Colours to Confessions – Mastering a Cross-Cultural Musical Theatre Work
Published
31-1-2025
Type of Work
Creative Work - Music
Advisors and Contributors
Udara De Silva (Producer/Composer/Director) Sudara De Silva (Producer/Composer/Director) Rijan Katwal (Mixing Engineer)
Abstract
Colours to Confessions is a Sri Lankan musical theatre album composed and directed by Udara De Silva and Sudara De Silva, bringing together a wide range of contributors across performance and production. The work integrates mixed-language vocal performances with a hybrid musical framework that combines contemporary Western idioms and traditional Sri Lankan instrumentation, resulting in a sonically diverse and stylistically layered album.
The mastering process addressed the challenges of continuity and translation across varied source material. Differences in tonal balance, dynamic range, and spatial imaging required a considered approach to ensure cohesion while preserving the character of individual performances. Multiband processing was used to manage frequency-dependent dynamics and establish spectral consistency across the album, while mid-side equalisation enabled detailed control over stereo width and clarity within dense arrangements.
A central consideration was maintaining the integrity of culturally specific sonic elements while achieving a unified listening experience suitable for contemporary distribution contexts. This required a balance between corrective intervention and restraint, positioning mastering as both a technical and interpretive stage within the production process.
Citation
Glover, T (2026). Colours to Confessions - Mastering a Cross-Cultural Musical Theatre Work. [Staff Scholarship, SAE University College] Creo