A singer who ends up playing the harmonica while playing the guitar was just pleasant to watch for a change as he blew through making moving tunes through his instruments together with his mates. Buddhi De Mel the Songwriter, Composer, Vocalist and co-founder of the band greets me with one of his hit songs – the Jingy Bingy Blues. I felt as I was in a trance listening to the expressive music of Wagon Park as their music was pleasing and very convincing, quickly had to snap out of it to continue with the interview with the band.

I asked Buddhi as to how this came about, “It started in 2007 when I together with Maldivian originated Fira met at college and got to know each other through jamming to covers and to my originals. The two of us dropped out of college and got hold of Maddha and Mahesh from my hometown to jam with us as an acoustic guitar player and drummer.

Then my high school buddy Milo was taken in to the Band as the guitarist and Wagon Park was born.

We kicked off things with TNL Onstage annual band competition not knowing how it would be, or what would Wagon Park be like to Sri Lanka for the first time? Well, we were an overnight hit and most talked about Rock n Roll band in Sri Lanka and still we are proud to say that we are up to date”.

The different individuals who made up the band contain the same motive sharing with the world their experiences and a vision for a free with the thrill of rock and roll, that I think makes it easier for them to work together and put out fascinating music. A band that does not limit to a particular brand of music, expands to various types of genre’s ranging from rock music mixed in with blues, folk, country, funk, jazz and other varieties.

A very modest Buddhi states that their greatest achievement as a band is the gratification they get from the crowd after each performance because in their mind each day they perform they achieve something new and satisfying. Many a patron went home smirking and with a sense of self satisfaction after witnessing the relaxed band in action.

Buddhi went through descriptively about the members of the band as to what role they play in the band and what they do apart from the music world. Wagon Park, a band that boasts of musicians/individuals from various backgrounds makes the group that much unusual and makes them stand out from the rest.

Meet the band Buddhima De Mel (Buddhi) – Songwriter, Composer, Vocalist and co-founder of the band. Plays the Harmonica and is fully concentrating on music and does a little part time advertising work, also in to theater acting being part of the successful Pusswedilla production.

Mohamed Firash (Fira) – Songwriter, Composer, Bass Guitarist of the band and quite a good electric guitar player concentrates full time on music.

Maduwan Rangika (Maddha) – Acoustic guitar player, Part time graphic designer concentrating full time on music

. Mahesh Aponsu (Maiyya) – Drummer of the band. A professional Tattoo artist (Roadhouse Tattoos) and does abit of motor mechanic.

Milinda Batuwanthudawa – Lead Guitarist, Songwriter & Composer who is a sea-man (goes on ships) from time to time.

Nuwan Tharanga (Chikka) – Key Boardist, Songwriter, Composer who is the only professional musician of the outfit and has the ability of playing any instrument for any type of music including Sinhalese oriental.

Looking up to bands like The Doors, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Beatles, ACDC, Iron Maiden, Guns n Roses, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen…etc wagon park has certainly created their own sort of genus in the music industry in Sri Lanka. A band that is more relaxed in their approach, they like to unwind and take things slow which in their terms is “chilling out”.

As future plans the band wishes to get the debut album out ASAP connecting with the mass media with their original music and maybe tour across the country to spread the music. Parental support not being that evident at first was understandable says Buddhi, “They were not sure at first about their sons being in a band but at the end of the day they are somebody that the band could always lookup for support and advice to be better musicians. So we thank them always”.

They wished to show their gratitude to the people who helped them along the way which made their dreams a reality. “The band would like to thank their Manager Mr. Sumedha Nuwan for all the great work he has been doing for the band, Mr. Suren De Silva & Mr. Amrik Wilson of Video Image for the album deal and all our honest fans out there who love our music and us as human beings”.

A band that seems very honest in their approach in spreading their genre of music seems to be unique contributing to the evolving music scene in the country.I left the studio with a sense of self satisfaction as I listened to the music which was touching and divine in its own way.