live in an environment where the threat of violence is never far away. Nihal meets artists, producers, DJs, club owners and movers and shakers to hear how the music reflects a way of life. Among the colourful characters he meets are Tamil rapper, Krishan, who has set up his own studio and label and recently played huge gigs to hundreds of thousands of people in the north of the country (unheard of a year ago). Nihal also tracks down Iraj, king of Sri Lanka's music industry; club owner Gehan Fernandol; and the editor of an underground gay magazine in a society that hasn't yet accepted homosexuality. He also hears how hard it is for girls to party without their parents finding out. A White Pebble production for BBC Radio 1.