Umaria Sinhawansa: Music, Resilience & Self-Discovery

Umaria Sinhawansa, the 34-year-old music sensation, has held Sri Lanka in a trance for the past 20 years. From her very first recording in 2005 to now, her voice has hypnotised many (including me) in the best possible way. But what never fails to amaze me is her unwavering work ethic. When her manager, Imanthi Perera, told us that Umaria worked for 12 hours straight, enduring fire and rain, I thought, surely she’s exaggerating.

But now, I don’t doubt it for a second. Why? Because here we were, on a yacht, in the middle of choppy waters, struggling to keep our breakfast down. And there she was, smiling at the camera, completely unbothered, putting us all to shame! Those 8-hour daily practice sessions as a kid, with her sister, Umara, definitely forged her discipline.

“When you condition your mind to achieve something and you’re disciplined enough to stick to it, anything is possible,” she confirms. I agree. I just wish I had the same kind of dedication as she does. Watching Umaria on a 100% protein diet, days prior to her photoshoot, only impressed me more. “I can’t wait to have a hearty meal with my parents after this photoshoot!” Umaria exclaims with dreamy eyes, picturing her mom’s freshly cooked Biryani. Hope you finally got to enjoy that slice of cake you were fantasising about as well!

As someone who found my true calling after multiple trials and errors, I always wondered how one could be so certain of their purpose in life at such a young age. When I asked her how she knew she would have a career in music, her eyes turned distant. “I remember the exact moment,” she says. “I was 19, representing Sri Lanka in Beijing. I had just won gold in the semi-finals of the Asia New Singer Competition (wow!), singing Etta James' At Last. It felt like a sudden switch went off in me, and I realised I do have something special. Maybe I can actually do this.” I smiled, partly because I couldn’t believe that she ever doubted herself with a voice as powerful as hers, and partly because it was the only time I’d heard Umaria openly compliment her own singing.

For someone who can silence a crowd and give everyone goosebumps with a single verse (the room went dead silent!), her humility is quite impressive. “It comes from my parents,” she explains. “My dad used to speak to my sister and me about this all the time." She repeats the words that keep her grounded: “Both of you are extremely talented. But don’t forget there will always be someone more talented than you.” This may be true, but only by a handful. Trust me, if you’ve never heard Umaria sing, you’re missing out on magic!

As soon as she started talking about her father, I noticed a shift in her voice—a softness that seems to be reserved only for family. It’s evident how much love she holds for them and how deeply they matter to her. Her eyes glisten with gratitude as she recalls evenings with her father, strumming his guitar, the family gathered around, singing and harmonising together. She laughs at how much they resemble the von Trapp family, and I laugh with her—it’s impossible not to. She remembers how her house was always filled with music 24/7. The best (or worst, depending on how you see it) part was that it wasn’t just one song playing in the background. Instead, it was an eclectic mix of genres, depending on which of her three siblings' rooms she walked into. “Music was the language of our household, and it was beautiful,” she says.

Umaria started her career at 14—“as a baby,” she likes to say. And understandably, it wasn’t easy to navigate the limelight in a male-dominated industry. But she credits her powerhouse of a sister for paving the way, giving Umaria the courage to be herself. “My sister is my biggest cheerleader,” she reveals. “We look out for each other and take care of each other. We also speak to each other every day! The relationship I have with my sister is unreal.” (I’m not crying. You are.)

As she spoke, I sat there vicariously living my dream of having a sister, while she described how sharing the spotlight with hers has been nothing but an honour. Umaria also made it clear that, contrary to what many assume, jealousy has never tainted their relationship and never will. That’s right—keep your dire need for love triangles and sibling rivalry for the latest season of The Summer I Turned Pretty. The Sinhawansa sisters are respectfully bowing out of this trope.

Speaking of assumptions, the conversation shifted to how women are constantly underestimated. We both agreed that being a woman in a man's world is like navigating a storm. But Umaria believes women move through it with grace and dignity. I mean, what choice do we have? Either we let it break us or we let it make us. I recommend taking the second route—and Umaria agrees, of course, because she’s a fighter.

It’s evident in the pride that colours Umaria’s voice that no matter how hard it is to be a woman, she wouldn’t have it any other way. “At first, I thought womanhood meant having to prove something to someone,” she muses. “Later, I learnt to embody and celebrate it. It’s almost impossible to fully fathom how resilient we can be. No matter what life throws at us, we know exactly how to navigate through it. With our many facets, we keep evolving, and to me, this is sacred. Many think femininity is a weakness. It’s not. It’s my greatest strength and I wear it as armour.” Listening to her, I felt proud to be a woman too.

“Many think femininity is a weakness. It’s not.”

That’s not to say that the actions of some women haven't come dangerously close to wavering this pride in me. Similarly, Umaria admits that the lack of support from fellow women disappointed her the most. “This rivalry between women has to end. The concept of sisterhood has to be normalised,” she stresses. “There is enough space here for all of us. When we uplift each other, we win together. Women who understand this are very rare.”

She then glances at her manager, Imanthi, with adoration, “She is one of those rare women.” (Aww…) Umaria admits she’s lucky to have found someone she can trust and rely on. She gushes about how both of them know each other so well and how they will always support each other through anything. Yes, even through the unfortunate ups and downs of each other's cycles! “The moment you find this kind of relationship, you protect it with all your heart,” she enthuses. And I get it. Having a safe inner circle to fall back on, to ground you and keep you on track, is so important. Especially when that someone knows exactly when to take you out for a freshly made matcha and when to ditch the diet and bring a slice of chocolate cake instead. (Not me waiting for someone to bring me a slice right now. Sigh!)

Ultimately, you are who and what you surround yourself with. It’s easy to lose yourself in a sea of noise and go off course. The real challenge? Staying true to yourself despite everything that’s happening around you. “I always made a conscious decision to surround myself with the people who love me for me, where I get to be me,” notes Umaria. “Where I can laugh, cry, and make mistakes and be sure that I’m safe. And I will always protect my circle no matter what.” I mean, when you find a tribe that loves you even after seeing you ‘ugly cry’, how could you possibly let them go, right? Right. They simply know too much.

It didn’t take me long to realise that Umaria is fuelled solely by love and passion. I knew this the moment she said, “I still love music the same way I did 20 years ago. I wake up in the morning with the same kind of passion and excitement. Despite everything that has happened, I’ve still managed to keep this flame alive, and that to me is my biggest achievement.” I couldn’t agree more. The initial spark is easy. Keeping the flame alive is the hardest part. I hope 20 years from now, I’ll be able to say the same. This is not to say that she never has moments where she feels like giving up. Of course, she does. She’s human. Actually, while I say this, I’m not entirely convinced about the human part. I mean, have you heard her voice?! (Celestial? An angel? Definitely, maybe.) But music has always anchored her. “It’s my lifeline. I can never give up on music,” she says with unwavering conviction. And I relate to her more than she realises, because that's exactly how I feel about my writing.

Something I can’t even imagine is the love and devotion she has towards her fans. It was clear when she decided to acknowledge and compliment an ardent fan, who also happened to be a dressmaker at one of her fittings. She made him grin from ear to ear, and that’s when I realised her kindness, coupled with her humility, is her superpower. “It’s beyond music,” she explains. “I have a platform that can reach people and build connections.”

When I ask her if any of her fans left a lasting impression, she recalls a specific story. A girl who was suffering from severe depression for a very long time shared how, on multiple occasions, Umaria’s music helped the girl come out of a very dark period of her life. “To hear her say my music healed her, to know that it could have such a big impact on someone’s life, felt amazing. At that moment, I was so grateful for this gift.”

Music heals. But to know that you have the power to heal someone is a different kind of magic. And I have no hesitation in saying that she is magic. The best part? Her music plays a major role in her own healing, too. She admits that while her relationship with herself is still a work in progress – with its ups and downs – she continues to rely on her music to remind her of her purpose. “Music has always been the bridge that brings me back to myself,” she explains.

From everything I’ve heard, this year seems to have been especially transformative for her—it’s when she really learnt to embrace herself. Therapy, she says, has helped her in ways she didn’t expect. Umaria describes how she’s finally learning to slow down and give herself time.“If I learnt anything from this past year, it is to be patient. Trust the process. It’s all about timing. Your time will come," she advises. “Just like this interview, it’s crazy how perfectly timed it is.” (Yes, girl! Cosmo is always here—in the right place at the right time).

Umaria explains how self-care has now become a part of her routine. She’s obsessed with the gym, much to the dismay of her best friends. It seems that her alter ego on the treadmill is a tad scary! But when I ask about her secret for glowing skin, she smiles, eyes twinkling, and says, “Girl, beauty is how you feel inside—you glow from within.” (This doesn’t mean that she doesn’t carry six different shades of lipstick in her bag, because she absolutely does!)

Running her fingers through her vibrant red locks, she adds that the decision to colour her hair red wasn’t about appearances, but more about how it made her feel. It turned out to be one of her best decisions, igniting a newfound confidence that gave her the courage to unpack the past. She says that processing past experiences and learning to comfort her inner child ultimately taught her to love herself.

”What does love mean to you?” I ask, intrigued. She sighs at the weight of that question, and I get it. It’s a big word with an even bigger feeling. Love means different things to everyone. Umaria pauses before she answers, “Love is beautiful. It’s also risky. It gives you no choice but to be vulnerable.” Over time, she has learnt to leave a little part of herself untouched, without completely letting her guard down. And when you’re always under the spotlight, that matters.

But she admits that the vulnerability of love has always inspired much of her music and some questionable decisions, too. Well, we love from our hearts, and not our brains, for a reason! We’ve all been there. This is why she believes that love begins from within. “Focus on yourself first,” she advises, adding that the best time to fall in love is later in life, once you’ve lived long enough to know yourself. While her couple goals will always be her parents, she says she’s now at a stage where love simply boils down to loving herself. But let me bring you in on a little secret: if you want a way to her heart, all you need is a nice smile, loyalty, and a booking for a trip underwater. Extra points for being a vampire. (Spoiler Alert: Dishonesty and bad hygiene are total deal breakers!)

As our conversation sadly draws to a close, she shares her excitement for what lies ahead. This past year has been about facing her fears, learning from experience and shedding old versions of herself. She reveals that it opened the doors to an era of reinvention—one focused on elevating her identity as an artist and liberating herself as a person. “After 20 long years of contributing to this industry, I feel like my journey is just beginning,” she declares. “I know this is my moment, and I have so much more to do, so much more to give.”

Like her, I too believe in energy—and I have a strong feeling that an adventure awaits Umaria. I, for one, can’t wait to see where it takes her next. Look out, world. Here she comes!

Cover:

Amilani Perera top and pants, TammyZ hoop earrings, Lavalier ring.

Locations: Sail Lanka | ITC Ratnadipa. Styling & Beauty by Keshini Dunusinghe, Kisavi Jay, Shihaam Hassanali, and Roshni De Bond. Creative Direction by Keshini Dunusinghe. Art & Design by Mulitha Munasinghe. Video production by Praburaja Ramachandra.