Dilanjan Seneviratne Creatively Produces Kella, Yohani's Debut Album
Fourteen tracks in Sinhala and English, released on 8 December 2023 | creative direction and executive production by Dilanjan | lyrics on nine tracks, co-writing on two more
On 8 December 2023, Yohani released Kella, her debut studio album, with Dilanjan Seneviratne as creative director and executive producer. He wrote the lyrics for nine of its 14 tracks and shares co-writing credits on two more, Eh Hithe and Submerged.
The album carries 11 songs in Sinhala and three in English, and took about two years to make. It was announced at a midnight event at Headquarters by W15 in Colombo on Yohani's birthday, as the Daily FT reported on 5 August 2023, and was first set for October.
Dilanjan shaped the record from concept to release. He also wrote, produced and directed the video for the title track.
Highlights include:
Creative direction and executive production: Dilanjan Seneviratne.
Lyrics: Dilanjan on nine of the 14 tracks, with co-writing credits on Eh Hithe and Submerged.
Title-track video: written, produced and directed by Dilanjan.
Production team: Pasan Liyanage, Shenal Maddumage, Hibshi, Wayanaka Perera and Lahiru Perera.
Mastering: Misjah, in the Netherlands.
The tracklist:
1. Kella
2. Kaikaawe
3. Golu Wela
4. Numba Langa
5. Kankalu
6. Lengathukam
7. Kalu Kumara Nakathe
8. Randuwak Wenna
9. Eh Hithe
10. Mihire
11. Submerged
12. Free to Love
13. Ithin Adare
14. Cold Sunday
Kella moved Yohani from the covers and singles of her early career to a full body of original work, setting Sinhala songwriting against trap, ambient and alternative pop. In October 2024 the album was submitted for Grammy consideration, told in its own story, and in January 2025 its songs anchored her return to the Colombo stage at Outright Stage Volume 1.
