- Yohani on debuting her latest single ‘You’re My Paradise’
Pop music sensation Yohani has truly taken the world by storm. Her hit rendition of Manike Mage Hithe garnered millions of views and along with it came a loyal fan base. While some assumed she’d be a one-hit wonder, Yohani proved them wrong and is still going strong. Her recent performance at the Dubai Expo was proof of such; her walking on stage was welcomed with thunderous applause and many claimed that the Dubai Expo has never seen such a crowd going wild for one singer. The Dubai Expo itself claimed that this was a record-breaking number of spectators at the Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre that attended the expo on the day Yohani performed.
Staying true to her Sri Lankan roots, Yohani took the stage at the Dubai Expo this year and performed a new single that she’d worked on in collaboration with Sri Lanka Tourism in order to promote our island and bring in tourism; and what better place to do it than at an international festival appealing to a global audience? The new song: You’re My Paradise.
In an exclusive interview, speaking on the creation of You’re My Paradise, Yohani told Brunch that seeing the beauty of Sri Lanka inspired her to create music. “Our island is a gorgeous paradise; we have so much to offer – sandy beaches, breathtaking mountains – we have the best of both worlds, and with my new song, I want to show the world how much our country has to offer.”
She added that she had an amazing time filming the video and experiencing Sri Lanka from a culture point of view. Her music video for You’re My Paradise pictures some stunning views of our country; having watched the video, Yohani’s presence itself is welcoming and heartwarming, reflecting the hospitality of Sri Lanka and also everything we have to offer. It was a beautiful touch that she added traditional Sri Lankan words that speak of our loving nature; ayubowan (welcome) and isthuti (thank you), which spark a feeling of warmth and reminds foriegn listeners of home and tradition – a feeling that Yohani added, she hoped to invoke in her audience’s hearts.
She added that she too, was shocked at the reception she received at the Dubai Expo. “Watching everyone cheer for me gave me hope for the future of tourism in our country. I wish the video inspired everyone that saw it to plan their next vacation in Sri Lanka; our island is magical – you’ll never be disappointed!”
The Ministry of Tourism believes that Yohani could facilitate brand promotion as she is popular on social media in India and the Middle East, which are considered to be the main markets for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. Earlier, it was made public that a budget of Rs. 150 million had been approved by the Cabinet for the Dubai Expo and the amount expected to be spent on Yohani’s concert was Rs. 5.5 million.
In the future, she plans on promoting her song You’re My Paradise at her upcoming concerts all over the world, in hopes that it will entice all travel enthusiasts to head over to Sri Lanka.