• Rangana Silva on Soul of Rango and taking local classics to the world

Sri Lankan music has connected with our people both in the island and abroad. It reminds us of our culture, experiences and artistic abilities while entertaining us along the way. 

This is what vocalists and musicians Rangana Silva hopes to achieve. With his unexpected start into music to his taking Sri Lankan music to the world stage, Silva has developed into a master of melody. 

“Music has always been my hobby during my school time,” Silva told The Daily Morning Brunch. 

However, Silva was able to do what many other creatives wish they could achieve and transformed his hobby into a career. 

An unexpected start 

In an industry that scouts young talent, 41 year old Rangana Silva was a bit of an outlier. While singing remained his passion, he devoted his time to corporate life and the apparel industry. 

Yet, the pandemic offered a very different turn that made many people, including Silva, connect with their passions. 

“When COVID hit, everything including work went online and there was less entertainment for people,” he said. “So I started learning music, taking lessons with professionals and got some technical support from people in the industry.” 

Silva was able to learn and develop his skills as time went on and even got an opportunity to work with musicians from the UK, giving him a greater understanding of Sri Lankan music in a global context. 

His dive into music came at a tumultuous period when Sri Lanka grappled with a deadly pandemic as well as economic instability. 

After starting his music career in Sri Lanka, Silva then moved to New Zealand taking his music to the global stage. 

“A lot of ‘New Sri Lankans’ are fond of classical Sri Lankan music,” he said. “So I have found my place as a local artist there.” 

Silva frequently releases covers of songs on his YouTube channel which is named Soul of Rango, encouraging listeners across the globe to engage with local music. He also has a programme in New Zealand called ‘Two Tunes’ where he shares his music with an international audience. “I want people to discover soul music,” he said. 

In addition to his covers, Silva also releases original music, with his debut single being released in 2021. 

Taking Sri Lanka to the world 

When it comes to global music English, Hindi and Korean music dominate global charts. While other cultures have played their influence on global music culture, Sri Lankan music is still relatively unknown. 

“I take classic Sri Lankan music to people, especially Sri Lankan immigrants, who appreciate it,” he said. “I have no interest in international music.” 

In order to reach a global audience, Silva makes use of social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube  and TikTok to share and promote his music. He also shared his belief that younger audiences would resonate with Sri Lankan classical music. 

“We still love music from the 1960s,” he said. “I think the millennial and Gen Z audiences would be willing to appreciate classical music if it were converted to their tastes.” 

Many older songs have often been reintroduced to younger audiences by contemporary artists sampling older tracks or by these tracks being rediscovered on social media platforms like TikTok. 

“If we can use technology to introduce these songs to a younger audience, then they would be able to listen to it,” he said. 

His latest release Nadunna Hima Kumariye was released in January this year and reached new listeners.Silva mentioned that his upcoming single would be more accessible to a younger demographic. 

Future plans 

While Silva is known for his cover songs as well as for his original tracks, his upcoming single will address the complexity of love and human relationships, exploring an universal theme in a way that stays true to his roots. 

“I’m hoping to complete this vocal track while also doing a small music video,” he said. 

Silva mentioned that he is also looking forward to releasing his music on various streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify in order to reach a wider audience. 

His upcoming song, Niramisa Striya is set to release in May of this year and will be available on Silva’s social media platforms. 

“I wouldn’t have been able to work on my music and achieve what I have achieved if not for the team behind me,” he said. “My songwriter Shehan Galahitiyawa and my music director Surain D have been doing all the hard work in order to make the music complete.” 

Silva said he hopes that Sri Lankan music would live on in the hearts and souls of Sri Lankans in the island and across the world. And his journey in music just goes to show that it will.