News
Press release - 24th August 2012, Colombo, SriLanka.
Ashanthi to ‘ROCK THE WORLD’ with international crossover album
Ashanthi, ‘Queen of Sri Lankan Hip Hop music’, is the youngest and only female in the Island to be signed to an internationally recognized record label (Universal Music). Touring the globe, wowing audiences worldwide on stages from the Sydney Opera house to The O2 in London, The Cannes film festival in France and beyond. This singer, rapper, songwriter and producer has made her mark in the music industry as the number one contemporary female music icon in Sri Lanka.
Ashanthi's industry experience spans three best selling albums in her native language – Sinhalese; Oba Magemai (Sony Music), Sandawathuren (Universal Music), Daas Paanawa (Universal Music). She has proven to be a voice to be reckoned with, winning countless awards locally and internationally. Her most recent accolades include Bite My Music Global Awards (The Grammy’s of Independent International music) - Best Pop Act (GOLD), IndieGo Music Awards Asia – Best Female Singer (GOLD), Best Pop Act of Asia (SILVER), Best Hip Hop Act of Asia (Silver), Honorary Award for Most Creative & Innovative Act (2011) and Best Baila Music Video of the year for ‘Papare’ Derana Music Video Awards, Sri Lanka (2011). Ashanthi also released the single ‘Raavanan Raajyam' together with Dinesh K for the UK Movie ‘Tooting Broadway’, an official selection for the London Indian Film Festival, which premiered in June 2012.
Not satisfied with just conquering home ground, Ashanthi has spread her wings into the global market with Universal Music. With the release of her very first International crossover album in English titled ‘Rock the world’, the pop star is set to create new waves in the international arena.
“Rock the world is a contemporary pop album written and produced by myself, every melody and lyric I have written comes straight from my heart and I feel can easily be related to. It took a lot of time and effort to put this album together because I wanted to create something unique. It was a very different experience for me but I loved every minute of it!” Ashanthi goes on to say “I wanted to show the world what we, as Asians, could offer the international music industry, Contemporary pop music is sometimes under estimated when it comes from Asia. I want to change that mind set and prove to the world we are capable of producing a sound on par with any mainstream global act”.
Raising the bar in the Sri Lankan music Industry, Ashanthi has placed Sri Lanka on the map yet again, being the first Sri Lankan female to release an album internationally together with a major label – Universal Music. Universal Music will be distributing the album globally, while Asian Music Publishing UK will publish the album worldwide.
The album has a distinctive urban sound, coupled with soulful R&B vocals, tear jerkers that will make your heart melt and dance beats that will make you wanna take to the dance floor. The album features collaborations with International artistes Reshmonu (Malaysia) and Benny Dayal (India) and Sri Lankan rapper Randhir.
The entire album was self produced by Ashanthi at her recording studio ‘Ethno Entertainment Studios’, all tracks were programmed by Shenal Maddumage at ‘Ethno Entertainment Studios’ and mastered by Ranga Dassanayake at ‘Hit Factory’.
A single from the album, 'Let's give peace a chance' featuring Benny Dayal, was chosen as the official theme song for the De Paix Yatra peace project – a motorcycle journey from India to the UK honouring unsung war heroes and promoting peace among youth across 8 nations. A video for the song, which was officially launched at the Album press conference in Colombo, is scheduled to be aired on all major TV stations in India, launching the album into the Indian market.
Breaking into the UK music industry with a storm, the singer has also released her debut international single ‘Get out of my head’ on UK radio in collaboration with Asian Music Publishing UK and FNIK PR featuring UK rappers Raxstar and Menis.
“It is a really exciting time for me and a brand new experience. I worked extra hard on this single cause I felt it had to be perfect for the UK market” says Ashanthi. The song was written and produced by Ashanthi.
Compared to Artistes like Mariah Carey, Rihanna and Pink, Ashanthi breaks the barriers of contemporary music with her unique vocals and performance style. Her influences in music range from Boys to Men, Brian Mc Knight, Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Jessie J and Maroon 5.
Ashanthi has definitely proved to us that she is ready to take on the challenge of breaking boundaries in the International industry and is ready to ‘Rock the world’, making Sri Lanka proud.