Ashanthi De Alwis (Sinhala:අශාන්ති ද අල්විස්), known simply as Ashanthi, is a Sri Lankan rapper, singer and songwriter. She is the only Sri Lankan female rapper who signed with international record labels Sony Music and Universal Music in 2006. She began her career as a rapper with BnS, and continued that role after achieving solo success.
Career Ashanthi's first major label album was as half of the duo Ashanthi n' Ranidu, with the album Oba Magemai released in 2002 through M Entertainments. Her debut solo album Sandawathuren was released in 2006. This was the first hip hop solo album to be released by a Sri Lankan female. Her general style of music is ethnic hip hop with massive market appeal. Sandawathuren was sung in Sinhala, with the exception of two English songs.
Ashanthi has toured internationally in countries throughout Europe, North America, Australasia and Asia. In 2008, Dialog signed up Ashanthi to be a brand ambassador for their pre-paid brand KIT.
At the 2013 Derana Music Video Awards, Ashanthi won the award for 'Best Hip Hop Video' for Alawanthiyak. She also recorded the 11th anniversary jingles for Y FM, Sri Lanka in November 2016. From 2020 onwards she joined the widely popular The Voice teens (Sri Lanka) as a coach.
Ashanthi released her first English Language Album 'Rock the World' in August 2013, aiming for an international market. The lead single off the album was 'Let's Give Peace a Chance', which was also recorded in Sinhala with additional vocals by Benny Dayal.
Television shows YearTitleChannelLanguageRole2020The Voice Teens Sri Lanka(Season 1)Sirasa TVSinhalaCoach - Herself2023Derana Dream Star(Season 11)TV DeranaSinhalaJudge - Herself
Discography
Albums Oba Magemai (with Ranidu), Sony Music, 2002 Sandawathuren, Universal Music, 2006 Rock the World, Universal Music, 2013 Daas Panawa, Universal Music, 2014
References
External links Ashanthi's Official Website bnsmusic.com Sunday Leader article