Opal Stone

Zooming in through a Kaleidoscope, Opal Stone is taking Electronica-Fusion deeper, to where it has never gone before. This Live- Electro- Multi- Instrument- Duo, fuses the tastiest musical treats together to make a hot and spicy sound leaving you craving for more. OS has got the Big PHAT Beatz, with an International/Ethnic flare, and a heavy Prog- Rock punch. Opal Stone’s Drum & Bass fetish keeps the vibrations running up and down every inch of your body, while their slow, Big Bass, R’n’B takes you back to the good Old Skool Soul, while rockin’ a new wave of Electronica, and some tight authentic horns. Opal Stone dives in an’ outta Electronica, Prog- Rock, D&B, Hip Hop, Reggae, Trip Hop, Jazz, R’n’B, Funk and World and Indian rhythms and melodies. Their heavy and diverse music captures a vintage and dark essence that continues its rotation into a flamboyant fever sending messages of love, life, compassion, and acceptance. “We want to bring the world together, and encourage diversity among people. We believe that the worlds differences, only make us stronger and reveal a true, unique beauty and identity that is beyond replication.” Opal Stone aspires to distribute these new-wave ideas, to their listeners, while still remaining true to themselves as emerging mainstream and underground artists of the 21st century.
Opal Stone consists of Mandy Ebel, nomad of Canada, and Srihari Sridhar (L’il Hari PHAT BEATS), from Chennai, India and Dubai in the U.A.E. Opal Stone’s synth programmer, Srihari Sridhar (L’il Hari) lays it down, with his HOT beats and sounds, while both Mandy and Hari share in the composing, arranging, producing, and music engineering aspects of this duo. Mandy’s vocals are an attractive, unique component of the band, carrying a smooth, retro-jazz infused tone, with a luring yet rocky, seductive edge. Lyrically, Mandy writes and sings about her abstract perception on life, open spiritual outlook, life experiences, nature, connection, soul secrets, world cries, analogies and encouragement. Mandy plays some electric guitar, as well as plays some percussion for the band with her South Indian Mridangam, and other World Drums.
Opal Stone’s beginning was born within the artistic aura of Nelson, BC, Canada. Mandy and Hari met and started swapping musical ideas, while attending and Graduating from Selkirk College, in Nelson, under the Contemporary Music and Technology Program. Originally, a full band was ideal for the Opal Stone project, however, within the tiny little space of Nelson, the appropriate players were not at hand. That’s when Mandy and L’il Hari took the project to a new level on their own, creating the group with an electronic base, yet the idea of finding new players, if suited, still exists, and would compliment this project nicely. Currently, however, where the band is at, creates no rush or regulations for demands as such. OS have been busting their bums to compose great new material, and fuse their musical minds together, to come up with a set that’s HOT and ready to take on the road for shows and festivals.
Mandy recently was nominated, and flattered to have received a National Music Award, known as the Fred Sherratt Award, along with 11 other “Outstanding” Music Graduates in Canada, presented by MusiCan and CARAS (Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) and funded/supported by CTV Global. Also, this past Summer of 2008, Mandy’s song “Kaleidoscope” was released on the Kootenay Sound Vibes Local Compilation CD. This song also recently won a place in Mike Pinder’s International SONGWARS Contest, along with a few of her other songs. She also has performed with Kalan Porter (Canadian Idol of 2005) and, Gisto of Wassabi Collective, while both Hari and Mandy have collaborated with artists such as Sean Folk of Datura, Etienne Girard and Lee Campese of Hammerhead, Errol Organs, and The Man in Havana.
Hari has taken instruction from and used his compositional skills for Music Directors of the Chennai Film Industry, such as Ramesh Vinayagam, Mandolin Srinivas who have collaborated with 2009 ACADEMY AWARD WINNER A.R.Rahman (who composed the original score for “Slumdog Millionaire”). Hari started his musical journey, in Chennai, India, by teaching himself, the RAGA system of Carnatic Music (South Indian Classical Music), and further learned its nuances from Shri Saranath (school of Madura Mani Iyer- a Legendary Carnatic vocalist) and Shri V.L.Kumar. Hari’s research on RAGAS was followed by an album titled “Blues Of Ragas”, which was the first of its kind bringing together the various elements of world music- interspersed with one raga of every chakra of the 72 Melakartha ragas ( Parent ragas). Hari brings these skills that he gained from these past experiences and infuses them into Opal Stone, along with his own unique style.
Mandy and L’il Hari both have other side projects that they continue to work on when they take a break from Opal Stone. For Mandy, her solo proj