Chitral "Chity" Somapala (born 4 November 1966
in Colombo, Sri Lanka) is a Hard Rock and Heavy
Metal singer.
Background information
Birth name Chandana Chitral Somapala
Born 4 November 1966
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Genres Rock, Heavy metal, Power metal
Occupations Singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, bass, Chapman Stick, guitar
Years active 1986–present
Labels Allister Records, Omega Records,
EMI, Dwell Records, MTM Music,
Massacre Records, Century Media
Records, Metal Heaven, LMP,
Associated
acts
Power Quest, Civilization One,
Rekuiem, Red Circuit, Firewind,
Avalon, Faro, Domain, David
Shankle - Group
Biography
Chitral "Chity" Somapala was born into a famous
musical family in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 4
November, 1966. Both parents, P.L.A. and Chitra
Somapala were renowned Sri Lankan singers. For
example they both contributed on the soundtrack of
the film Asoka. P.L.A. Somapala was also working
as a film music composer, arranger and producer.
At the age of 10 Chitral "Chity" Somapala started
with guitar lessons. He switched to electric bass with
14 years and began singing soon thereafter. At the
young age of 17 he was able to hit the Top 40
nightclub circuit in Colombo, and ended up gigging
with the leading bands and artists of the country.
In 1985 he joined the Sri Lankan band "Shock", an
alternative band founded by Diliup Gabadamudalige,
the pioneer of computer based music production in
Sri Lanka and main figure of the modern music scene
of the country.
In 1986, Chity traveled to Europe (Switzerland,
Germany, Austria and Finland) as the bassist and
singer of a Top 40 band called "Rendezvous" later
named "Friends". The band managed to back many
well known artists in these countries.
After touring for sometime from club to club, playing Top 40 Hits, he decided in 1994 to leave this
scene to concentrate only as a vocalist to follow his dream of original Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. In 1996
he joined a popular German Metal/Underground act called COURT JESTER and recorded the album
Forced To Believe, which received favourable reviews throughout the European Press.
Style
With his extensive vocal range he is able to adapt to any musical situation he's presented with. From
Blues and Soul to intense, aggressive Heavy Metal, from melodic Pop to classic Rock, Chitral instills
passion into every single note he sings.He has been compared favorably to Ronnie James Dio (Black
Sabbath/Heaven and Hell) and Klaus Meine (Scorpions).
Work
• In 1998 he contributed the song "Nadee Ganga Tharanaye" for
a TV/RADIO commercial for the LION beer company in Sri
Lanka, which was very much in demand in the country, unique
as it was a traditional language sung with a Hard Rock Metal
touch.
• Shortly thereafter, he joined AVALON, a German Melodic
Power/Progressive band as frontman and lead singer. In
cooperation with others, AVALON was produced by Charlie
Bauerfeind (who also produced such acts as Helloween, Gamma
Ray, Blind Guardian, Saxon, etc.). AVALON‘s third album,
Vision Eden, received excellent international press reviews and
the "Vision Eden"- Tour saw AVALON as a support act for
bands like Hammerfall, Uriah Heep, Metallica, Motorhead,
Royal Hunt, Pink Cream 69, and many others.
• During the summer of 2000 he participated on AVALON‘s 4th
album "Eurasia" under the hands of Sascha Paeth, who is known
for his work with Rhapsody, Kamelot, Heavan‘s Gate, Angra
and others. On "Eurasia" there can be heard some of the Asian
musical influences from his home country Sri Lanka (Music of
Sri Lanka).
Besides the vocal parts on "Eurasia", Chity can be heard playing the Chapman Stick. The release of
"Eurasia" was followed by a European tour with Metalium. AVALON disbanded shortly thereafter.
• In 2002 he contributed the “Greenlands Theme“ for the Isipathana International Rugby Championships
in Sri Lanka with Frank Rohles, who happened to be the guitarist of the German QueenTribute band
"Innuendo". After this session, he formed a Melodic Rock outfit together with Frank Rohles, called
FARO. The band released "Dawn of Forever" through MTM Music in summer 2003, and that year he
also completed the album "Echoes of a Nightmare" with the Swedish Symphonic Metal band Moonlight
Agony.
• At the end of 2003 he was auditioned by the young Greek guitar virtuso Gus G to join Firewind for a
January 2004 headling tour of Japan. After the successful Japanese tour, Gus G asked Chity to join the
band on a permanent basis, and they started sharing ideas for the 3rd FIREWIND album. The result of
their collaboration, “Forged by Fire" entered the Japanese TOP 100 and received excellent reviews all
over the world. After a tour with Hammerfall during their "Ice Breaker Festivals" Chity decided to leave
the band for personal reasons in 2005.
• Chity is currently teaching vocals and bass guitar at Modern Music School in Trier, Germany In 2006
he founded his own band Civilization One, which released the album "Revolution Rising" in 2007.
Civilization One disbanded in 2010.
• Furthermore he is currently recording and performing with the German band Red Circuit and the
British Classic Rock/Metal Band Rekuiem, one of the founder members of the New Wave of British
Heavy Metal movement back in the 1980's, frequently abbreviated as NWOBHM.
• In May 2010 Chity joined the British Powermetal- Band Power Quest.
Discography
Court Jester - Forced To Believe (Allister Records)" 1996
Avalon - Vision Eden (Omega Records)" 1998
Avalon - Eurasia (Omega Records)" 2000
Another Piece Of Metal - Tribute To Scorpions (Dwell Records)" 2001
Shadowkeep - A Chaos Theory- (Lmp)" 2002 Backing Vocals
Faro - Dawn Of Forever (Mtm Music)" 2003
Mtm Compilation - Volume 9 (Mtm Music)" 2003
Final Chapter - The Wizard Queen (Underground Symphony)" 2004 Guest Vocals
Moonlight Agony - Echoes Of A Nightmare (Massacre Records)" 2004
Mystic Prophecy - Never Ending (Nuclear Blast)" 2004 Backing Vocals
Firewind - Forged By Fire (Emi/Toshiba)" 2004
Firewind - Forged By Fire (Century Media Records) 2005
Faro - Angelost (MTM Music)" 2006
Red Circuit - Trance State (LMP)" 2006
Civilization One - Revolution Rising (Metal Heaven)" 2007
Red Circuit - Homeland (Limb Music) 2009
Civilization One - Calling the Gods (Metal Heaven)" 2010
Power Quest - Blood Alliance (Napalm Records)" 2011
in Colombo, Sri Lanka) is a Hard Rock and Heavy
Metal singer.
Background information
Birth name Chandana Chitral Somapala
Born 4 November 1966
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Genres Rock, Heavy metal, Power metal
Occupations Singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, bass, Chapman Stick, guitar
Years active 1986–present
Labels Allister Records, Omega Records,
EMI, Dwell Records, MTM Music,
Massacre Records, Century Media
Records, Metal Heaven, LMP,
Associated
acts
Power Quest, Civilization One,
Rekuiem, Red Circuit, Firewind,
Avalon, Faro, Domain, David
Shankle - Group
Biography
Chitral "Chity" Somapala was born into a famous
musical family in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 4
November, 1966. Both parents, P.L.A. and Chitra
Somapala were renowned Sri Lankan singers. For
example they both contributed on the soundtrack of
the film Asoka. P.L.A. Somapala was also working
as a film music composer, arranger and producer.
At the age of 10 Chitral "Chity" Somapala started
with guitar lessons. He switched to electric bass with
14 years and began singing soon thereafter. At the
young age of 17 he was able to hit the Top 40
nightclub circuit in Colombo, and ended up gigging
with the leading bands and artists of the country.
In 1985 he joined the Sri Lankan band "Shock", an
alternative band founded by Diliup Gabadamudalige,
the pioneer of computer based music production in
Sri Lanka and main figure of the modern music scene
of the country.
In 1986, Chity traveled to Europe (Switzerland,
Germany, Austria and Finland) as the bassist and
singer of a Top 40 band called "Rendezvous" later
named "Friends". The band managed to back many
well known artists in these countries.
After touring for sometime from club to club, playing Top 40 Hits, he decided in 1994 to leave this
scene to concentrate only as a vocalist to follow his dream of original Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. In 1996
he joined a popular German Metal/Underground act called COURT JESTER and recorded the album
Forced To Believe, which received favourable reviews throughout the European Press.
Style
With his extensive vocal range he is able to adapt to any musical situation he's presented with. From
Blues and Soul to intense, aggressive Heavy Metal, from melodic Pop to classic Rock, Chitral instills
passion into every single note he sings.He has been compared favorably to Ronnie James Dio (Black
Sabbath/Heaven and Hell) and Klaus Meine (Scorpions).
Work
• In 1998 he contributed the song "Nadee Ganga Tharanaye" for
a TV/RADIO commercial for the LION beer company in Sri
Lanka, which was very much in demand in the country, unique
as it was a traditional language sung with a Hard Rock Metal
touch.
• Shortly thereafter, he joined AVALON, a German Melodic
Power/Progressive band as frontman and lead singer. In
cooperation with others, AVALON was produced by Charlie
Bauerfeind (who also produced such acts as Helloween, Gamma
Ray, Blind Guardian, Saxon, etc.). AVALON‘s third album,
Vision Eden, received excellent international press reviews and
the "Vision Eden"- Tour saw AVALON as a support act for
bands like Hammerfall, Uriah Heep, Metallica, Motorhead,
Royal Hunt, Pink Cream 69, and many others.
• During the summer of 2000 he participated on AVALON‘s 4th
album "Eurasia" under the hands of Sascha Paeth, who is known
for his work with Rhapsody, Kamelot, Heavan‘s Gate, Angra
and others. On "Eurasia" there can be heard some of the Asian
musical influences from his home country Sri Lanka (Music of
Sri Lanka).
Besides the vocal parts on "Eurasia", Chity can be heard playing the Chapman Stick. The release of
"Eurasia" was followed by a European tour with Metalium. AVALON disbanded shortly thereafter.
• In 2002 he contributed the “Greenlands Theme“ for the Isipathana International Rugby Championships
in Sri Lanka with Frank Rohles, who happened to be the guitarist of the German QueenTribute band
"Innuendo". After this session, he formed a Melodic Rock outfit together with Frank Rohles, called
FARO. The band released "Dawn of Forever" through MTM Music in summer 2003, and that year he
also completed the album "Echoes of a Nightmare" with the Swedish Symphonic Metal band Moonlight
Agony.
• At the end of 2003 he was auditioned by the young Greek guitar virtuso Gus G to join Firewind for a
January 2004 headling tour of Japan. After the successful Japanese tour, Gus G asked Chity to join the
band on a permanent basis, and they started sharing ideas for the 3rd FIREWIND album. The result of
their collaboration, “Forged by Fire" entered the Japanese TOP 100 and received excellent reviews all
over the world. After a tour with Hammerfall during their "Ice Breaker Festivals" Chity decided to leave
the band for personal reasons in 2005.
• Chity is currently teaching vocals and bass guitar at Modern Music School in Trier, Germany In 2006
he founded his own band Civilization One, which released the album "Revolution Rising" in 2007.
Civilization One disbanded in 2010.
• Furthermore he is currently recording and performing with the German band Red Circuit and the
British Classic Rock/Metal Band Rekuiem, one of the founder members of the New Wave of British
Heavy Metal movement back in the 1980's, frequently abbreviated as NWOBHM.
• In May 2010 Chity joined the British Powermetal- Band Power Quest.
Discography
Court Jester - Forced To Believe (Allister Records)" 1996
Avalon - Vision Eden (Omega Records)" 1998
Avalon - Eurasia (Omega Records)" 2000
Another Piece Of Metal - Tribute To Scorpions (Dwell Records)" 2001
Shadowkeep - A Chaos Theory- (Lmp)" 2002 Backing Vocals
Faro - Dawn Of Forever (Mtm Music)" 2003
Mtm Compilation - Volume 9 (Mtm Music)" 2003
Final Chapter - The Wizard Queen (Underground Symphony)" 2004 Guest Vocals
Moonlight Agony - Echoes Of A Nightmare (Massacre Records)" 2004
Mystic Prophecy - Never Ending (Nuclear Blast)" 2004 Backing Vocals
Firewind - Forged By Fire (Emi/Toshiba)" 2004
Firewind - Forged By Fire (Century Media Records) 2005
Faro - Angelost (MTM Music)" 2006
Red Circuit - Trance State (LMP)" 2006
Civilization One - Revolution Rising (Metal Heaven)" 2007
Red Circuit - Homeland (Limb Music) 2009
Civilization One - Calling the Gods (Metal Heaven)" 2010
Power Quest - Blood Alliance (Napalm Records)" 2011
