Centigradz are one of those rare bands who became famous together and have stayed together ever since. Over the course of a decade, they have amassed a dedicated following for their take on contemporary Sri Lankan RnB/ Pop while the group has gone from strength to strength.
“We composed our very first original in 1998 while we were still in school,” says Amila Niroshan who does the rapping for the group. He says it was always about more than being just friends – “friends might have different ideas at times.” Instead the group has always prided themselves on their camaraderie and mutual respect.
Centigradz who performed at the Galle Music Festival yesterday made their first breakthrough with the singles ‘Tradition’ and ‘Dark Angel’ in 2003, which brought them attention on radio stations like BBC Radio 1 and made their debut album ‘Heritage’ the fastest selling album of the year in 2005 in Sri Lanka. Since then, Amila says they’ve remained focused on making versatile music, “basically R&B with overtones of pop.”
Today, if you want to catch them live, the group comes in two modes: you can take them in a streamlined set of five singers adding vocals to a pre-recorded track, or as a 12 member group with musicians and a backup crew. Amila, Ishan Lanthra, Eranga UG, Isuru Dasun and Thusith Niroshan are all full time members of the band. Amila says he always wanted the chance to be a performer. Having formed the group while still at St. John’s in Nugegoda, they saw that they had already found a loyal following and this gave them the confidence to continue. “They obviously wanted to hear more from us,” he says of their fans. “We thought if we could give them something they have not heard nor seen, we might be able to take it to the next level and make this our profession.”
He was backed in this decision by Ishan who is their lead vocalist, someone that Amila describes as “one of the most sought after voices in Sri Lanka,” adding, “he’s up there with the best in the industry.” Eranga who is on backing vocals is known for the energy he brings to these performance and for his unfailing sense of humour. “When the going gets tough, he always comes out with some good ideas,” says Amila. Isuru shares the credits for the rapping with Amila. He’s quick to place the mood of the crowd and quick to react to them. Niroshan is one of the most valued members of their little coterie: “All the magic is from him,” says Amila. “The lovely melodies, the music, and a good share of the management as well.”
Their sound has won them favour, with the band touring Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, the Middle East, Korea and Singapore. They won the ‘Excellent New Singer Award’ representing Sri Lanka at World Star Quest held in Penang, Malaysia in 2008. Their second album was released on Cinnamon Records in 2010 and was titled ‘Rusiri’. They made new records again, selling 200,000 copies in four weeks.
As a band, they’ve tried to make sure their music resonates with their young fans, writing lyrics that talk about issues from the darker side of love to the problems faced by young people in Sri Lanka. They are now hard at work on their third album, which they hope to release later this year.
Their success lies in their attention to detail says Amila, explaining that as a band they’ve always been determined to “get the basics right.” Though they do this full time, finances are still strained, but they hope things will look up as Sri Lankan music becomes better known. Thanking all their fans for the years of support, Amila promises, “We’re just getting started.”