Ashanthi
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| Ashanthi | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Genre(s) | Sri Lankan Music, R&B, Hip Hop |
| Years active | 2003-Present |
| Label(s) | Sony Music [Universal Music] ] M Entertainment |
| Associated acts | Bathiya and Santhush, Randhir Witana |
| Website | http://www.ashanthi.com/index.php |
Ashanthi is Sri Lankan's first and only female R&B / Hip Hop artist to be signed to an International record label (Sony - 2003, Universal 2007). She is usually seen singing with Bathiya and Santhush and was the main singer in the Ashanthi & Ranidu Debut album, "Oba Magemai" in 2003.
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[edit] Career
Currently signed with Universal Music & M Entertainment, Ashanthi is the new face of Sri Lanka's youth music and the youngest and only female in the island to be signed to an internationally recognized record label (Sony Music) The Ashanthi'n'Ranidu album "Oba Magemai" produced under the Sony Music & M Entertainment labels in 2003, was a phenomenal success in the Sri Lankan market. Ashanthi will also be the releasing her own debut solo album "Sandawathuren" very soon. (November 2006) refer [www.ashanthi.com] for more info on the album.
[edit] Styles of Music
Taking a step forward to reach out to the mass market, while maintaining her hold within the urban / semi urban markets, Ashanthi plans to add new flavour to her music to cater to all three of these segments alike. Ethnic R&B / Hip Hop coupled with lighthearted pop & soul ballads of mass market appeal come together to create a new fusion in Ashanthi's unique genre of 'ethnic music' for her new album. It will be entirely in Sinhala language (with the exception of 2 English songs) and will consist of 12 tracks.
[edit] Debut Album - Sandawathuren
Bathiya & Santhush will be the main producers of this album and will play a major role together with Ashanthi, from planning and conceptualization down to the finished product. Brothers Shymalangan (Visharad in Hindustani music) the man behind the whole 'feeling' aspect of the album & Sarangan Sri Ranganathan (degree in music from Cambridge College, UK) with vast background knowledge of classical 'Raaga music' and formally of the band 'Shakthi' will be composing as well as co - producing the album, while Eranga Jayawansa (Diploma from Los Angeles recording wokshop) will be the special effects & beats engineer for the album.
Veteran composers in the likes of Rohana Weerasinghe, Mahinda Bandara and Nawarathna Gamage have created melodies / tracks for the album to bring in that exact mass market flavour to the album, while Ashanthi, Bathiya, Shymalangan and Sarangan have created melodies & tracks to generate that exact ethnic R&B/Hip Hop flavour to establish the aspiration factor amongst all segments of the target market and create hype for the album within the urban/semi urban markets.
Artists who will feature on this album are Randhir Witan (Rap vocals) and Dave Collins from USA (Jazz saxophone) Mahesh Denipitiya (Keyboards/ Spanish guitar) Jananath Warakagoda (Ethnic percussion /drums) Ruwan Weerasekera (Violin) Nuwan (Flute)
The writers have been specifically hand picked in order to handle each song with an individually unique approach. Nilar Cassim, Vasantha Dukkgannarala & Hemasiri Halpita will be the creators of lyrics specially conceptualized by Ashanthi and planned by both Bathiya & Ashanthi. Although the album is targeted to the local market, it is one with global appeal with international musicians being featured.
